Moran Yehu

Prof. Moran Yehu is a Professor at the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, affiliated with the Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences. He leads the Department as its elected head. His research focuses on molecular evolution, particularly in cnidarians, exploring microRNA roles, venom evolution, and antiviral systems. He holds a BSc (Tel Aviv University), MSc (Biochemistry, Tel Aviv University), and PhD (2010, Tel Aviv University), followed by postdoctoral research at the University of Vienna. His lab investigates cnidarian development, toxinology, and RNA pathways, contributing to understanding evolutionary mechanisms in complex systems.

Research Interests:
- MicroRNA regulation in cnidarian development
- Evolution of venom and toxin delivery systems
- Antiviral immunity in basal metazoans
- Ion channel evolution and function

• Recipient of the ERC Consolidator Grant (2019) for studying antiviral systems in cnidarians.
• Leading projects on cnidarian viromes and functional genetics of venom components.

Key Achievements:
- Characterized venom diversity across life stages in sea anemones.
- Discovered novel microRNA functions and evolutionary links with plants.
- Elucidated mechanisms of cnidocyte biogenesis using CRISPR/Cas9.

Awards:
- ERC Consolidator Grant (2019)
- Selected Exceeding Article award for Yaara Columbus-Shenkar's work (SMART grant).

Lab Activities:
- Hosts a multidisciplinary team including postdocs, PhD students, and technicians.
- Collaborates internationally on venom evolution and antiviral systems.