Ortal Cohen

Experience

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  Bar-Ilan University

  Sept 2012 - Nov 2016

  PhD student

  In my research, I studied the role of mitochondrial FerT in tumorigenesis. FerT is a tyrosine kinase that in normal conditions expresses only in sperm cells. In Uri Nir's lab, we found that many cancer cells express FerT, and the higher expression, the worse prognosis.In sperm cells, FerT was mainly located in the mitochondria. We found its relation to ATP production by taking part in the respiratory chain. In cancer cells, FerT could be found in the mitochondria but also in the cytosol and nucleus. My interest was to understand the role of mitochondrial FerT on tumor initiation and progression.I found that while introducing different stresses to the cancer cells, FerT protects cells from apoptosis and helps to produce higher levels of ATP even in long starvation. Finally, using a xenograft model, we injected nude mice fibroblast that expressed mitochondrial FerT vs. cells that expressed regular FerT, surprisingly, only the cells that expressed mitochondrial FerT led to the formation of tumors that after 4 weeks were very large and contained blood vessels. Show less

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  Beilinson - Rabin Medical Center

  Dec 2016 - Apr 2018

  Study Start Up Regulatory Submissions Coordinator - Oncology Dep.
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  Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Faculty of Science

  Apr 2018 - Feb 2021

  Lab manager

  David Engelberg's laboratory has focused for years on the study of MAP kinases. Learning the spatial structure of ERK and p38, and finding mutations that give the proteins an evolutionary advantage. The lab has a lot of expertise in using different strains of yeast to express desired proteins, and we would like to find them a specific inhibitor by scanning chemical libraries.

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  Bar-Ilan University

  Mar 2021 - Sept 2022

  Lab manager

  The Dvela-Levitt lab studies the cellular network of protein trafficking, an essential process required for the proper functioning of all cells and systems of the human body. Dysfunction of the trafficking machinery leads to cellular “traffic jams,” a hallmark of many devastating diseases such as diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and cystic fibrosis.Our hope is to find ways to relieve theses traffic jams and look for possible therapeutics to clear the traffic jams out of the cell.

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  Estar Medical

  Sept 2022 - now

  R&D Manager

  At Estar Technologies, we develop products based on the body's natural healing ability. Our main product is PRP - Platelet Rich Plasma, in which the platelets are concentrated from the patient's blood in a low volume of plasma and injected back into the patient. The platelets are not only responsible for blood clotting. These cells do not have a nucleus. Most of their volume consists of vesicles containing three hundred different substances such as growth factors, clotting, and healing factors. The ability to use autologous components for healing purposes has many advantages. This technique is used for many issues such as inflammation, hard-to-heal wounds, orthopaedic problems, chronic dryness of the eyes, and even for injecting into the abdominal cavity to strengthen the embryonic rooting.I am the manager of research and development of the company and therefore the team leader for developing new products based on cellular therapy, as well as improving existing products. Show less