Can you smell the coffee?
Researchers at Israel’s Weizmann Institute found that lack of a sense of smell often leads to depression, anxiety and other health issues which link to a reduced lifespan. They also discovered that sighing every 5 minutes or so helps prevent the collapse of alveoli in the lungs.”
Life-support for US hospitals
ART 100 cardiopulmonary bypass systems from Israel’s Inspira Technologies (see previously) are to be deployed in hospitals on the US East Coast. The system takes over the functionality of the heart and/or lungs in critical care patients.
Hospital director saves heart patient on El Al flight
Prof. Yoram Weiss, director general of the Hadassah Medical Organization, saved a man having a heart attack during an El Al flight to Miami. Weiss administered oxygen, provided medication, and had the flight diverted to Athens. The passengers applauded in appreciation.
9 startups to improve UK healthcare
The Dangoor Health-Tech Academy has selected nine Israeli health-tech startups for its program to advance the UK healthcare ecosystem. They are Impilio, , Shela Health, Predose, Thrive Together, Sensomedical Labs, Treat Me , , and .
Surgeon returns to reconstruct faces
Dr Alan Billig performs facial reconstructive surgery at Hadassah in Jerusalem. He won the 2024 Best paper award for the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery journal. The ex-IDF medic graduated in New York, qualified in Israel, and practiced in Toronto. Now he’s back.
Get a good night’s sleep
Prof. Giora Pillar, head of Sleep Clinics at Clalit Health Services in Haifa and the Western Galilee, gives plenty of advice to those who are losing sleep during these difficult times.
Targeting genetic diseases
Israel’s Averna Therapeutics (formerly Exsilio Therapeutics) is using gene editing to develop medicines to cure rare genetic diseases. Averna’s leadership includes Tal Zaks who was Chief Medical Officer at Covid-19 vaccine developer Moderna. Averna has already raised $82 million in funds.
Are your proteins good?
Researchers from Israel’s Weizmann Institute have developed IPHOMED - a method for mapping all the proteins in a person’s microbiome. Some act as natural antibiotics, killing good bacteria and possibly causing inflammatory bowel disease. Problem proteins in food can also be mapped.
Does your DNA define you?
Israel’s OMGene is developing an AI decision-support system based on personal genetic information. It links the genome to a database of health, psychological, and social characteristics, from thousands of individuals and generates recommendations e.g., on sleeping, relationships, hobbies, health etc.
Predicting the next accident
The AI accident prediction system (see previously) built by the IDF for Israel’s United Hatzalah, really works. It sent a team to the Azrieli Mall in Ramat Gan just as someone began suffering a heart attack. With 14% of UH’s volunteers on IDF reserve duty, the system is literally a life-saver.