Nabieh Ayoub, PhD

About the Investigator:

Nabieh Ayoub is a Neubauer Full Professor at the Technion, specializing in DNA damage response and carcinogenesis. He earned his BSc in Biology and MSc in Genetics from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, followed by a PhD in Genetics & Molecular Biology from the same institution. Postdoctoral work at the Medical Research Council in Cambridge, UK, focused on DNA repair and cancer. His research has led to publications in high-impact journals and significant contributions to the understanding of DNA repair and cancer mechanisms. He holds the Chil and Berta Weissman Chair in Precision Medicine and has received numerous awards, including the AAAS Newcomb Cleveland Prize.

About the Research:

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. RBM10, a frequently mutated protein frequently lost in LUAD, represents a promising therapeutic target. RBM10 mutations often result in loss of function, limiting the effectiveness of current targeted therapies. This research aims to induce and exploit RBM10 deficiency to expand treatment options for LUAD and other human cancers.

Professor Ayoub and his team will use CRISPR technology to identify positive regulators of RBM10. This will allow them to create RBM10 deficiency in tumors that normally produce it. They will also conduct large-scale chemical screens to find new drugs that specifically target tumors lacking RBM10, and that work better with WEE1 inhibitor—a drug previously shown by Professor Ayoub’s lab to effectively eliminate RBM10-deficient lung tumors. Finally, the team will investigate the precise mechanism by which these new drugs kill cancer cells.

To conclude, this research will uncover a collection of new drugs that target tumors lacking a functional RBM10 gene. These drugs will be tested in preclinical studies to show they are safe and effective, either alone or in combination with existing WEE1 inhibitors. The goal is to develop new treatments for a wide range of human cancers, both those with and without RBM10 mutations, and quickly move these promising therapies into clinical trials.