From March 22nd to March 31st, 2026, Tanya Rudola took part in a secondment to the laboratory of Prof. Yishai Ofran at Shaare Zedek Medical Center. The purpose of this placement was to gain insight into the clinical and molecular diagnostic workflow of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), complementing her research experience in AML biology.
During the secondment, Tanya observed the clinical diagnostic pathway of AML patients, from the initial evaluation and diagnosis by hematologists through to molecular characterization and disease monitoring. She gained exposure to the processing of peripheral blood and bone marrow samples and learned how they are prepared for downstream molecular analyses.
The placement provided hands-on experience and observation of laboratory techniques used in AML diagnostics, including DNA and RNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assays, next-generation sequencing (NGS) and optical genome mapping (OGM). Tanya also learned how these technologies are used to identify clinically relevant genetic abnormalities and mutations that guide diagnosis, risk stratification, treatment selection, and follow-up monitoring of patients.
This secondment provided valuable insight into the translational interface between laboratory research and clinical practice. It enhanced her understanding of how molecular findings are integrated into patient management and gave her a better understanding of the diagnostic process used in AML.