RANA BASEM MOHAMMED REBHI DAJANI

Research Interests
 Rana Dajani is a molecular biologist and geneticist whose research traces the arc of how human biology interacts with environment, identity, and adversity. Her work began in population genetics and stem-cell biology, exploring how genetic diversity, ancestry, and polymorphisms shape health in underrepresented Middle Eastern populations. Early studies characterized the genetic structure of ethnic minorities in Jordan—such as Circassians and Chechens—shedding light on regional human variation and disease susceptibility (e.g., diabetes and cancer risk). Concurrently, her work on stem-cell markers advanced regenerative medicine in regional biomedical research contexts.
From this foundation in genetic diversity and molecular mechanisms, Dajani’s focus evolved toward gene–environment interactions, particularly in the context of war, trauma, and resilience. Collaborating with psychologists and anthropologists, she began studying Syrian refugee youth in Jordan, examining how genetic variants (e.g., MAOA, 5-HTTLPR, COMT) interact with psychosocial factors such as resilience and stress exposure. This work reframed genetic research on trauma—moving beyond pathology to explore how biology and social resilience jointly shape recovery and adaptation.
Her most recent and defining research examines the epigenetics of intergenerational trauma. Through epigenome-wide studies of Syrian refugee families spanning three generations, Dajani and colleagues identified distinct DNA methylation signatures associated with war exposure—evidence that violence and displacement can leave molecular “echoes” across generations. These findings highlight how experiences of conflict become biologically embedded and how resilience may buffer such effects, linking molecular biology to humanitarian and social contexts.

Scientific and Societal Significance
Bridging molecular biology and humanitarian science:
 Dajani’s research connects laboratory genetics and fieldwork with refugees, illustrating how social experience can become biologically encoded. It is among the first sustained programs in the Middle East to integrate molecular data with psychological and social frameworks in displaced populations.


Expanding global genomics:
 By studying underrepresented Arab and refugee populations, her work diversifies the global genomic database—addressing long-standing geographical and cultural gaps in human biology research.


Reframing trauma and resilience:
 Rather than viewing trauma solely through pathology, Dajani’s research highlights resilience as a biological and social force—a perspective with implications for mental health, developmental biology, and post-conflict recovery.


Policy and ethical impact:
 Findings from her studies have implications for public health, humanitarian aid, and policy, particularly in designing interventions that consider both biological vulnerability and social resilience in refugee and conflict-affected communities.



In summary:
 Rana Dajani’s research field can be described as the study of human genetic and epigenetic responses to environment, adversity, and resilience, with a regional and global lens. It bridges molecular genetics, developmental biology, psychology, and social science, offering a groundbreaking model of how trauma and adaptation are written not only in stories but also in the human genome.
RANA BASEM MOHAMMED REBHI DAJANI

RANA BASEM MOHAMMED REBHI DAJANI

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