Mel Rosenberg


Mel Rosenberg is a microbiologist best known for his research on the diagnosis and treatment of bad breath.

Early life and education

Mel Rosenberg was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada in 1951. He grew up in Ottawa and immigrated to Israel in 1969. He received his Bachelor of Science from Hebrew University and went on to pursue both his Masters of Science and Ph.D. at Tel Aviv University.

Academic professional

Rosenberg performed his Ph.D. research in the field of petroleum microbiology, under the supervision of Eugene Rosenberg and David Gutnick. His first publication as a graduate student, on the adhesion of microorganisms to oil droplets, became the most highly cited publication of FEMS Microbiology Journal and a "Citation Classic" by the Science Citation Index of 1991.
After receiving his doctorate in microbiology, Rosenberg held various faculty academic positions at the Sackler Faculty of Medicine and Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine at Tel Aviv University, and has received honorary appointments at the University of Rochester, University of Pennsylvania, University College London and University of Toronto.
Rosenberg's interest in the diagnosis and treatment of bad breath began in the mid 1980s. Research conducted in his laboratory at Tel Aviv University led to the development of two-phase mouthwashes, now popular in the UK and elsewhere. He is also the inventor or co-inventor of several other patents, including two microbial inoculation tools, the Quadloop and the Diaslide, an upside-down spray for treatment of shoe odor, a deodorant for use in the shower, and an anti-microbial flavor combination. Rosenberg's research also led to the application of the Halimeter, a volatile sulfide monitor, as an adjunct apparatus for the measurement of oral malodor. Rosenberg has edited several professional textbooks on bad breath and has written several reviews on the subject, notably "The Science of Bad Breath", published in Scientific American in 2002. Together with Anton Amann, he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Breath Research, published by the Institute of Physics, from its inception until 2013.
Mel Rosenberg pursues parallel careers as a jazz singer and musician, and author of children's books. He is co-founder of Ourboox, a platform for online publishing of digital picture books. He appeared in a small role in the film JeruZalem in 2015.

Selected publications