Partial list of projects:

1. Many drugs administered for the treatment of non-vascular related diseases may have side effects leading to cardiac dysfunction. A prominent example is Herceptin, given to women with Her-2/neu positive breast cancer. Although this drug has been shown to substantially prolong the lives of affected women, cardiac dysfunction was diagnosed in up to 27% of patients. We intend to study the action of Herceptin on the heart in order to understand its mechanism. Results should help to improve currently used protocols for treatment of women with this highly malignant form of breast cancer.

2. The natriuretic peptides, e.g. atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), are secreted by the heart and act as hormones causing vasodilatation, diuresis and natriuresis. Comparing the actions of different natriuretic peptides (ANP, BNP, CNP, DNP) on cultured cardiac myocytes and further defining their influence on apoptosis will be studied. The mechanism on the molecular level will be analyzed by studying the different effects of these peptides on gene expression in myocytes from neonatal and adult animals.

3. The population of Israel consists of a number of different subpopulations, some of which have immigrated only recently (e.g., Ethiopians), or have not inter-married (e.g. Arabs). This unique situation allows an analysis of genetic risk factors to be made for each ethnic group, giving a molecular profile of the entire Israeli community. Results from a genetic study will subsequently enable the identification of high-risk groups early enough to either prevent the development of cardiovascular disease or ensure its treatment at a very early stage.