Prof. Illana Gozes

• Professor Emerita of Clinical Biochemistry, Gray Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences
• Former Lily and Avraham Gildor Chair for the Investigation of Growth Factors
•  Director, Dr. Diana and Zelman Elton Laboratory for Molecular Neuroendocrinology
•  Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Molecular Neuroscience (Springer-Nature)
•  Vice President Drug Development, ExoNavis Therapeutics Ltd.
• Past President, European Society for Neurochemistry
•  President Summer Neuropeptide Conference
• Former Member, The Council for Higher Education (CHE), Israel

Neuronal Plasticity and Nerve Cell Protection in Disease

Our research is characterized by a multi-level approach to the study of brain function, behavior, memory, and drug discovery, from molecules to cures. Targeting autism, schizophrenia, as well as Alzheimer’s disease and related neurodegeneration, and utilizing a multidisciplinary approach, our group investigates different aspects of neuronal plasticity and nerve cell protection at the molecular, cellular, and system levels. 

A major focus in the laboratory is on nerve structure and transport mechanisms. We have discovered novel families of proteins associated with cross-talk among nerve cells and their support cells, including activity-dependent neurotrophic factor (ADNF) and activity-dependent neuroprotective proteins (ADNPs, with ADNP being a major gene mutated in autism and somatically mutated in Alzheimer’s disease. Small ADNP derivatives are in clinical development. The lead compound, the investigational drug davunetide, is planned for an advanced Phase II-III clinical trial in ADNP syndrome with ExoNavis Therapeutics Ltd..

Davunetide has shown sex-dependent efficacy in several Phase II clinical trials (i.e., in patients suffering from mild cognitive impairment, preceding Alzheimer's disease, and in schizophrenia patients, protecting activities of daily living) and further efficacy in a Phase II-III study in women suffering from the neurodegenerative disease progressive supranuclear palsy.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Gozes+i&sort=date

Published interviews with and by others:

1] The role of vasoactive intestinal peptide in neuroprotection: Interview with Professor Illana Gozes

Quigley, E and Gozes, I Expert Opinion on Therapeutics Drugs. Jun 2007 | 11 (6), pp.733-736

2] From the Editors Desk: Angela Zawacki-Downing Writing to Professor Illana Gozes, Editor-in-Chief Journal of Molecular Neuroscience-Speaking from a Mother's Heart, AD's ADNP Syndrome. Zawacki-Downing A. J Mol Neurosci. 2019 Aug;68(4):511-514 (Cited 2 times)

3] Profiles of women in science: Illana Gozes, Professor Emerita of Clinical Biochemistry, Tel Aviv University. Helmreich DL. Eur J Neurosci. 2023 Jul;58(2):2431-2436.

4] INNOVATORS & IDEAS: RESEARCH LEADER Illana Gozes: From the pivotal discovery of activity-dependent neuroprotective protein (ADNP) through its investigational drug davunetide: brain molecular medicine providing hope for autism, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer’s disease. Brain Medicine October, 2024 (Cited in Feature Story | 4-Oct-2024 Molecular neuroscience Israeli visionary: Illana Gozes' quest for brain disorder solutions (eurekalert).

Books

I Gozes (ed.) Neuropeptide Techniques, 2007 Humana Press (Neuromethods Vol. 39)

Chapters 1-5. 

Neuroprotection in Alzheimer's Disease, 1st Edition

https://www.elsevier.com/books/neuroprotection-in-autism-schizophrenia-and-alzheimers-disease/gozes/978-0-12-814037-6

Editor: Illana Gozes

Neuroprotection in Autism, Schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease

https://www.elsevier.com/books/neuroprotection-in-autism-schizophrenia-and-alzheimers-disease/gozes/978-0-12-814037-6, 1st Edition

Editors: Illana Gozes Joseph Levine