Ze'ev Ronai
Ze’ev Ronai is an Israeli-American cancer research scientist and Chief Scientific Advisor at the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute in La Lolla, CA, USA. Education. Ze’ev Ronai was born in Haifa Israel in 1956. Studied in Hugim high school in Haifa, received his B.S. (Biology) and Ph.D. (Immunology) from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel. Research. Ze’ev Ronai studies provide new fundamental understanding for the role and function of epigenetic components (transcription factor and ubiquitin ligases) in cancer. Early in his career he developed a sensitive PCR approach to detect mutant Ras oncogene in normal appearing  tissues. Later on, his studies provided the foundation for the rewired signaling in cancer, by demonstrating the important role of protein subcellular localization in its oncogenic function and by establishing the function of ubiquitin ligases in key cellular processes (i.e. hypoxia, unfolded protein response, mitochondrial dynamics, anti-tumor immunity) and their critical contribution to development, progression, and therapy resistance of prostate and breast cancers and melanoma. He developed SBI-756, a small molecule inhibitor, which targets the translation initiation complex, inhibiting melanoma and lymphoid tumors. Ze’ev Ronai published close to 300 peer reviewed publications, reflected in over 20,000 citations. Following post  doctoral training with I.B. Weinstein at Columbia University, Ze’ev Ronai began his independent career on the campus of the New York Medical College, followed by tenure at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in NY. He also served as SBP’s Scientific Director. In Israel, he has established the Technion Integrated Cancer Center, (with the Nobel Laureate Aaron Ciechanover), first in class where engineers biologists and oncologists collaborate to defeat cancer. Awards and honors. Ze’ev Ronai received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society for Melanoma Research (2016). Earlier, he obtained the Golda Meir Fellowship from the Hebrew University. He also  served as editor in chief of Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research. Patents. Ze’ev Ronai obtained a number patents for his inventions; those include a "Quantative method for early detection of mutant alleles and diagnostic Kits for carrying out the method" (1996), "Inhibition of ATF2 activity to treat cancer" (2011), and "Compositions and methods for inhibiting growth and metastasis of melanoma" (2011). Personal life. Ze’ev Ronai is married to Iris Ronai (1980) and have three children. External links. Ze’ev Ronai lab page is www.ronailab.net