Personal Details

Born on January 24^th; 1965 in Nazareth, Married +3

License numbers

Medicine: 21947, Internal Medicine: 14123, Gastroenterology: 16059.

Higher Education

2001-02: Visiting Scholar, Division of Liver Diseases, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York/NY. Host: Prof. Scott Friedman.

1995-97: Residency in Gastroenterology, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem

1991-95: Residency in Internal Medicine, Division of Medicine, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem

1990-91:Internship, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem

1986-89: MD. Faculty of Medicine, Hadassah-Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

1983-86: B.Sc. Health Science. Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University, Jerusalem

Appointments at the Hebrew University

22/1/06-Present: Senior Lecturer in Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem

1/3/02-21/1/06: Clinical Senior Lecturer in Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem

1995-28/2/02: Lecturer in Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem

1993-1995: Clinical Instructor in Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Hadassah, University Hospital, Jerusalem

Additional Functions/Tasks at the Hebrew University

2005-07:Committee member, promotion committee for Lecturers.

2003-Present: Coordinator,   “Problem Based Learning” –Faculty of Medicine, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem

1998-01: Reviewer of Board examinations in Internal Medicine for graduate medical students, Faculty of Medicine, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem

1997-Present: Interviewer of candidates for studying Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Hadassah-Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem

1996-Present: Examiner, Board of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Hadassah-Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem

Additional Functions/Tasks at the Hadassah Hospital

2004-Present: Committee member for developing Somatic Cell Transplantation Center, Hadassah-Hebrew University Hospital,

1994-Present: Active physician in the Liver Unit, and the Division of Medicine, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem.

1994-1997: Treasurer in the Hadassah Physician Board. Hadassah University Hospital.

Service in other Academic and Research Institutions

2009-2011: A member of the International Relations Advisory Committee of AASLD (American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases).

2007-2010: Scientific Committee & Governing Board member, The European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL), Geneva.

2003-2006: Governing Board member & Treasurer, The Israeli Association for the Study of Liver.

2001-2002: Fellowship, Division of Liver Diseases, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York/ New York.

Other Activities

Membership in editorial boards of academic journals:

2009-Present: Journal Editorial Adviser for Clinical Science (Impact Factor 5).

2007-2010: Editorial Administrations: as an EASL Governing Board & Scientific committee member; the “Journal of Hepatology” (IF=6.073) administrations belong to our responsibility; including:

·         The selection of the Editorial board: We selected recently a new Chief Editor and Editorial Board of the journal in 2009.

·         Opening of EASL independent office joined by the office of the Journal of Hepatology in Geneva, Switzerland on 2009.

Ad Hoc Reviewer (Scientific Journals) or reviewer of Peer- reviewed Journals

Hepatology (#3 papers), Gastroenterology (#2), Journal of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics (#2), Digestive Diseases & Sciences (#2), Liver Transplantation (#1), Gut (#1), Clinical Science (#1), Tropical Medicine & International Health (#1), American J. of Physiology - Gastrointestinal & Liver Physiology (#1), Journal of Hepatology (#1), Immunology (#1), Medical Science Monitor (#1)

Ad Hoc Reviewer (Grants) or reviewer of Grants or foundations

1.      GIF (German Israel Foundation), a review of grant proposal

2.      Israel Cancer Ascociation, a review of grant proposal

3.      The Korean National Grant, a review of grant proposal

Organization of conferences

1.      Nazareth meeting for The World Hepatitis Awareness Day, 19^th May 2009

2.      Italian Israeli scientific program on Hepatology (Italian Israeli Forum on Science & Technology, Tel Aviv 28-29-30 April 2008).

3.      The European Association for the Study of Liver (EASL) annual meeting, Milan 2008.

4.      The European Association for the Study of Liver (EASL) annual meeting, Copenhagen 2009.

5.      Involvement in organization of many other EASL Monothematic Conferences, Schools of Hepatology, Symposia and Annual Postgraduate Course (2007-2010).

6.      Involvement in organizing all conferences and activities of Israeli Association for the Study of Liver along 2003- 2006.

Prizes awarded

2006-2007: Excellent Hadassah Scientist Award, Approved on 10/12/2006. “siRNA for the immune modulation of fibrosis”, $11,000.

2003-2004: Return to Hadassah Award, “Immune Modulation of Hepatic Fibrosis”, 92,000/92,000 NIS.

2002: Sharon Donsky Award, “Immune Modulation of Fibrosis Associated Hepatoma”, $3000/$3000.

2001-2002: American Physician Fellowship Award, “Immune Modulation of Hepatic Fibrosis”, $5000/$5000.

2001-2002: Israeli Gastroenterology and Hepatology Association Award, “Immune Modulation of Hepatic Fibrosis”, $1000/$1000.

Other activity or public functions in the academic field

2003-2006: Treasurer, the Israeli Association for the Study of Liver

2003-2006: Committee member, the Israeli Association for the Study of Liver

2000-Present: Member, American Gastroenterology Association

1998-Present: Member, American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases

1997-Present: Member, European Association for the Study of the Liver

1996-Present: Member, Israel Transplantation Society.

