Shai Izraeli, M.D.

[email protected]
626-218-5628
Shai Izraeli - Systems Biology
Research Professor, Department of Systems Biology
Research Area
Hematologic Malignancies
Cancer Predisposition Syndromes
Centrosomal Biology and Chromosomal Aneuploidy and Its Roles in Developmental Biology and Cancer
Research Teams
Systems Biology
I am a physician-scientist who focuses on translational laboratory-based cancer research with a particular emphasis on hematological malignancies and cancer predisposition syndromes. Another major research interest is centrosomal biology and chromosomal aneuploidy and its roles in developmental biology and cancer. These two interests are merged in the study of leukemias associated with germline aneuploidy (Down Syndrome).
 
We combine advanced genomic approaches with functional pre-clinical models. Several of our discoveries proved to be of general importance to children and adults with acute leukemias. These include the discovery of ERG as an important hematopoietic oncogene, in addition to its known role in prostate cancer, and the discoveries of unique activating JAK2 mutations and of mutational activation of the cytokine receptors to TSLP and interleukin 7 in acute lymphoblastic leukemias (ALL).
 
These findings have led to new diagnostic tests and clinical trials of ALL in adults and children. Our more general cancer-aneuploidy and centrosomal biology research has been promoted by our discovery of STIL (previously named SIL), a gene disrupted in T-ALL, which is a major centrosomal duplication factor in mammalian cells. We study how STIL, centrosomes and the hedgehog pathway are involved in development and cancer. We are developing novel therapeutics targeting the STIL pathways for epithelial cancers, for example, ovarian cancer. This line of research reflects the integrative nature of current cancer research focusing on biological processes in addition to specific types of cancers.
 
Our research on Down Syndrome and STIL (that is involved in autosomal recessive microcephaly) has led me to further develop my research interest in congenital and hereditary disorders predisposing to cancer. Germline variants are increasingly recognized as key players in cancer. We are currently studying human pedigrees and creating mouse models of such germline-driven disorders. These studies have been funded by multiple national and international grants and have involved multiple national and international collaborations in both basic and clinical research with scientists and clinicians in North America, Australia, Japan and Europe.

Location

Education & Experience

Degrees

  • 1993, M.Ped., Molecular Biology, Pediatrics (Cum Laude), Tel Aviv University, Israel

  • 1983, M.D., Medicine, Cum Laude, Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Fellowship

  • 1996, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD

  • 1991, Research Fellow, Children's Cancer Research Institute, Vienna, Austria

Residency

  • 1993, Pediatric Residency, Beilinson Medical Center, Petach Tikva, Israel

Professional Experience

  • 2018 – Present, Research Professor, Department of Systems Biology, City of Hope Beckman Research Institute, Monrovia, CA

  • 2016 – 2018, Head, The Tel-Aviv University Gene Development and Environment Pediatric Research Institute in Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel

  • 2015–Present, Head, Dotan Research Center for Hematological Malignancies, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

  • 2015 – 2018, Head, Research and Development, Edmond and Lily Safra Children’s Hospital, Sheba Medical Center Israel, Tel Hashomer, Israel

  • 2010 – 2018, Director, MD-PhD program, Sackler Medical School, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

  • 2001 – 2018, Head, Functional Genomics and Leukemia Research Section, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel

  • 2014 – Present, The Shapiro Endowed Chair of Hematological Malignancies, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

  • 2012 – Present, Full Professor, Sackler Medical School, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

  • 2007 – 2011, Associate Professor, Sackler Medical School, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

  • 2001 – 2007, Senior Lecturer, Sackler Medical School, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

  • 2000 – Present, Senior Physician, Department of Pediatric Hemato-Oncology, Edmond and Lily Safra Children’s Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel

  • 1998 – 2001, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Johns Hopkins Medical Faculty, Baltimore, MD

  • 1994 – 2000, Postdoctoral Fellow, National Cancer Institute, Genetics Branch, Bethesda, MD

  • 1984 – 1988, Military Physician, Head of research section in the Medical Corps

Awards & Memberships

Awards

  • 2022, EHA Mentorship and Education Award

  • 2022, ICRF Professorship Award

  • 2017, Honorary Knighthood awarded by the President of Italy for promoting the science and medicine of children with cancer between Israel and Italy

  • 2014, The Inaugural Daniel Burton Visiting Professorship of Pediatric Malignancies SickKids Hospital Toronto, Canada

  • 2012, 13th Annual Daniel Burton Lecture in Leukemia, SickKids Hospital Toronto

  • 2011, The Swiss Bridge Award for research excellence in childhood cancer

  • 2010, Haddow Visiting Professorship, Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, London, UK

  • 2008, Presidential Award – British Society of Haematology Annual Scientific Meeting

  • 2008, 2009, 2013, Moran Prize for Research Excellence in Pediatrics, Tel – Aviv University

  • 2006, TEVA Inc Founder Award for Research Excellence

  • 2006, Owen Rennert’s Endowed Lecture in Pediatric Oncology, Georgetown University

