Eran Elinav, MD, Ph.D.

The Rina Gudinski Career Development Chair
Weizmann Institute of Science

Email: eran.elinav@weizmann.ac.il | Phone: +972-8-934-4014
Dr. Eran Elinav heads a research group at the Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science. His lab focuses on deciphering the molecular basis of host-microbiome interactions and their effects on health and disease, with a goal of personalizing medicine and nutrition. Dr. Elinav completed his medical doctor’s (MD) degree at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem Hadassah Medical Center summa cum laude, followed by a clinical internship, residency in internal medicine, and a clinical and research position at the Tel Aviv Medical Center Gastroenterology institute. He received a PhD in immunology from the Weizmann Institute of Science, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at Yale University School of Medicine. Dr. Elinav has published more than 70 publications in leading pear-reviewed journals, and was awarded for his discoveries including the Claire and Emmanuel G. Rosenblatt award from the American Physicians for Medicine, the Alon Foundation award, and the Rappaport prize for biomedical research.

His research focuses on the complex microbial ecosystem within our bodies which, from birth until death, has a fundamental impact on many aspects of physiology and susceptibility to various disorders. Each of us has a unique microbiome–the collection of 100 trillion germs and microbes that reside in our gut–which is affected by what we eat and dictates our response to certain foods. Dr Elinav has found that food additives, such as artificial sweeteners, can interfere with blood sugar levels and may in fact be contributing to the obesity and diabetes epidemic sweeping the world. In addition, significant changes to intestinal bacteria, leading to a tendency to obesity and its complications, occur in those who have long term sleep disruptions, such as shift workers and frequent flyers.