COVID-19 Research Highlights 15 Updates from the Moross Integrated Cancer Center 24 Q&A with International Board Chair Cathy Beck 34 למדע ויצמן מכון ויצמן למדע 13 46 NEW SCIENTISTS UPDATE ON THE FLAGSHIPS MAGAZINE MAGAZINE WEIZMANN MAGAZINE A publication of the Department of Resource WEIZMANN WEIZMANN Development Healing what ails the Earth The new nerve center for neuroscience EDITORIAL STAFF Prof. Roee Ozeri, Vice President for Resource Development Tamar Levine, Director, Department of Resource 6 15 Development SCIENCE BRIEFS COVER STORY Tamar Morad, Head, Donor Communications Maria Yakhnin, Visual and Digital Production TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE Yarden Jaron, Visual and Digital Production EDITOR Tamar Morad The vaccines are here, and research abounds COPYEDITOR Sharon Reinheimer 20 SCIENCE FEATURES From the President WRITING STAFF Sandy Cash Jennifer Racz Dear Friends, Dinah Elashvili Anne Sperling The one-year mark of the COVID-19 pandemic has passed Tali Galsky Edward Truitt and here in Israel, where the rate of vaccination is the highest in the world, we are starting to see the light at the end of the With thanks to the Department tunnel. Our thoughts are with our many friends around the of Communications world; this is a network which keeps the Institute strong and The anthropocene is upon us Rx for the ocean thriving. DONOR RECOGNITION Coronavirus-related research on campus is bounding Daphna Freeman ahead, and we expect a range of insights from this virus to play Irit Oz a starring role in fending off future pandemics and broaden- 28 34 Ayelet Rais SPOTLIGHT ON Q&A SCIENCE BRIEFS ing our understanding of the immune system. 2 Discoveries and other news While we were required to pull back on the number of scientists and staff on campus in the last year, it is remark- ILLUSTRATION WEIZMANN WORLD able that unlike many other institutions, Weizmann has Davide Bonazzi 30 Keeping apart, staying together continued to advance its research across all fields. If anything, the pandemic has underscored the importance of science NEW SCIENTISTS GRAPHIC DESIGN in the health of everyone on the planet—and the imperative Alexey Kletsel, Netgo Ltd. Barbara and 10 When hosts become hostages to keep it going strong. Roberto Kaminitz This requires partnerships with world-leading insti- STUDENTS tutions—which you’ll read about here—and partnerships PHOTOGRAPHY AND RENDERINGS 42 A future in plain sight with philanthropists who deeply value science and all that it Bank of Israel Yael Ilan can do for mankind. On that note, I want to call your atten- 40 ART AND SCIENCE Itai Belson, Ohad Herches Liora Kogan tion to a new section in Weizmann Magazine, ‘Updates on the ALUMNI 49 Michael Druks / Zoom Out of the Weizmann Institute Weizmann Institute Flagships,’ which offers sneak previews of the incredible Photo Lab Photo Archives IN MEMORIAM research in our major initiatives. Matt Greenslade Shutterstock 50 Prof. Nir Friedman With all best wishes for a pleasant and healthy spring, Axel Griesch Rami Shlush Q&A with Sincerely, SPRING 2021 SPRING 2021 • • International Lighting up the world Board Chair מכון ויצמן למדע 19 № № 19 of computation Cathy Beck Prof. Alon Chen President, Weizmann Institute of Science Visit us: TOC2 weizmann.ac.il/WeizmannCompass 1 MAGAZINE First stone laid for Vaccination station srael’s COVID-19 vaccina- WEIZMANN André Deloro Building tion campaign has been rolled I out successfully across the Institute, and awards the annual André country, with a higher percentage eizmann management and representatives Deloro Prize to an outstanding scientist of citizens receiving the vaccina- of the Adelis Foundation came together during the International Board. tion than in any country in the world. on March 11 for a moving cornerstone-laying Prof. Dan Yakir of the Department Most Israeli have received their W of Earth and Planetary Sciences, two-shot series through one of the ceremony for the André Deloro Building for Advanced chaired the scientific steering country’s four HMOs. Nevertheless, SCIENCE BRIEFS SCIENCE committee that helped oversee the the Weizmann Institute did its and Intelligent Materials, the planned state-of-the-art specifications and overall design of the share to make sure vaccines were Deloro building. available to its entire community, national HMOs. In late February, yet had a chance to be inoculated with facility that will house the Tom and Mary Beck Center At the ceremony, Weizmann which also includes international the Institute set up a temporary the first dose; another station was set for Advanced and Intelligent Materials. President Prof. Alon Chen presented scientists and students who don’t vaccination station on campus for all up three weeks later, in mid-March, necessarily belong to any of the faculty, students, and staff who hadn’t for second doses. // In attendance were Rebecca Boukhris, Director of the Adelis Foundation, and her husband Sidney Boukhris, also a member