Cellular Death & Stress Responses

BIOGRAPHY

RESEARCH:

Research in our laboratory focuses on biological processes in which cells die and tissue damage occurs. In 1983, our laboratory began its study of a leukocyte-produced protein that we then called ‘cytotoxin,’ which we have since found induces both cell death and resistance of cells to death, a protein now known to be identical to tumour necrosis factor (TNF).

Since then it has been learned that TNF is just one member of a large (and still growing) family of cytokines responsible for the regulation of an impressive variety of immune defence and developmental processes. These days, the TNF family signalling is a mainstream, highly dynamic, field of research and we are excited to be a part of it.

Our laboratory belongs to the recently founded interdisciplinary Department of Biological Chemistry. Since its inception, our research has been conducted with the support and collaboration of the Ares Serono company and its Israeli subsidiary Interpharm, and has been aimed not only at acquiring basic knowledge, but also at applying this knowledge to the treatment of diseases to which members of the TNF family contribute. Part of the insights gained through this collaboration has already been applied to the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases such as Psoraisis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.