About

Racha Kerek

Lecturer of Biology

Dr. Racha Kerek joined LAU as a part-time lecturer in 2017 and became a full-time lecturer in the Department of Natural Sciences in 2022. Prior to that, she worked at Lorraine University, Jinan University and the Lebanese University, where she taught a variety of courses related to biology and biochemistry.

Research Interests

As part of her PhD research, she worked on the implications of nutritional and epigenetic regulation on embryonic development and on neurodegenerative diseases. On several occasions, she received awards for her work at international meetings and conferences. 

SDGs Research Mapping

Dr. Racha Kerek conducts research relevant to the following SDGs:

Selected Publications

  • Kerek Racha. “Role of Genetic Polymorphisms in Lipid Metabolism Pathways in Modulating Cancer Promotion.” CRC Press, Taylor and Francis. 2022.
  • Kerek Racha, Lamita Lakkis, Haneen Shami. “Prévalence élevée des polymorphismes du gène du leptine associée à une perturbation du métabolisme lipidique dans une population du Liban-Nord,” EPICLIN2021 / JSCLCC28 Conference, Marseille, France,” Revue d’Épidémiologie et Santé Publique, Volume 69, Supplement 1, June 2021, Pages S60-61. DOI:10.1016/j.respe.2021.04.101.  
  • Kerek Racha, Lamita Lakkis, Haneen Shami. “Propagation du cancer et sensibilisation aux facteurs de risque de cancer dans une population d’une zone industrielle, Chekka, Liban,” EPICLIN2021 / JSCLCC28 Conference, Marseille, France, Revue d’Épidémiologie et Santé Publique, Volume 69, Supplement 1, June 2021, Page S66. DOI:10.1016/j.respe.2021.04.112.  
  • Ghemrawi R, Kerek R, Kayed K, Aldulaymi R, Ramadan A, Khair M. “Association between visual impairment and sleep duration in college students: A study conducted in the UAE and Lebanon.” J Am Coll Health. 2021 Mar 24:1-7. 
  • Bossenmeyer-Pourié C, Smith AD, Lehmann S, Deramecourt V, Sablonnière B, Camadro JM, Pourié G, Kerek R, Helle D, Umoret R, Guéant-Rodriguez RM, Rigau V, Gabelle A, Sequeira JM, Quadros EV, Daval JL, Guéant JL. “N-homocysteinylation of tau and MAP1 is increased in autopsy specimens of Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia,” J Pathol. 2019 Feb 8. 
  • Saade C, Mohamad M, Kerek R, Hamieh N, El-Achkar B, Tamim H, Abdul Razzak F,  Haddad M, Abi-Ghanem A, El-Merhi F. “Augmented Quadruple-Phase Contrast Media Administration and Triphasic Scan Protocol Increases Image Quality at Reduced Radiation Dose During Computed Tomography Urography,” J Comput Assist Tomogr. 2018 Mar. 
  • Saade C, El-Merhi F, El-Achkar B, Kerek R, Vogl TJ, Maroun GG, Jamjoom L, Al-Mohiy H, Naffaa L. “,” J Comput Assist Tomogr. 2016 Nov/Dec;40(6):964-970. 
  • Geoffroy A*, Kerek R*, Pourié G, Helle D, Guéant JL, Bossenmeyer-Pourié C and Daval JL. *Authors with equal contribution. “Late Maternal Folate Supplementation Rescues from Methyl Donor Deficiency-Associated Brain Defects by Restoring Let-7 and miR-34 Pathways,” Mol Neurobiol. 2016 Aug 17. 
  • Bou Fakhredin R, Saade C, Kerek R, Jamal L, Khoury R, El-Merhi F. “Imaging in multiple sclerosis: a new spin on lesions,” J Med Imaging Radiat Oncol. 2016 Oct;60(5):577-586. 
  • Kerek R*, Geoffroy A*, Bison A, Martin N, Akchiche N, Pourié G, Helle D, Guéant JL, Bossenmeyer-Pourié C and Daval JL, “Early methyl donor deficiency may induce persistent brain defects by reducing Stat3 signaling targeted by miR-124.” Cell Death and Disease. 2013 Aug 8;4:e755. 
  • Akchiche N,  Bossenmeyer-Pourié C, Kerek R, Martin N, Pourié G, Koziel V, Helle D, Alberto JM, Ortiou S, Camadro JM, Léger T, Guéant JL, Daval JL. “Homocysteinylation of neuronal proteins contributes to folate deficiency-associated alterations of differentiation, vesicular transport, and plasticity in hippocampal neuronal cells,” FASEB J. 2012 Oct;26(10):3980-92. 

Academic Degrees

  • PhD in Life and Health Sciences, Lorraine University, France, 2013.
  • MS in Life and Health Sciences, Henri-Poincare University, France, 2010.
  • BS in Biochemistry, Lebanese University, Lebanon, 2008.

Awards

Dr. Kerek was the recipient of the Prix Lydie et Michel Wittner (2013) for distinguished students in the Medical Research field.