Prof. Erez Levanon
Genome, RNA-edting ,ADAR, APOBEC, mobile-elements
CV
Research
RNA Editing and Genome Plasticity
The Levanon Lab at Bar-Ilan University studies genome and transcriptome plasticity, with a particular focus on how genetic information is modified at the RNA level after transcription. Its core research area is adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing, in which adenosine deaminases acting on RNA (ADAR enzymes) convert adenosine to inosine within double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). This process influences gene expression, protein function, development, behavior, and evolution.
The lab’s central questions are: What is the full extent of A-to-I RNA editing across the human transcriptome and in animal models such as zebrafish and mice? How does editing affect RNA secondary structure, especially within repetitive Alu elements derived from mobile genetic elements? And how does ADAR-mediated RNA editing prevent the innate immune system from mistaking endogenous dsRNA for viral RNA?
Active projects investigate patterns of RNA editing and their potential roles in a range of medical conditions, including atherosclerosis, cardiomyopathies, atrial fibrillation, atopic dermatitis, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, leukemia, COVID-19, and neurodevelopmental disorders, as well as in the biological mechanisms underlying stress resilience. In parallel, the lab develops technologies for site-directed RNA editing that harness endogenous ADAR enzymes, including approaches aimed at correcting disease-causing mutations associated with inherited retinal disorders.
The lab combines large-scale computational genomics and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis with experimental validation conducted through research collaborations. This integrated approach connects fundamental research on the epitranscriptome and RNA-editing mechanisms with the development of potential diagnostic tools and targeted RNA-based therapies.
Courses
80392 - Computational Genomics
80970 - RNA Editing
- 80903 - Seminar
Publications
Selected publications
1. Rosenwasser, Z., Cohen-Fultheim, R., Levitt, M., Levanon, E. Y., & Oren, G. (2026). ADAR-GPT: A continually fine-tuned language model for predicting A-to-I RNA editing sites. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 123(2), e2529073123.
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2529073123
Introduces ADAR-GPT, an AI-based model that predicts sites of adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing from RNA sequence information. The approach improves the identification of potential editing targets, supporting research into RNA regulation and the development of RNA-editing therapies.
2. Shmuel-Eidelman, M., Cohen-Fultheim, R., Eisenberg, E., & Levanon, E. Y. (2026). Off-target RNA editing hotspots caused by base editors. Molecular Therapy, 34(4), 2361–2371.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymthe.2025.12.043
Identifies genes and regions of RNA that are particularly susceptible to unintended editing by genome-editing tools. The findings provide a framework for evaluating off-target effects and improving the precision and safety of emerging gene-editing therapies.
3. Cohen-Fultheim, R., Twersky, I., Krupkin, H., Roth, S. H., Levanon, E. Y., & Eisenberg, E. (2026). A cytoplasmic index for quantifying immune-related A-to-I RNA editing. Genome Biology, 27, 270.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13059-026-04154-3
Develops a computational measure of RNA editing in cytoplasmic transcripts that is particularly relevant to the regulation of innate immune responses. By distinguishing immune-related editing from broader RNA-editing activity, the method enables more sensitive analysis of ADAR1 function in different tissues, infections, and cancers.
4. Gabay, O., Shoshan, Y., Kopel, E., Ben-Zvi, U., Mann, T. D., Bressler, N., Cohen-Fultheim, R., Schaffer, A. A., Roth, S. H., Tzur, Z., Levanon, E. Y., & Eisenberg, E. (2022). Landscape of adenosine-to-inosine RNA recoding across human tissues. Nature Communications, 13, 1184.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-28841-4
Establishes a comprehensive atlas of A-to-I RNA editing events that alter protein-coding sequences across human tissues. The study identifies 1,517 recoding sites, revealing how RNA editing contributes to protein diversity and how its activity varies among tissues.
5. Eisenberg, E., & Levanon, E. Y. (2018). A-to-I RNA editing – immune protector and transcriptome diversifier. Nature Reviews Genetics, 19(8), 473–490.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41576-018-0006-1
Examines the dual biological roles of A-to-I RNA editing: diversifying the transcriptome by altering RNA sequences and protecting cells from inappropriate activation of innate immunity. The review establishes a broader framework for understanding the significance of RNA editing in normal physiology, disease, and emerging RNA-engineering applications.
Media
The Mutation That DNA Testing Will Miss and the Discovery That Could Transform Cancer Research | Globes | September 15, 2018
From the Liver to the Brain: Two Israeli Researchers Receive Prestigious European Union Grants | Ynet | November 6, 2025
ERC Grant Supports Research Toward Innovative Treatments for Liver Diseases | Bar-Ilan University | November 6, 2025
RNA Editing: An Innovative Technology for Drug Development | Bar-Da'at Podcast, Bar-Ilan University | August 26, 2021
The Next Generation of Genetic Therapies | Bar-Ilan University | November 3, 2024
Last Updated Date : 01/11/2026
