Dr. Roza Selimyan Discusses Epigenetics in Health, Disease and Aging

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YEREVAN, Armenia – On September 15, 2015, the American University of Armenia (AUA) School of Public Health (SPH) hosted a public health seminar with Roza Selimyan, M.Sc., PhD who talked about developments in one of the youngest and fastest-growing areas of research – Epigenetics, which offers a new angle to the long-standing debate about nature vs. nurture. She discussed Epigenetic regulation of gene expression addressing both site-specific and genome-wide changes in health, disease and aging.

The audience of public health and medical professionals, MPH students, alumni and faculty asked interesting questions following the presentation and engaged in a lively discussion on how new knowledge in Epigenetics could help to prevent diseases and improve health.

Dr. Roza Selimyan is a faculty member and Program Coordinator for the Health Science Intensive Program at Johns Hopkins University. She holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology (Rostock University, Germany) and M.Sc. in Genetics (Yerevan State University, Armenia). She completed postdoctoral training at the National Institute on Aging of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, where she subsequently worked as a Research Scientist. Throughout her scientific career, Dr. Selimyan studied molecular, genetic and epigenetic mechanisms in various areas of the biomedical field, including aging, cancer, inflammation, development, obesity and immunology.

Since 2010, Dr. Selimyan has played an active role in promoting health, education and science through various projects. She has been regularly invited by various organizations and institutions – including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Department of Labor, hospitals, and universities – to give lectures on health and science related topics.

Dr. Selimyan taught at the Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences as an instructor teaching the MCAT Biology course. She then joined the University of Maryland University College as an Adjunct Assistant Professor where she was teaching Cancer Biology, Human Health and Disease and Biology of Aging. In 2014, Dr. Selimyan joined The Johns Hopkins University, first as an adjunct lecturer, then as a full time faculty member and program coordinator of the Health Science Intensive Program, Center for Biotechnology Education,
Advanced Academic Programs. Dr. Selimyan teaches onsite and online courses, which include Molecular Biology, Human Molecular Genetics, Epigenetics, Nutrition and Psychosocial Determinants of Health: Implications on Diagnostics.

Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia and affiliated with the University of California. AUA provides a global education in Armenia and the region, offering high-quality, graduate and undergraduate studies, encouraging civic engagement, and promoting public service and democratic values.