of the board of the founda- tion, which was established to realize the vision of the late André Deloro. Deloro, who died in 2012, was born in Cairo and was educated in France. Weizmann and ETH Zürich sign He was a world-class engineer who designed ports, industrial parks, hotels, and large infrastructure cooperation agreement projects throughout the Middle East. He cared deeply about Israel and visionary gift from René and of the European Committee; and Zohar for the ongoing support he has established his foundation with a focus Susanne Braginsky has enabled Menshes, Executive Vice President generously provided to the on advancing social, educational, and A the launch of a formal partner- of the European Committee. Weizmann Institute, but especially scientific causes in Israel. The Adelis ship between the Weizmann Institute Scientists at the ETH and today, for this seminal gift which Foundation has given generously of Science and ETH Zürich, the Swiss at Weizmann have a long tradi- bridges the gap between Zürich to a range of areas at the Weizmann Rendering of the future Deloro Building on campus Federal Institute of Technology, with tion of collaboration, but the recent and Rehovot,” said Mr. Drake. “We funds to be earmarked to joint research gift from René and Susanne Braginksy highly appreciate the ETH as Rebecca and Sidney Boukhris projects between scientists at the two formalizes the relationship and creates a great partner for researching with a scroll of appreciation and, institutions. An online ceremony opportunity for more immediate and together in basic science. May we separately signed a sealed scroll marking the signing of a Memorandum robust joint scientific investigations. continue to flourish and support dedicating the building and of Understanding took place “A very special thanks to our fundamental science for the benefit embedded it in a cornerstone of the on March 1. longtime friend René Braginsky of humanity.” // new facility. In attendance were Mr. Braginsky, “The André Deloro Building who is also a Life Member brings together investigators from of the Weizmann International chemistry and physics and gives them Board; Weizmann President the space and advanced equipment Prof. Alon Chen; ETH President they need to pursue their curiosity,” Joël Mesot; ETH Vice President said Prof. Chen. “That is the Weizmann Prof. Detlef Günther; Bob Drake, vision, shared by Mr. Deloro, who Chairman of the European Committee encouraged curiosity-driven research for the Weizmann Institute and was committed to giving the best of Science and Vice Chairman of the SPRING 2021 people the best possible tools needed International Board of Weizmann; Eric • for world-class research.” // Stupp, Chairman of the Swiss Society of Friends of the Weizmann Institute מכון ויצמן למדע of Science and a member of the 19 № L to R: Rebecca Boukhris, Prof. Alon Chen, Sidney Boukhris Executive Board of Weizmann and René Braginsky 2 3 MAGAZINE Women in science: making inroads WEIZMANN in academia and industry rom its launch in 2007, the Israel National Many of these women are attaining replaced by Prof. Idit Shachar, leadership roles in their fields, evincing a member of the Department Postdoctoral Award Program for Advancing the impact of the program on industry of Immunology. Her newly riefs in Israel. titled role is Head of the B Women in Science at the Weizmann Institute F To highlight this success, the Office for the Advancement set out to increase the number of female scientists Advancing Women in Science Program of Women in Science and Gender cience S launched an online lecture series Equality. in academia in Israel. And it has indeed been highly this year featuring outstanding “Despite the numerous successful, with about 65 percent of its former par- female researchers who have gone challenges we faced over the past on to become prominent players few years, the program continues ticipants—women scientists who have done postdoc in industry. In December, Dr. Michal to make important strides Rosen-Zvi, Director of Healthcare in advancing the careers fellowships abroad—going on to attain faculty-track Informatics at IBM Research of women scientists. I am sure positions in Israeli academia. But there’s another in Haifa and a visiting professor at the that this will continue and grow Hebrew University of Jerusalem, further when Idit Shachar takes unintended success story among the remaining discussed the transformation of health- my place,” said Prof. Addadi. 35 percent: the program alumni who have gone care technologies through artificial “I accepted this appointment intelligence, specifically as relates since I believe that the time is on to careers in Israeli high tech and biotech. to breast cancer research. ripe for the Weizmann Institute— January’s speaker was along with our desire to be Dr. Moran Grossman, who completed excellent in science—to become both her MSc and PhD at the a light house for social issues Weizmann Institute.