  • 2002, 2006, Excellence Award, Israel Cancer Association

  • 2002, Hannover Award for Leukemia and Lymphoma Research

  • 1999, NIH Fellows Award for Research Excellence

Publications

  • Kratz, C. P. and S. Izraeli. "Down Syndrome, Rasopathies, and Other Rare Syndromes." Semin Hematol 54, no. 2 (Apr 2017): 123-28 
  • Savino, A. M. and S. Izraeli. "Interleukin-7 Signaling as a Therapeutic Target in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia." Expert Rev Hematol 10, no. 3 (Mar 2017): 183-85. 
  • Frishman-Levy, L. and S. Izraeli, Advances in understanding the pathogenesis of CNS acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and potential for therapy. Br J Haematol, 2017. 176(2): p. 157-167. 
  • Ofran, Y. and S. Izraeli, BCR-ABL (Ph)-like acute leukemia-Pathogenesis, diagnosis and therapeutic options. Blood Rev, 2017. 31(2): p. 11-16 
  • Izraeli, S., The acute lymphoblastic leukemia of Down Syndrome - Genetics and pathogenesis. Eur J Med Genet, 2016. 59(3): p. 158-61. 
  • Savino, A.M. and S. Izraeli, On mice and humans: the role of thymic stromal lymphopoietin in human B-cell development and leukemia. Haematologica, 2016. 101(4): p. 391-3. 
  • Pui, C.H., J.J. Yang, S.P. Hunger, R. Pieters, M. Schrappe, A. Biondi, A. Vora, A. Baruchel, L.B. Silverman, K. Schmiegelow, G. Escherich, K. Horibe, Y.C. Benoit, S. Izraeli, A.E. Yeoh, D.C. Liang, J.R. Downing, W.E. Evans, M.V. Relling, and C.G. Mullighan, Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Progress Through Collaboration. J Clin Oncol, 2015. 33(27): p. 2938-48. 
  • Tal, N., C. Shochat, I. Geron, D. Bercovich, and S. Izraeli, Interleukin 7 and thymic stromal lymphopoietin: from immunity to leukemia. Cell Mol Life Sci, 2014. 71(3): p. 365-78. 
  • Roberts, I. and S. Izraeli, Haematopoietic development and leukaemia in Down syndrome. Br J Haematol, 2014. 10.1111/bjh.13096. 
  • Mezei, G., M. Sudan, S. Izraeli, and L. Kheifets, Epidemiology of childhood leukemia in the presence and absence of Down syndrome. Cancer Epidemiol, 2014. 10.1016/j.canep.2014.07.006. 
  • Izraeli, S., A. Vora, C.M. Zwaan, and J. Whitlock, How I treat ALL in Down's syndrome: pathobiology and management. Blood, 2014. 123(1): p. 35-40. 
  • Izraeli, S., C. Shochat, N. Tal, and I. Geron, Towards precision medicine in childhood leukemia - Insights from mutationally activated cytokine receptor pathways in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Cancer Lett, 2014. 10.1016/j.canlet.2014.02.009. 
  • Izraeli, S., Beyond Philadelphia: 'Ph-like' B cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemias - diagnostic challenges and therapeutic promises. Curr Opin Hematol, 2014. 21(4): p. 289-96. 
  • Birger, Y. and S. Izraeli, DYRK1A in Down syndrome: an oncogene or tumor suppressor? J Clin Invest, 2012. 122(3): p. 807-10. 
  • Izraeli, S., Application of genomics for risk stratification of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: from bench to bedside? Br J Haematol, 2010. 151(2): p. 119-31. 
  • Bourquin, J.P. and S. Izraeli, Where can biology of childhood ALL be attacked by new compounds? Cancer Treat Rev, 2010. 36(4): p. 298-306. 
  • Ganmore, I., G. Smooha, and S. Izraeli, Constitutional aneuploidy and cancer predisposition. Hum Mol Genet, 2009. 18(R1): p. R84-93. 
  • Izraeli, S., L. Rainis, L. Hertzberg, G. Smooha, and Y. Birger, Trisomy of chromosome 21 in leukemogenesis. Blood Cells, Molecules, and Diseases, 2007. 39(2): p. 156-159. 
  • Izraeli, S., Down's syndrome as a model of a pre-leukemic condition. Haematologica, 2006. 91(11): p. 1448-52. 
  • Izraeli, S., Perspective: chromosomal aneuploidy in leukemia--lessons from down syndrome. Hematol Oncol, 2006. 24(1): p. 3-6. 
  • Izraeli, S., Chromosome copy number and leukemia-lessons from Down's syndrome. Hematology, 2005. 10 Suppl 1: p. 164-6. 
  • Somech, R., S. Izraeli, and J.S. A, Histone deacetylase inhibitors--a new tool to treat cancer. Cancer Treat Rev, 2004. 30(5): p. 461-72. 
  • Izraeli, S. and D. Waldman, Minimal residual disease in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: current status and challenges. Acta Haematol, 2004. 112(1-2): p. 34-9. 
  • Izraeli, S., Leukaemia -- a developmental perspective. Br J Haematol, 2004. 126(1): p. 3-10. 
  • Izraeli, S., Congenital syndromes and leukemia: clues to pathogenesis. Rev Clin Exp Hematol, 2003. 7(3): p. 246-60. 
  • Izraeli, S., I. Witz, and M. Micksche, Cancer research--from bench to bedside. Isr Med Assoc J, 2002. 4(9): p. 746-8. 
  • Izraeli, S. and G. Rechavi, Molecular medicine--an overview. Isr Med Assoc J, 2002. 4(8): p. 638-40. 
  • Izraeli, S., A. Rachmel, and M. Nitzan, [Vestibular dysfunction and deafness complicating mumps parotitis]. Harefuah, 1989. 117(9): p. 243-4. 
  • Izraeli, S., A. Israeli, and Y. Danon, [Pharmacological treatment of cyanide poisoning]. Harefuah, 1988. 114(7): p. 338-42.