Michael Horev Award to a Ph.D. student at the Technion for her research into the prevention of atherosclerosis

‏Adi's recent research contribution was reviewed in the journal Highlights in Chemical Science, where the Israeli research on the role of catalytic antioxidants in preventing arterial damage leading to cardiovascular diseases was highlighted.

Adi Haber, a doctoral student in the Shulich Faculty of Chemistry at the Technion, won the Professor Michael Horev Award for excellence in medicinal chemistry and drug development. She is doing her doctorate under the guidance of Professor Zeev Gross, in collaboration with Professor Michael Aviram from the Rapaport Faculty of Medicine at the Technion. The award is given by the Medicinal Chemistry Section of the Israeli Chemical Society to particularly bright students (doctoral students and post-doctoral students). Adi Haber won the award for her excellence in leading research into the treatment of atherosclerosis from the chemical laboratory to pre-clinical trials. Adi's recent research contribution was reviewed in the journal Highlights in Chemical Science, where the Israeli research on the role of catalytic antioxidants in preventing arterial damage leading to cardiovascular diseases was highlighted.

The scientists showed that new antioxidants prepared in the laboratory, called corroles, can prevent processes involved in the development of atherosclerosis. The uniqueness is expressed in the great affinity of the same corroles for the two main cholesterol carriers: LDL, the "bad cholesterol", and HDL, the "good cholesterol". This link protects LDL and HDL from reactive oxygen species (free radicals). Oxidative damage to these cholesterol carriers is involved in the development of a sclerotic lesion, which eventually leads to clogging of the arteries, an issue that increases with age and exposure to risk factors. The researchers' working hypothesis was that the binding of corrol to LDL and HDL would protect them from oxidation in the artery wall, where there is a large excess of oxidizing substances (a condition called "oxidative stress").

The mechanism of action of the substances developed in the laboratory of Professor Zeev Gross is fundamentally different from that of nutritional antioxidants. The active ingredients in pomegranate juice, red wine as well as other natural antioxidants undergo oxidation themselves to protect more essential ingredients. On the other hand, each Corrol molecule breaks down thousands of active oxygen and nitrogen forms into harmless substances without itself being harmed. The researchers proved that treatment of cholesterol carriers with the corrol prevents the harmful activity of LDL and preserves the variety of beneficial properties of HDL. They illustrated the inhibition of the development of arteriosclerosis by treating laboratory mice with the corolla.

Klaus Jacob, an expert from Saarland University in Germany, explains that these are important findings that will have a great impact on the design of antioxidants in the future. "Now it is possible to attach catalytic antioxidants to targets related to oxidation, thus providing perfect protection against the damage caused by active oxygen and nitrogen species. This is an important breakthrough on the way to the development of the next generation of smart, multifunctional antioxidants. Such antioxidants are especially important in the field of heart disease ."

Professor Gross (the main supervisor of Adi Haber) is the head of the Laboratory for Bio-Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis at the Shulich Faculty of Chemistry, and also serves as the Deputy Vice President of the Technion for Academic Affairs. Professor Michael Aviram (the secondary supervisor of Adi Haber) is the head of the Laboratory for Lipid Research , and also serves as deputy dean of the Rapaport Faculty of Medicine.

This research was funded by the National Science Foundation and the Herbert Irving Foundation for Cancer and Atherosclerosis Research.

In the photo: Adi Habar. Photo - Technion Spokesperson.