Gaucher’s Disease Unit

Periodic blood tests and treatments for Gaucher patients are performed in the Daycare Unit for Children on the 6th floor.

Patients who start receiving enzyme replacement therapy via intravenous infusions will receive the medication the first three times during their stay at the Daycare Unit for Children.

If there are no adverse reactions, continuation of the enzyme therapy at home is possible, securely supported by a home care system with the assistance of the pharmaceutical company. Those interested can learn self-administration (or their family members).

The nursing team in the Daycare Unit for Children, led by Ms. Yael Greenberg – Head Nurse, and Miri Engel – Gaucher Nurse, is a highly professional, skilled, and dedicated team that has been accompanying Gaucher patients for many years.

Due to the fact that the nursing team cares for and accompanies Gaucher patients from the time of diagnosis and throughout the years, a warm and familial connection is formed between the nurses and the patients.

If necessary, social counseling and psychological support can also be provided during the visit to the Daycare Unit.

Dr. Tamar Dinar

For over 10 years, she shifted her daily activities from the biochemical laboratory at the Hadassah Medical School and the Hebrew University to clinical research in the Gaucher Unit - Shaare Zedek Medical Center. Tamar has advanced various fields in the Gaucher Unit and is the lead author of several important research studies published in recent years. These studies include the link between Gaucher and Parkinson's disease, the significance of the bio-marker Lyso-Gb1, the clinical stability of untreated mild Gaucher patients for two decades and more, and most recently, an innovative approach to diagnosing Gaucher disease without the need for enzyme activity testing. Email: dinurt@szmc.org.il

Michal Bakar-Cohen

With a Bachelor's degree in Biology and a Master's degree in Genetics from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Michal joined the Gaucher Unit as a research coordinator in 2016. She is responsible for research related to shortening enzyme infusion duration, gene therapy research, and studies investigating the connection between carriers of Gaucher and Parkinson's disease, which is also part of her PhD work in public health at the Hebrew University. Email: michalbc@szmc.org.il

Dafna Friedman

A veterinarian with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree and a Master's degree in Veterinary Public Health from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Dafna joined the Gaucher Unit as a research coordinator in 2017. She is responsible for various research projects, including monitoring pregnancies and childbirths in Gaucher patients, gene therapy studies, and research on platelet function in Gaucher patients. Email: dafnaf@szmc.org.il

Majdouleen Astiye (Juline)

With a Bachelor's degree in Biology from Tel Aviv University and a Master's degree in Business Administration with a specialization in Pharma and Healthcare Systems from Ono Academic College in Jerusalem, Jouleen joined the Gaucher Unit as a research coordinator in 2018. She is responsible for research projects in various fields, including ambroxol treatment in Gaucher patients and in Parkinson's patients related to the GBA gene, international research on Gaucher type 3, Gaucher type 3c, gene therapy studies, digital medicine, and bio-banking. Email: joleenist@szmc.org.il

Yelena Shulman

She completed her MSCE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) course at the Ramat Gan College. Yelena joined the Gaucher Unit in 2020 and leads the digitalization project in the unit. Email: elename@szmc.org.il