Israel Active

Ben Gurion University Professor Zvi Bentwich has received a Grand Challenges in Global Health grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for his project in Ethiopia to wipe out parasitic worm infections. Clean water and sanitation facilities and health education are being provided.

Israeli biotech Efranat Ltd. is developing an immunotherapy treatment approach for cancer, based on a glycoprotein named GcMAF (Globulin component Macrophage Activating Factor). Efranat has just raised $4.5 million and is conducting trials at Tel Hashomer’s Sheba Medical Center.

Israel’s Novocure has announced that its NovoTTF-100A portable scalp device extends the life of brain cancer patients. The device creates an alternating electric field and has had significant success in Phase 3 trials with patients receiving chemotherapy only.

The Israeli start-up Talkspace has erected large transparent bubbles on New York’s Fifth Avenue to offer free online psychological advice to pedestrians.  Passersby can enter a make-believe living room inside an inflated dome and chat online with a psychologist.

Israel’s Brainsway has now installed 101 Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation devices worldwide – 50% in the USA and has orders for another 36.  Brainsways depression-treatment service using DTMS is covered by the insurance policies of 193 million people in the US.

(Thanks to Atid-EDI and Globes) I reported on the non-invasive diabetes finger monitor from Israeli biotech CNoga Medical in Sept 2013.  CNoga has just received a $12.5 million investment from Chinese investment fund GoCapital to help expand development and marketing.

Intel Israel has developed a Parkinson’s disease monitor that sufferers wear on their wrists.  The device records pulse, slowness of movement, tremors and sleep quality, making up to 300 observations per second.  Doctors previously relied on patients’ verbal reports and brief hospital checkups.

Israel’s Sesame Enable is developing “the Sesame Phone,” which is specifically tailored to assist people who have limited or no use of their hands. The system enables control of the smartphone with a combination of small head movements and voice recognition.

Type-1 diabetes patients can one day avoid taking insulin injections if the bio-artificial pancreas, developed by Israel’s Beta-O2 passes its human trials in Sweden.  The BAir delivers oxygen to replacements for the faulty islet cells that are essential for producing insulin in the patient’s body.

(Thanks to Israel21c) The Israel Cancer Research Fund (ICRF) has made 94 new research grants for the 2014/15 year, totaling a record $3,453,332.  Since 1977, ICRF has made 2,115 grants, totaling over $52 million.  Successes include 3 top cancer treatments and two major genetic discoveries.