Israel Active

We reported the amazing optics work of Bar Ilan University Prof Zalevsky back in December. Now his achievements have been recognised by top country in the optical field – Germany.

Thanks to scientists at Hadassah Medical Center, a simple blood test will now detect the presence of harmful BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations in otherwise healthy women. Gene expression profiling is far quicker, cheaper and more accurate than the previous method of full gene sequencing.

Technion scientists have made a breakthrough that will improve the accuracy and speed of calculating an individual’s genome. A focused low-power green laser slows down the flow of DNA nanopores to enable sensors to get a higher-resolution analysis of the proteins in the DNA.

Israel has participated in an international summit on dementia in London, England, bringing its know-how to bear on a disease that is set to treble globally by 2050.

Thanks to the Israeli-developed Objet30 OrthoDesk 3D printer, small dental labs can now produce stone models, orthodontic appliances, delivery and positioning trays, retainers and surgical guides, which were previously only accessible by large labs.

The ExAblate focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) from Israel’s Insightec is already in use in London, destroying uterine fibroids that cause pain and infertility. MRgFUS has now been installed at Solihull’s Spire Parkway Hospital in the West Midlands of England.

The “robotic trousers” from Israel’s ReWalk that help paraplegics to walk, have attracted interest from the TV channel that usually doesn’t have very nice things to say about the Jewish State.

(Thanks to Uri) Israeli biotech Amorphic has developed Amorphous Calcium Carbonate (ACC) that the body absorbs far better than the crystalline form. Amorphic produced synthetic ACC after studying the crayfish, which uses natural ACC to build its bones in low calcium conditions.

Israeli start-up Alcobra set out to develop a pill that would reduce blood alcohol but came up with a treatment for Attention Deficit Disorder. Alcobra claims metadoxine has all the benefits of Ritalin, Concerta, and Strattera without their drawbacks.

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is running a conference this coming week to analyze how Israel eliminated malaria from pre-State Palestine. Lessons learned could help remove the scourge of malaria prevalent currently in Africa.