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.
The active part of Arenacept is shown as a rainbow-colored ribbon bound to the receptor-binding domain of the Machupo virus (grey surface)
REHOVOT, ISRAEL—January 7, 2020—A host of disease-causing viruses called arenaviruses lurk in animal populations in various parts of the world, sometimes crossing over into humans. When they do cross over, they can be lethal, and only very few treatments exist. Researchers led by scientists at the Weizmann Institute of Science have now devised a clever decoy for these viruses that may keep them from spreading in the body.
January 07, 2020
Do you want to eat better in 2020? Illustration by Shutterstock
If visions of sugarplums are still dancing in your head after the holidays, it’s time to get real. We all know what happens when we overindulge in Hanukkah sufganiyot or Christmas fruitcake, and it’s not a pretty picture.
After one too many cups of eggnog or a mountain of sour cream and latkes, we resolve to slim down in the new year. Again.
January 05, 2020
From left to right: Gil-Granot Mayer (CEO, Yeda R&D), Ofer Gonen (CEO, Clal Biotech), Prof. Gabriel Barbash (Bench-to-Bedside, WIS) and Dr. Daniel Katz (GM Israel, Bristol-Myers Squibb) (Photo credit: Itay Belson/Weizmann Institute of Science)
The Israeli life science industry is uniquely poised in the global ecosystem and the trajectory is likely to go north. According to a recent report by Israeli Advanced Technology Industries (IATI), the robust Israeli life ecosystem has produced close to 1400 companies in the last decade solving pressing problems in the diverse range of sectors, including but not limited to, biotechnology, medical devices, diagnostics, digital health, healthcare IT, etc. Further, a lion’s share of these companies (about 823) is in the early stages. One of the major reasons for Israeli superiority in the life science industry stems from significant spending on R&D (about 4% of GDP) and the seamless technology transfer from acclaimed research institutions, most notably the Weizmann Institute of Science.
December 25, 2019
We often speak of electrons “flowing” through materials, but in fact, they do not normally move like a liquid. However, such “hydrodynamic” electron flow had long been predicted – and now, Weizmann Institute of Science physicists have managed, with the help of a unique technique, to image electrons flowing similarly to how water moves through a pipe. This is the first time such “liquid electron flow” has been visualized, and it has vital implications for future electronic devices.
December 10, 2019
We are nearing the end of 2019: time to look back on the Weizmann Institute’s year in science. The researchers were so productive that we can only touch on their many breakthroughs in fields from climate change to vaccines, Alzheimer’s disease to quantum computing, personalized cancer treatment to nutrition. Here are just a few of the year’s life-affirming advances:
Artificial intelligence, or AI, is transforming our world – and can save lives. Our scientists used machine learning to create a way to diagnose multiple myeloma before it turns cancerous. This means patients can be monitored with simple blood tests, enabling earlier treatment for multiple myeloma – and hopefully other cancers as well.
Spectrum reviews research showing that autistic people respond differently to some odors, looking at the findings through the lens of autism.
December 05, 2019
The 11th president of the Weizmann Institute of Science, Prof. Alon Chen, took office on December 1, joined by four new vice presidents. “The Weizmann Institute is a world-leading research institution that generates transformative knowledge and educates the scientists of tomorrow,” said Prof. Chen in his recent speech before the International Board at its annual meeting. “Our alumni embark on careers in high-tech and biotech and in academia, providing the foundations of Israel’s booming economy, just as Chaim Weizmann envisioned. As we reach the milestone of 70 years since the establishment of the Weizmann Institute, I believe it’s safe to say that we have indeed lived up to Chaim Weizmann’s expectations. Perhaps we have even exceeded them.” The full text of Prof. Alon’s speech can be found here. =
December 01, 2019
The Times of Israel’s in-depth coverage of research by Prof. Rafi Malach’s lab looks at the relationship between our omnipresent devices and human memory.
November 30, 2019
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