Benjamin Berman, PhD
Project Title
Predicting immunotherapy response beyond mutation burden via Nanopore DNA methylation sequencing
About the Investigator
Based in Jerusalem, I lead a specialized team at the Hebrew University and Hadassah Medical Center dedicated to revolutionizing cancer detection. After years of research in the U.S., I moved to Israel to harness cutting-edge “Nanopore” technology, which allows us to read a patient’s genetic code in real-time. We are developing rapid, non-invasive tests to identify how individuals respond to treatment, aiming to spare patients from unnecessary surgeries. By uniting Israel’s top scientists and doctors, we are transforming complex DNA data into immediate bedside solutions for cancer patients across the country.
About the Research
Patients with aggressive bladder cancer currently face a grueling standard of care: intense chemotherapy followed by a major surgery to completely remove the bladder. While this surgery can be life-saving, it is a permanent, life-altering procedure with significant physical and psychological impacts. Recently, a new combination of immunotherapy drugs (EV+P) has shown incredible success, completely clearing the tumor in nearly 60% of patients. The challenge is that doctors currently have no way to know—without performing the surgery—which patients have already been cured by the drugs and could safely keep their bladders.
This project aims to solve that problem using a cutting-edge technology called Nanopore sequencing. This “all-in-one” tool allows us to read a patient’s genetic code in just a few hours. By analyzing a single-molecule “DNA fingerprint” from tumor biopsies and even simple urine samples, we can identify “exceptional responders”.
Our research focuses on two main areas:
1. Purifying the Signal: We use advanced computer models to “unmask” the cancer’s DNA from healthy cells, providing a clearer picture of how the tumor is responding to treatment.
2. Viral Mimicry: We look for a state where the drug makes the cancer “look” like a virus to the body. When this happens, the immune system can see and destroy the cancer more effectively.
Ultimately, this work aims to provide a fast, non-invasive way to identify patients who are already cancer-free, allowing them to skip major surgery and maintain their quality of life.
