Yechezkel Barenholz
Yechezkel (Chezy) Barenholz is head of the Laboratory of Membrane and Liposome Research at the Department of Biochemistry of the Hadassah Medical School at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. In basic research, Professor Barenholz's laboratory focuses on biochemistry and biophysics of lipids and membranes ― on the relationships between membrane lipid composition, structure (e.g., rafts), and function; on lipid-mediated signal transduction; and on apoptosis. One of the main biological topics studied is the relevance of the above to aging processes.
In applied research, Professor Barenholz's main interests are in amphiphile-based drug carriers, especially liposomes: from basic aspects of the design of the drug carriers through animal studies and clinical trials, and finally, FDA-approved drugs. This is best exemplified by the development of DOXIL (a doxorubicin remote-loaded sterically-stabilized ~100 nm liposome for treatment of cancer). DOXIL was the first nano-delivery system approved by the FDA and marketed by major pharmaceutical companies. DOXIL was approved for human use in the USA in 1996 and in Europe in 1997. It is extensively used to treat ovarian cancer and breast cancer, and currently is in the process of being approved for other types of cancer.
Other topics of Prof. Barenholz’s R&D include Theoretical and generic aspects of DDS (Drug Delivery Systems), including DDS Cancer therapy (chemotherapy, immunotherapy), Vaccinology (intramuscular and intranasal liposomal vaccines), Antioxidant design and therapy, DDS to treat neurodegenerative diseases (multiple sclerosis, Parkinson).
In applied research, Professor Barenholz's main interests are in amphiphile-based drug carriers, especially liposomes: from basic aspects of the design of the drug carriers through animal studies and clinical trials, and finally, FDA-approved drugs. This is best exemplified by the development of DOXIL (a doxorubicin remote-loaded sterically-stabilized ~100 nm liposome for treatment of cancer). DOXIL was the first nano-delivery system approved by the FDA and marketed by major pharmaceutical companies. DOXIL was approved for human use in the USA in 1996 and in Europe in 1997. It is extensively used to treat ovarian cancer and breast cancer, and currently is in the process of being approved for other types of cancer.
Other topics of Prof. Barenholz’s R&D include Theoretical and generic aspects of DDS (Drug Delivery Systems), including DDS Cancer therapy (chemotherapy, immunotherapy), Vaccinology (intramuscular and intranasal liposomal vaccines), Antioxidant design and therapy, DDS to treat neurodegenerative diseases (multiple sclerosis, Parkinson).