Israel Active

Researchers at Israel’s Technion Institute have generated, in lab tests, live, harmless bacteria that produce fragile therapeutic proteins directly inside the body, and not destroyed in the stomach. Using microneedle patches they could treat war wounds, cancer, diabetes, and many other diseases.

Israel’s Renewal Bio, a startup spun out of Israel’s Weizmann Institute, is turning skin cells into stem cells that can be grown into replacement organs for cancer patients or to cure rare orphan diseases. They simulate embryonic development – and even employ a womb-like incubator.  

Jan 2026, saw the highest number of organ transplants ever recorded in Israel in a single month - 54 on 47 patients. 7 hearts, 9 lungs (including 7 doubles), 9 livers, and 21 kidneys. The previous record was 36 transplants back in 2024. There were also 78 corneas, 6 heart valves, plus others.

A delegation of ten top Israeli genomics and biodata experts visited the UK to explore new channels for joint innovation in the life sciences. Meetings took place in London’s Knowledge Quarter research cluster included at University College London and the Francis Crick Institute.

Tel Aviv University researchers have discovered that facial mimicry (copying a speaker’s facial movements) can reveal preferences better than interpreting smiles, frowns etc. The team used unique technology to track micro-movements of the face that are invisible to the naked eye.

Surgeons at Rambam Medical Center used deep brain stimulation on a patient with severe Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder that failed to respond to medication or psychotherapy. Four electrodes were implanted in two separate regions of the brain, handling anxiety, emotional regulation, & impulse control.

Weizmann scientists are now developing Israeli-invented CAR-T cancer therapy (see previously) to cure brain diseases such as Alzheimer's. The team of Israeli and American scientists have modified T cells to recognize and respond to amyloid proteins in the brain.

A Tel Aviv University-led international team, has deciphered a mechanism that enables breast cancer to metastasize to the brain. They found an anomaly in chromosome 17 and faulty p53 (“genome guardian”) genes increased the risk of cancer spread. Inhibiting the SCD1 enzyme greatly lowered it.

Technion and top US university researchers have conducted lab trials of an implantable 'living pancreas'. It senses glucose, produces insulin, while its crystalline shield prevents immune system rejection. It paves the way for self-regulating, long-term diabetes treatment without daily injections.

Israel’s AccuLine (see previously) conducted a trial of its CORA non-invasive coronary artery test on 305 heart patients. It was 94% correct in predicting blockages and 99% correct in giving the all-clear. Easier, faster, cheaper or more accurate than angiographs, imaging or stress tests.