Roles at http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com
Research Category OWNER:
Imaging-based Cancer Patient Management
Dror Nir PhD: visionary entrepreneur, passionate about developing and bringing to market innovative technologies. Dror is a managing partner at RadBee, a health care solutions firm specializing in medical devices. He is also the inventor of the HistoScanning technology, a unique ultrasound-based tissue characterization technology that is improving management of prostate cancer patients in Europe. From 2003 through to 2011 Dror served as the CEO of Advanced Medical Diagnostics SA., a Belgian company he founded in order to develop and bring HistoScanning to market.
Dror Nir, PhD
RadBee
32 Avenue des Bécasses, 1410, Waterloo, Belgium
dror.nir@radbee.com
Informative links:
http://be.linkedin.com/in/nirdror
http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/?s=dror+nir
General Manager; Technology transfer, Technology commercialisation (spin off); CTO; Health Technology Assessment; Business Development; Medical-Imaging: Product definition, R&D, Medical Device Clinical validation and Access to market;
Dror is an accomplished CEO particularly experienced with start-up and SME’s within the medical-imaging industry. Being involved in development and bringing to market of sophisticated, state-of-the-art technologies for two decades Dror is well positioned for assessing technology viability and rout to market. Particularly, spending the last ten years as a manager and entrepreneur in the medical-device and cancer management arena, Dror is presenting unique combination of hands-on experience and understanding of the health-care market, the way it works and which technologies could provide it with viable solutions. Dror’s strong research relations with leading academies in Europe and USA on one hand and his medical-devices industry network are important assets when supporting technology commercialisation is considered. Dror has no problem with extensive traveling and handles very well work-load and stress situations.
Dror’s major achievement in recent years is the successful introduction into the cancer management pathway a unique and disruptive medical-imaging device, HistoScanningTM, which today is in daily use all over Europe in the urologists’ office for ultrasound based prostate cancer detection. The experiences he acquired in the course of this project include the founding of a medical device company and leading it from the fundamental research phase to early sales in Europe, whilst building a loyal, talented and proactive team of 36 people. He also established a trusted network of medical KOLs in Europe, UK and USA mainly in Urology, Radiology and Gynecology. Dror continues to maintain the relationships with these clinicians, in particular with the urologists amongst them. Dror continues to publish scientific papers and participate in research related to the development of innovative medical devices in urology.
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
- Founded Advanced Medical Diagnostics SA, Waterloo, Belgium and developed the company to early sales achieving revenues of over 1Mil. Euro/year within 3 years of the initial product launch.
- Built a highly productive and motivated lean and mean team.
- Inspired and led a team of scientists and engineers:
- Guided the development of a disruptive, unmatched tissue characterisation technology, HistoScanningTM, from initial concept, through prototyping, rigorous multi-center clinical studies, production and regulatory processes to being distributed and sold in 6 European countries.
- Obtained CE mark for a risk level 2a device within 18 months and ahead of the product launch,
- Obtained ISO 13485 and CAN/CAN ISO13485 certifications within the first certification audit with no major non-conformity being recorded.
- Attracted and recruited from various sources the Governmental grants, private and institutional investments and bank loans required to fund Advanced Medical Diagnostics’ activities through to post commercialization of the first product. Raised over 20 Million Euros over an 8 year period.
- Built a network of trusted clinical advisors and recognised KOLs across Europe and the USA to advise on clinical need, guide product development, create and execute robust clinical studies, publish credible peer-reviewed papers and to be advocates for the technology.
- Protected the company IP assets through a combination of prudent patent licencing and the careful management of critical know-how.
- In 2011 HistoScanning was awarded the Technology Innovation, Medical Diagnostics and Imaging Technology award by Frost & Sullivan.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
RadBee 2012 – now
Managing partner
Advanced Medical Diagnostics (AMD), Belgium 2003 – 2012
CEO
Built an organization from scratch emphasizing excellence, streamlined processes and agility.
ELTA (Sub. of Israeli Aircraft Industries), Israel 1993-2002
R&D Team Leader & R&D Projects Manager
Algorithms development in the field of pattern recognition and image processing and leading R&D on advanced air born radars imaging techniques.
