When Combatting Cancer Becomes Personal
A Personal Narrative from Ofri Vizenblit
In my final year as a Technion undergraduate, I tested positive for a BRCA mutation. This means I face an increased risk for breast and other cancers. This revelation altered the course of my life — making my longstanding desire to do scientific research not just an academic pursuit, but a personal one.
I earned my Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering and my Master of Science in Chemical Engineering through a direct Ph.D. program, and I am currently a Ph.D. student in chemical engineering at the Technion. I was fortunate to join Prof. Assaf Zinger’s lab in the Wolfson Faculty of Chemical Engineering, where I am developing a novel tool to target breast cancer tumors, aiming to reduce the severe side effects of chemotherapy. My research will hopefully improve treatment outcomes for triple-negative breast cancer, a particularly aggressive cancer that is more common in younger women and Black women.
Ofri Vizenblit, 2026 Berger Visiting Fellow
In conjunction with my studies, I work as a teaching assistant and laboratory instructor in undergraduate and graduate courses. I am also involved in the broader scientific community, helping organize the Young Israeli Controlled Release Society Conference, with the goal of creating a supportive professional community for early-career scientists.
The Technion also gave me the opportunity to participate in the MindState Innovation Competition, which brings together promising students with professional designers and developers for rigorous evaluation. My team developed a remote cardiac rehabilitation app that took third place. I have received other awards and scholarships, including the Gutwirth Scholarship of Excellence. I give back by teaching high school students through national volunteer programs.
I faced the chance of an increased risk for breast and other cancers … making my longstanding desire to do scientific research not just an academic pursuit, but a personal one.
Ofri Vizenblit
The war had a significant emotional impact on the entire Technion community and disrupted life on campus. During the most intense months after October 7, the Technion postponed the start of the academic year and was extremely helpful to students and faculty alike. Faculty members reached out to me, expressed care and understanding, and helped find solutions for both research and teaching responsibilities. I was granted academic flexibility, help completing course material, and the option to extend my Ph.D. timeline, making it possible to balance a rigorous workload during war time.
To unwind, I hike, practice yoga, and paint. After completing my Ph.D., I hope to pursue a postdoctoral fellowship in the U.S. and embark on a research-focused career in cancer and biomedical engineering.
About the Program
The Ilene & Steve Berger Technion Visiting Fellows Program features the University’s greatest assets: its students. Meet them face to face. Hear their stories. Discover their groundbreaking research, bold aspirations, and the sacrifices they have made through more than two years of war. These remarkable students are not only persevering — they are driven by a profound determination to use science to solve the world’s greatest problems.
