The Hella and Marian Gertner Fellowship Fund

Bar Manori

Bar Manori is a Ph.D. student at the Gray Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at Tel Aviv University, supervised by Prof. Yoni Haitin and Dr. Moshe Giladi.

Her research focuses on the structure-function relationships of membrane proteins. Using biochemical, biophysical, and structural biology approaches, she investigates how these proteins are organized and function at the molecular level, how they interact with cellular membranes, and how they regulate essential biological processes such as cell communication and electrical signalling.

Her work aims to uncover structural mechanisms that have remained unresolved for decades and to advance our understanding of membrane protein biology and its relevance to human health.

Joby Issac

Joby Issac is a PhD student in the Department of Cellular, Developmental and Regenerative Biology at the Gray Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, supervised by Prof. Chen Luxenburg.

Before joining the Luxenburg lab, he worked on cancer stem cell biology. His doctoral research focuses on how actin cytoskeleton dynamics regulate epidermal skin development.

Using in-utero manipulation, immunofluorescence, and advanced microscopy, he has shown that loss of the actin-binding protein CAP1 alters skin architecture, and tissue organization in vivo.

In the future, he aims to understand how cytoskeletal regulation integrates with signalling and tissue mechanics to control skin development.

Maiia Levinson

Maiia Levinson is a PhD student in Dr. Merav Cohen’s laboratory at the Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Gray Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at Tel Aviv University, where she studies how immune cells regulate platelet production during normal development and cancer.

Her research focuses on the interactions between macrophages and megakaryocytes in the fetal and adult liver, and how these immune niches are reactivated under pathological conditions such as cancer-induced bone marrow dysfunction.

Using single-cell RNA-sequencing and functional in vivo models, her work aims to uncover the cellular and molecular mechanisms that control fetal liver thrombopoiesis and cancer-associated thrombosis.

Outside the lab, she enjoys being part of an international scientific community and values curiosity, collaboration, and continuous learning.

Rachel Slutsky

Rachel Slutsky is a PhD student in Prof. Uri Ben-David's lab, where she studies cancer genetics with a focus on aneuploidy and chromosomal instability.

Her research explores whole-genome doubling, a major genomic event in cancer, by comparing the distinct cellular routes through which it can arise.

Rachel investigates how these mechanisms shape tumorigenesis, influence genome stability, and affect the accumulation of chromosomal abnormalities.

Through this work, she aims to better understand how large-scale genome changes contribute to cancer development and progression, and to uncover principles that may ultimately inform future approaches for studying and targeting whole-genome-doubled tumors.

Shir Mass

Shir Mass is a PhD student in Clinical Microbiology at the Gray Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences, supervised by Prof. Dor Salomon.

Her research focuses on how marine pathogenic bacteria interact with host cells and compete with other microorganisms. Specifically, she studies bacterial secretion systems used by Vibrio coralliilyticus, a pathogen associated with coral bleaching and marine disease.

Through molecular biology, microbiology, and infection models, Shir aims to better understand bacterial virulence mechanisms from a "One Health" perspective, connecting marine ecosystem health, environmental change, and infectious disease.

Outside the lab, she enjoys drawing, cooking, exploring new restaurants, and spending time with her cat.

Dr. Tali Bar-On

Dr. Tali Bar-On is an Internal Medicine physician at the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center and a PhD student in Immunology at Prof. Ariel Munitz's lab at the Gray Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at Tel Aviv University.

Her research focuses on eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), with an emphasis on early epithelial barrier dysfunction and the role of food allergens, particularly cow's milk, in disease initiation. She is currently on the track toward subspecialty training in gastroenterology following her PhD.

Through her work, she aims to advance understanding of gastrointestinal inflammatory diseases and contribute to the development of targeted therapies and improved patient care. Alongside her clinical and research work, she is also a mother of two.