The Cancer Research Institute operates as an integral part of the cancer center. Its objectives are to enhance our understanding of basic molecular and cellular mechanisms of tumor growth and metastasis, and develop novel approaches to preventing and treating cancer, which are tailored to the patients’ needs.

The long-standing collaboration of prominent clinical researchers at TASMC with scientists from the Weizmann Institute has led to a unique research program, which promotes and supports joint research projects, selected by a bi-institutional advisory board.

The Weizmann scientists bring into the collaboration outstanding achievements in research of molecular and cellular mechanisms of normal and tumor cells, and help in developing the basic research knowledge of young MD and PhD students of the Medical Center.

TASMC researchers contribute the clinical basis to these research projects, and direct them towards clinically oriented problems, applying results in animal models and human trials. 

1. The Unit for Research in Cancer Prevention Goals:

·  Early detection, treatment and surveillance of gastrointestinal tumors.

·  Clinical studies in chemoprevention of colorectal cancer.

·  Familial cancer.

·  Molecular Epidemiology.

Research Interests:

·  Molecular Biology of Colorectal Cancer.

·  Small bowel tumors.

·  Chemoprevention and early detection of gastrointestinal tumors.

·  Signal transduction in the multi-step process of gastrointestinal tumors.

·  The role of COX 2 in colorectal development.

Research Projects:

·  Cell cycle abnormalities and apoptosis in colon cancer.

·  Cell cycle abnormalities in small bowel tumors.

·  Molecular epidemiology of CRC among Ashkenazi and Sepharadi Jews and Palestinians.

·  The role of ras and other oncogenes in the multi-step process of colorectal carcinogenesis.

·  Comparison of normal and transformed cells in a cell culture model developed in the lab.

·  Study of the state of leukocyte adhesiveness and aggregation (LAA).

The director of the Unit is Prof. Nadir Arber nadir@tasmc.health.gov.il 

2. Alternative Medicine.

3. Resistance to radiotherapy.

4. Molecular basis of tumor development

5. Tumor Development – effect of oxygen and angiogenesis.