I BGU Researchers Awarded ERC Starting Grants
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News@ BGU NEWSLETTER OF BEN-GURION UNIVERSITY OF THE NEGEV אוניברסיטתews בן-גוריון בנגב NEWSLETTER OF BEN-GURION UNIVERSITY@BGU OF THE NEGEV SUMMER 2009 N Save the date — Ben-Gurion Day, November 23, 2009 I BGU Researchers Awarded ERC Starting Grants were selected for their prestigious Science and Nature. that exist between bacteria “promising track-record His project will seek to reveal and humans, and of certain of early achievements the molecular architecture of mechanisms that the immune appropriate to their integrin mediated cell adhesion system may use to control both research field and using cryo EM with hope of the benign and pathogenic career stage, including shedding light on the structural bacterial populations. His significant publications make-up of proteins, which program was noted for its (as main author) in make this fundamental process “elegant combination of major international of cells, involved in processes molecular design, synthetic peer-reviewed such as cancer growth, chemistry, biochemistry and cell multidisciplinary metastasis formation. The ERC biology” and was termed “very scientific journals, referees noted that “this is an ambitious.” or in the leading excellent project with potential international peer- to have high impact on the reviewed journals of field.” Founded in 2007, the European Dr. Michael Meijler their respective field,” as per Research Council (ERC) is Two University researchers have ERC criteria. Meijler received funding to dedicated to “stimulating been selected to receive Starting develop a chemical platform scientific excellence by Grants from the European Both researchers are members to examine sensing of bacterial supporting and encouraging Research Council (ERC). The of the National Institute for crosstalk by higher organisms. the very best, truly creative highly-competitive grants are Biotechnology in the Negev His focus is upon furthering scientists, scholars and considered Europe’s most (NIBN), a unique research the scientific understanding engineers to be adventurous and prestigious research awards. environment that promotes of the complex interactions take risks in their research.” They were created, according to cutting-edge applied research the ERC’s mission statement, to in biotechnology at BGU. The encourage “pioneering frontier researchers received additional research in any field of science, recognition for the University’s engineering and scholarship.” excellent research environment, noting that BGU has “developed The two BGU recipients – important interdisciplinary Dr. Michael Meijler of the research initiatives.” Department of Chemistry and the Edmond J. Safra Center for Medalia, at the forefront of the Design and Engineering the cutting-edge field of cryo- of Functional Biopolymers electron tomography, has and Dr. Ohad Medalia of the already published articles in Department of Life Sciences – leading journals, including the Dr. Ohad Medalia I Prof. Daniel E. Koshland, Jr. I Ikaria Holdings to License I The 39th Annual Board of I Historian Pieces Promenade4 Dedicated at the BGU Developed5 Technology Governors9 Meeting Together 24Ancient Story Jacob Blaustein Institutes BL-1040 News@ BGU NEWSLETTER OF BEN-GURION UNIVERSITY OF THE NEGEV I Leading French Innovation Foundation Signs Cooperation Agreement with BioNegev The Sophia Antipolis and the National Institute of sciences and the chemical result of the first official visit of Foundation, which founded Biotechnology in the Negev. industry. a delegation of leading French and runs the leading BioNegev is a full member bio-clusters to Israel last innovation science park in the Council of European Innovation clusters have summer, which was followed in France, and the newly- Bio-Regions (CEBR) and proven to be powerful shortly thereafter by a joint created BioNegev group have represents the State of Israel in engines of regional economic proclamation between French announced the signing of an CEBR’s steering committee. development and drivers President Nicolas Sarkozy agreement of cooperation. of innovation. They enable and Israel’s President Shimon Sophia Antipolis, centered companies to integrate in Peres in Jerusalem. BioNegev was founded around the University of clusters where they can recently under the auspices Nice, is a multicultural, collaborate with and learn This joint effort will of BGU President Prof. multidisciplinary community from research institutions, bring together the Israeli Rivka Carmi to capitalize among the leading R&D hubs suppliers, customers and entrepreneurial spirit and on the world renowned in Europe. The park includes competitors. forward looking innovation academic achievements research facilities specializing and the vast richness of of the University, Soroka in information technology, The Sophia Antipolis — infrastructure, resources and University Medical Center life sciences, environmental BioNegev collaboration is a skills in France. I Prof. A. Mark Clarfield Named New Director of Medical School for International Health Prof. A. Mark Clarfield, his medical degree from the the McGill Faculty from incumbent of the Sidonie University of Toronto in 1975. 