62 innovations from Bar-Ilan University, available for licensing, co-investment, or spin-out through BIRAD.
Cohen Cyrille
In this project we have generated novel targeting chimeric receptors based on the extra cellular domain of two members of the SIGLEC family: SIGLEC7 and SIGLEC9. These targeting moieties were fused to different signalling domains and expressed in primary human T-cells. We identified for each SIGLEC receptor the optimal molecules and went on and performed multiple functional assays. We observed enhanced cytokines secretion and recognition of multiple tumors (ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, lung cancer) mediated by SIGLEC chimeras. We also demonstrate that these receptors can upregulate the activation marker 41BB as well as display significant anti-tumor cytotoxicity, upon co-culture with tumor cells. Overall, we propose that engineering T-cells with a SIGLEC-based chimeric receptors bears important implications for the improvement of T cell-based immunotherapy.
alon shahar
We present a method for multiplexed RNA and protein detection in intact, thick organoids. Organoid thickness represents a major barrier to in situ molecular analysis. Our approach extends Expansion Sequencing (ExSeq)—previously limited to tissue sections up to ~50 µm—to organoids ranging from 100 µm to 300 µm in diameter. Importantly, organoids exceeding 300–500 µm frequently develop necrotic cores due to restricted oxygen and reagent diffusion, making 300 µm a practical upper limit for intact, physiologically relevant analysis. A key innovation of this method is delayed hydrogel polymerization, which enables uniform diffusion of gel monomers throughout the tissue prior to crosslinking. Additional challenges, including limited surface area, enzyme penetration, and imaging depth, were addressed through automated pipetting, glass-slide embedding, and protocol optimizations (Table). By physically expanding whole brain organoids within a hydrogel matrix, this method enhances spatial resolution by up to ~10× and allows iterative rounds of antibody staining and in situ RNA sequencing in the same sample. While demonstrated in neurodevelopmental organoid models such as STXBP1 encephalopathy, this platform is broadly applicable to diverse organoid systems for 3D multimodal molecular profiling.
Mandel Yossi
The invention relates to a stimuli-responsive carrier system that enables controlled, transient, and reversible release of therapeutic and other functional substances. The system is based on a polymeric matrix crosslinked by redox-active metal ions, whose mechanical properties and diffusivity can be reversibly modulated by externally applied stimuli, such as ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) or visible light irradiation. Upon application of the stimulus, the matrix transiently softens and becomes permeable, allowing controlled release of incorporated cargos. Removal of the stimulus results in autonomous recovery of the matrix to its original, mechanically robust state, halting further release. The dissipative mechanism enables repeated on-demand release cycles from a single carrier depot without permanent degradation. The invention has broad applicability, including medical, ocular, industrial, and environmental uses. The invention is a collaborative effort of HUJI (Prof. Itamar Willner) and BIU (Prof. Yossi Mandel). BIU will share parts of the invention that are related solely to ocular use of the application.
Cohen Cyrille
The invention involves the computational design and development of novel constant regions for human T-cell receptors (TCRs), termed "Structurally Enhanced TCR" (SET). By introducing a set of strategic mutations into the TCR constant domains, the SET design improves receptor stability, enhances surface expression, increases functional avidity, and ensures preferential pairing of the α and β chains, minimizing mispairing with endogenous TCRs. This innovation offers a universal platform to optimize T-cell therapies for cancer and infectious diseases without requiring additional gene editing.
Banin Ehud
A novel formulation to produce pickering emulsion that utilizes a green solvent and allows production of superhydrophobic coatings with antibiofilm activity.
Byk Gerardo
The invention describes the synthesis of new nanoparticles with monodispersed sizes from 20 to 500 nm. The nanoparticles complex nucleic acids and is able to transfer genes into mammalian cells to express a foreign protein. The singularity of the nanoparticles is that they are highly biocompatible. The complexes can be incubated with cells for undetermined time without toxicity. The expression of the foreign protein start at low level after 48h but arrives to high level after 1 week with no toxicity. The transfected cells can be passed several times without loss of protein expression, indicating a controlled release of the nucleic acids and their expression. The invention includes the use of DNA or RNA. Finaly, in vivo experiments demonstrated that the gene can be administered for example SC or IM and the protein expression can be detected after 1 month.
Margel Shlomo
Synthesis and Characterization of New Durable Anti-biofilm and Antiviral Silane-Phosphonium Thin Coatings for Medical and Agricultural Applications
Margel Shlomo
The present invention describes the synthesis of polyvinyl alcohol/polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVA/PVP) hydrogels containing water soluble and insoluble functional active materials, e.g., fungicides, fertilizers, essential oils, oxidants, metal ions, drugs, dyes, etc.) for different applications in agriculture, environment, cosmetics, and medicine. For this purpose, two methods have been used, direct and a swelling method. In the direct method, PVP was added to warm PVA aqueous solution, e.g., 90-95 °C. After a while the system was cooled down slowly to room temperature. During the cooling process and the PVA/PVP hydrogel formation appropriate concentration/s of water soluble, e.g. hydrogen peroxide, urea, methyl orange or trichloro acetic acid, or water insoluble materials, e.g., essential oils such as thymol or benzoyl peroxide was/were added. The water-soluble functional materials were dissolved in the aqueous phase of the hydrogel while the water insoluble in the organic (PVP and/or PVA) part. The formation of the PVA/PVP hydrogels (due to hydrogen bonds between PVP and PVA) leads to gradual increased viscosity which enable to mold the formed hydrogel to any desired shape. The mechanical properties of the final material were improved by repeated freezing-thawing cycles. If necessary, surface crosslinking of the hydrogel for controlled release is accomplished by reacting surface PVA (hydroxyl groups) with glutaraldehyde under acidic conditions via formation of polyacetal bonds.
