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.
https://www.weizmann-usa.org/news-media/news-releases/the-brain-s-rejuvenating-cells/
Jun 08, 2017... Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease manifested by various neuronal pathological processes and a significant decline in brain function. Aggregates of beta-amyloid protein (“plaques”) accumulate within and between brain cells. Due to both structural changes and the weakening of chemical communication pathways, the junctions of neuronal networks (synapses) are lost. In addition, the cytoskeletal proteins of the axons lose their normal structure, impairing their function and causing massive neuronal death.
https://www.weizmann-usa.org/news-media/feature-stories/bats-offer-new-directions-in-brain-research/
Jul 01, 2012...
"Our memories are basically who we are," says Dr. Nachum Ulanovsky of the Department of Neurobiology at the Weizmann Institute of Science. "I suspect that this is why people are so afraid of the various memory dysfunctions—because if you lose your memory then, in some way, you lose your identity and personality."
Dr. Nachum Ulanovsky
Dr. Ulanovsky investigates memory using an unconventional subject: bats. In addition to shedding light on the basic function of the memory system, his work could lead to new understanding of a range of neurological conditions. "There are dozens and dozens of disorders of the brain," he says, "and these are some of the most difficult medical problems to tackle."
https://www.weizmann-usa.org/news-media/feature-stories/research-on-aging-at-the-weizmann-institute/
Aug 01, 2012... According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 1900, the global average life span was 31 years of age. By 2030, in highly developed places such as the U.S., average life expectancy at birth is expected to be around 85. And while wisdom may come with age, so do many unwanted issues, such as poor physical and mental health. In addition, an aging population takes a toll on society: older people are often harder to treat medically; it can be more challenging to get around, either on foot or by driving; and general quality of life may be reduced.
https://www.weizmann-usa.org/news-media/in-the-news/nature-s-cure-for-alzheimer-s/
Jan 31, 2018...
From ancient paper to luxurious clothing and parachutes, humans have been capitalising on the extreme strength, lightness and softness of silk for thousands of years.
Now, scientists are on the verge of harnessing its unique properties in a completely different way – for the treatment of illnesses like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel have found that the structure of the silk fibrils in spider webs and silkworm cocoons is very similar to that of the cell-destroying protein clumps, or amyloids, that form in the brains of Alzheimer’s suffers.
https://www.weizmann-usa.org/news-media/in-the-news/brain-s-immune-system-key-to-reversing-dementia/
Aug 18, 2015...
New research gives hope to those suffering with dementia
Leading neurobiologist Professor Michal Schwartz said the findings were “very exciting” – and showed for the first time that a diseased brain was able to fight the debilitating condition.
Scientists saw a significant drop in the symptoms of dementia when they reduced the cells that prevent the immune system from reacting.
The study by experts at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel and published in journal Nature Communications, offers hope of a drug for the disease which affects about 850,000 people in Britain.
May 12, 2017...
On March 21, the Weizmann Institute of Science’s Dr. Ulyana Shimanovich received the 11th Annual Gruber Award for Scientific Excellence. Established by philanthropist Patricia Gruber and her late husband Peter Gruber through their Gruber Foundation, the prestigious award provides valuable affirmation and support for talented young scientists just beginning their careers.
Patricia’s forward-looking approach to improving the human condition is both principled and pragmatic: she funds the fellowships, scholarships, awards, and other initiatives that actually help people advance.
Sep 05, 2017... 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.
Sep 13, 2017...
Prof. Michal Schwartz photo: Rami Zarnegar
Selecting the Woman of the Year is never easy; it amounts to a statement of values, meaning, and priorities. The selection is based on a single overriding value: excellence. Schwartz, who does her research at the Weizmann Institute of Science, is likely to dramatically change the course of medicine. After years of research, she discovered a mechanism for treating degenerative brain diseases that runs counter to the accepted scientific axioms.
https://www.weizmann-usa.org/news-media/feature-stories/science-on-the-brain/
Aug 01, 2006...
The American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science (ACWIS) and New York University (NYU) recently held a Day of Science on the topic of “Unveiling the Secrets of the Brain: Collaborations in Neuroscience.”
While the topic of neuroscience could be perceived as daunting, the half-day seminar, which featured four prominent scientists, attracted about 150 people to the Helen & Martin Kimmel Center for University Life at NYU. This large turnout is perhaps because, as Prof. Ilan Chet, President of the Weizmann Institute of Science (WIS), Israel, indicated in his welcoming remarks, brain research is one of the areas of science that attracts the most interest from the public. We all want to know who we are, and what makes us “us,” both as a species and as individuals.
Oct 22, 2015... The human brain is “limitless” – and yet, sometimes things go wrong. In this video, Prof. Noam Sobel, Dr. Assaf Tal, Prof. Michal Schwartz, Prof. Alon Chen, Dr. Tali Kimchi, Dr. Ofer Yizhar, Prof. Daniel Zajfman, and Prof. Yadin Dudai talk about studying the brain in health and disease, always learning “what it means to be human, what it means to think, what it means to remember.”
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