EDUCATION
1982–1993 Tel-Aviv University
10/1992 – 11/1993 – Post graduating research.
1987 – 1992 – PhD. In nuclear physics: Developing a novel technique for characterization of solid surfaces using stimulated (by a chain of weak – decays) desorption of radioactive isotopes.
1985 – 1987 – M.Sc. – Nuclear physics
1982 – 1985 – B.A., Physics.
LANGUAGES
English – Fluent business level
French – good conversation skills
Hebrew – Mother tongue
PATENTS AND PUBLICATIONS
Patents
System and Method for Analysis of a Tissue US patent 6,785,570
Method and system for selecting and recording biopsy sites in a body organ; US Patent No. 7,824,339 and PCT/IL02/00481, PCT IB2004/001127
Method and device for planning and performing a biopsy; US patent 13/131,553 and PCT/EP2008/067525.
Method of re-sampling ultrasound data; PCT/EP2010/067529 – Pending.
Peer Reviewed Publications
NIR (D.), Kelson (I.) Ultraclean radioisotope marking by nuclear stimulated desorption/ Journal of Applied Physics — February 1, 1991 — Volume 69, Issue 3, pp. 1147-1150
Computer-aided ultrasonography (HistoScanning): a novel technology for locating and characterizing prostate cancer B J U I N T E R N A T I O N A L , June 2008.
VAES (E.), MANCHANDA (R.), AUTIER, NIR (R.), NIR (D.), BLEIBERG (H.), ROBERT (A.), MENON (U.). Differential diagnosis of adnexal masses: Sequential use of the Risk of Malignancy Index and a novel computer aided diagnostic tool. Published in Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology. Issue 1 (January). Vol. 39,. Page(s): 91-98.
LUCIDARME (O.), AKAKPO (J.-P.), GRANBERG (S.), SIDERI (M.), LEVAVI (H.), SCHNEIDER (A.), AUTIER (P.), NIR (D.), BLEIBERG (H.). A new computer aided diagnostic tool for non-invasive characterisation of malignant ovarian masses: Results of a multicentre validation study.Published in European Radiology. Issue 8. Vol. 20,. Page(s): 1822-1830.
LUCIDARME (O.), AKAKPO (J.-P.), LAURATET (B.), GRANBERG (S.), SIDERI (M.), MASHIACH (R.), BLEIBERG (H.), NIR (D.), AUTIER (P.), LEFRANC (J.P.), GRENIER (P.). HistoScanning: a new computer aided diagnostic tool for non invasive detection of malignant ovarian masses. A European clinical study report. Published and presented at the annual European Congress of Radiology (ECR). Session “Genitourinary – SS 307 Imaging of the pelvis”, B152, 07/03/2008, Wien (A).
BLEIBERG (H.), AKAKPO (J.-P.), GRANBERG (S.), SIDERI (M.), MASHIACH (R.), AUTIER (P.), NIR (D.). HistoScanning, a new device to enhance ultrasound’s contribution to clinical assessment of pelvic masses. Published and presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). 02-06/06/2006, Atlanta (GA, USA).
FRANCHI (D.), SIDERI (M.), NIR (D.), BOVERI (S.), di PACE (R.), MAGGIONI (A.). Ovarian HistoScanning, a new device to enhance ultrasound based clinical assessment of pelvic masses.Published and presented at the world congress of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (ISUOG-WC). 0C157, 03-07/09/2006, London (GB).
GRIVEGNÉE (A.R.), ABSIL (A.-S.S.), NIR (D.), AUTIER (P.). Histoscan: Tissue characterization in early detection of ovarian cancers. Published at the annual Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research Conference meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). Session “Behavioral and social science: Screening and early detection”, A52, 13/11/2006, Boston (MA, USA).
BRAECKMAN (J.), AUTIER (P.), SOVIANY (C.), NIR (R.), NIR (D.), MICHIELSEN (D.), TREURNICHT (K.), JARMULOWICZ (M.), BLEIBERG (H.), GOVINDARAJU (S.K.), EMBERTON (M.).The accuracy of transrectal ultrasonography supplemented with computer-aided ultrasonometry for detecting small prostate cancers. Published in British Journal of Urology International (BJUI). Issue 11 (May),. Vol. 102,. Page(s): 1560-1565.
