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.
Sep 21, 2015...
We've all read that healthy living – eating a diet high in fruits, vegetables and whole grains, exercising regularly, not smoking, and maintaining a healthy weight – can boost your immune system to help you fight colds and infections.
But now research conducted by pioneering immunologist Michal Schwartz and her team at Weizmann Institute in Israel suggests that boosting immunity may be the key to treating and preventing a host of diseases and conditions, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, spinal cord injuries, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression, and glaucoma.
Jan 28, 2020... Immunotherapies, which harness the immune system to fight disease, are revolutionizing treatments for many types of cancer. Having made significant breakthroughs in the field, Weizmann Institute of Science researchers are now exploring ways to apply immunotherapy to conditions other than cancer, including neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. Prof. Ido Amit of the Department of Immunology is advancing this research by developing sophisticated tools and technologies to investigate the immune system’s role in neurodegenerative diseases.
Aug 28, 2019... Did you know that malaria kills about half a million people each year? In the eighth episode of Weizmann in Focus, CEO Dave Doneson explains how Weizmann is helping to fight this terrible disease. Using computer-based tools, PhD student Adi Goldenzweig developed a groundbreaking malaria vaccine in the lab of Dr. Sarel Fleishman. Because the vaccine is inexpensive to produce and does not require refrigeration, it has the potential to help millions of people in developing countries where the battle against malaria is particularly devastating.
https://www.weizmann-usa.org/news-media/news-releases/uncovering-the-genome-s-regulatory-code/
Sep 11, 2012...
Regulatory factor hierarchy: The highest level (top) determines a cell’s basic identity; the second (middle) shapes its properties; the third (bottom) activates genes according to changing conditions.
REHOVOT, ISRAEL—September 11, 2012—Since the sequencing of the human genome in 2001, all our genes – around 20,000 in total – have been identified. But much is still unknown – for instance where and when each is active. Next to each gene sits a short DNA segment, and the activity of this regulatory segment determines whether the gene will be turned on, where and how strongly. These short regulatory segments are as – if not more – important than the genes, themselves. Indeed, 90% of the mutations that cause disease occur in these regulatory areas. They are responsible for the proper development of tissues and organs, determining, for instance, that eye cells – and only eye cells – contain light receptors, while only pancreatic cells function to produce insulin. Clearly, a deeper understanding of this regulatory system – its mechanisms and possibilities for malfunction – may lead to advances in biomedical research, especially in developing targeted therapies for individual patients.
Jan 18, 2016...
Drugs which are already available on the NHS may help Alzheimer's patients, scientists believe Photo: Alamy
Cancer drugs already available on the NHS may help reverse Alzheimer’s disease by boosting the immune system, scientists believe.
A range of immunotherapy treatments, which harness the body’s own defences to ward off tumours are already revolutionising cancer care.
But now scientists believe that a similar immune boost could help people with dementia.
Dec 10, 2015...
Prof. Michal Schwartz
CHARLESTON, S.C., Dec. 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — NeuroQuest Development Center, Inc., today announced they have entered into a service agreement with the University of California, San Diego for collection and processing of blood samples for their U.S. clinical validation trials.
The South Carolina-based biotech company is developing a blood test for early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD).
Oct 15, 2019...
Your body is composed of about 10 million human cells. It’s also home to about 100 trillion tiny microbes, mainly bacteria, that wield astonishing power over your health.
Many influences, from genetics, to diet and stress, contribute to the makeup of your microbiome — the collective community of microbes as personal as a fingerprint.
Understanding, manipulating and balancing the microbiome could play an increasing role in preventing and curing diseases.
https://www.weizmann-usa.org/news-media/news-releases/viruses-overheard-talking-to-one-another/
Jan 18, 2017...
Prof. Rotem Sorek uncovered a virus code
Viruses may be stealthy invaders, but a study at the Weizmann Institute of Science reveals a new, chatty side of some: for the first time, viruses have been found communicating with one another. This communication – short “posts” left for kin and descendants – helps the viruses reading them to decide how to proceed with the process of infection. The research was reported in Nature.
Nov 12, 2013...
Image of a neuronal spine from Prof. Menahem Segal’s lab, which uses time-lapse photography to view living, cultured neurons in a confocal laser scanning microscope.
One in 10 Americans over the age of 65 has Alzheimer’s disease, a debilitating neurological disorder that slowly destroys memory and cognitive function and for which there is no cure. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), because the risk of developing the disease increases with age and more people are living longer, the number of people suffering from Alzheimer’s is likely to grow dramatically.
Jan 05, 2020...
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.
How can you make your weight-loss plan more successful this time around? We reviewed Israeli research and found these suggestions for effective dieting.
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