My father-in-law, Abraham Colton,
passed away at age 77 from Lymphoma cancer
Research
We are developing new tools to analyze cancer evolution and are applying our findings in a clinical setting.
Recent technological developments in generating biological data, such as next-generation DNA/RNA sequencing, has led to an exponential growth of biological data. This is particularly true of cancer data, as DNA sequencing is a routine procedure at many medical centers. The main bottleneck for research is therefore not in data generation but rather in interpreting this wealth of data. In our lab, we develop new algorithms and computational tools for analyzing cancer data, and apply them to the abundance of newly available data, with the goal of generating new biological insights and medical diagnostic tools.
While our interest spans all aspects of cancer bioinformatics, our current main focus is on the genomics of tumors that develop due to a deficiency in one of the DNA repair pathways.
As examples, two of the lab's current projects include:
- 1. Cancer early detection using cell-free DNA: We are developing computational methods to analyze cell-free DNA in the blood in order to be able to detect traces of cancerous DNA from the blood. This may be useful both for early detection of cancer and for monitoring the relapse of previous tumors.
- 2. Preventative vaccine for colon cancer for Lynch Syndrome patients: A familial syndrome with a predisposition to colon cancer called Lynch Syndrome is characterized by highly frequent mutations. We are analyzing samples from an early cancerous lesion, and predicting which of these mutations are likely to lead to an immune response, and therefore can be used for a preventive vaccine against tumor development.
Our Team
The lab is multidisciplinary and candidates backgrounds can range from medical
studies or basic biology to computer science and applied mathematics or the like.
Yosef Maruvka
Principal Investigator
Yosef Maruvka - Principal Investigator
To read about my research see Research section
Shai Naparstek
Lab Manager/Associate Researcher
Shai Naparstek - Lab Manager/Associate Researcher
Hi!, I'm the lab manager
Hala Kassis
Postdoctoral researcher
Hala Kassis - Postdoctoral researcher
My current research project is focused on the role of intracellular pH vulnerabilities in cancer therapy. By investigating how pH regulation within cancer cells can be targeted, I aim to uncover novel therapeutic strategies to improve the effectiveness of cancer treatments. My work is dedicated to advancing our understanding of oncology and contributing to the development of innovative cancer therapies.
Hagay Ladany
PhD student
Hagay Ladany - PhD student
My main project involves the creation of a pioneering pipeline to identify neoepitope candidates for microsatellite unstable tumor vaccines.
Jorge Cano Nistal
PhD student
Jorge Cano Nistal -PhD student
Born in León, Spain. B.Sc. in Biology, M.Sc. in Innovation in Biomedicine & Health Science (University of León) and passionate about Mathematics, Physics and Scientific Communication as well. My passion for science started at an early age and grew over the years.Now, as a PhD Student at Maruvka Lab, I am willing to help people by researching in the amazing field of Cancer Bioinformatics. As one of the greatest scientists of all times said once: “If I have seen further, it is by standing upon the shoulder of giants”.
Daniel Gorvich
PhD student
Daniel Gurevich - M.sc. student
- B.Sc. in Biotechnology and Food Engineering from the Technion- Israel Institute of Technology (2020).
- Joined the team on March 2020.
Research topic
Characterization of cancer by using ensemble learning algorithms.
Gaia Frant
PhD student
Gaia Frant (PhD student)
I have received my B.Sc in Biotechnology and Food Engineering from the Technion.
My research is currently focused on better characterizing the MMR system through the analysis of different cancer types.
Chen Sharon Yagol
MSc student
Chen Sharon Yagol - MSc student
I am an MS.c student in both Prof. Yoval Shaked's and Yosi maruvka's labs.
My work currently focus on Host response to cancer immunotherapy.
Stav Naky
MSc student
Stav Naky
Hi!
I have a B.Sc in Biotechnology from Tel-Hai college, summa cum laude.
I've also taken several courses related to Computer Science, and have been a bioinformatician at the Faculty of Medicine, Technion for the past year at the Preger Lab.
Currently, I'm an M.Sc student, and my project is going to be about diagnosing cancer from cell-free DNA (cfDNA) of patients, within low-coverage whole genome sequencing.
Dana Dayan
MSc student
Dana Dayan
Hi!
