Avner Adini
Brookline,MA
Summary
Accomplished scientific leader with over 20 years of experience in angiogenesis, inflammation, and tissue remodeling, specializing in the biology of pulmonary, cardiovascular, and dermatologic diseases. Inventor of PR1P, a VEGF-binding peptide therapeutic for vascular and respiratory conditions, successfully licensed to a startup company, demonstrating a strong foundation in innovative drug development. Proven track record in mechanism-of-action studies and in vivo efficacy models, complemented by extensive collaboration with clinicians, chemists, and industry partners. Expertise will be leveraged to advance drug discovery and early development initiatives at Sanofi within respiratory, cardiovascular, and immuno-dermatology programs.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Vascular Biology
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
09.2000 - 09.2006
- Advanced expertise in microvascular biology, endothelial signaling, and pathologic angiogenesis, forming the basis for later work in lung, heart, and skin vascular disease.
Instructor and Research Associate
Harvard Medical School / Boston Children's Hospital
09.2006 - 01.2026
- Directed translational research initiatives in angiogenesis and vascular biology, focusing on pulmonary and cardiovascular applications.
- Conducted research on PR1P, a VEGF-binding peptide, showcasing its ability to stabilize VEGF and improve signaling, with promising results in preclinical models of respiratory conditions.
- Investigated pr1p action, focusing on VEGF stabilization and its impact on neutrophil migration in the context of vascular inflammation.
- Validated role of prominin-1/CD133 in VEGF binding, facilitating development of innovative peptides for angiogenesis and lung injury applications.
- Investigated melanocyte-secreted and dendritic-cell-derived factors (e.g., fibromodulin) that shape an angiogenic microenvironment in skin and mucosa, with implications for ocular disease and endometriosis and relevance to dermatology and chronic wound biology.
- Spearheaded development of orally delivered MPEG-PLA nanoparticle formulation of TNP-470, showcasing expertise in small-molecule delivery systems.
- Assessed and provided critical feedback on research studies in angiogenesis, vascular inflammation, and regenerative medicine as part of editorial responsibilities for PLOS ONE and Journal of Regenerative Medicine & Tissue Engineering.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Pathology
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center / Harvard Medical School
01.2000 - 01.2006
- Investigated the role of PLGF in tumor progression and angiogenesis, defining its impact on endothelial cell and macrophage survival and interaction with VEGF pathways relevant to cardiovascular and vascular pathology.
- Demonstrated that VEGF and PLGF significantly increase tumor growth and vascular survival in vivo, contributing to foundational knowledge of pro-angiogenic cytokines in disease.
Education
PhD - Parasitology
Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School
Jerusalem, Israel01.2002
MSc - Immunology
Hebrew University
Rehovot, Israel01.1994
BSc - Life Science
Bar-Ilan University
Ramat-Gan, Israel01.1990
Skills
- Angiogenesis
- VEGF/PLGF
- Vascular biology
- Pulmonary disease models
- Acute lung injury
- Emphysema
- Cardiovascular ischemia
- Post-ischemic remodeling
- Inflammation
- Neutrophil trafficking
- Macrophage biology
- Skin microvasculature
- Dermatologic microvasculature
- Mucosal microvasculature
- Wound healing
- Stromal signaling
- Peptide mechanism-of-action studies
- Biologic mechanism-of-action studies
- Target validation
- In vivo proof-of-concept
- IP generation
- Scientific communication
- Mentoring
- Collaboration with industry
Websites
Languages
English
Selected Publications
- A novel strategy to enhance angiogenesis in vivo using the small VEGF-binding peptide PR1P, Angiogenesis, 20, 399-408, 2017
- PR1P ameliorates neurodegeneration through activation of VEGF signaling and remodeling of the extracellular environment, Neuropharmacology, 148, 96-106, 2019
- PR1P stabilizes VEGF and upregulates its signaling to reduce elastase-induced murine emphysema, Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol, 63, 452-463, 2020
- Prominin-1-derived peptide improves cardiac function following ischemia, Int J Mol Sci, 2021
- The stem cell marker prominin-1/CD133 interacts with VEGF and potentiates its action, Angiogenesis, 16, 405-416, 2013
- An orally delivered small-molecule formulation with anti-angiogenic and anti-cancer activity, Nat Biotechnol, 26, 7, 799-807, 2008
- Melanocyte-secreted fibromodulin promotes an angiogenic microenvironment, J Clin Invest, 124, 1, 425-36, 2014
Patents
- Prominin-1 peptide fragments and uses thereof (US9090707, US8618055)
- Pro-angiogenic fragments of prominin-1 and uses thereof (14/745562)
- Prominin-1 peptide for treating lung injury (PCT 62/513,971)
Professional Memberships
- North American Vascular Biology Organization, since 2007
- American Association for Cancer Research, 2004-2009
- American Heart Association, 2010-2012
- Editorial Board / ad hoc reviewer, PLOS One; Journal of Regenerative Medicine & Tissue Engineering
- Israeli Innovations in Cardiovascular Intervention Committee, 2010-2011
Personal Information
Title: Scientific Leader in Angiogenesis & Translational Therapeutics
Awards
- Award of the Microbiology Institute, Hebrew University, 1988
- Best Oral Presentation, Innovation in Cardiovascular Intervention Conference, 2010
- Technology Development Award, Boston Children's Hospital, 2011
Timeline
Instructor and Research Associate
Harvard Medical School / Boston Children's Hospital
09.2006 - 01.2026
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Vascular Biology
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
09.2000 - 09.2006
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Pathology
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center / Harvard Medical School
01.2000 - 01.2006
MSc - Immunology
Hebrew University
BSc - Life Science
Bar-Ilan University
PhD - Parasitology
Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School