Habiba Bouhamed Chaabouni
Encyclopedia
Habiba Bouhamed Chaabouni is Professor of Medical Genetics
at Tunis University
.
In 1981, she created the first genetic counselling service, then launched epidemiological studies on consanguinity
in northern Tunisia
a region where the rate of genetic illnesses, of birth defects and of mortality
was particularly elevated. Her studies demonstrated that in this region, a quarter of the marriage
s involved first cousins whose parents were themselves siblings.
In 1993, she put in place a medical genetics service and consulting practise with the goal of influencing people to request prenatal diagnosis
testing. Her work enabled the identification of new genetic mutations involved with different pathologies. She has published over 100 research articles and is author or co-author of 50 peer-reviewed articles.
At the same time, she created a graduate program in genetics at the Faculty of Medicine at Tunis University
. In 2006, she was a recipient of the L'Oréal-UNESCO Awards for Women in Science
.
She has been a consultant for the World Health Organization
(WHO), and the League of Arab Nations. Chaabouni has been active in many international initiatives related to hereditary disease. She has also done work to promote UNESCO
’s Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights
. She is a member of the American Society of Human Genetics, and the European Society of Cytogenetics.
In her own words:
Genetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
at Tunis University
Tunis University
-Profile:The Tunis University has been watchful, for sixteen years, for the best use of the human and material means granted to higher education and scientific research institutions it supervises to improve their opening on the social, cultural and economic environments.With the aim of a better...
.
In 1981, she created the first genetic counselling service, then launched epidemiological studies on consanguinity
Consanguinity
Consanguinity refers to the property of being from the same kinship as another person. In that respect, consanguinity is the quality of being descended from the same ancestor as another person...
in northern Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
a region where the rate of genetic illnesses, of birth defects and of mortality
Mortality rate
Mortality rate is a measure of the number of deaths in a population, scaled to the size of that population, per unit time...
was particularly elevated. Her studies demonstrated that in this region, a quarter of the marriage
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
s involved first cousins whose parents were themselves siblings.
In 1993, she put in place a medical genetics service and consulting practise with the goal of influencing people to request prenatal diagnosis
Prenatal diagnosis
Prenatal diagnosis or prenatal screening is testing for diseases or conditions in a fetus or embryo before it is born. The aim is to detect birth defects such as neural tube defects, Down syndrome, chromosome abnormalities, genetic diseases and other conditions, such as spina bifida, cleft palate,...
testing. Her work enabled the identification of new genetic mutations involved with different pathologies. She has published over 100 research articles and is author or co-author of 50 peer-reviewed articles.
At the same time, she created a graduate program in genetics at the Faculty of Medicine at Tunis University
Tunis University
-Profile:The Tunis University has been watchful, for sixteen years, for the best use of the human and material means granted to higher education and scientific research institutions it supervises to improve their opening on the social, cultural and economic environments.With the aim of a better...
. In 2006, she was a recipient of the L'Oréal-UNESCO Awards for Women in Science
L'Oréal-UNESCO Awards for Women in Science
The L'Oréal-UNESCO Awards for Women in Science aims to improve the position of women in science by recognizing outstanding women researchers who have contributed to scientific progress...
.
She has been a consultant for the World Health Organization
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
(WHO), and the League of Arab Nations. Chaabouni has been active in many international initiatives related to hereditary disease. She has also done work to promote UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
’s Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights
Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights
The Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights is a document that was issued by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization at its 29th session in 1997. It was unanimously passed by the seventy-seven national delegations in attendance.The declaration is...
. She is a member of the American Society of Human Genetics, and the European Society of Cytogenetics.
In her own words: