Contact Information
Summary
Assia Derfoul, Ph.D., earned her doctoral degree from the Université des Sciences et de la Technologie Houari-Boumediene in Algiers, Algeria, and conducted her thesis research at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, France. Dr. Derfoul joined the NIAMS in 2001 as a Research Fellow in the Cartilage Biology Branch where she studied the differentiation of adult mesenchymal cells into cartilage and the effect of inflammation on this process in osteoarthritis. In 2007, Dr. Derfoul became a Biologist in the Laboratory of Muscle Stem Cells and Gene Regulation, studying muscle stem cell identity and differentiation as well as the interaction of muscle stem cells with fibroadipogenic progenitors during muscle regeneration. In 2016, she moved to the Muscle Disease Unit where she continues to work as a Biologist.
Research Statement
Dr. Derfoul studies the role of myositis autoantibody genes in muscle stem cell differentiation and regeneration. Her research also involves profiling the single-cell transcriptome of immune cells in peripheral blood of myositis patients and comparing it with that of muscle-infiltrating immune cells to elucidate their role in changes observed in the muscle.
Education
Université des Sciences et de la Technologie Houari-Boumediene, Algiers, Algeria
Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (1993)
Université des Sciences et de la Technologie Houari-Boumediene, Algiers, Algeria
B.S. in Biology (1987)
Experience
Biologist
Muscle Disease Unit, NIAMS/NIH (2016 to present)
Biologist
Laboratory of Muscle Stem Cells and Gene Regulation, NIAMS/NIH (2007-2016)
Research Fellow
Cartilage Biology Branch, NIAMS/NIH (2001-2007)