Research Areas:
The Center for translational research in head and neck cancer
and skull-base tumors at Rabin Medical Center aims to promote the treatment
therapy and improve the quality of life of patients through basic and
translational research.
The laboratory practices a "personalized medicine"
approach that includes genetic characterization of tumors and optimization of
treatment, while reducing side effects.
The laboratory has a tissue biobank, which is the basis for
performing studies both in tissue cultures as well as animal models in order to
understand the genetics and biology of these tumors and their resistance
mechanisms to radiation and chemotherapy. Furthermore, we explore different
strategies to overcome these mechanisms and try to develop new therapeutic
approaches with the potential to advance to clinical trials. In addition, we
conducted studies to explore the role of the immune system in head and neck and
skull base tumors by integrating immunotherapy.
Another aspect of research in the lab is the mechanism of
treatment-related side effects and their long-term implications in cancer
survivors, including radiation and chemotherapy. We aim is to develop methods
for preventing or reducing these phenomena and improve patients' quality of
life.
The laboratory is located at the Felsenstein Medical Research
Center (room 100) and is affiliated with Otorhinolaryngology department at the Beilinson
Hospital and Tel Aviv University and works in collaboration with the Head and
Neck Oncology Unit at the Davidoff Center for Cancer Treatment and Research.
The leading research projects in the lab are:
- Artificial
intelligence-driven design of bio-materials and drugs for significant
performance improvement, contraindication, and customized medical
applications.
- Overcoming acquired
resistance to PI3K pathway inhibitors in head and neck squamous cell
carcinoma.
- Characterization of the
mechanism of vascular damage caused as a result of chemotherapy treatments
and its prevention.
- Activation and
inhibition of the opiates receptor and the effect on response to treatment
in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
- Radiation induced
salivary gland injury; understanding the mechanism and exploring ways to
mitigate the effect.
- Osteoradionecrosis (ORN)
of the jaws, which is the most serious side effect of radiotherapy.