April 2023

Associate Professor David (Dedi) Meiri heads the Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Cannabinoid Research at the Faculty of Biology, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, where he is also a member of the Technion Integrated Cancer Center (TICC).\nDr. Meiri comes from a highly diverse scientific background. He holds an M.Sc. in biochemistry and a Ph.D. in plant biotechnology from Tel Aviv University. He conducted his post-doctoral fellowship at the Ontario Cancer Institute where he focused on the role of the GEF-H1 protein in tumor invasion and metastasis, receiving in a short time worldwide recognition as an expert in the fields of G-protein coupled receptors and small GTPases.\nPresently, Dr. Meiri’s lab investigates the vast therapeutic potential of cannabinoids and other bioactive components in various species of cannabis, as well as endogenous cannabinoids from the human body. On top of the research on cannabis, the lab is also studying secondary metabolites from algae and psychedelic mushrooms. The lab’s current research interest is how these naturally occurring metabolites affect various types of cancer, inflammatory diseases and disorders of the nervous system such as epilepsy, Alzheimer’s and others. The lab consists of a highly trained team of skilled professionals and students, working in synergy to achieve the highest level of results, to better understand the complexity and diversity of cannabis and other natural components, and realize their full therapeutic potential for human health. \nDr. Meiri is also highly involved in governmental regulations and is a residing member in several Israeli Ministry of Health committees that seek to advance the fundamental understanding of optimal cannabis usage and curtailing adverse effects.