In our screening programme, we are conducting essential, novel studies concerning pathogen emergence and disease transmission between aquatic animals in the easternmost Mediterranean Sea. Through the use of cutting-edge technologies, this research is expected to generate original knowledge about marine biology, marine ecology, and public health issues. Subsequently, we expect to have a sound perspective of flagship marine animal health status in the near future. We strongly believe that this will lead to an improved understanding of the origins and spread of viruses in aquaculture, and will assist us to better understand the molecular basis of fish viruses.

Higher Education

1999-2002: Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.), Biology, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva,   Israel

2002-2006: Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM). University of Veterinary Medicine, Kosice, Slovakia (passed with great distinction).

2007-2012: PhD, Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Rehovot. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. 

2012-2015: Postdoctoral Fellowship, Hadassah Medical School, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. 

2017         : Certified Aquatic Veterinarian, World Aquatic Veterinary Medical Association (WAVMA).

Recent Publications 

1. Lampert Y, Berzak R, Davidovich N, Diamant A, Stern N, Scheinin AP, Tchernov D, Morick D. Indigenous versus Lessepsian Hosts: Nervous Necrosis Virus (NNV) in Eastern Mediterranean Sea Fish.Viruses. 2020 Apr 10;12(4):430. doi: 10.3390/v12040430. 
2. Morick D, Davidovich N, Bigal E, Rosenbluth E, Bouznach A, Rokney A, Ron M, Wosnick N, Tchernov D, Scheinin AP. Fatal Infection in a Wild Sandbar Shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus), Caused by Streptococcus agalactiae, Type Ia-ST7. Animals (Basel). 2020 Feb 12;10(2):284. doi: 10.3390/ani10020284. 
3. Meron D, Davidovich N, Ofek-Lalzar M, Berzak R, Scheinin A, Regev Y, Diga R, Tchernov D, Morick D. Specific pathogens and microbial abundance within liver and kidney tissues of wild marine fish from the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Microb Biotechnol. 2020 May;13(3):770-780. doi: 10.1111/1751-7915.13537. 
4. Regev Y, Davidovich N, Berzak R, Lau SCK, Scheinin AP, Tchernov D, Morick D. Molecular Identification and Characterization of Vibrio Species and Mycobacterium Species in Wild and Cultured Marine Fish from the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Microorganisms. 2020 Jun 7;8(6):E863. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms8060863. 
5. Berzak R, Scheinin A, Davidovich N, Regev Y, Diga R, Tchernov D, Morick D. 
   Prevalence of Nervous necrosis virus and Streptococcus species in wild marine fish and crustaceans from the Levantine Basin, Mediterranean Sea. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms. 2019 Feb; 133: 7-17. 
6. Bigal E*, Morick D*, Scheinin A, Salant H, Berkowitz A, King R, Levy Y, Melero M, Sánchez-Vizcaíno JM,  Goffman O, Hadar N, Roditi-Elasar M, Tchernov D. Detection of Toxoplasma gondii in three common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus); A first description from the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Veterinary Parasitology. 2018 Jul; 258: 74-78. 
7. Morick D, Saragovi A. Inhibition of nervous necrosis virus by ribavirin in a zebrafish larvae model. Fish Shellfish Immunol. 2017 Jan;60:537-544.