Israel Active

A new Weizmann Institute study advances our understanding of the genetic code. It proposes a way of effectively introducing numerous carefully planned DNA segments into genomes of living cells and of testing the effects of these changes.

The ILSI-Biomed 2012 Conference in Tel Aviv displayed the achievements of the Israeli biotech industry. It also highlighted Israel’s drive to tailor medical devices to the individual patient whilst making them easier for the expert physician to operate.

Israel’s IceCure Ltd.has announced the first use of IceSense3, its cryoablation procedure for the removal of breast cancer tumours. Having previously been used to remove benign tumours, this is the world’s first extreme cold system to remove cancerous tumours.

A study has found that the drug Treanda, from Israel’s Teva, worked better than standard therapy, to slow the growth of immune system tumors, and had fewer side effects.

Researchers at Hadassah University Hospital have identified that protein receptor blocker BKT140 kills cancer cells and reduces tumour growth by about 50 percent. BKT140 was developed by Biokine Therapeutics of Rehovot, originally to increase bone marrow cell production.

Read Israel’s greatest medical breakthroughs – Rewalk’s exoskeleton, BrainGate’s robotic arm, artificial fingers, artificial pancreas for diabetic children and sound that gives sight to the blind.

In the Benvenisty laboratory at the Hebrew University, scientists have identified a chemical compound that restored normal gene expression to mutated neuronal cells of patients with Fragile X syndrome – i.e. severe mental retardation.

The US Food and Drugs Administration has approved a special device for treating gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The SRS endoscope already had Europe’s CE Mark certification and can now be used on patients with GERD – at least 5% of the world’s population.

A joint Israeli-South Korean scientific team has been able to analyse the evolution and spread of the Hepatitus B virus from studying a recently discovered 16th Century mummified Korean child. Hebrew University researchers compared ancient and modern DNA sequences.

The BBC did an excellent feature about UK trials of Microsoft’s Kinect gaming device being used for touch-less surgery. Pity they didn’t mention (surprise, surprise) that it is Israeli technology.