Home – Institute for Personalized and Translational Medicine

At the forefront of biomedical research, personalized medicine integrates genetic, molecular, and clinical data to deliver more targeted and effective healthcare solutions

OUR STORY

Despite unprecedented scientific breakthroughs made in recent years, a dramatically wide gap remains between understanding biological processes in the human body and practical tools used in conventional medicine. Translational medicine may be compared to “Esperanto”, as it is accepted by both medical and research communities for combining efforts and facilitating advanced scientific, sophisticated and productive solutions for real life applications.

IPTM, established in 2014 by Dr. Igor Koman at Ariel University, aims to enrich translational technologies by evoking the philosophy of personalization to find exclusive solutions for individual patients’ unmet clinical needs. Our team, which includes experts in biological sciences and medicine, views the patient as a complete holistic system, in which all individual parameters are linked to one another, each having equal value and the potential to influence the final outcome. By adhering to a patient-centered approach, we develop two parallel, but tightly interrelated arms of our research activities: identification of unique individual therapeutic targets and an intensive search for safe and highly effective agents acting towards these targets.

OUR RESEARCH DIRECTIONS

Metabolomics

Translational and personalized oncology

Personalized Psychiatry

Microbiome

AI guided cognition

Gut Microbiota Shapes Mice Social Behavior and Affects Adipose Tissue

Can Gut Bacteria Shape Our Social Behavior?
Scientists have long suspected a connection between gut health and how we behave socially — and this study brings us one step closer to understanding it. Using a unique mouse model, researchers explored how gut bacteria influence whether a mouse becomes dominant (Dom) or submissive (Sub).

What We Found:
When we analyzed the gut microbiota of Dom and Sub mice, we found clear and striking differences. Sub mice had much less diversity in their gut bacteria. Their gut was filled with specific types of bacteria — like Mycoplasma and Anaeroplasma — that weren’t as common in Dom mice. In contrast, Dom mice had more Prevotella, a beneficial type of bacteria often linked to good gut health.

Why It Matters:
This study shows just how deeply our gut bacteria can influence not only our physical health but also our social behavior. It suggests that a healthy, balanced gut microbiota could be key to emotional well-being — opening exciting possibilities for future treatments.

Using Lab-Grown Tumors to Personalize Breast Cancer Treatment

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women, and current treatments don't always work the same for everyone. One big challenge is that doctors often don't know in advance which chemotherapy will be most effective for each patient.

In this study, our researchers developed a new way to grow 3D "mini-tumors" in the lab using breast cancer tissue taken directly from patients. These lab-grown tumor spheroids closely resemble the original tumor in the patient's body. Scientists tested different chemotherapy drugs on the mini-tumors to see how each one responded.

They found that responses to treatment varied between patients - some mini-tumors were sensitive to certain drugs, while others were not. This method could help dectors predict which traetments are most likely to work for each individual, allowing for more personilized and effective care.

This approach shows great promise for improving outcomes in breast cancer by helping match the right treatment to the right patient.

Can a Natural Compound Help Fight Breast Cancer?

A popular diet called the ketogenic diet (high fat, low carbs) causes the body to produce ketone bodies, which are natural energy sources. One of them, β-hydroxybutyrate (βHb), may affect how cancer cells behave.

In this study, scientists tested how βHb influences breast cancer cells in the lab. They found that in some cancer cells, βHb reduced growth and activity, while in others the effects were different. Healthy cells were not harmed. The treatment also triggered changes in genes related to fat metabolism and cancer.

These results suggest that βHb might help support breast cancer treatment — but responses vary between different types of cancer, highlighting the need for personalized approaches.