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 future of humanity.
https://www.weizmann-usa.org/blog/medical-marijuana-born-at-weizmann/
Nov 03, 2022...
Raphael Mechoulam’s research has driven the current medical marijuana boom – and is helping people suffering from a host of conditions.
Following the wave of marijuana legalization across America, THC and CBD products are now everywhere: gummy bears, energy drinks, chocolate, even skincare products. Before laws were changed, scientists in the U.S. were handicapped in their ability to research marijuana, thus giving a decades-long edge to scientists elsewhere. Scientists like Prof. Raphael Mechoulam at Israel’s Weizmann Institute. As a young academic, Mechoulam was able to convince the police to give him hashish for his research (one of his many fascinating stories.) This led to a relationship that continued for over 40 years.
https://www.weizmann-usa.org/blog/chaim-weizmann-s-acetone-discovery-was-key-to-british-wwi-effort/
Nov 10, 2022...
More than a century ago, in 1915, a senior lecturer in biochemistry at the University of Manchester named Dr. Chaim Weizmann invented a fermentation process that converted starch — a poly-sugar readily available from corn and potatoes — into acetone and butyl alcohol, facilitated by a bacteria, Clostridium acetobutylicum, that Dr. Weizmann had previously isolated.
This novel method of acetone production became known as “the Weizmann process.” As serendipity would have it, acetone was a key component in the production of the smokeless gunpowder (cordite) used by the Allies in World War I. Acetone had previously been made from calcium acetate imported from Germany, but since the Allies were at war with Germany, this was no longer possible, and the U.S. had a sparse supply. So, Winston Churchill, then First Lord of the Admiralty, requested that the “Weizmann process” be used to mass produce acetone in England, Canada, and the U.S.
https://www.weizmann-usa.org/blog/2023-impact-report-a-year-of-boundless-exploration/
Mar 08, 2023...
Through the generous support of our donors, Weizmann scientists and students made 2022 another stellar year of innovative research. You can learn all about it in the 2022 Impact Report from the Weizmann Institute of Science.
This new, digital-only publication highlights the phenomenal people, incredible achievements, and vital research advances at the Institute this past year.A digital format helps us reduce our environmental footprint, allows us to share videos, animations, and links, and makes it easy to forward the report to friends and family.
May 04, 2023... Food security and climate change - Weizmann Institute researchers are working on improving the world's major crops in order to feed the world's growing population. At this critical point for planet Earth, the role of science and its ability to provide transformative scientific solutions to our planet’s most pressing crisis is pivotal. Weizmann Institute scientists are tackling core issues affecting climate change and are engaged in sustainability research that is driven by an unprecedented sense of urgency. For the future of humanity
https://www.weizmann-usa.org/blog/cancer-treatments-see-new-gains-from-car-t-cell-discovery/
Jul 21, 2023...
What once was seen as an incurable disease has been given a 90% remission rate in initial treatment trials.
Multiple myeloma is a bone marrow cancer with a historic prognosis of only two years. That is until a CAR T treatment was developed to target the cancerous mutations that make it so deadly. While this specific use of CAR T treatment is making new headlines, it builds upon the decades-old discovery made by Prof. Zelig Eshhar at our very own Weizmann Institute of Science.
©2023 American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science
