The metabolic disease research hub organizes a group of scientists at IMRIC, that are performing collaborative high-quality research on cardio-metabolic diseases, in particular diabetes and its complications. Research projects include, among others:
- Embryonic development of the heart and implications for adult cardiac plasticity and regeneration
- Embryonic development of the pancreas and the programming of embryonic stem cells to generate transplantable beta cells for the cure of diabetes.
- Adult beta cell dynamics and regenerative medicine for diabetes.
- Mechanisms of insulin resistance
- The impact of bariatric surgery on cardio-metabolic disease
- ER stress as a determinant of beta cell failure in diabetes
- Role of natural killer cells in the development of autoimmune diabetes
- Alternative splicing as a determinant of beta cell function and insulin action
- Epigenetic aberrations in type 2 diabetes
- Novel effects of blood vessels on organ development and function
- Cell-free circulating DNA for diagnosis and monitoring of metabolic diseases
- Role of cellular senescence in beta cell biology and pathology
A strength of this group lies in the diverse expertise of its members, many of whom are young faculty. By bringing together knowhow from cardiovascular biology, embryology, molecular biology, advanced transgenic technology, epigenetics and clinical sciences, this hub greatly enhances the quality of cardio-metabolic disease research and its eventual clinical impact.
This hub operates on an everyday basis to advance the study of cardio-metabolic diseases, metabolic syndrome and diabetes. This includes joint group meetings and journal clubs, seminars of invited guests and special research days. The hub attempts to attract additional funding for joint multidisciplinary projects and for the purchase of advanced equipment needed for this type of research. Another goal of the hub is to establish a “library” of engineered animal models and vectors used for the study of the pathophysiology of metabolic disease.
Members of the metabolic hub
Yuval Dor (head) - Diabetes, novel approaches for diagnosis of cardiometabolic disease
Benjamin Glaser - Diabetes and hyperinsulinism
Gil Leibowitz - ER stress in pancreatic beta cells
Zvi Granot - Modulation of neutrophil function in metabolic diseases
Danny Ben-Zvi - Systems biology of metablic disease
Shlomo Sasson - Insulin action
Abraham Fainsod - The connection between abnormal retinoic acid biosynthesis and neurodevelopment disorders
Ann Saada Reisch - Inborn errors of metabolism - mitochondrial and lysosomal diseases
Rotem Karni - Regulation of glucose metabolism by alternative splicing
Jacob Bar-Tana - Upstream molecular drivers of the Metabolic Syndrome; All-in-One prospective drug for type 2 diabetes
Eli Keshet - Blood vessels and cardiometabolic disease. Heart development.
David Zangen - Beta cell gene expression in diabetes and hyperinsulinism
Sarah Zangen - Beta cell metabolism focusing on mitochondrial OXPHOS and its role in glucose stimulated insulin secretion
Danielle Melloul - Transcriptional regulation of pancreatic beta cells
Ofer Mandelboim - Metabolism, metabolic diseases and innate immunity
Rami Aqeilan - Wwox and glucose metabolism in cancer
Yossi Tam - Role of the peripheral endocannabinoid system in obesity, diabetes and the metabolic syndrome
Hilla Knobler - β-cell function in diabetics of Yemenite origin; Hypoglycemia post bariatric surgery
