Israel Active

Israel’s Scopio Labs (see previously) has now received the fourth FDA clearance for its groundbreaking, full-field digital hematology imaging platform. The new Decision Support System significantly helps labs analyze blood smears for anomalies.

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a food allergy (milk, eggs, wheat, nuts, fish etc.,) disease that affects 1 in 2,500 people. Now a team of researchers from Tel Aviv University have found that blocking the protein TSLP might stop the disease from developing. It may also help understand other allergic disorders.

One of European Research Council’s latest grants awarded to Israelis is for Bar-Ilan’s project targeting Protein Degradation, aiming to revolutionize how cancer and other diseases are treated at the molecular level. It specifically involves instructing cells to destroy harmful proteins.

Two critically ill Israelis were saved thanks to the heart and lungs donated by a newly deceased patient in Cyprus. Despite a car breakdown, the organs was transported to Israel within 4 hours. In addition, in cross-donations from living donors, five Israelis and three Cypriots received a new kidney.

Researchers at Rambam Medical Center in Haifa have rewritten the book on prenatal testing for genetic diseases. The “old” method checks for identical segments (ROH) in the DNA inherited from mother and father. The new algorithm recognizes that ethnic minorities have more ROH.

A new study led by a Tel Aviv Ichilov (Sourasky) Medical Center cardiologist reveals that it is wrong (and dangerous) to check if heart attack victims risk swallowing their tongue before commencing CPR. Delays can cause death or severe anoxic brain damage

A research team led by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have boosted the immune system’s cancer-fighting ability by reprogramming. They disabled the mitochondrial protein Ant2 in T cells, forcing them to produce more energy and become stronger and better at homing in on cancer cells.

Scientists from Sheba Medical Center and Tel Aviv University have taken human kidney tissue stem cells and grown a 3D organ culture (organoids) to 34 weeks maturity – the longest-lasting and purest ever developed. It will advance research into kidney disease, regenerative medicine and transplants.

Researchers at Sheba Medical Center have sent a groundbreaking scientific experiment to the International Space Station (ISS). It will study how space conditions - especially microgravity - influence bacterial virulence and resistance to antibiotics.

An Israeli-led team has been awarded a $1.2 million grant by the prestigious Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP). It will study epigenetic inheritance –traits acquired from the environment can be passed to descendants. This research begun by Jewish scientists came to halt in WW2.