Houman Kahroba (H.)

Greetings! My passion for biology was ignited during high school when I participated in the National Biology Olympiad Laboratory, sparking a deep curiosity about the natural sciences. This enthusiasm led me to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology, complemented by a minor in Microbiology. My academic journey took a pivotal turn during my master’s studies, where I delved into human molecular genetics, contributing to diverse projects such as recombinant protein cloning, molecular diagnosis of animal diseases, and HLA typing in multiple sclerosis research.

In 2015, I joined the Molecular Medicine Department at Tabriz Medical University as a research assistant, where I focused on exploring the roles of small extracellular vesicles (exosomes) in cancer, autoimmune diseases, and infertility. Building on this foundation, I began a dual PhD program in 2022 at Maastricht University and Hasselt University. My current research is anchored in two major cohort studies from Belgium and England, investigating the impact of air pollution, particularly Black Carbon, on placental dysfunction and fetal brain development. Utilizing transcriptomics and the cargo of small extracellular vesicles as key signaling molecules, my work aims to unravel the intricate mechanisms underlying these processes.