Herbert Cohn Chair in Cancer Research, and the director of the Stem Cell Unit at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Prof. Benvenisty earned his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from the Hebrew University, and conducted postdoctoral studies at Harvard University. His laboratory was the first to demonstrate the differentiation of human ES cells into embryoid bodies, their genetic manipulation and the directed differentiation of the cells. His research pioneered in demonstrating the use of human pluripotent stem cells as models for genetic disorders, as well as in studying the immunogenicity of human ES cells, and in suggesting strategies to overcome their tumorigenicity. He serves on the editorial board of various stem cell-related journals, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the ISSCR. He presented the issue of human ES cells in numerous international conferences, and gave testimonies before the US Senate and the European Union. He was awarded several prizes among them the Foulkes Prize (London), the Hestrin Prize, the Teva Prize, and the Kaye Prize.