Naama Geva-Zatorsky, PhD

About the Investigator:

Prof. Naama Geva-Zatorsky is a pioneer in the field of the microbiota, who has published fundamental studies on the effects of the microbiome on the immune system as well as developed technologies to study the microbiome in real-time. She is mostly interested in the role of the microbiome on cancer and cancer therapy as proposed in this research.

About the Research:

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the eighth most frequently diagnosed malignancy worldwide and a leading contributor to morbidity and mortality. Although the oral cavity can be directly examined, OSCC is often detected in its later stages, resulting in a poor prognosis. Recent research underscores the importance of the microbiota—the community of microorganisms living on and within our bodies—in both cancer development and treatment responses, of various cancer types. Prof. Geva-Zatorsky’s preliminary results in murine models indicate a role for the microbiota in OSCC. In this project, she will study the role of the microbiome in OSCC in patients in order to mechanistically identify microbial products that hold promise for cancer therapy.