CELEBRATING 12 YEARS AT CBSET... Dr. Rami Tzafriri provides scientific leadership to CBSET’s cutting-edge translational research programs, leveraging CBSET’s strengths in minimally invasive interventions, histopathology, imaging, bioanalysis and computational modeling to accelerate product development. He also leads CBSET’s educational and technology differentiations mission, and liaises with key opinion leaders.
THREE THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT DR. RAMI TZAFRIRI
1: He is one of a rare breed: quantitative translational biomedical researcher.
Quantitative translational research is an interdisciplinary field integrating multiple experimental and computational modalities. Rami holds an MSc degree in Physics, and received a PhD in Computer Science from Hebrew Univ. of Jerusalem for his research on biodegradable controlled release devices as localized therapies for gum disease and cancer. He later held a post-doctoral research position in Dr. Elazer Edelman’s lab at MIT, focused on developing ex vivo and computational models to examine how blood flow and receptor-ligand interactions affect drug distribution in arteries and myocardium. His experience in directing complex quantitative research programs in a fast-paced CRO environment and his ability to communicate CBSET’s novel findings to R&D scientists and clinicians make him a perfect Director of Research and Innovation to align CBSET’s vision of growth through investment in scientific collaboration, technology advancement, and novel method development.
2: He is a visionary.
Rami joined CBSET in 2009 as a Principal Scientist focusing on development of computational and experimental methods for predicting the local pharmacokinetics of novel drug eluting stent designs. In 2016 he assumed his current position as Director of Research & Innovation. His work has led to landmark insights, such as: the first published preclinical demonstration of lesion preparation enhanced drug delivery to calcified human arteries; novel imaging methods for visualizing balloon-delivered coating onto arterial surfaces; and, computational models by which to interpret and leverage such findings. His series of first-authored CBSET publications on catheter-based denervation provide a novel integrated experimental/computational paradigm for predicting the influence of procedural and anatomical parameters on their performance, and were highlighted by the editors of JACC, Science Translational Medicine, and Hypertension.
3: He is passionate.
"I enjoy collaborating with industry and academic partners, and key opinion leaders,” says Rami. “Medical therapies are inherently complex and best understood through integration of quantitative experiments with mechanistic computational modeling. My role and the resources I am afforded allow us to use this integrative paradigm in an expanding range of therapeutic areas for the benefit of our Sponsors and advancement of innovative therapies. I am especially excited about our fellowship and intern programs, which accelerate development of novel in vivo and bench models, image analysis, and 2D and 3D computational models. These efforts help CBSET’s Sponsors transform their ideas into breakthrough therapies while also providing invaluable opportunities for young scientists and medical fellows to participate in generating high-profile translational research publications that impact medical innovation.”
News and Publications
Scientific Reports: Morphometric analysis of the human common hepatic artery (CHA) reveals a rich and accessible target for sympathetic liver denervation
Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine & Biology Society: An in silico trials platform for the evaluation of effect of the arterial anatomy configuration on stent implantation
Biomaterials: Balloon-based drug coating delivery to the artery wall is dictated by coating micro-morphology and angioplasty pressure gradients
Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc: Design and implementation of in silico clinical trial for Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffolds
Circulation: Mortality and Paclitaxel-Coated Devices: An Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis
Biomedical Instrumentation & Technology: Analysis: Intravascular Devices with a Higher Risk of Polymer Emboli: The Need for Particulate Generation Testing
Journal of Controlled Release: Taking paclitaxel coated balloons to a higher level: Predicting coating dissolution kinetics, tissue retention and dosing dynamics
Translational Research: Splenic artery denervation: target micro-anatomy, feasibility, and early preclinical experience
Hypertension: Procedural and Anatomical Determinants of Multielectrode Renal Denervation Efficacy
EuroIntervention: Pulmonary Artery Denervation Using Catheter based Ultrasonic Energy.
Biomaterials Forum: Stem cell therapies for peripheral arterial disease: clinical status, promising biomaterials strategies and tips for successful translation
Cardiovascular Revascularization Medicine: Anatomical and procedural determinants of ambulatory blood pressure lowering following catheter-based renal denervation using radiofrequency
Eurointervention: Renal artery anatomy assessed by quantitative analysis of selective renal artery in 1000 patients with hypertension
Journal of Controlled Release: Defining drug and target protein distributions after stent-based drug release: Durable versus deployable coatings
EuroIntervention: Lost in translational filters between peers
Journal of Controlled Release: Calcified plaque modification alters local drug delivery in the treatment of peripheral atherosclerosis
EuroIntervention: Ultra-hydrophilic stent platforms promote early vascular healing and minimise late tissue response: a potential alternative to second-generation drug-eluting stents
Interventional Cardiology Clinics: Mechanisms Underlying Drug Delivery to Peripheral Arteries.
Annals of Biomedical Engineering: Stents: Biomechanics, Biomaterials, and Insights from Computational Modeling
Cardiovascular Revascularization Medicine: Anatomical and Procedural Determinants of Catheter-based Renal Denervation