Research and Development Unit
At the Advanced Technology Center (ATC), our primary focus lies in conducting research studies related to imaging. This involves using imaging as both the subject of the research and as a means of guidance or control for other treatments.
The ATC operates various imaging systems, which are managed by expert teams.
- Three MRI devices with magnetic field strengths (two devices with 1.5 tesla at the institute and one with 3 tesla at the imaging institute, all manufactured by General Electric)
- Ultrasound (two high-intensity systems)
- Light-based systems (lasers, photodynamic therapy systems, cameras, microscopes, and spectroscopic systems)
The ATC’s budget primarily comes from competitive grants that fund exciting, innovative, and commercially viable projects. Moreover, we generate revenue by offering research and development services to the biomedical industry and providing advanced treatments.
Collaboration between the Advanced Technology Center (ATC) and Industry
The ATC collaborates with top companies in the highly sophisticated Israeli industry, as well as with leading international companies in their respective fields.
Given the long-term nature of the collaboration, the industry teams work closely with the research and development teams right on the hospital premises. In this way, the hospital serves as both an alpha and beta site, for research and application of the developed technology. In this collaborative endeavor, the company and the hospital enter into a commercial contract that governs the commercial and intellectual property rights stemming from the project. This collaborative approach leads to the production of joint academic publications by both the ATC teams and the industry.
Collaborative short-term partnerships are designed to carry out initial feasibility studies, where the company sets the experimental goals and the protocol for the experiment. The company covers all associated expenses, and the research results will be fully owned by the company. Unless intellectual property is generated as a result of the experiment, in which case it is shared with the hospital and the company.
Among the companies that have cooperated over the years: ELOP, Syneron, Insightec, Intec-Pharma, Teva, Bioline, Sonenko, Proneuron, ProTox, Idealiza, Magnolia, BrainsGate, Schering-Plough, Alma Lasers, ASI, Given Imaging, SCD, Odin, Procognia and many more.
Collaboration between the Advanced Technology Center (ATC) and academia
The joint research with academic institutions aims to explore the potential of advancing projects and technologies from the lab to the applied-commercial level, or for the joint guidance of students in advanced degree programs across scientific fields (biology, chemistry, physics, medicine). In both cases, scientists from both institutions actively participate in conducting research, analyzing results, writing articles for scientific publications, utilizing all the necessary resources at their disposal for the benefit of the research.
Inter-institutional collaborations
Scientists and researchers from the ATC conduct basic and applied research alongside physicians, researchers, and hospital nursing teams. This can be as part of either academic or applied-industry research.
The Advanced Technology Center (ATC) enables a talented medical team from the hospital to conduct academic research, advancing their academic career alongside clinical work.
Areas of interest for the unit:
- Spectroscopy and optical imaging
- Molecular imaging with Ultrasound
- Preclinical and clinical MRI
- Laser therapies
- Photodynamic therapies
- Biological agents for various types of cancer
- Control methods for cancer treatments
- Drug delivery for the treatment of brain and central nervous system tumors
- The team of researchers
Professor Arie Ornstein, MD: a specialist in plastic surgery and an entrepreneur. He serves as the former department head and founder of the Advanced Technology Center. Professor Ornstein oversees all research and development activities and actively contributes to significant research projects.
Professor Yael Mardor: a scientist at the Advanced Technology Center (ATC). With a PhD in nuclear physics, her expertise lies in preclinical and clinical research focused on MRI, drug delivery to the brain, brain tumors, and other pathologies of the central nervous system.
Dr. Genady Kostenich: a senior researcher and the head of the Biomedical Photonics Laboratory. With a PhD in Biology and extensive experience in physics, he specializes in developing diagnostic and therapeutic techniques for diseases and medical devices in the field of photo-biology.
Dr. Moran-Harman: a senior researcher, holding a PhD in Biology and an MBA. She is engaged in early-stage tumor detection and targeted cancer treatment.
Dr. Gidi Arbel: a seasoned researcher and biologist (PhD) with extensive expertise in physics. Specializes in conducting clinical research and spectroscopic measurements.
Dr. David Last: a PhD physicist and senior researcher, specializes in MRI, drug delivery to the brain, brain tumors, and other central nervous system pathologies.
Dr. David Gaz: an accomplished physicist (PhD) and senior researcher with expertise in MRI, drug delivery to the brain, brain tumors, and other central nervous system pathologies.
Diane Daniels: highly experienced physicist (MSc), specializing in MRI, drug delivery to the brain, brain tumors, and other central nervous system pathologies.
Sharon Solomon, MSc in Biology, possesses strong research management skills. Currently serving as a clinical research coordinator, she oversees biological laboratory maintenance.
