Head of the Department of Neurology, Hadassah Medical Center
Prof. Ben-Hur is a top israeli specialist in regenerative medicine and neuroimmunology. Heads the Neurosciences Division at the Hadassah Medical Center.
The main research interests of Prof. Tamir Ben-Hur are in regenerative medicine to neurological disorders and neuroimmunology. His lab was the first to describe the immune-modulatory and neuroprotective properties of neural stem cells, and their beneficial effects in animal models of Multiple Sclerosis, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Epilepsy, and Parkinson’s disease.
Now Hadassah is using the results of that research to develop therapeutic approaches using stem cells to treat degenerative diseases of the brain. Successful clinical trials for a new treatment for ALS developed by Hadassah based on stem cell technology have been completed, and the technique is now in trials in the US before being made available to ALS patients around the world.
Professor also studied the bilateral interactions between the brain and neural stem cells, in various aspects that are important to both the understanding of basic biological issues and of clinical translation. For example: The attraction of neural stem cell migration by inflammatory processes and the specific role of microglia anf of chemokines in this process. The effect of local brain environment of the survival and function of transplanted stem cells.
In addition, he has been collaborating with Prof. Ben Reubinoff on translating these findings into the utilization of human embryonic stem cells.
Prof. Ben-Hur has authored more than 100 scientific publications, and received several awards for his achievements.
Education
Prof. Ben-Hur received his MD and PhD degrees from the Hebrew University – Hadassah Medical School in 1989. He completed residency in Neurology at Hadassah University Medical center and a post-doc in the Pasteur Institute in Paris, France.
Areas Of Interest:
- Stem cells,
- ALS,
- Neuroimmunology,
- Multiple sclerosis,
- Nerve system regeneration,
- Retinoblastoma,
- Histiocytosis,
- Malignant tumors in young children
Selected Awards and Grants
- 2012-2016; The British Council – Birax: “Towards regenerative medicine in multiple sclerosis“. $300,000 / $600,000
- 2013-2015; Cure Alzheimer`s Fund Stem cell consortium. $200,000 / $1,000,000
Membership in Professional Communities
- The Israel Neurological Association
- The American Neurological Association
- The International Society of Neuroimmunology
- The American Academy of Neurology
- The Society for Neuroscience.
