The Institute of Endocrinology is a national leader in clinical care and research in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism. We pride ourselves in our integrative and comprehensive work using clinical and basic research tools to solve major issues in Endocrine Pathology. The Institute consists of four subunits: Endocrine Clinical Service, Endocrine Laboratory, Clinical Research, and Basic Research Laboratory.

The Endocrine Clinical Service provides the full array of services in the field of adult Endocrinology: Diabetes, Thyroid, Bone Metabolism, Neuroendocrinology, and reproduction. An Israeli expert in Endocrinology leads each unit.

Thyroid Unit: Dr. Ohad Cohen heads the thyroid service catering to a large population with a variety of thyroid morbidities. On site patients receive diagnostic and therapeutic services including Ultrasonography, Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA), Radio Nuclear Imaging, as well as sophisticated hormone assays.

The Thyroid Unit works in close contact with the departments of nuclear medicine and Pathology. The unit has pioneered several novel therapies in Israel such as the use of recombinant human TSH in Cancer diagnosis and follow-up and in-utero diagnosis of Thyroid Pathology. Moreover, the unit runs together with the clinical laboratory specific bioassays unique in Israel for detection of stimulatory and inhibitory antibodies against the TSH receptors.

Neuroendocine Unit: Dr. Ilan Shimon heads the Neuroendocine Unit treating Pituitary, Adrenal and Gastrointestinal Endocrine Pathology. Patients enjoy the dynamic testing facility and the excellent collaboration with the Department of Imaging. Together with the Department of Neurosurgery, we have become a leading Israeli center for Pituitary Therapy for patients with Cushing's Syndrome and Acromegaly. Therapeutic results are comparable with the leading centers of excellence worldwide. The unit has adopted and introduced novel medications. We collaborate with Cedar Sinai in Los Angeles and several other world renowned centers.

Bone Metabolism Unit: Dr. Iris Vered heads this unit providing clinical counseling as well as diagnostic bone density facility, daycare therapies, and sophisticated tissue diagnosis. The unit has been a partner in the world's effort to evaluate backbone therapies of Osteoporosis: namely, Alendenronate, Zolendronate, PTH, and Raloxiphene from the research stage to the clinic.

Diabetes Unit: Dr. Pesach Segal heads the Diabetes Unit serving Type II & I patients, as well as patients with Gestational Diabetes and Pre-Diabetes. The unit includes physicians, nurse educators and dietitians offering the patients access to new technologies in the field of diabetes. These technologies include insulin pumps, implantable glucose sensors, as well as more controversial methods of therapy. The unit is a recognized leader in diabetes therapy worldwide. The unit has participated in multiple large multinational trials including the recent STOP NIDDM Trial. Other clinical activities include sub-specialties: therapy of obesity, Diabetes in pregnancy, and an IGT clinic.

The Endocrine Laboratory, headed by Dr. Hannah Kanety, has 35-years of experience determining 70 different hormones, growth factors, Adipokines, Cytokines, and tumor markers-some of which are performed exclusively in this lab. We perform the full spectrum of hormonal assays in our laboratory using state-of-the-art automated technologies.

Our work is done under the highest standards of quality assurance and routinely achieves high grades in external quality control programs. The lab continuously introduces novel assays and offers the physicians rapid access to recently discovered methods. Moreover, the laboratory works on implementation of biological and genetic assays stemming from the research laboratory. Having Dr. Kanety oversee both the research and clinical labs fosters a continuum between research and service.

On the national level the service laboratory houses the national screening program for Congenital Hypothyroidism. We perform more than 150,000 tests each year.

Clinical Research
As part of the Institute of Endocrinology's commitment to excellence, we initiate and participate in multiple clinical studies. These studies assess new technologies, drugs, and medical devices. We evaluate drugs from very early Phase II Trials to clinical use: Insulin Analogs, Estrogen Analogs and PTH Analogs, new Oral Anti-Diabetic agents, and imaging techniques. Involvement in these trials helps us stay at the cutting edge of clinical Endocrinology.

The Basic Research Laboratory consists of four sections. Each has contributed greatly to the scientific understanding of endocrine diseases and conducts research aimed at finding solutions and therapies to clinical questions.

Molecular Basis of Type II Diabetes: This section, headed by Dr. Kanety, concentrates on insulin trans-membrane signaling and the intracellular changes that occur in obesity and type II Diabetes and are at the basis of the clinical phenomenon of insulin resistance. The section prides itself on its work in describing and analyzing the role of TNF-α as the cause and link of obesity-induced Diabetes. We have worked extensively on the role of cellular stress on insulin signaling and studied the role of Serine Phosphorylation on attenuation of insulin's signal-the latter mechanism has become a well-recognized mechanism of insulin-resistance in obesity, Diabetes and stress. Our researchers have developed several modalities that alter and bypass the imperfect insulin signal in these disease states.

Molecular Endocrinology in Diabetes: Headed by Dr. Sara Ferber, the Molecular Endocrinology in Diabetes section is a world pioneer in an effort to transform liver cells into insulin producing cells using molecular methods. We have published the original concept of this approach and developed a new potential way to combat Type I Diabetes. This approach is now being adopted worldwide. Our research is continuing and moving from the rodent model to human cells.

Neuroendocrine Research: This section, headed by Dr. Shimon, concentrates on the study of the regulation of hormone secretion from human pituitary cells. We have developed a unique model of primary culture of human pituitary cells and have contributed several insights to the understanding of secretion of growth hormone and prolactin. Our laboratory is involved in the development of several agonists and antagonists of hormone secretion that may become future drug candidates.

Obesity Research: The Obesity Research section is our newest section and headed Dr. Gabi Lieberman. Here we study rodent models of obesity. Our research concentrate on appetite control and the role of MCH.

Institute at a Glance
Number of Outpatients per Year - 10000
Director - Prof. Ohad Cohen
Address - The Buchman Gynecological Center
Tel - 972-3-530-2802