Prof. Eran Perlson

Prof. Perlson, at the Department of Neuroscience and Brain Disorders, is a leader in the research of nerve degeneration and regeneration.

He completed a Ph.D. at the Weizmann Institute of Science in molecular and cellular neurobiology.

As a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania Medical School, he focused on understanding the mechanisms underlying axon degeneration in ALS.

His scientific work has earned him a large number of distinguished grants, awards, and honors, and he is the author of numerous publications in high-profile journals and invited speaker to leading international meetings. 

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis 

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a lethal adult-onset motor neuron disease, pathologically characterized by neuronal death and degeneration. No effective treatment exists for ALS. Prof. Perlson is taking a fresh approach to this challenge using advanced microscopy, genetic engineering, and a novel NMJ-on-a-Chip platform that mimics the human motor unit. This novel platform was developed first in the world by Prof. Perlson's team and enables the growth of patients' neurons and muscles on a silicon chip.

This unique platform opens new possibilities for experimental analyses of neuron degeneration and regeneration process and provides a tool for personalized medicine. Together with in vivo mice genetics, and strong collaboration with neurologists and human samples, the team's main goal is to elucidate the critical events leading to neuron damage that can be targeted and prevented. By preventing nerve degeneration and activating its regeneration, they will be able to find effective treatments for neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS or spinal cord injuries.