1996-Present: Member, Israel Association for the Study of the Liver

1996-Present: Member, Israel Association for Gastroenterology & Hepatology.

Research Grants

2009-13: Israel Scientific Foundation, “Immune modulation of Hepatic Fibrosis: New pathways for Lymphocytes & hepatic stellate cells interactions”, NIS 195000/year for 4 years.

2009-12: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft German Research Foundation (DFG), a trilateral German/ Israeli/ Palestinian grant: “Improved Prevention of Perinatal hepatitis B transmission”, of total €1000000, my part is €283104 for 3 years.

2007: Chief Scientist Fund, “Gene silencing for the immune modulation of fibrosis”, Approved on 21/1/2007 but recommendation was referred to Ezvonot award which I received recently NIS 200000/year.

2006-09: United States - Israel Bi-national Science Foundation (BSF), Approved on 31/7/2006. “siRNA for the immune modulation of fibrosis”, Scott Friedman, $30,000/45,000/year for 4 years, Original Papers in Peer Reviewed Journals.

2006: Chief Scientist Fund, “Pregnancy and Hepatic Fibrosis”, Approved on 27/6/2006 but no funding was available at same year.

2004-06: Horowitz Fund, Approved on 2004. “Immune Modulation of Fibrosis”, $40,000/40,000.

2004-05: Compensatory Fund, Approved on 9/9/2004. “Immune Modulation of Fibrosis Associated Hepatoma”, 90,000/90,000 NIS.

2004: Sylvia & David Salzberg Cancer Research Fund, “Anti-fibrosis effect of Copaxone & IL-2 associated- hepatocellular carcinoma”, 0/90,000 NIS (approved but only the Compensatory fund was provided).

2004: Women Health Fund, “Pregnancy and Hepatic Fibrosis”, 0/90,000 NIS (approved but only the Compensatory fund was provided).

Teaching at the Hebrew University

Supervision of students:

M.D. degree students: 10 students.

Master’s degree students: 4 students.

Doctoral degree students: 2 students.

Post-doctoral Fellows and Visitors (6 months or longer)

·         Internal medicine fellow: 2003-2004 Gur Chamutal MD.

·         Pediatric medicine Fellow: 2003-2004 Horani Amjad MD.

·         Internal medicine fellow: 2001-2002 Melhem Alaa MD.

Courses Taught by Candidate

·         Introduction to Internal Medicine, fourth year medical students

·         Microbiology, third year medical students

·         Tumor inducing viruses: Master’s students

·         Disease Process: third year pharmacy students.

·         Problem Based Learning, fourth year medical students

·         Physical Examination, third and fourth year medical students

·         Clerkship in Internal Medicine & Gastroenterology, Bedside & Frontal teaching, 4^th year medical students

·         Clerkship in Internal Medicine & Gastroenterology, Bedside & Frontal teaching, 6^th year medical students

LIST OF PUBLICATIONS

( http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez )

Articles

Original Papers in Peer Reviewed Journals

1.      Leitersdorf E, Safadi R, et. al., 1994.  Cerebrotendinous Xanthomatosis in the Israeli Druze: Molecular Genetics and Phenotypic Characteristics. Am J Hum Genet. 55:907-915.

2.      Safadi R, Shouval D, et. al, (1996). Beneficial effect of Ribavirin on hepatitis C associated cryoglobulinemia post liver transplantation. Liver Transplantation and Surgery. 2:263-269.

3.      Safadi R, Ligumsky M, et. al., (1998). Increased serum CA 19-9 antibodies in Sjogren’s syndrome. Postgraduate Medical Journal. 74:543-544.

4.      Haviv Y.S, Sharkia M, Safadi R. (2000). Hypoglycemia in patients with renal failure. Renal Failure. 22:219-223.

5.      Safadi R, Ergunay K, et. al., (2000). TT virus infection in Israeli patients with fulminant hepatic failure. Vox Sang. 79:242-5.

6.      Safadi R, Or R, et. al., (2001). Lack of known hepatitis virus in hepatitis-associated aplastic anemia and outcome after bone marrow transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplant. 27:183-90.

7.      Bishara A, Brautbar C, Eid A, Scherman L, Ilan Y, Safadi R. (2002). Is presensitization relevant to liver transplantation outcome? Hum Immunol. 63:742.

8.      Shibolet O, et. al., & Safadi R. (2002). Lamivudine therapy for prevention of immunosuppressive-induced hepatitis B virus reactivation in hepatitis B surface antigen carriers. Blood. 100:391-6.

9.      Safadi R, Israeli E, et. al., (2003). Treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus infection via oral immune regulation toward hepatitis B virus proteins. Am J Gastroenterol. 98:2505-15.

