Professor Ofra Benny, a Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Hebrew University, is a pioneering researcher and entrepreneur in the field of Biomedicine. Her groundbreaking research has led to numerous patents and publications in prestigious journals. She has received multiple competitive grants and awards, and in one year founded three new innovative startups in response to the significant need for advanced medical solutions, earning her the Researcher Prize at the Kaye Innovation Awards 2024.
“As a researcher in Pharmaceutical Sciences, I aim to solve problems across various medical fields. Unlike doctors, who focus on their specific areas, I have the privilege of exploring solutions that could be applicable to multiple medical disciplines.”
Prof Ofra Benny at the Scientific Plenary featuring academic achievements, 2024 Board of Governors
Her latest entrepreneurial achievements address several cancer treatments and eye problems: “Currently, cancer treatments are chosen based on general criteria, without important personal information. As a result, many patients receive ineffective treatments and develop resistance. There is a need for accurate, non-animal prediction models that mimic the body’s physiology, so we’ve developed Pre-cure, a groundbreaking cancer diagnostic platform using a unique 3D-printed biochip that creates a precise tumor environment using the patient’s own tissues. This helps in selecting the right therapy and testing drug responses.”
Another start-up is Emris Pharma, which were founded with Dr. Sharon Merims, a senior dermato-oncologist from Hadassah Medical center, is working on a new treatment to prevent and treat severe skin problems caused by certain cancer treatments. “Our main product is a cream that uses a small molecule drug to address specifically the skin issues caused by EGFR inhibitors, which are used in many types of cancers. Around 90% of patients using these cancer treatments suffer from severe skin problems that affect their quality of life. Current unfortunately do not provide much relief. The best current option often involves lowering the dose or taking breaks from the cancer treatment which can reduce the effect of anti-cancer treatment. EMRIS Pharma’s new cream targets hair follicles, where most of the skin problems start.”
In the ophthalmology field, she initiated OrSight Pharma together with Prof. Itay Chowers from Hadassah Ein Kerem, a leading biomed startup company that focuses on retinal diseases like Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of severe vision loss and blindness. “We aim to address unmet clinical needs and improve patients’ quality of life by offering new drugs with novel modes of action to treat abnormal blood vessels, the underlying cause of the disease.”
Benny’s revolutionary work signifies a concerted effort to confront the pressing issues that have emerged globally over many generations. With her creative vision (pun intended) and dedication, Benny is leading the industry, offering novel approaches to improve patient outcomes and shape the future of healthcare innovation.