SIMMONS (L.A.M.), AUTIER (P.), ZÁT’URA (F.), BRAECKMAN (J.G.), PELTIER (A.), ROMÍCS (I.), STENZL (A.), TREURNICHT (K.), WALKER (T.), NIR (D.), MOORE (C.M.), EMBERTON (M.).Detection, localisation and characterisation of prostate cancer by Prostate HistoScanning. e-Published ahead of printing in British Journal of Urology International (BJUI). 17/11/2011.
BRAECKMAN (J.G.), MICHIELSEN (D.), SOVIANY (C.), NIR (R.), NIR (D.), BLEIBERG (H.), AUTIER (P.), GOVINDARAJU (S.K.), EMBERTON (M.). The ability of Prostate HistoScanning to identify low volume prostate cancer tumour foci. Published and presented at the annual meeting of the European Association of Urology (EAU). P.1016, 27/03/2008, Milano (I).
GOVINDARAJU (S.K.), BRAECKMAN (J.G.), SOVIANY (C.), NIR (R.), NIR (D.), BLEIBERG (H.), EMBERTON (M.). Prostate HistoScanning (PHS) technology and its potential use in focal therapy.Published and presented at the International Symposium on Focal Therapy and Imaging in Prostate and Kidney Cancer (FTI-PKc). 21-22/02/2008, Durham (NC, USA).
NIR (D.). Smart imaging for better informed management of cancer patients. Presented at the Oncology imaging and Personalised Medicine congress (OIPMC). 29/10/2011, Brussel-Bruxelles-Brüssel (B).
Cancer Biology and Genomics
for
Disease Diagnosis
2014
Imaging in Cancer
1. Ultrasound
1.1. 2013 – YEAR OF THE ULTRASOUND
Dror Nir, PhD, DN, http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2013/04/10/2013-year-of-the-ultrasound/
1.2. Imaging: seeing or imagining? (Part 1)
Dror Nir, PhD, DN, http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2012/09/10/imaging-seeing-or-imagining-part-1/
1.3. Today’s fundamental challenge in Prostate cancer screening,
Dror Nir, PhD, DN, http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2012/09/02/todays-fundamental-challenge-in-prostate-cancer-screening-2/
1.4. From AUA2013: “HistoScanning”- aided template biopsies for patients with previous negative TRUS biopsies,
Dror Nir, PhD, DN, http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2013/05/05/from-aua2013-histoscanning-aided-template-biopsies-for-patients-with-previous-negative-trus-biopsies/
1.5. Ultrasound-based Screening for Ovarian Cancer
Dror Nir, PhD, DN, http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2013/04/28/ultrasound-based-screening-for-ovarian-cancer/
2. MRI & PET/MRI
2.1. Introducing smart-imaging into radiologists’ daily practice.
Dror Nir, PhD, DN, http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2012/10/09/introducing-smart-imaging-into-radiologists-daily-practice/
2.2. Imaging: seeing or imagining? (Part 2).
Dror Nir, PhD, DN, http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2012/09/29/imaging-seeing-or-imagining-part-2/
