Prof Jacob Gopas, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel
Professor Jacob Gopas is a distinguished Israeli-Mexican biomedical scientist renowned for his contributions to cancer immunology and biomedical ethics. Born on February 4, 1954, in Mexico City, he pursued an academic career that spans microbiology, immunology, and cancer research. He earned his Ph.D. from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York and has held various prestigious academic positions at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. He served as Head of the Oncology Laboratory at Soroka Medical Center for over 35 years. In addition to his research, Professor Gopas has played pivotal roles in national and institutional ethics committees, significantly shaping animal experimentation policy in Israel. As a professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences, he has trained generations of students in microbiology and cancer biology. His interdisciplinary research has addressed Hodgkin’s lymphoma, novel anti-cancer compounds, and the impact of sleep apnea on cardiac cells, supported by prestigious international and national grants.
Publication Profile
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Education
Jacob Gopas began his academic journey with a B.Sc. in Microbiology (1971–1975) at Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel. He continued at Bar-Ilan for his M.Sc. (1975–1977) under Prof. Arye Rozenszajn, researching the impact of hemopoietic factors on lymphocyte colony formation. He then earned a Ph.D. in Cell Biology (1977–1982) from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, under Dr. Stanley Nathanson, focusing on MHC gene variants and immune responses. Following this, he completed a post-doctoral fellowship (1982–1983) at Ben-Gurion University under Prof. Shraga Segal in microbiology and immunology. Later, from 1994 to 1997, he expanded into health policy and leadership by completing a Master’s in Health Management at Ben-Gurion University. His academic training encompasses a rich mix of molecular biology, immunogenetics, and clinical science, positioning him as a leader in translational cancer research and ethical practice in biomedical sciences.
Experience
Prof. Jacob Gopas has over four decades of academic and research experience. He began as a teaching assistant at Bar-Ilan and Yeshiva Universities and joined Ben-Gurion University in 1983 as a lecturer. He rose through the ranks, becoming a senior lecturer (1993), associate professor (2000), and full professor in 2014. From 1986 to 2022, he led the Oncology Laboratory at Soroka Medical Center, advancing cancer research and diagnostics. He held visiting scientist positions at the NIH and SUNY Health Science Center and was a fellow of the EORTC, EACR, and UICC. Prof. Gopas also led key university roles, such as Head of Recanati School for Community Health Professions, Head of Ethics Committees, and member of national ethics boards including the Israel Ministry of Health’s IACUC. His leadership has influenced both scientific innovation and ethical governance in Israeli biomedical research.
Awards and Honors
Prof. Jacob Gopas has been honored with multiple prestigious fellowships and appointments throughout his career. His notable awards include fellowships from the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), the European Association for Cancer Research (EACR), and the International Union Against Cancer (UICC). These fellowships recognize his groundbreaking work in cancer biology and immunogenetics. His leadership in research ethics is equally commendable—he served as Head of the National Agency of Ethics in Animal Experimentation under the Israel Ministry of Health from 2016 to 2022, influencing policy at a national level. He was a member of the executive committee of the Israel Association for Cancer Research (IACR) (2021–2024) and represented the Israel National Academy of Sciences in ethical regulation. His achievements reflect a blend of scientific rigor, institutional leadership, and deep commitment to the responsible advancement of biomedical science.
Research Focus
Prof. Jacob Gopas’s research spans cancer biology, immunology, and translational medicine. His primary focus is the pathogenesis of Hodgkin’s lymphoma, particularly the molecular and immunological mechanisms behind its development and progression. He also investigates the development of natural compounds with anti-cancer, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties, aiming to identify effective, low-toxicity therapies. Another of his innovative projects explores the impact of obstructive sleep apnea on stem cell-derived human cardiomyocytes, linking sleep disorders with cardiovascular pathology. His interdisciplinary research integrates cell biology, molecular genetics, immunology, and pharmacology. Funded by agencies such as the NIH, Israel Ministry of Health, Israel Cancer Association, and Israel Science Foundation, his work has contributed to new therapeutic insights and ethical frameworks. Through collaborations, including with the Fox Chase Cancer Center, he continues to push boundaries in both laboratory science and clinical application, while mentoring emerging scientists in translational biomedical research.
Publication Top Notes
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Induction of B-lymphocyte colony growth in vitro by thymus derived stimulating factor.
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Lymphocyte colony growth in vitro.
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Mutants of the murine major histocompatibility complex: structural analysis of in vivo and in vitro H-2K variants.
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Analysis of somatic cell H-2 variants to define the structural requirements for class I expression.
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The immunobiology of metastatic processes: analysis of NK sensitivity and the metastatic potential of H-2 gene transfected fibrosarcoma cells.
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NK sensitivity, H-2, Ki-ras protooncogene expression and metastasis: Analysis of the metastatic potential of H-2 gene transfected fibrosarcoma cells.
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Influence of H-2K transfection on susceptibility of fibrosarcoma tumor cells to natural killer (NK) cells.
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The relationship between MHC antigen expression and metastasis.
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Nephrotic syndrome associated with cell carcinoma of the bladder.
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The influence of murine and human major histocompatibility complex class I expression on tumor growth and metastasis.