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.
Even in 2020, with all we know about health and nutrition, heart disease is still the leading cause of death in America, accounting for one in four mortalities. Fortunately, the Weizmann Institute of Science is taking multiple approaches to understanding and treating this too-common killer. February is American Heart Month – and we’d love to share our very latest research with you.
While there are several vital heart-related projects underway at the Institute, the lab of leading researcher Prof. Eldad Tzahor recently made a significant breakthrough: discovering that a non-toxic dye actually helps repair damaged heart tissue, such as the scarring that occurs after a heart attack.
The Weizmann Effect is the remarkable result of granting some of the world’s most innovative scientists the freedom to follow their curiosity, discover the unknown, and partner across disciplines and borders with other inspired minds.
Of the 2.5 percent of the world’s water that’s safe to drink, how do we keep it that way, seeing as it’s mostly underground? Thanks to the Weizmann Institute’s groundwater dynamics model, we can now predict how contaminants will spread, so we can reach endangered parts of the water supply faster, and detoxify any polluted groundwater before it disperses.
A new cancer therapy gives us all hope. This latest breakthrough combines photo-dynamic therapy using laser light with a novel drug to treat early-stage prostate cancer. The combination makes it possible to safely treat cancerous tissue using a minimally invasive procedure, with none of the side effects of surgery or radiation.
We all possess a deep-rooted desire to know. As one of the world’s leading multidisciplinary scientific research centers, the Weizmann Institute in Israel demonstrates that this natural curiosity can be developed through education. Our highly selective graduate school produces top scientists uniquely qualified for medicine, industry, and academia. Our Davidson Institute of Science Education is a major force in creating a science-literate citizenry.
The “Internet of Things” allows your microwave, thermostat, and other devices to anticipate your needs. But what are these devices revealing about you? Weizmann Institute research shows how a flaw in wireless technology can infect smart home devices with a malicious code that enables cybercriminals to steal your information, or even shut down a city’s electrical grid.
Agrin, a molecule in the hearts of newborn babies, appears to regenerate hearts after injury. Agrin seems to unlock a process that allows a damaged heart to grow back with reduced scar tissue, pumping normally again. If preclinical trials are successful, this Weizmann Institute discovery could lead to innovative therapies that save lives.
We’re well into the New Year and many of us have resolved to get fit in 2020 … but does the time we work out make a difference? In the latest episode of Weizmann in Focus, Dave Doneson discusses the research of Dr. Gad Asher, who studies the effects of our biological clocks on everything from fitness to jetlag to liver disease.
Find out Dr. Asher’s take on whether mornings or evenings are the best time to hit the gym. Please share the video with friends via email or social media.
February 07, 2020
Jerusalem, January 27, 2020 — The Blavatnik Family Foundation, the New York Academy of Sciences, and the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities (IASH) announced today the 2020 Laureates of the third annual Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in Israel. The Blavatnik Awards recognize outstanding, innovative scientists at the early stages of their careers for both their extraordinary achievements and their promise for future discoveries. The prizes are awarded to researchers aged 42 and younger for their groundbreaking work in the disciplines of Life Sciences, Chemistry, and Physical Sciences & Engineering.
February 05, 2020
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