The interdepartmental equipment unit (better known as "Tzabam") at the Felsenstein Medical Research Center (FMRC) is spread between the research laboratories and in a central unit in a large laboratory.
The unit has modern, state-of-the-art equipment which attends the necessities of the researchers and graduate students from the various biomedical fields at the center, mainly immunology, molecular biology, hematology, dermatology, neurology, telomere and exosomal research.
In addition to purchasing, implementing and maintaining the interdepartmental equipment, the unit supports and provides guiding to the researchers, who gain experience working with sophisticated equipment, which allows them to conduct experiments that answer diverse research questions.
The unit has several different fluorescent microscopes, including a confocal microscope. In addition, there is a computerized cell scanner (Flow Cytometer) capable of reading ten fluorescent colors simultaneously, and a Cell Sorter device capable of isolating and separating specific cell populations.
The unit also has an ultracentrifuge and Nanosight and ZetaView devices, which are used in the study of exosomes, one of the hottest topics in contemporary scientific research.
In addition, a cryostat microtome for creating histological sections, several Real-time PCR devices and the Nanodrop device, which are used in molecular research, as well as ELISA devices, plate and gels readers of fluorescent and luminescence.
The director of the FMRC's "Tzabam”, Dr. Elad Hikri, completed his PhD studies in biotechnology at Bar Ilan University. He continued his post-graduate studies at Tel Aviv University and even served as a researcher and director of a research laboratory at the FMRC.
Throughout his years of work, he has experimented with cancer research while developing and understanding various laboratory methods and animal models for the benefit of basic and translational research. His extensive experience and knowledge assist researchers and students at the center and contribute to leveraging their research work.
The uniqueness of the FMRC, as an internal university institute located in the Rabin and Schneider Hospitals complex, enables accessibility and the integration of the clinic with clinically oriented applied research and basic research.