Associated members
Life Sciences
Prof. Nir Ben-Tal
Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Office: Sherman 631
Tel: +972-3-640-6709
Email: NirB@tauex.tau.ac.il
The development of methods for predicting structure, function and dynamics of membrane proteins, and their application to selected proteins.
The detection of amino acid changes that are responsible to the emergence of influenza strains with new phenotypes.
Prof. Nathan Dascal
Dept. of Physiology & Pharmacology
Office: Sackler (Medicine) 505
Tel: +972-3-640-5743
Email: dascaln@post.tau.ac.il
We are studying the quantitative aspects of signal transduction in living cells, in particular in receptor-G protein-ion channel cascades. Our methods include counting molecules in plasma membrane, understanding their interactions using biochemical and biophysical (FRET and other methods) approaches, heterologous expression of proteins of the cascade and electrophysiological study of their function, construction of kinetics models describing the whole cascade as well as various aspects of the cascade and the gating properties of ion channels, and production and testing of predictions of the models by experiment.
Prof. Tal Dvir
Dept. of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology,
Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering
Office: Green 116
Tel: +972-3-640-6514
Email: tdvir@post.tau.ac.il
Our lab develops smart bio micro and nano technologies for engineering complex tissues. Our work focuses on engineering cardiac patches for treating patients after heart attack, and on development of cyborg tissues integrating micro and nanoelectronics with living organs for controlling their performances.
Prof. Avigdor Eldar
Dept. of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology
Office: Green 134
Tel: +972-3-640-7492
Email: avigdor@gmail.com
​
We study mechanisms of interactions and signaling within bacterial communities. Specifically, we explore the interplay between physical and ecological community parameters and the way these impact the molecular design and evolutionary fate of bacterial cell-cell signaling mechanisms. We combine quantitative modeling at the physical, systems and ecological levels with bioinformatics and various experimental approaches that allow us to analyze interactions at the single cell and community levels.
Prof. Ehud Gazit
Dept. of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology
Office: Green - Biotechnology, 102
Tel: +972-3-640-9030
Email: ehudg@post.tau.ac.il
Prof. Yael Hanein
School of Electrical Engineering
Office: Wolfson Elec. Eng. 229
Tel: +972-3-640-7698
Email: yaelha@tauex.tau.ac.il
Exploration towards better neuron-electrode interfaces including: Understaning the neuron-electrode interface, mechanisms affecting neuronal stimulation, neuronal adhesion to surfaces and how surface topography affects adhesion.
Prof. Yoav Henis
Dept. of Neurobiology
Office: Sherman 704
Tel: +972-3-640-9053
Email: henis@post.tau.ac.il
Our research focuses on cancer biophysics. We combine biophysical and molecular biology approaches to study the dynamics, organization and interactions of membrane receptors (e.g., TGF-beta receptors) and signaling oncoproteins (Ras, Src) at the plasma membrane of living cells. We focus on cancer-related proteins. Our emphasis is on interactions of receptors and membrane-associated signaling proteins that regulate cell proliferation and cancer.
Prof. Rafi Korenstein
Dept. of Physiology & Pharmacology
Office: Sackler School of Medicine, 614
Tel: +972-3-640-6042
Email: korens@post.tau.ac.il
Prof. Dov Lichtenberg
Dept. of Physiology & Pharmacology
Office: Sackler School of Medicine, 505
Tel: +972-3-640-7305
Email: physidov@post.tau.ac.il
Prof. Gil Markovich
School of Chemistry
Office: Multidisciplinary 207
Tel: +972-3-640-6985
Email: gilmar@post.tau.ac.il
Nanoscale chirality, soft-templates for growing inorganic nanostructures,
thin molecular films
Prof. Dan Peer
Dep. of Cell Research & Immunology
Office: Britannia-Porter, 226
Tel: +972-3-640-7925
Email: peer@post.tau.ac.il
Our lab is studying how to manipulate cells’ functions in order to generate novel strategies to treat inflammatory diseases and cancers. We are combining multidisciplinary approaches including immunology, cell and molecular biology, genetics, protein engineering, material sciences, nanotechnology and computational techniques for drug discovery and potentially for therapeutics. In addition, we are developing nanomedicines by designing highly selective targeting moieties and novel nanocarriers, with an ultimate goal to translate some of our findings into clinical settings.
Dr. Gali Prag
Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Office: Sherman - Life Sciences, 612
Tel: +972-3-640-9828
Email: prag@post.tau.ac.il
Understanding Protein Sign Language
Healthy body functions depend on the normal and fluent communication between protein molecules, enabling regulation and coordination. Inside each cell, protein molecules serve as both workers and supervisors and interact by using a special sign language. Key words in this sign language is based on a small protein called Ubiquitin (Ub). The 2004 Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded for breakthrough research on the Ubiquitin system, acknowledging its essential role in cell function.
My laboratory is taking the Ubiquitin research to the next level of discovery, focusing on the mechanisms by which cells interpret this unique sign signal at the atomic level. A complete understanding of these signs will facilitate the design of molecules that bind and inhibit (or promote) protein actions. Ultimately, our research will make it possible to understand how cells’ signals are involved in inducing and preventing disease. This knowledge will facilitate the development of “structural based drug design”.
Prof. Natan Shaked
Dept. of Biomedical Engineering
Office: Multidisciplinary 410
Tel: +972-3-640-7100
Email: nshaked@tau.ac.il
We develop novel biomedical microscopy, nanoscopy and interferometry optical systems for imaging of biological cells. For example, we can image live cells' thickness prifiles with sub-nanometric accuracy, in ambient conditions, and without using contrast agents.