Glycogen synthase kinase-3--a promising therapeutic target: Dr Hagit Eldar-Finkelman interviewed by Emma Quigley

Dr Hagit Eldar-Finkelman (Sackler School of Medicine, Israel) was interviewed by Emma Quigley (Commissioning Editor, Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets) on 16th February 2006. Born in Jerusalem, Dr Eldar-Finkelman received her BSc in Chemistry in 1984 and both her MSc in Physical Chemistry (1986) and PhD in Life Science (1993) from the Weizmann Institute of Science. She was a recipient of the British Council Award, which allowed her to conduct research in biological nuclear magnetic resonance at the University of Oxford in the laboratory of Professor George K Radda. Following postdoctoral work at the School of Medicine of the University of Washington with Nobel Laureate Professor Edwin G Krebs, she became an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Dr Eldar-Finkelman joined the Sackler School of Medicine at Tel Aviv University in 1999. Dr Eldar-Finkelman's research focuses on the molecular mechanisms regulating the protein kinase glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3), and their implications in negative regulation of signalling pathways. In particular, her work aims to develop specific inhibitors for GSK-3 and to test their functions in vitro and in vivo, considering the concept that such inhibitors may be useful in insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes. These studies provide a conceptual basis for development of GSK-3 inhibitors and may lead to design of small molecules for treatment of diabetes and or neurodegenerative disorders.