I am Dana, started here as a research assistant and now perusing my master degree. My current project focus on
classification of somatic cancer mutations in DNA Polymerases.
Naomi Rivkin
MSc student
Naomi Rivkin
Hi!
I have received my B.Sc in computer science from the Technion.
My research is currently focused on understanding the evolution of pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia and developing methods for minimal residual disease tracking.
Avraham Kahan
Research assistant
Avraham Kahan (Research assistant)
I am interested in the development of efficient algorithms and heuristics to model and analyze biological systems.
Currently, my research is focused on developing computational tools to deduce molecular characteristics of tumors from imaging and sequencing data
Shahar Sukeri
Research Assistant
Shahar Sukeri
Hi!
I am an undergraduate student currently working on researching mutated POLE in mammalian cells.
The lab Alumni 
Ofek (Yu LIN)
MSc student
Hi!
I am Yu LIN, also known as Ofek, from China.
I graduated with a BSc degree in Biotechnology and Food Engineering from Guangdong Technion in 2021.
I joined Maruvka Lab as a Master's student in summer 2021.
I will take part in the laboratory and computational side of oncology research.
Shir Geisler
Research assistant
I'm currently pursuing my B.Sc in Data Science & Engineering at the Technion. I work as a research assistant in the field of Data Science, and my project is to identify germline variants across various populations and assess their impact on microsatellites.
Betzalel Evans
Summer intern
Betzalel Evans (International intern)
Summer 2021
I am a 2nd year Chemical Engineering Student at the Cooper Union in New York City.
I will be working in the lab under the title of "International summer intern".
Gavriel Hannuna
Research assistant
Gavriel Hannuna
2021-2022
The aim of my research is to analyze the mutational pattern of 126 mammalian species, study the mutational events that shaped the evolution of those species, and compare the results with the data we have on humans.
Sahar (Haozhen Hong)
MSc student
Sahar (Haozhen Hong)
2021-2023
I am Haozhen Hong from China.
I got the B.Sc degree from GTIIT – Guangdong Technion in China and then joined the lab in October 2021.
Currently, my general research direction was to analyse AML cancer by nanopore sequencing.
Guy Shani
MSc graduate
Guy Shani - MSc student
I have received my B.Sc in material engineering and physics.
In my MSc, My research topic was:
Classification of Colorectal cancer tumors into molecular subtypes from histology via prediction of gene expression
Open positions
We are looking for an experimentalist post-doc with a background in cell-biology and genomics. Previous experience in cancer research is an advantage.
We are also looking for a computational PhD student for a tool development project. Relevant background, computer science, mathematics, physics or similar.
While we have enough personnel with biological background, we may have some opening for excellent PhD student.
Please contact us at: [email protected]
Thanks,
Yosi
Collaborators
Foresee Genomics
Our lab collaborates with a startup company Foresee Genomics in developing inexpensive and easy-to-use sequencing protocols based on Nanopore sequencing technology. Foresee Genomics develops a combined system of molecular biology and bioinformatics. An enabling technology with the purpose to increase the accuracy of the currently error-prone nanopore-based 4th generation DNA sequencing technology, transforming it into a technology that would be suitable for sensitive diagnostics. The nanopore sequencing platform is significantly inexpensive in comparison to all other NGS platforms. The combined system of Foresee Genomic and the nanopore sequencer is an end-to-end solution for genomic diagnostics which is accurate and affordable. We give labs the capability to do comprehensive molecular testing at an unprecedented price.
Grants
Gallery
Guy and Jorge 13-09-2022
Faculty research day / World food day 14-10-2021
Lab group 14.9.2022
Computational and Cancer GenomicsConference, Dec 2022
Technion aerial view
Emerson Building
Hanukkah 29-11-2021
Lab meeting 13-04-2021
Lab meeting - eating and mingling - 13-04-2021
Lab meeting - Two years to the lab! - 06-03-2022
Summer party at the Technion - Group image
Summer party at the Technion - Jorge, Daniel and Gaia.
In Memoriam 
Due to the loss of two dear and beloved people, my research shifted from a theoretical focus to a more applied cancer focus.
My cousin, Dov (Irad) Eisenbach,
passed away at age 33 from tongue cancer.
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11-Oct-2022