Professor Yinon Ben-Neriah, MD, PhD

Scientist Spotlight

ICRF Research Professorship Grant Recipient at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Blumenthal Professor of Cancer Research
The Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research
Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School

Earlier in his career, he teamed up with another Israeli researcher, Prof. Alexander Levitzki, who pioneered the development of small molecules cancer-driving enzyme inhibitors. Prof. Ben-Neriah encouraged Prof. Levitzki to try treating CML with this novel approach and it proved to be a big success story.

This beginning paved the way for a game-changing breakthrough as he successfully cloned the BCR-ABL oncogene responsible for CML. This led him to identify the first effective small molecule inhibitor of BCR-ABL, paving the way for Gleevec®, a revolutionary pill that today is a first-line treatment for CML. Gleevec® extends and saves lives and forever transformed the landscape of leukemia treatments. The drug continues to offer new hope to patients and their families worldwide and Prof. Ben-Neriah is humbled to have played a vital role.

Research Overview

In recent years, following an intensive research and development effort funded in part by ICRF, Prof. Ben-Neriah and his team succeeded in developing a new experimental drug to treat acute myeloid leukemia (AML), one of the most aggressive and challenging types of cancer. This treatment is currently in clinical trials and is showing significant promise. Prof. Ben-Neriah often visits and works with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and City of Hope. These are the cancer centers where the trials are being conducted. He spends time with patients and evaluates progress.

Impactful Moments

Prof. Ben-Neriah credits fruitful partnerships from both years ago and today as one of the reasons breakthroughs in research happen. Among these are collaborative studies with Prof. Eli Pikarsky from the Hebrew University and Prof. Michael Karin from U.C. San Diego, in identifying a molecule called NF-kB as a key controller of the innate immune response and the first cue explaining the connection of cancer to chronic inflammation. Their discovery heralded a whole new field in cancer therapy with many new drugs aiming to break this harming link between inflammation and cancer.   

Reflections

What’s most rewarding to Prof. Ben-Neriah is the continuous problem solving involved with his work, and how it can directly impact others. “I like to solve cancer riddles. I solve problems and then carry the answers to the bedside to help patients. In Israel, the creativity I am surrounded by is unmatched. What is also extremely inspiring is the energy and enthusiasm of the young scientists.”

While he has much to be proud of throughout his accomplished career, Prof. Ben-Neriah credits ICRF for helping him get started and sees it today as Israel’s prominent source of funding in the field. “ICRF is even better than the gold standard when it comes to cancer research, and I’m thankful.”

Why Israel

According to Prof. Ben-Neriah, there is more creativity in Israel because its scientists do not have the same resources as they do in Europe or America. Also, the mix of diverse cultures and ethnicities allows for a unique type of collaboration unlike anywhere else, and funding goes much further in Israel. Right after October 7th, he recalls that it was especially challenging for students and postdocs living in Israel from overseas. “Their families were scared and urged them to return home. They want to stay, and we try to keep them; we care about them. I have invited foreign students to come live with us.” Prof. Ben-Neriah often mentors young, future scientific leaders and shares messages of hope and inspiration.