Popovtzer Rachala
The human microbiome is emerging as a central player in health and disease. In particular, a strong connection has been shown between the human gut microbiome population and the etiology of a variety of diseases, ranging from gastrointestinal diseases to cancer, cardiovascular disease, and brain disorders. A fundamental phenomenon of bacterial communication is quorum sensing, in which signal molecules, termed autoinducers (AI), regulate bacterial colony density and coordinate pathogenic behaviors. AI molecules are emerging as important factors, and key indicators, in various diseases. However, despite their importance, there has not yet been developed a sensitive and reliable sensor that can detect AI communication molecules in real-time, for early diagnosis and monitoring of disease. The present project aims to develop an innovative biochip technology, combining advanced synthetic biology together with cutting-edge electronic systems, for quantitative, sensitive, and real-time detection of AI signals for diagnosis of gastrointestinal diseases. Our technology consists of a nano biochip, incorporating a variety of synthetic bacteria each engineered to sense a specific disease-associated AI molecule and generate a quantifiable electric signal in response, which will be measured, and wirelessly transmitted, by the electronic component. The nano biochip will accurately associate a specific electric response with a specific AI type. The ability of the nano-biochip system to identify the specific AI signals will be investigated in bacterial conditioned media and in ex vivo samples from gastrointestinal disease patients at different stages of the disease. This novel technology has the potential to serve as a next-generation tool for non-invasive early diagnosis, staging, and monitoring of gastrointestinal diseases. The nanobiochip’s unique features will also advance the potential for real-time detection of gastrointestinal disorders within the human body.
Ozana, Nisan
The present invention relates to a non-invasive optical system and method for determining intra-facial connectivity and face–brain connectivity using full-field speckle analysis. The system is configured to illuminate substantially the entire facial surface using coherent or partially coherent light and to capture dynamic speckle patterns generated by facial tissues, including microvascular activity, neuromuscular activity, and micromovements. The captured speckle data are processed to extract temporal and spatial features including, but not limited to, speckle contrast, intensity fluctuations, temporal decorrelation rates, autocorrelation functions, frequency-domain characteristics, phase relationships, and vibration-related parameters. The facial surface is segmented into multiple regions of interest, each generating time-resolved speckle-derived signals. Functional connectivity within the face (intra-facial connectivity) is computed by calculating correlation, coherence, mutual information, phase synchronization, or other statistical or signal-processing metrics between time-series signals derived from different facial regions. These computations generate connectivity matrices and network representations reflecting dynamic coupling patterns across the face. In certain embodiments, brain activity signals are acquired simultaneously or sequentially using electrical, optical, acoustic, or multimodal sensing techniques. The facial speckle-derived signals are synchronized with brain activity measurements to calculate face–brain connectivity using cross-correlation, coherence analysis, causality estimation, or other cross-modal coupling methods. The resulting connectivity maps may reflect functional interactions between facial dynamics and neural activity. The system may further include data processing modules, machine learning algorithms, and classification models configured to identify patterns associated with neurological, psychiatric, or neuromuscular conditions. The invention may be implemented as a stationary, portable, or wearable device and may operate in real time or offline analysis modes. By providing quantitative measurements of intra-facial and face–brain connectivity, the invention enables objective assessment, monitoring, and biomarker development for applications including mental health disorders, addiction, depression, cognitive impairment, neurodegenerative diseases, and facial paralysis of different etiologies.
Shwartz Sharon
The invention enables new x-ray imaging methods that provide not just the shape of the image but also the atomic species it is composed of. In addition, the apparatus based our approach requires lower dose than conventional x-ray imaging and improve the visibility and the signal-to-noise of the image leading to images that are clearer than in conventional x-ray imaging systems.
Popovtzer Rachala
We have recently developed a new imaging technology, which is similar to FDG-PET, yet is cancer specific, and provides the ability to distinguish between cancer and metabolically active inflammatory processes. This novel technology utilizes glucose-functionalized gold nanoparticles (GF-GNP) as metabolically-targeted CT contrast agents. It sensitively discriminates between tumors and inflammation due to the unique biodistribution and pharmacokinetic profile of nanoparticles, and due to dissimilarities in angiogenesis occurring under the different pathologic conditions. Unfortunately, gold nanoparticles are far from being used in clinical trials due to the high risk of accumulation and long-term toxicity. For this reason, an advanced nanocarrier for immediate clinical use must be developed. In the present project, we propose to develop nanocarriers which will be composed of FDA-approved, biodegradable polymeric materials, coated with glucose. By modifying the surface of these nanocarrie
