Research Interests
Our lab studies the mechanisms of cancer cell reprogramming and the contributions of the tumor microenvironment to this process. Using an integrative approach to study brain tumor (glioma)-specific neurobiology and oncobiology, the research in my lab currently explores the following directions:
· Examining the parallel changes in oncogenesis and the induction of pluripotency
· Elucidating the mechanisms involved in cancer cell plasticity
· Understanding the molecular basis of tumor cell heterogeneity and the contribution of the tumor microenvironment
· Identifying the molecular events involved in gliomagenesis
· Designing novel therapeutic approaches combining adoptive immune gene therapy and nanotechnology
Methodology:
Our lab combines cell biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, immunology, cancer research, as well as advanced genome-wide techniques and microscopy.
To recapitulate human tumors in a mouse model, we use inducible-lentiviral vectors to introduce oncogenes/tumor suppressor genes in a cell-type and tissue specific manner.
Education:
2005-2010 – Post doctoral fellow, Cancer research at the Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Science, La Jolla, USA.
2000-2005 – PhD Immunology, Dept. of Immunology, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
1995-1997 – MSc in Biotechnology (with Honors), Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.
1990-1995 – BSc in Biochemistry, University of the Republic of Uruguay, Montevideo, Uruguay.
Employment:
2021-Present – Associate Professor, School of Neurobiology, Biochemistry and Biophysics, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
2015-2021 – Senior Lecturer (Assistant Professor), School of Neurobiology, Biochemistry and Biophysics, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
2010-2015- Senior Research Associate, Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Science, La Jolla, USA.
2000-2005 – consulting scientist/Project manager, R&D Dept. Massis Co, Israel
1999-2000 – Senior Research/Lab Director, Institute of Oncology, The Sheba Medical Center, Israel.
1997-1999 – Research scientist, R&D Dept., Combact Diagnositc Systems Ltd, Israel.
Honors & Awards:
1997 M.Sc. in Biotechnology with Honors
2006-08 EMBO Long Term Fellowship
2006-07 Pioneer Postdoctoral Endowment fund –fellowship award- The Salk Institute
2011 AACR-Aflac, Incorporated Scholar-in-Training award – AACR Annual Meeting
2014 Travel fellowship – 7th FISEB-ILANIT Conference
2014 AACR – Millennium Scholar-in-Training Award – AACR Annual Meeting
2015 AACR – Aflac, Scholar-in-Training Award – Advances in Brain Cancer Research
2017 Broad-ISF – Collaborative Project Award
2019 AAI Early career faculty travel grant
