Prof. David Stepensky

Prof. David Stepensky Profile

Associate Professor
PhD.,2002

School Director

Department : Clinical Biochemistry and Pharmacology
School of Pharmacy
Room : 529
בנין משרדי רפואה ע"ש אליה
Phone : 972-8-6477381
Email : davidst@bgu.ac.il
Office Hours :  
pharmacology, pharmaco kinetics, pharmaco dynamics, nano medicine, bio pharmaceuticals

Education

  • 1997-2002 PhD studies at Dept. of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Thesis: Optimization of mode of drug administration according to pharmacodynamic rationale. Graduated Summa cum Laude. Supervisors: Prof. Amnon Hoffman, Prof. Michael Friedman. 1996-1997 M.Sc.Pharm. studies at Dept. of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Thesis: Bisphosphonate pharmacokinetics and screening of bisphosphonate activity in a bone cancer model. Supervisor: Prof. Amnon Hoffman. 1992-1996 B.Sc.Pharm. studies at School of Pharmacy, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. 1988-1991 Medicine studies at medical faculty, The 2nd Moscow Medical College.

Research Interests

  • Intracellular targeting of biopharmaceuticals using nanotechnologies. Delivery systems and their effects on the biopharmaceuticals’ pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. PK-PD modeling. Protein interactions and protein balance within the endoplasmic reticulum and the ER stress. Fluorescent imaging and biochemical characterization of the protein interactions within the MHC class I peptide loading complex and of the antigen presentation pathways.

Research Topics

  • Delivery systems and their effects on the biopharmaceutical's pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics
  • Drug delivery and targeting, controlled release dosage forms
  • Preclinical and clinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, PK/PD modeling iv. Intracellular targeting of biopharmaceuticals using nanotechnologies

Major expertise and techniques in the lab

  • Preclinical and clinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, PK-PD modeling
  • Drug absorption and permeability, controlled release dosage forms (nanoparticles, liposomes)
  • Fluorescence imaging and advanced algorithms for image analysis (confocal microscopy, FRET, FRAP) iv.Biochemistry, experimental immunology, molecular biology, tissue culture v.Analytical methods development and validation (HPLC, GC, etc.) v
  • Quality control of pharmaceuticals and medical devices

Publications and funding summary / representative publications and grants

  • Sneh-Edri H, Likhtenshtein D, Stepensky D. Intracellular targeting of PLGA nanoparticles encapsulating antigenic peptide to the endoplasmic reticulum of dendritic cells and its effect on antigen cross-presentation in vitro. Mol Pharmaceutics 2011; 8(4):1266-75.
  • Dakwar G, Hammad IA, Popov M, Linder C, Grinberg S, Heldman E, Stepensky D. Delivery of proteins to the brain by bolaamphiphilic nano -sized vesicles. J Control Release 2012, in press.
  • Stepensky D. Local vs. systemic anti-TNF-alpha effects of adalimumab in rheumatoid arthritis: pharmacokinetic modeling analysis of interaction between a soluble target and a drug. Clin Pharmacokinet 2012, in press.

Existing collaborations

  • Eli Heldman (Clinical Biochemistry, BGU) & collaborators - brain-targeted delivery of drugs
  • using bolavesicular drug delivery systems
    • Alex Zlotnik (Anesthesiology, Soroka ) – glutamate neurotoxicity and neuroprotection
    • Amir Sagi (Life Sciences, BGU) - calcium supplements for treatment and prevention of osteoporosis
  • Looking for expertise / project

    • Clinical projects of biopharmaceutical drug development, such as anti-cytokine antibodies in rheumatoid arthritis

    Additional links