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SCOJEN INSTITUTE FOR SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY
In the summer of 2023, the Scojen Institute for Synthetic Biology formally opened its doors as part of the newly established Dina Recanati School of Medicine. The Institute was established under the auspices of the Reichman University Innovation Center and oversees much of the research conducted within the school. Located in the new Graziella Drahi Innovation Building, the Institute’s primary goal is to promote interdisciplinary, innovative, and applied research in collaboration with various academic schools. Synthetic biology, a multidisciplinary field that integrates biology, chemistry, computer science, electrical genetic engineering, and advanced engineering disciplines, allows for rapid manipulation of biological systems to produce desired outcomes.
The head of the Scojen Institute is Prof. Yosi ShachamDiamand, a world-renowned engineer and scientist specializing in biochips and functional biosensors. Dr. Liat Rahamim-Ben Navi serves as the Scientific and Technical Director, working alongside Dr. Ilana KolodkinGal, Dr. Milana Frenkel-Morgenstern, and Dr. Oren Moscovitz. Together, they address some of society’s most pressing challenges, including the diagnostics and treatment of cancer and other critical illnesses, as well as analyzing bacteria and developing meat substitutes using beneficial bacteria.
The Scojen Institute comprises four dedicated laboratories:
1. Biosensors Lab – Led by Prof. Shacham-Diamand, this lab focuses on researching and developing biosensors using optical and electrochemical sensing techniques to identify plant stress and translate that information into electrical signals. The lab incorporates various technologies, including microelectronics and micromechanics.
2. Microbiome and Synthetic Microbiology Lab – Led by Dr. Kolodkin-Gal, this lab investigates bacterial aggregation and biofilm formation, which provides protection and increases resistance to antibiotics. Dr. Kolodkin-Gal has identified specific molecules secreted by bacteria that can dismantle existing biofilms and prevent new ones from forming. Additionally, her team is studying live bacteria transported to Israel by dust storms from the Sahara Desert, which can impact public health by triggering allergic reactions.
3. Glycobiology and Molecular Therapeutics Lab – Led by Dr. Moscovitz, this lab studies glycans (sugars) and their essential roles in cell health and communication with their environment and the immune system. The lab focuses on creating synthetic versions of these sugar molecules to develop innovative diagnostic and therapeutic tools, particularly for breast and lung cancer and chronic conditions like endometriosis.
4. Genomics and Computational Biology Lab – Led by Dr. Frenkel-Morgenstern, this lab collaborates with multiple hospitals and leading universities worldwide. The team analyzes body fluids, such as saliva and blood, to identify specific markers for critical illnesses like cancer, using these markers for early diagnosis.
Dr. Rahamim-Ben Navi, also the syllabus coordinator of the pre-med program at the Efi Arazi School of Computer Science and manager of the teaching labs in the Life Sciences division, emphasizes that the Scojen Institute is equipped with cutting-edge labs and core facilities. Furthermore, she highlights that the Institute’s core facility provides services to researchers at the School of Medicine, at Reichman University, and from other academic institutions and industries, underscoring its importance to the Dina Recanati School of Medicine.
In September 2024, as part of the Institute’s first-year celebrations, it hosted its inaugural annual conference, bringing together leading researchers from Israel and around the globe. The three-day scientific event concluded with a workshop aimed at bridging academia and industry.
Prof. Noam Lemelshtrich Latar, Head of the Innovation Center and a member of the Scojen management team, believes that synthetic biology impacts all aspects of life and that this multidisciplinary field may ultimately unlock new technologies, addressing previously unresolved scientific dilemmas in medicine, sustainability, communications, environmental studies, and more.
