The Institute for Drug Research

The Institute for Drug Research

The Institute for Drug Research (IDR) of the Faculty of Medicine’s School of Pharmacy, brings together some 30 researchers working to meet the complexity and challenges facing drug research and development today.

The IDR, the only institute of its kind in Israel, includes scientists and research groups from various fields of drug-related research, working across the complete spectrum of the field – from basic computerized drug design, through synthesis of novel molecules and their biological and therapeutic investigation, to the development of sophisticated targeted delivery systems.

The Multidisciplinary Center for Cannabinoid Research

The MCCR promotes research on such topics as the efficacy of cannabinoids in the treatment of epilepsy, pain, age-related osteoarthritis, metabolic syndrome, and traumatic brain injury; as well as their antioxidant, neuro-protective and neuro-regenerative properties.

The Center for Transformative Nanomedicine

The CTN, a collaborative initiative of HU and the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, fosters high impact research in medical nanotechnology and collaborative scientific exchange in areas such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, immunology, metabolic syndrome, and neurologic diseases, as well as efforts directed at the translation of scientific discovery into clinical applications designed to prevent, detect, and treat human diseases.

The Hub for Opioid Research

The Hub for Opioid Research is tackling the global opioid crisis. World-renowned pain and addiction pharmacologists, cutting-edge synthetic chemists, and state-of-the-art experts in drug delivery are collaborating to synthesize novel non-addictive painkillers with minimal side effects thus combatting the tragic, preventable consequences of the opioid epidemic.

The Hub for Psychedelics Research

The Hub for Psychedelics Research is researching and promoting the use of psychedelics as safe and potent treatments for such widespread and debilitating mental health conditions as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety. Researchers are innovating synthetic novel analogs of known psychedelic compounds and screening the compounds with the aim of developing novel therapeutics that will revolutionize the treatment of mental health.

The Institute for Drug Research Breakthrough Treatments and Technologies

• Exelon – slows the progression of symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, developed by Prof. Marta Weinstock-Rosin.

• Cationorm – an eye-drop nanoemulsion for the treatment of dry eyes, developed by Prof. Simon Benita.

• PerioChip – a degradable sustained release delivery system for the treatment of periodontal disease, developed by Profs. Michael Friedman, Michael Sela, Doron Steinberg, and Aubrey Soskolne.

• Supra-Vir – an acyclovir cream for topical treatment of the herpes simplex virus, developed by Prof. Elka Touitou.

• BoneCure – an AMCA membrane for enhanced fracture healing (for veterinary use), developed by Prof. Michael Friedman.

• MAZE Water Purification System – a home sytem capable of filtering organic and inorganic toxin residues as well as bacteria and viruses from drinking water, developed by Prof. Avi Domb.