2.3. Whole-body imaging as cancer screening tool; answering an unmet clinical need?
Dror Nir, PhD, DN, http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2013/01/03/whole-body-imaging-as-cancer-screening-tool-answering-an-unmet-clinical-need/
3. CT, Mammography & PET/CT
3.1. Causes and imaging features of false positives and false negatives on 18F-PET/CT in oncologic imaging
Dror Nir, PhD, DN, http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2013/05/18/causes-and-imaging-features-of-false-positives-and-false-negatives-on-18f-petct-in-oncologic-imaging/
3.2. Improving Mammography-based imaging for better treatment planning
Dror Nir, PhD, DN, http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2013/01/14/improving-mammography-based-imaging-for-better-treatment-planning/
3.3. Closing the Mammography gap
Dror Nir, PhD, DN, http://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2012/11/04/closing-the-mammography-gap/
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Dr. Nir
I actually would like one of your references on HistoScanning to maybe highlight in a post. Thanks
PUT IT IN CONTEXT OF CANCER CELL MOVEMENT
The contraction of skeletal muscle is triggered by nerve impulses, which stimulate the release of Ca2+ from the sarcoplasmic reticuluma specialized network of internal membranes, similar to the endoplasmic reticulum, that stores high concentrations of Ca2+ ions. The release of Ca2+ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum increases the concentration of Ca2+ in the cytosol from approximately 10-7 to 10-5 M. The increased Ca2+ concentration signals muscle contraction via the action of two accessory proteins bound to the actin filaments: tropomyosin and troponin (Figure 11.25). Tropomyosin is a fibrous protein that binds lengthwise along the groove of actin filaments. In striated muscle, each tropomyosin molecule is bound to troponin, which is a complex of three polypeptides: troponin C (Ca2+-binding), troponin I (inhibitory), and troponin T (tropomyosin-binding). When the concentration of Ca2+ is low, the complex of the troponins with tropomyosin blocks the interaction of actin and myosin, so the muscle does not contract. At high concentrations, Ca2+ binding to troponin C shifts the position of the complex, relieving this inhibition and allowing contraction to proceed.
Figure 11.25
Association of tropomyosin and troponins with actin filaments. (A) Tropomyosin binds lengthwise along actin filaments and, in striated muscle, is associated with a complex of three troponins: troponin I (TnI), troponin C (TnC), and troponin T (TnT). In (more ) Contractile Assemblies of Actin and Myosin in Nonmuscle Cells
Contractile assemblies of actin and myosin, resembling small-scale versions of muscle fibers, are present also in nonmuscle cells. As in muscle, the actin filaments in these contractile assemblies are interdigitated with bipolar filaments of myosin II, consisting of 15 to 20 myosin II molecules, which produce contraction by sliding the actin filaments relative to one another (Figure 11.26). The actin filaments in contractile bundles in nonmuscle cells are also associated with tropomyosin, which facilitates their interaction with myosin II, probably by competing with filamin for binding sites on actin.
Figure 11.26
Contractile assemblies in nonmuscle cells. Bipolar filaments of myosin II produce contraction by sliding actin filaments in opposite directions. Two examples of contractile assemblies in nonmuscle cells, stress fibers and adhesion belts, were discussed earlier with respect to attachment of the actin cytoskeleton to regions of cell-substrate and cell-cell contacts (see Figures 11.13 and 11.14). The contraction of stress fibers produces tension across the cell, allowing the cell to pull on a substrate (e.g., the extracellular matrix) to which it is anchored. The contraction of adhesion belts alters the shape of epithelial cell sheets: a process that is particularly important during embryonic development, when sheets of epithelial cells fold into structures such as tubes.
The most dramatic example of actin-myosin contraction in nonmuscle cells, however, is provided by cytokinesisthe division of a cell into two following mitosis (Figure 11.27). Toward the end of mitosis in animal cells, a contractile ring consisting of actin filaments and myosin II assembles just underneath the plasma membrane. Its contraction pulls the plasma membrane progressively inward, constricting the center of the cell and pinching it in two. Interestingly, the thickness of the contractile ring remains constant as it contracts, implying that actin filaments disassemble as contraction proceeds. The ring then disperses completely following cell division.
Figure 11.27
Cytokinesis. Following completion of mitosis (nuclear division), a contractile ring consisting of actin filaments and myosin II divides the cell in two.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK9961/
This is good. I don’t recall seeing it in the original comment. I am very aware of the actin myosin troponin connection in heart and in skeletal muscle, and I did know about the nonmuscle work. I won’t deal with it now, and I have been working with Aviral now online for 2 hours.
I have had a considerable background from way back in atomic orbital theory, physical chemistry, organic chemistry, and the equilibrium necessary for cations and anions. Despite the calcium role in contraction, I would not discount hypomagnesemia in having a disease role because of the intracellular-extracellular connection. The description you pasted reminds me also of a lecture given a few years ago by the Nobel Laureate that year on the mechanism of cell division.
Dr. Williams,
Thank you
We are on the same page on this topic.