Our lab is part of the Department of Genetics at the Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, and the Grass Center for Bioengineering of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
We are an interdisciplinary group of scientists focused on leveraging bioengineering to address critical challenges in metabolism, disease, and animal welfare. Our work integrates chemical engineering, biology, and advanced computational tools to innovate across multiple domains, including organ-on-chip systems, cultivated meat production, and metabolic research. Specifically, we investigate cellular and organ-level phenomena, developing technologies like sensor-embedded liver, cardiac, and brain organoids for drug discovery and toxicity studies. Our research has revealed mechanisms underpinning stem cell differentiation, metabolic regulation during viral infections, and human-specific cardiac arrhythmias. We also pioneer animal-free technologies, such as serum-free cultivated meat and bionic micro-organs, reducing environmental impacts and advancing alternative models for pharmaceutical and food industries. Employing cutting-edge techniques like real-time metabolic monitoring, genetic engineering, and AI integration, we strive to redefine innovation at the intersection of bioengineering, human health, and sustainability.
News
Selected Publications
Metamaterial-based injection molding for the cost-effective production of whole cuts
M. Ghosheh, A. Ehrlich, A Fischer, L. Pasitka, M. Cohen, Y. Nahmias, Nature Communications 15: (2024)
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Empirical economic analysis shows cost-effective continuous manufacturing of cultivated chicken using animal-free medium.
L. Pasitka, G. Wissotsky, M. Ayyash, N. Yarza, G. Rosoff, R. Kaminker, Y. Nahmias, Nature Food 5, 693–702 (2024)
Highlight in Nature Food Green Queen Haaretz
Electro-metabolic coupling in multi-chambered vascularized human cardiac organoids.
M. Ghosheh, A. Ehrlich, K. Ioannidis, M. Ayyash, I. Goldfracht, M. Cohen, A. Fischer, Y. Mintz, L. Gepstein, Y. Nahmias, Nature Biomedical Engineering (7): 1493-1513 (2023)
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Spontaneous immortalization of chicken fibroblasts generates stable, high-yield cell lines for serum-free production of cultured meat.
Pasitka, L., Cohen, M., Ehrlich, A., Gildor, B., Reuveni, E., Ayyash, M., Wissotsky, G., Herscovici, A., Kaminker, R., Nahmias, Y. Nature Food 4, 35–50.(2023)
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Mechanism and reversal of drug-induced nephrotoxicity on a chip.
Cohen, A., Ioannidis, K., Ehrlich, A., Regenbaum, S., Cohen, M., Ayyash, M., Tikva, S.S., and Nahmias, Y. (2021). Science Transl Med. 13(582). (2021)
Highlight in Nature Rev. Nephrology IFLScience Interesting Engineering
Nuclear Receptors Control Pro- and Anti-Viral Metabolic Response to HCV Infection.
G. Levy, M.A. Guzzardi, N. Habib, D. Kitsberg, D. Bomze, B.E. Uygun, K. Uygun, M. Trippler, J.F. Schlaak, O. Shibolet, E.H. Sklan, M. Cohen, J. Timm, N. Friedman, Y. Nahmias,
Nature Chemical Biology 12, 1037–1045 (2016)
Real-time monitoring of metabolic function in liver-on-chip microdevices tracks the dynamics of mitochondrial dysfunction.
D. Bavli, S. Prill, E. Ezra, G. Levy, M. Cohen, M. Vinken, J. Vanfleteren, M. Jaeger, Y. Nahmias, PNAS 113(16):E2231-40. (2016)
Long-term culture and expansion of primary human hepatocytes.
G. Levy, D. Bomze, S. Heinz, S.D. Ramachandran, A. Noerenberg, M. Cohen, O. Shibolet, E. Sklan, J. Braspenning, Y. Nahmias. Nature Biotechnology 33(12): 1264-1271. (2015)
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Glycolysis-mediated changes in acetyl-CoA and histone acetylation control the early differentiation of embryonic stem cells.
A. Moussaieff, M. Rouleau, D. Kitsberg, M. Cohen, D. Barasch, A. Nemirovski, S.S. Shen-Orr, I. Laevsky, M. Amit, D. Bomze, B. Elena-Herrmann, T. Scherf, M. Nissim-Rafinia, S. Kempa, J. Itskovitz-Eldor E. Meshorer, D. Aberdam, Y. Nahmias. Cell Metabolism 21(3): 392-402. (2015)