Israel Active

A study by Weizmann Institute scientists has shown that embryonic stem cells may be able to repair damaged lung tissue and help alleviate chronic respiratory disease. Mice with damaged lungs were injected with these cells and in six weeks their breathing had improved.

Preliminary results from the Phase 2 clinical trials of Universal Flu vaccine M-001 from Israel’s BiondVax have shown the treatment to be effective and safe. Recipients showed an immune response against strains not included in the standard flu vaccine.

The Israel Cancer Research Fund (ICRF) received a top 4-Star rating from Charity Navigator, the world’s premier charity evaluator. ICRF has given 2,115 grants worth over $52 million to Israeli cancer researchers, leading to significant breakthroughs.

Israeli scientists are working with those at the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT to help eradicate diseases at the cellular level. One Israeli scientist at Broad has published a paper of which of the 20,000 genes is essential to particular cancer cells, and therefore weak spots to target.

Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center has just opened its Wilf Children’s Hospital. It has several facilities to calm young patients, including an animal house, music school, arts and craft therapy, books and games libraries and Israel’s specialty - medical clowns.

Veterinary surgeons at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem operated on Belgian Shepherd dog Dano to repair a canine tooth broken during service with the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) in the Sinai. Dano broke the same tooth during previous service in Afghanistan.

Israel’s Teva is partnering with US firm Microchips Biotech use its implanted microchip to deliver Teva-made treatments direct to patients. The technology avoids having to measure out meds or to even to remember to take them - perfect for the elderly and forgetful.

Scientists at Israel’s Technion have injected the heart with light-stimulated genes and used pulses of light to regulate the heart, just like a mechanical pacemaker.

Botox (botulin toxin) is not the only way to get smoother, less-damaged skin. In the laboratory Tel Aviv University researchers have shown that very short, high-tension electric pulses can reduce wrinkling and damage to the skin from disease without causing scars or heating.

Israel’s Biogal Galed Labs has now developed seven veterinary test kits for diagnosing infectious diseases in pets. The PCRun molecular detection test kits save tens of thousands of dollars of equipment and produce results in 75 minutes instead of previously several days.