10.  Israeli E, Safadi R*, et. al., (2004). Induction of oral immune regulation towards liver extracted proteins for treatment of chronic HBV and HCV hepatitis: Results of a phase I clinical trial. Liver International. 24:295-307. (*First 2 shared equally).

11.  Safadi R*, Ohta M, Alvarez CE, Fiel I, Bansal M, Mehal W, Friedman SL. (2004). Immune Stimulation of Hepatic Fibrogenesis by CD8 Lymphocytes and its Attenuation by Transgenic Interleukin 10 from Hepatocytes. Gastroenterology. 127:870–882. (*See also Editorial).

12.  Safadi R, Alvarez CE, Ohta M, Brimnes J, Kraus T, Mehal W, Bromberg J, Friedman SL. (2005). Enhanced Oral Tolerance in Transgenic Mice with Hepatocyte Secretion of Interleukin-10. J Immunol. 175:3577-83.

13.  Karban A, Atia O, Leitersdorf E, Shahbari A, Sbeit W, Ackerman Z, Mualem R, Levine A, Nesher S, Safadi R*, Eliakim R. (2005). The relation between NOD2/CARD15 Mutations and the Prevalence and Phenotypic Heterogeneity of Crohn's Disease: Lessons from the Israeli Arab Crohn's Disease Cohort. Digestive Diseases and Sciences. 50:1692-7. (*Last 2 shared equally).             

14.  Bishara A, Brautbar C, Zamir G, Eid A, Safadi R. (2005). Killer Inhibitory Receptors (KIR) Mismatching and Liver Transplantation Outcome. Hum Immunol. 66:1099-105.

15.  Gur C, Karussis D, Golden E, et. al., & Safadi R. (2006). Amelioration of experimental colitis by Copaxone is associated with class-II-restricted CD4 immune blocking. Clin Immunol. 118:307-16.

16.  Melhem A, Muhanna N, Bishara A, Alvarez CE, Ilan Y, Bishara T, Horani A, Nassar M, Friedman SL, Safadi R. (2006). Anti-fibrotic Activity of NK cells in Experimental Liver Injury through Killing of Activated HSC. J Hepatol. 45:60-71.

17.  Horani A, Muhanna N, Pappo O, Melhem A, Alvarez CE, Doron S, Wehbi W, Friedman SL, Safadi R. (2006). The Beneficial Effect of Glatiramer Acetate (Copaxone®) on Immune Modulation of Experimental Hepatic fibrosis. Am J Physiology Gastroentes & Liver Physiology. 292:G628-38. 

18.  Muhanna N, Horani A, Doron S, Safadi R. (2007). Lymphocyte-hepatic stellate cell proximity suggests a direct interaction. Clinical & Experimental Immunology. 148 (2), 338–347.

19.  Safadi R, Zigmond E, et. al., (2007). Amelioration of hepatic fibrosis via beta-Glucosylceramide mediated immune modulation is associated with altered CD8 and NKT lymphocyte distribution. International Immunology.  19:1021-9.

20.  Higazi A, El-Haj M, Melhem A, Horani A, Pappo O, Alvarez CE, Muhanna N, Ilan Y, Friedman SL, Safadi R. (2008). Immunomodulatory Effects of Plasminogen Activators on Hepatic Fibrogenesis. Clinical & Experimental Immunology. 152:163-73.

21.  Muhanna N, Doron S, Wald O, Horani A, Eid A, Pappo O, Friedman SL, Safadi R. (2008). Activation of Hepatic Stellate Cells following Phagocytosis of Lymphocytes – a Novel Pathway of Fibrogenesis. Hepatology. 48:963-77.

22.  Ginsburg I, Koren E, Horani A, Mahamid M, Doron S, Muhanna N, Amer J, Safadi R. (2009). Amelioration of hepatic fibrosis via Padma Hepaten is associated with altered NKT lymphocytes. Clinical & Experimental Immunology. In Press 2009.

Case Reports

There are 38 case reports.

Letters

There are 6 letters.

Reviews, commentaries, hypothesis, editorials

There are 3 reports.

Other publications/ Journals in Foreign Languages

There are 10 reports, of them:

1.       Heyman SN, Reches A, Safadi R, Cohen R. (2007). Introduction of a brief Problem-Based-Learning (PBL) experience in traditional medical faculty curriculum. Harefuah; 146:435-8.

2.       Safadi R. (2008) Is Cirrhosis Revisable? Medicine; 1:20-23 (Invited Review by Editor).

3.       The EASL Clinical Practice Guidelines in Hemochromatosis (2008), Journal of Hepatology, (Invited panel by the EASL scientific committee), In Press.

Original Papers in Non-Peer Reviewed Journals

There are 20 reports.

Participation in Scientific Conferences, Lectures, and other activities

Participation in Scientific Conferences

There are 75 abstracts that were presented either as posters or oral presentations in national and international meetings. Recently they are mostly in the annual meetings of the AASLD (The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases) and EASL (European Association for the Study of Liver).