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.
Oct 27, 2014... (A-D) This image shows H&E and Safranin O/Fast Green staining of sections through the fracture site during the healing process (P3–P9). Scale bar, 2 mm. (A'-D') Magnifications of the boxed areas are in the upper panel. The dashed lines separate between the concave side (on the right) and convex side. The red arrow indicates cells appearing as chondrocytes, and black arrows indicate cells appearing as hypertrophic chondrocytes. (A''-D'') As indicted by Safranin O staining (pink-to-red colors), as the healing process progresses the soft callus is increasingly composed of cartilage. Scale bar, 200 mm. Credit: Developmental Cell, Rot et al.
Jun 01, 2017...
Humans are exposed to stress at different intensities throughout life but many researchers maintain that the critical effect of stress occurs prenatally, inside the womb.
Stress affects the body and can trigger illness – from psychiatric disorders to heart disease. Humans are exposed to stress at different intensities throughout life: as children, in adolescence, and in old age. But when is the impact of stress on our systems most powerful? Many researchers maintain that the critical effect occurs prenatally, inside the womb. This hypothesis was, until recently, based mainly on statistical data indicating a correlation between stress during pregnancy and susceptibility to disease. Now, Weizmann Institute of Science research, published in the journal Cell Metabolism, establishes, for the first time, a clear causal link between prenatal stress and the onset of eating disorders. Furthermore, in a study in mice, researchers successfully prevented the onset of a compulsive eating disorder by the sole means of a unique diet.
https://www.weizmann-usa.org/news-media/in-the-news/eran-elinav-beyond-the-microbiome/
Nov 30, 2018... Where did you grow up?I grew up in the southern Israeli city of Beer-Sheva, situated in the midst of the Negev desert. I remember it being a very happy childhood, filled with a sense of freedom and frequent encounters with the wild desert that surrounded me. I knew very little of the outside world; even a visit to the “big city” of Tel Aviv seemed like a daring adventure. After completing elementary school, my family relocated to New York City due to my father’s job position, which was a tremendous culture shock for me. I started high school in the Manhattan Lennox high school, not speaking a single word of English, knowing anyone, or being familiar with NYC ’80’s culture. But my quick acclimation into this new setting taught me an important lesson that I carry with me until this day: willpower, perseverance, and belief in myself could help me overcome even the most extreme of challenges. My NYC high school days ended up being a period of intense learning and self-development and a nurturing encounter with the world. Following my high school graduation, I returned home to serve (like any 18 year old) in the Israeli army, as a naval submariner (final rank of captain) for over 4 years. This was another significant period of development of leadership skills, comradery with my best friends until this day, and, most importantly, the development of intuitive troubleshooting skills, with an ever-lasting confidence that everything is solvable and doable.
Jul 01, 2012...
Reproduction—perhaps the most basic impulse of all living creatures—is also among the most complex and intricate of all human processes, requiring the precise coordination of many biological systems. This becomes most evident when things go wrong. According to the Centers for Disease Control, in the U.S. alone there are more than seven million women with an impaired ability to have children.
Difficulty conceiving can be due to age, stress, health, or any number and combination of factors, many of which come into play as more women wait until later in life to have children. Often such women turn to invasive, expensive procedures to induce pregnancy—procedures that frequently fail and that, even when successful, can cause a host of health problems for the women and children both.
https://www.weizmann-usa.org/news-media/news-releases/spare-parts-might-jump-start-protein-design/
Sep 26, 2017...
Computer designs (lime green) are compared with experimental structures (purple) at the atomic level, revealing atomic accuracy in overall structure (left) and in loop regions (right)
The idea of proteins that can be designed on computers for specific functions has been a cutting-edge concept that has stubbornly remained “in the future.” New research at the Weizmann Institute of Science may bring that future a bit closer. By going back to nature’s drawing board – evolution – the scientists have created new proteins, based on “existing natural parts,” that carry out their intended function with flying colors. These findings were reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
Nov 27, 2019...
Scientists converted a strain of E. coli bacteria that is capable of eating carbon dioxide for energy. (Credit: Kateryna Kon/Shutterstock)
Even with growing awareness of climate change, global greenhouse gas emissions are still climbing. And, in recent years, scientists have worked to apply advances in synthetic biology — the the application of engineering principles to the study of organic life — toward some of our most pressing environmental challenges.
https://www.weizmann-usa.org/news-media/news-releases/cell-economics-101/
Aug 15, 2017...
Single-celled lining of the intestines under a microscope. Messenger RNA molecules of two different genes (red and green) are located on different sides of the cell nuclei (blue)
Every time we swallow food, cells that line the intestines must step up their activity in a sudden and dramatic manner. According to a new study by Weizmann Institute of Science researchers, reported in Science, they rise to the challenge in the most economic fashion.
https://www.weizmann-usa.org/news-media/in-the-news/sense-for-scents-traced-down-to-genes/
Aug 01, 2013...
Although the genetics of smell are usually highly involved, people's ability to sense the distinctive fragrance of sweet violets (Viola odorata) has been traced back to a single gene. Wild Wonders of Europe/Bartoch/Naturepl.com
When it comes to our sense of smell, we are all experiencing the world in very different ways.
Scientists already know that humans' sensitivity to smelly molecules varies considerably from person to person (see: 'Soapy taste of coriander linked to genetic variants'). But evidence that genetic variations — as opposed to habit, culture or other factors — underlie these differences has been hard to come by.
Jun 01, 2017...
Prof. Yoav Soen sounds almost angry when he talks about the evolutionary concept of natural selection – or, more precisely, its total acceptance – suggesting it blinds people to thinking more broadly. Instead, they simply embrace the theory of evolution developed more than 150 years ago by Charles Darwin.
The blind allegiance to natural selection is a worldwide phenomenon, which is reflected in how research is conducted and scientific questions are explained, says the biomolecular scientist at the Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot.
Mar 19, 2019...
(l-r) Yeda CEO Gil Granot-Mayer, BioLeaders CEO Dr. Young-Chul Park, and Weizmann Institute Vice President for Technology Transfer Prof. Mordechai Sheves
REHOVOT, ISRAEL—March 19, 2019—Two South Korean concerns have committed to investing a total of $12 million in spinout companies incorporated by Yeda Research and Development Co. Ltd., the technology transfer arm of the Weizmann Institute of Science. The first investment – $2 million by Yozma Group Asia – is in On-Sight Medical Inc., jointly owned by Yeda, New York University (NYU), and related parties. For the second, the Korean group BioLeaders Corporation – in which Yozma Group Asia is an investor – has committed to investing $10 million in a new spinout firm that will develop an anti-cancer therapy developed by Weizmann Institute scientists.