Tumor microenvironment and resistance to chemotherapy

Dr. Ravid Straussman, Department of Molecular Cell Biology

ravidst@weizmann.ac.il

The Straussman group studies different mechanisms which render cancer cells resistant to chemotherapy.

Specific interests include effects of normal cells and other unique components in the tumor microenvironment on chemoresistance, the study of genetic mechanisms of chemoresistance and the study of “drug persisters,” which are a small subset of cancer cells that show non-genetic, up-front resistance to chemotherapy.

The group employs advanced high-throughput screening methods as well as in-vivo models to study the biology that underlies chemoresistance with the hope that breakthrough in this field would ultimately translate into better treatment options for cancer patients