Administrative Contact
Biography
Dr. Shavit’s research interests are the genetics of hematologic and cardiovascular diseases. These include hemophilia and bleeding disorders, as well as excessive clotting, such as myocardial infarction, stroke, and deep vein thrombosis. He has used genome editing to produce mutations in the relevant pathways, with the surprising finding that fish tolerate disturbances that are embryonic lethal in mammals. Dr. Shavit is a recent chair of the Megakaryocyte and Platelet Scientific Subcommittee of the American Society of Hematology, on the Board of Directors of the Hemostasis and Thrombosis Research Society, and co-chair of the Hematology Research Interest Group of the Zebrafish Disease Models Society.
Areas of Interest
We study the genetics of human blood and cardiovascular disorders using zebrafish and have developed models through genome editing with zinc finger nucleases, TALENs, and CRISPR. Patients with deficiencies of particular blood coagulation factors are often labeled with hematologic disorders, yet often have no phenotype. On the other hand, there are patients with phenotypes out of proportion to their laboratory clotting factor profile, and we are often unable to predict an individual patient’s risk with any useful degree of accuracy. One of our primary goals is the identification of genes that modify blood clotting factors and their phenotypic expression. Knowledge of such modifier genes will improve diagnosis and classification of blood coagulation disorders, identify potential targets for therapy, and further our understanding of the underlying biology of hemostasis and thrombosis. Sensitized N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) mutagenesis and high throughput chemical suppressor screens are being performed on zebrafish mutants with pathologic bleeding and clotting phenotypes, followed by next generation sequencing. This strategy will identify genetic modifiers and novel molecules with the potential to improve the diagnostic and therapeutic tools available for treatment of affected patients.
Honors & Awards
- 2021 Kenneth Lewis Memorial Lectureship, Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University
- 2019 Appointed Henry and Mala Dorfman Professor of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
- 2019 Elected to American Society for Clinical Investigation
- 2019 Elected to American Pediatric Society
- 2015 University of Michigan Pediatric Student Education Award
- 2014 American Society of Hematology Junior Faculty Scholar Award
- 2011-12 Top Resident Teacher Award, University of Michigan Department of Pediatrics
- 2009 Diane and Larry Johnson Family Scholar of Pediatrics
- 2009 University of Michigan Biological Sciences Scholars Program
- 2008 American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Young Investigator Award
- 2007 University of Michigan Department of Medicine Outstanding Research Award
- 2006 University of Michigan Pediatric Faculty Award for Basic Science Research
- 1998 Inaugural Florence Helen Raby Stone Fellowship
- 1997, 98 Invited Collaborator: Research for the Future Project Grant from the Japanese Society for Promotion of Science
Credentials
- 1992 University of Michigan, B.S., Cellular and Molecular Biology
- 2000 Northwestern University, Ph.D.
- 2000 Northwestern University, M.D.