Prof. Nissim Benvenisty is the Herbert Cohn Chair in Cancer Research and the Director of tThe Azrieli Center for Stem Cells and Genetic Research at the Hebrew University. He earned his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from the Hebrew University, and conducted postdoctoral studies at Harvard University. 

Prof. Benvenisty’s research focuses on stem cell biology, hereditary disorders, and cancer research. The research utilizes unique human cells, called pluripotent stem cells, which can convert to all cell types in the human body. His laboratory made several important contributions, including: pioneering of the demonstration of both spontaneous and directed differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells; the first genetic manipulation of human pluripotent stem cells, and the generation of models for human diseases, which allowed identification of novel drug therapy; pioneering of the characterization of the immunogenicity and tumorigenicity of the cells; and recently, the establishment, for the first time, of haploid human pluripotent stem cells, which harbor only half of the chromosomes, and utilizing this discovery to generate an atlas of the essential genes in human development and disease.

Prof. Benvenisty’s laboratory serves as an incubator for excellent students, with over ten of his former students holding principle investigator positions in the Israeli academia, and more abroad. He presented the issue of human pluripotent stem cells in many international conferences, and gave testimonies before the US Senate and the European Union. He was awarded several prizes including: Foulkes Prize (London), Hestrin Prize, Teva Prize, Kaye Prize, Milken Prize, ACTO Award (Japan), and Katzir Prize.