Professor Amos Toren is the Director of the Pediatric Hemato-Oncology Department at the Sheba Medical Center. Under his leadership, the department has grown into one of the world’s leading centres for the research of childhood cancers.
Education and Background
He graduated as a Doctor of Medicine at the University of Tel Aviv’s Sackler School of Medicine in 1983. He then acquired a PhD in Genetics in 2002 from the same school, followed by a Masters in Health Care Administration and Management in 2008.
Research and Practice Focus
Prof. Amos Toren’s clinical practice specialises in pediatric oncology. However, he occasionally accepts patients over the age of 30. He also holds a particular interest in treating blood cancers, such as leukaemia and lymphomas.
As a researcher, Professor Amos Toren has concentrated his efforts in the same areas. He is currently investigating the following treatments:
- Pediatric stem cell transplants, both matched and unrelated
- CAR T-cell therapy for both adults and children, especially for recurring leukaemias and lymphomas
- Mitochondrial augmentation therapy for mitochondrial diseases
- Cannabinoid-based treatment for pediatric tumors
His research team is also currently investigating the pathogenesis of pediatric brain tumors and its link with non-coding RNA, with the hope of discovering clues for future treatment options.
Professional Memberships and Relationships
After becoming head of his department in 2001, Prof. Amos Toren has cultivated close links with other research centres focused on pediatric cancers, such as Austria’s St Anna Children’s Hospital and the United States’ St Jude Children’s Hospital.
He is currently a member of:
- The Israeli Pediatric Society
- The Israeli Society of Hematology
- The European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplants (EBMT)
- The American Society of Hematology (ASH)
- The Children Oncology Centre (COG)
- The Health Blood Cord Committee of the Israeli Ministry of Health.