About Us
Founded in 1944, the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science develops philanthropic support for the Weizmann Institute in Israel, and advances its mission of science for the benefit of humanity.
Technology can make our lives easier, but it also leaves us vulnerable to hackers. In the sixth episode of Weizmann in Focus, CEO Dave Doneson explores how Weizmann scientists are leading the way in cybersecurity. In a recent breakthrough, renowned cryptographer Prof. Adi Shamir exposed a major weakness in the “Internet of Things,” the growing world of smart devices that connect online. His groundbreaking work could result in better methods for keeping our private information safe.
June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, an ideal time to highlight the Weizmann Institute’s cutting-edge neuroscience research. In the fifth episode of Weizmann in Focus, CEO Dave Doneson celebrates the work of Prof. Michal Schwartz, the first in the world to prove the connection between the immune system and the brain. Prof. Schwartz’s pioneering investigations are paving the way to more effective treatments for Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia ... and even a vaccine to slow the brain’s aging process.
Prof. Noam Sobel is interviewed for the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research’s series “Spotlight on Basic Research” about his investigations of the sense of smell. Among other breakthroughs, he has found a way to manipulate smell to increase our trust in robots.
Meet physicist Prof. Erez Berg, the 2019 Physical Sciences & Engineering Laureate of the Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists. Prof. Berg has conducted influential studies to gain insights into quantum materials—materials whose electronic properties cannot be characterized by traditional physics. His research holds major promise for devising new ways of storing and manipulating quantum information, with implications for a new computing age, as well as next-generation electronics, superconducting power lines, and MRI technologies. The Blavatnik Awards, presented by The Blavatnik Family Foundation, the New York Academy of Sciences, and the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities (IASH), recognize early-career scientists and engineers in Israel for both their extraordinary achievements and promise for future discoveries. Of the three 2019 laureates, two were from the Weizmann Institute; the other Weizmann winner was Dr. Michal Rivlin of the Department of Neurobiology. Video courtesy of the New York Academy of Sciences.
Meet visual neuroscientist Dr. Michal Rivlin, the 2019 Life Sciences Laureate of the Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists. Dr. Rivlin’s research is making major strides in understanding sight, in particular the retina, the part of the eye where all visual processes begin. She has found that retinal cells, rather than being fixed and hardwired, are malleable and can dramatically change their properties in response to stimuli like light and motion. Her work has implications for retinal disease and blindness, and the development of computer vision technologies. The Blavatnik Awards, presented by The Blavatnik Family Foundation, the New York Academy of Sciences, and the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities (IASH), recognize early-career scientists and engineers in Israel for both their extraordinary achievements and promise for future discoveries. Of the three 2019 laureates, two were from the Weizmann Institute; the other Weizmann winner was Prof. Erez Berg of the Department of Condensed Matter Physics. Video courtesy of the New York Academy of Sciences.
The Weizmann Institute brings together scientists from a variety of disciplines to tackle cancer head-on. In the fourth episode of Weizmann in Focus, CEO Dave Doneson highlights a recent headline-making breakthrough from the labs of Profs. Ido Amit and Amos Tanay. Working with hospitals across Israel, the scientists identified a very small number of malignant cells in what is considered a pre-malignant stage of multiple myeloma—the second-most common type of blood cancer. Their discovery holds the promise of earlier, more precise treatment.
Imagine the ability to prevent all strains of the flu for many years—in a single shot. In the third episode of Weizmann in Focus, CEO Dave Doneson spotlights Prof. Ruth Arnon’s remarkable progress on a universal flu vaccine. The vaccine, being brought to market by Israeli startup Biondvax, holds the promise of protecting us from current and future varieties of the virus.
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The Midwest Region’s annual Gala Dinner took place at The Geraghty in Chicago with over 600 guests in attendance. Local civic and community leaders came together to honor Michael Polsky, Founder and CEO of Invenergy. A dedicated philanthropist and energy industry pioneer, Mr. Polsky received the Weizmann Leadership Award. The evening’s program, emceed by ABC 7 reporter Janet Davies, also consisted of presentations by University of Chicago President Robert Zimmer and Prof. Avigdor Scherz, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, who discussed his cutting-edge cancer research. Chaired by Janet and Steven Anixter and JoAnn Anixter Silva, the highly successful gala raised over $1.3 million in support of the Weizmann Institute.
In the second episode of Weizmann in Focus, CEO Dave Doneson discusses how the Institute’s plant scientists are tackling the challenge of global food security. These innovative researchers are figuring out how plants can better resist drought, provide higher-quality nutrition, and more. Dave spotlights a breakthrough by Prof. Jonathan Gressel, who discovered a method of killing a parasitic weed that was destroying corn crops in sub-Saharan Africa.
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