The good news is that we’re living longer than ever. The not-so-good news is that age-related diseases – including vision problems – are also sticking around. As just one example, the National Institutes of Health says that because of increased longevity, the number of people with age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, grew 18 percent – from 1.75 to 2.07 million – over a single decade.
Fortunately, the Weizmann Institute of Science’s dedicated researchers are investigating age-related diseases from a number of angles, from the basic biochemistry of the retina to imaging the brain in action. Interdisciplinary groups study computer-aided and artificial vision and experiment with vaccines that could prevent degenerative eye diseases. By finding ways to better understand, protect, preserve, and treat the eyes, Weizmann scientists are improving life for people worldwide.
Prof. Karina Yaniv was first in the world to grow lymph cells in the lab, and is working to develop clinical treatments for conditions such as lymphedema.
As we look forward to another year of innovative, life-improving science for the benefit of humanity, what better place to find hope for the future than in young scientists?
The Weizmann Institute of Science scours the globe for the brightest, most talented researchers, always aiming to bring fresh ideas and creative thinkers to campus. We’d like you to meet a few of these remarkable new recruits:
This was a year of particularly awe-inspiring breakthroughs at the Institute.
As we enter a time of year abundant with food-centric holidays, it's helpful to think about how we eat – and how much. And given the link between overeating, obesity, and diabetes, it's no coincidence that November is American Diabetes Month. Weizmann scientists are looking at the complexities of diabetes and developing novel treatments.
On October 10, 2017, nearly 200 American Committee supporters from across the country joined a special conference call with CEO Marshall S. Levin. The second in a series of semi-annual calls focused on “Science at the Leading Edge: Latest Breakthroughs from the Weizmann Institute of Science.” Mr. Levin opened with the news of the Weizmann Institute’s sixth place ranking in the prestigious Nature Index of Innovation, and Weizmann Prof. Michal Schwartz’s distinction as “Lady Globes” Woman of Year for her groundbreaking Alzheimer’s research.
October 10, 2017
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and people everywhere are running, walking, and even shopping in support – and, at the Weizmann Institute of Science, investigating, researching, and pursuing creative new ways to attack this still-insidious, too-common disease. Our devoted scientists are developing ways to detect breast cancer early, designing more effective treatments, and better preventing it in the first place. Learn what Weizmann is doing about breast cancer – and how you can help.
Each summer, the Kupcinet-Getz International Science School offers outstanding undergraduate students from around the world the opportunity to spend two months conducting research at the Weizmann Institute. For Alice Chudnovsky, now a sophomore at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, participating in the program was the opportunity of a lifetime. Here, Alice reflects on her transformative summer at Weizmann, her passion for Israel and mathematics, and her efforts to encourage women in her field.
September is World Alzheimer’s Month – a fact that highlights the disease’s unfortunate status as a major, ongoing, global health crisis. There are many intersecting reasons that Alzheimer’s disease is on the rise; ironically, most of them are also advances, such as better healthcare, prevention, nutrition, safety, and the like, all of which lead to increased longevity. And while Alzheimer’s is a disease of the aging brain, there is also a significant genetic component to this devastating illness. As of now, despite many years and many billions of dollars, there is no truly effective treatment, much less a cure.
September 2017
©2019 American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science
