TEAM · BRAIN TUMOR IMMUNOLOGY · HUJI
TEAM · BRAIN TUMOR IMMUNOLOGY · HUJI
A small lab, recruiting actively.
A small lab, recruiting actively.
We're a young immunology group working on T cell behavior in brain tumors and neuroinflammation. The science is collaborative across the Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical Center, and Shaare Zedek Hospital; the day-to-day is focused, ambitious, and direct. New trainees join a lab still being built — with the upside that comes with that.
We’re a young immunology group working on T cell behavior in brain tumors and neuroinflammation. The science is collaborative across the Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical Center, and Shaare Zedek Hospital; the day-to-day is focused, ambitious, and direct. New trainees join a lab still being built — with the upside that comes with that.
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Dr. Itay Raphael
Dr. Itay Raphael
Assistant Professor · School of Pharmacy, Hebrew University of Jerusalem · Hadassah–Ein Karem
Assistant Professor · School of Pharmacy, Hebrew University of Jerusalem · Hadassah–Ein Karem
Assistant Professor · School of Pharmacy, Hebrew University of Jerusalem · Hadassah–Ein Karem
Itay studies how T cells behave inside brain tumors — what they recognize, what blunts them, and what can be re-primed for therapy. His lab works across pediatric gliomas, adult glioblastoma, and the translational gap between mechanistic immunology and clinical treatment.
Itay studies how T cells behave inside brain tumors — what they recognize, what blunts them, and what can be re-primed for therapy. His lab works across pediatric gliomas, adult glioblastoma, and the translational gap between mechanistic immunology and clinical treatment.
Before joining the Hebrew University, Itay trained in T cell immunology at the University of Texas at San Antonio and tumor immunology at the University of Pittsburgh, where he built much of the lab's core toolkit there — TCR and single-cell sequencing, multiplexed cytometry, and preclinical models of brain tumors and neuroinflammation. Opened in Jerusalem in 2026, the lab maintains an explicit translational orientation through tight clinical partnerships with Hadassah Medical Center and Shaare Zedek Hospital.
Before joining the Hebrew University, Itay trained in T cell immunology at the University of Texas at San Antonio and tumor immunology at the University of Pittsburgh, where he built much of the lab’s core toolkit there — TCR and single-cell sequencing, multiplexed cytometry, and preclinical models of brain tumors and neuroinflammation. Opened in Jerusalem in 2026, the lab maintains an explicit translational orientation through tight clinical partnerships with Hadassah Medical Center and Shaare Zedek Hospital.
He works mostly at the bench-and-clinic interface and prefers small, focused trainee groups. Outside the lab, he's reachable on X and LinkedIn; the publication record lives on Scholar and ResearchGate.
He works mostly at the bench-and-clinic interface and prefers small, focused trainee groups. Outside the lab, he’s reachable on X and LinkedIn; the publication record lives on Scholar and ResearchGate.
The team
The team
PHOTOS ARRIVING
PHOTOS ARRIVING
BR
BR
PHOTO TO COME
PHOTO TO COME
LAB MANAGER
LAB MANAGER
Becky Raphael
Becky Raphael
Operations across procurement, regulatory, and day-to-day lab logistics. Keeps the wet lab moving so the science can.
Operations across procurement, regulatory, and day-to-day lab logistics. Keeps the wet lab moving so the science can.
Write →
Write →
VS
VS
PHOTO TO COME
PHOTO TO COME
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW
Vipin Sharma
Vipin Sharma
Tumor immunology in pediatric glioma—focusing on metabolic reprogramming of the immune niche, mouse models, and translational wet-lab validation of therapies.
Tumor immunology in pediatric glioma—focusing on metabolic reprogramming of the immune niche, mouse models, and translational wet-lab validation of therapies.
Write →
Write →
SM
SM
PHOTO TO COME
PHOTO TO COME
M.SC. STUDENT
M.SC. STUDENT
Shadan Marie
Shadan Marie
Target discovery and preclinical assessment of novel immune checkpoints — leading the lab's validation pipeline to overcome tumor evasion.
Target discovery and preclinical assessment of novel immune checkpoints — leading the lab’s validation pipeline to overcome tumor evasion.
Write →
Write →
Collaborators
ACROSS INSTITUTIONS
ACROSS INSTITUTIONS
Much of the lab’s work is shared. These are the researchers the lab partners with most closely.
OPEN POSITIONS · NOW HIRING
OPEN POSITIONS · NOW HIRING
Join the lab.
Join the lab.
We're recruiting graduate students, postdocs, and rotation students who want to work at the intersection of immunology, neuro-oncology, and translational therapy. Send a cover letter, a current CV, and contact information for two or three references.
We’re recruiting graduate students, postdocs, and rotation students who want to work at the intersection of immunology, neuro-oncology, and translational therapy. Send a cover letter, a current CV, and contact information for two or three references.
Open positions
→
