Message from the Head of TAU Colton Center for Autoimmunity, Prof. Uri Nevo

Welcome to the TAU Colton Center for Autoimmunity, where we are dedicated to addressing the significant challenges presented by autoimmune diseases in clinical practice. With over 100 diseases in this diverse group and affecting approximately 5% to 8% of the population, autoimmune diseases pose complex and unique obstacles.

These conditions arise from the immune system's misguided targeting of the body's own tissues, influenced by factors such as genetics, viral interactions, psychological elements, and lifestyle choices. Despite extensive research, the precise triggers for the onset of autoimmune diseases remain unknown, as well as why some patients experience disease progression while others experience intermittent flare-ups.

One of our key objectives is to enhance the understanding of effective therapeutic strategies personalized to individual patients. Currently available treatments generally adopt a non-specific approach, modulating or suppressing the entire immune system. While this approach aims to mitigate the overall immune response, it fails to address the specific causes and mechanisms of each autoimmune disease. As a result, treatment efficacy and duration vary significantly across patients.

The Colton Center for Autoimmunity at Tel Aviv University was established to make a significant impact on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of autoimmune diseases. We strive to gain new insights that will shape clinical recommendations and guidelines, enable accurate prediction of disease progression and treatment response, and pave the way for innovative research in this field. Ultimately, our efforts aim to enhance diagnosis, patient care, and the development of novel therapies.

The Center is a collaborative endeavor between the University's faculties of Medicine, Life Sciences, Exact Sciences, Engineering and The Center for AI & Data Science (TAD). This multidisciplinary research facility harnesses our unique strengths in fields such as computer sciences, statistics, machine learning, engineering, and biological and clinical expertise.

We are proud to join the other distinguished Colton centers at New York University, Yale, and the University of Pennsylvania. Additionally, we have formed partnerships with four leading health providers in Israel: Clalit, Meuhedet Health Services, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, and Sheba Medical Center. These collaborations bolster our clinical expertise and provide access to decades of invaluable computerized patient data, making this a truly exceptional global asset.

We express our deep gratitude to Judith and Stewart Colton for their visionary support and for entrusting us with the means to pursue this crucial task. Their contributions have been instrumental in enabling us to embark on this research journey, advancing our understanding and treatment of autoimmune diseases. We recognize the profound impact of their support and belief in the potential of our collective efforts.

To fellow researchers, clinicians, and professionals who share our passion for unraveling the complexities of autoimmune diseases, we extend an open invitation. Join us on this research journey, as we work together to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those affected by these challenging conditions.

Prof. Uri Nevo, PhD

Head of TAU Colton Center for Autoimmunity

Tel Aviv University

In addition to leading the Colton Center for Autoimmunity at TAU, Prof. Uri Nevo contributes his expertise as a member of the esteemed academic team at TAU's Department of Biomedical Engineering, housed within the Iby and Aladar Fleischman Faculty of Engineering. He is also affiliated with the prestigious Sagol School of Neuroscience.