Ongoing Research Projects
1. Aero-Microbiology and Respiratory Health: The Environmental Impact of Airborne Biofilms
Project Description:
We discovered that bacterial communities survive extreme atmospheric journeys by organizing into multilayered microscopic biofilms that protect them from desiccation and radiation. In this project, students will explore the pathophysiological effects of inhaling these environmental biofilms. Students will investigate how these highly resilient, aero-transported structures interact with the human lung mucosa upon inhalation as well as their structures and novel functions. This project is funded by the Binational Science foundation .
2. Bio-Inspired Protective Coatings for Sustainable Biotechnology and Medical Implants
Project Description:
Our interdisciplinary 2026 study demonstrated that synthetic, multi-species bacterial consortia (like Vibrio and Bacillus subtilis) can protect metals by synergistically depositing aragonite/mineral layers. This Israel Science Foundation-funded project advances the development of regenerative materials for biotechnology by engineering safe, synthetic probiotic biofilms. A primary application of these living materials is the protection of metallic medical implants—such as orthopedic joint replacements and cardiac stents. The engineered biofilms passivate the metal by synergistically depositing aragonite and other mineral layers, creating a self-regenerating biological coating. This dual-action layer not only prevents in vivo degradation (metallosis) but also competitively excludes hospital-acquired, biofilm-forming pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus. Furthermore, this versatile biomineralization approach can be adapted to generate robust protective coatings for the probiotics themselves.
3. Disrupting Bacterial Drivers of IBD Using a Novel "Mucin-on-a-Chip" Model
Based on: BSF-NSF research grant announcement for microbiome and IBD research. Link to Release: https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1102198
Project Description:
This translational project investigates the role of invasive and pathogenic intestinal bacteria in disrupting the intestinal barrier, a process closely associated with the development of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) like Crohn's disease. Recent lab studies have shown that specific changes in the chemical properties of mucin—the polysaccharide forming the primary protective layer of the intestine—are key markers of bacterial intervention in IBD. Students will utilize a novel "mucin-on-a-chip" model designed specifically for IBD research to untangle the complexity of microbial interactions in the gastrointestinal tract. The clinical goal is to develop targeted therapies aimed at gut bacterial communities to treat chronic inflammatory disorders, representing a major paradigm shift in gastroenterology. This project is part of a collaborative BSF-NSF grant with partners from Ben-Gurion University and Penn State University.
4. The Molecular Mechanisms of Calcium Signaling in Pathogenic Community Development
Based on: "The Molecular Mechanisms of Calcium Signaling in Bacterial Development" (Joint BSF-NSF Research Grant with Prof. Ehud Banin, Director of the Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials at Bar-Ilan University, and Cohen-Cymberknoch et al.).
Project Description:
This project focuses on understanding how tiny chemical signals, specifically calcium, help bacteria build complex, multicellular communities known as biofilms. In the clinical context, students will explore how this calcium signaling pathways allow pathogens to establish highly resilient biofilms in chronic human infections. By mapping the molecular pathways of calcium-dependent bacterial development, students will work toward identifying novel, non-antibiotic therapeutic targets designed to block or disrupt biofilm formation in patients.
5. The Gut-Brain Axis: Probiotic Modulation of Neuroendocrine Signaling
Collaborators: The Labs of Prof. Ruth Feldman and Prof. Orna Zagoory
Project Description:
This highly interdisciplinary project explores the complex biological communication networks of the gut-brain axis. In collaboration with the lab of Prof. Ruth Feldman, we are investigating the fascinating mechanisms by which specific probiotic bacterial communities synthesize and secrete metabolites that mimic mammalian neuroendocrine hormones. Specifically, the research focuses on how these microbial populations generate oxytocin-like signals that can interact with the host's nervous system. Medical and research students involved in this project will help map the biochemical pathways that bridge intestinal microbiology with host neurobiology.