Israel Active

Israeli researchers at Israel’s Technion have created a new, flexible material that is sensitive to touch and can heal itself automatically if there is damage within 10-30 minutes, according to research published in the Advanced Materials journal.

Researchers at Israel’s Weizmann Institute investigating the protein tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) found in the brains of humans and animals, have discovered that low TH levels increase aggression in males. High TH levels reduce aggression in males but increase motherly instincts in females.

Israel’s SmartZyme is developing new proteins and enzymes for medical and industrial uses. One enzyme has improved bio-electrochemical glucose catalysis, to be used on glucose test strips for the Self Monitoring Blood Glucose (SMBG) market. SmartZyme has just received $4 million of funding.

Israel’s DIR Technologies has invented a system that checks every package of medicine using thermal imaging. Operators can then find and fix problems causing faulty seals whenever they occur, without destroying a sample or holding up the production line.

Kids Kicking Cancer, founded by Detroit Rabbi Elimelech Goldberg, has now expanded to five Israeli hospitals. Children who have life-threatening diseases are taught martial arts in order to help them cope with the aftermath of the disease. The pool of instructors includes both Jews and Arabs.

Israel’s BiolineRx has reported positive results from Phase II trials of its BL-8040 treatment in relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (r/r AML). It had a triple positive effect on the leukemic cells only two days after a single cycle of therapy.

The US FDA has approved the Chameleon from Israel’s AV Medical Technologies. Chameleon is the world’s first and only angioplasty balloon catheter that allows for simultaneous balloon inflation and intravascular injection of fluids while maintaining guidewire access. Over two million angioplasty balloon catheters are used annually worldwide to maintain dialysis access.

On the anniversary of Chaim Weizmann’s death, KKL-JNF awarded the Blumberg Outstanding Medical Research Scientist Prize to Weizmann Professor Michal Schwartz for her groundbreaking research into the connection between the brain and the immune system.

Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have uncovered a key gene responsible for ovary development. Four members of the same family had mutated Nup107 genes causing infertility. The discovery has widespread implications for research in cell biology.

BioDesign students at Hadassah Medical Center / Hebrew University of Jerusalem, led by Arab surgeon Dr. Muhammad Adileh, have developed “CholeVision” - a fiber-optic illumination system to reduce injuries caused during laparoscopic (keyhole) procedures to remove gallbladders.