1989-92. He maintains an Hecht Chair in Geriatrics, was He went on to specialize adjunct status there. recently named as the new first in Family Medicine, then Director of the Medical School Community Medicine and In 1992, he moved to Israel for International Health in Public Health, and finally in and worked at the Sarah collaboration with Columbia Geriatrics. He later moved to Herzog Hospital for several University Medical Center. Montreal, where he was with years where, among other Clarfield replaced Prof. Carmi the Faculty of Medicine at tasks, he was the Chair of the Margolis, who has been McGill University from 1978- Helsinki Committee (IRB). Director of the School since 1992. From 1994-2001, he was Head its establishment in 1998. of the Division of Geriatrics During this time, graduates During that period, Clarfield at the Ministry of Health in Prof. A. Mark Clarfield have completed successful was Chief of Geriatrics at the Jerusalem, after which he was and the related dementias, residencies in some the most Sir Mortimer B. Davis – Jewish appointed Head of Geriatrics the organization of health prestigious medical centers in General Hospital as well as at the Soroka University care services, medical history the United States. head of the McGill University Medical Center. and ethics. He also publishes Division of Geriatric Medicine. medical humor, book reviews Clarfield was brought up and In addition, he was the Clarfield’s research interests and miscellaneous pieces in educated in Toronto, receiving Assistant Dean of Students at include Alzheimers disease various newspapers. 2 NEWSLETTER OF BEN-GURION UNIVERSITY OF THE NEGEV I Prof. Daniel E. Koshland, Jr. Promenade Dedicated at the Jacob Blaustein Institutes From L-R: Prof. Raymond Dwek FRS, Dr. Douglas Koshland, Prof. Rivka Carmi and Phlyp Koshland The Prof. Daniel E. Koshland At the unveiling of the truly appreciate your coming “He believed dramatically Jr. Promenade at the Jacob Promenade, University to learn more about the that his vision could make a Blaustein Institutes for Desert President Prof. Rivka Institutes,” he said. difference. It was a vision that Research was dedicated this Carmi spoke about her not only had sustainability spring in the presence of the deep appreciation for Prof. Dwek spoke affectionately but created technology that late scientist and benefactor’s Koshland and his fascination about his long friendship would be a force for peace in son and daughter, Dr. Douglas with the research being done with Koshland, whom he had the region – something that Koshland from the United at the Blaustein Institutes, known since 1972. “Dan and BGU has done so well with States and Phlyp Koshland located in Sede Boqer. She I often talked about the future its outreach programs,” he from Australia. noted that it was fitting that the of BGU, which was to create continued. shaded promenade connects sustainability and viability for The Director of the Oxford the different academic the future of the Negev and In mentioning his family’s Glycobiology Institute and disciplines at the Institutes. the future of Israel,” he noted. emphasis on supporting member of the University’s “He wanted BGU to focus on scientific research, Douglas Board of Governors Prof. Director of the Blaustein concrete developments which remarked that the “promenade Raymond Dwek FRS, a Institutes Prof. Avigad Vonshak would lead to applied and should be a place of colleague and close personal thanked the siblings for taking commercial applications in interaction and scientific friend of the late Prof. the time and making the effort the area of desert research – in discourse to bring people Koshland, joined them on their to see the place that was particular, water resources and together.” visit. so dear to their father. “We desert agriculture. 3 News@ BGU NEWSLETTER OF BEN-GURION UNIVERSITY OF THE NEGEV I Ikaria Holdings to License BGU Developed Technology BL-1040 A potentially breakthrough Western world. Approximately To date, 15 patients were treatment in preventing cardiac 1.3 million cases of nonfatal successfully treated with BL- tissue damage following acute MI are reported each year 1040 with no complications. myocardial infarction has been in the U.S. alone, with an Moreover, six months follow- licensed by BioLineRx Ltd., annual incidence rate of up results from the first five the Israeli clinical