July 2013 3 Dear Friends: he NIBN is currently in its fourth year since its establishment Tin 2009 as an autonomous research institute. With NIBN’s mission of promoting applicative scientific projects with the intent for translation towards eventual commercialization, NIBN’s team continues to make significant inroads and navigate NIBN’s roadmap towards this goal. Several strides have been taken towards bridging the gap between basic and applied research, with the aim to raise interest among investors and big Pharmaceutical companies. The experienced NIBN team with Yuval Kupitz (MBA), responsible for business development and Lewis Neville (PhD), recently recruited as Deputy Director with expertise in drug development, aim to guide NIBN members towards an applicative avenue, creating novel projects whilst redirecting and focusing on others. NIBN’s financial support for performing research in the scientists’ laboratories or via outsourcing, together with appropriate business development opportunities, represent a unique approach present only in the NIBN. The International Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) continues to mentor and provide valuable consulting advice in helping to implement creative changes in the NIBN members’ research activities with respect to advancing the applied commercial aspects in parallel with basic research efforts. With the spirit of cooperation and entrepreneurship, we are now reaching a “critical mass” for significant industrial collaborations. This confirms that NIBN is becoming a renowned and highly respected center of scientific excellence. I would like to welcome the new NIBN SAB members, Prof. Nathan Nelson, Tel-Aviv University, Recipient of Israel Prize for Life Sciences, (2012), Director of the Daniella Rich Institute for Structural Biology and former President of the Israel Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Prof. Hermona Soreq, Hebrew University, former President of the Israeli Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2000), Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences of the Hebrew University (2005), and recipient of Israeli Ministry of Health prize (2000). Three dimensional cyst The recruitment of Nathan and Hermona to our revered SAB formation of MDCK cells consisting of Profs. Raymond Dwek, Philip Needleman, Sir Aaron grown in collagen matrix Klug, Aaron Ciechanover and Richard Ulevitch, will contribute (Dr. Natalie Elia) 1 NIBN | Newsletter a highly valuable, local outlook in terms of scientific excellence. As part of the NIBN development, the new NIBN building is in its advanced stage (see page 9). It is axiomatic that to realize the full potential of the NIBN, the scientists and the service units cannot be limited by space constraints and must be closely located. Thus, moving NIBN members’ laboratories, currently in six different buildings, to the new Professor Raymond Dwek building by July 2014, will be a major advantage for NIBN’s recognized in the U.K. New Years entire development, infra-structure and business model. Honors List (2013) As in previous NIBN newsletters, in this issue we highlight three newly recruited NIBN members. We introduce you to rofessor Raymond Dwek, a member Dr. Natalie Elia (Department of Life Sciences), Dr. Dan Levy of the NIBN’s Scientific Advisory P (Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics) and Board, Director of the Glycobiology Dr. Eyal Arbely (Department of Chemistry). We also introduce Institute, Emeritus Professor of you to Dr. Lewis Neville, Deputy Director, NIBN. Glycobiology and Emeritus Fellow of Exeter College, University of Oxford, Commitment towards the development of the NIBN is not received the prestigious award of CBE only reflected in the recruitment of new members, but also (Commander of the Most Excellent in establishing new centers for scientific excellence. An Order of the British Empire) for services example of such commitment is underscored following the to UK-Israel scientific collaborations. recent inauguration of The Aaron Klug Integrated Centre for Prof. Dwek serves as a Special Advisor Biomolecular structure and function (AKIC-BSF; see page 3). on Biotechnology to the President of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev NIBN members and the International Scientific Advisory Board, and played an instrumental role in congratulate Prof. Raymond Dwek on being awarded a CBE in helping to establish the NIBN and to recognition of services to UK-Israel scientific collaboration, Dr. monitor its scientific level. Prof. Dwek is Esti Yeger-Lotem on being awarded the Toronto Prize as well also co-chair of the BIRAX initiative on as a number of PhD students on receipt of awards. Additionally, Regenerative Medicine, together with many congratulations to Profs. Amir Sagi and Ohad Birk for BGU President Prof. Rivka Carmi and “crossing the boundaries” following their recent visits to the UK Ambassador, HE Mr. Mathew Myanmar and Qatar, respectively. Gould. Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the SAB members for their commitment and immense support. Also, many thanks to NIBN Executive Committee members, BGU President, Prof. Rivka Carmi, Vice-President and Dean for R&D, Prof. Moti Herskowitz and the Director-General, Mr. David Bareket, for their help and guidance in advancing the NIBN towards reaching its goal. I wish everyone much success. Prof. Varda Shoshan-Barmatz NIBN Director 2 The Aaron Klug Integrated Centre for Biomolecular Structure and Function (AKIC-BSF) he NIBN and Ben- link between Britain and Israel. It is a particular pleasure TGurion University have to be here for three reasons. First, the opening of the recently established the centre ties together two of my favourite universities, AKIC-BSF, named after BGU (Gould received an honorary doctorate from BGU Professor Sir Aaron Klug, in December 2011) and Cambridge University and winner of the Nobel Prize specifically Peterhouse, which is Prof. Klug’s college in Chemistry in 1982. and where I studied. Second, it is a celebration of the Prof. Klug was awarded the Nobel for his development relationship between Britain and Israel in science. of crystallographic electron microscopy and structural Both are scientific superpowers with complementary elucidation of biologically important nucleic acid-protein strengths. Third, because it pays tribute to Prof. Klug. complexes. Prof. Aaron Klug has been centrally involved He is universally known as kind, fair and decent. He is in the establishment of the NIBN and has remained a world class scientist without the ego to match. He continuously involved in its growth and development, has shown us what science can achieve and should be having served as Acting Executive Director for two years. doing to unlock Nature’s secrets to provide pathways to healing.” The AKIC-BSF is a National Centre of Excellence for structural studies and will serve as a focal point The scope and mission of the AKIC-BSF was for scientists throughout Israel and from around the presented by Dr. Natalie Elia (NIBN and Department world. The centre focuses on integrative approaches of Life Sciences, BGU). Prof. Klug’s background and of structural biology aiming to unveil the mechanistic achievements were lucidly presented by Prof. Ueli Aebi basis of physiological processes from atomic to cellular (a member of the centre’s steering committee), which levels. included many anecdotal stories that arose during Prof. Klug’s distinguished career. The AKIC-BSF will create a unique environment to facilitate state-of-the-art research in structural biology The scientific session included an outstanding lecture and it is our goal that the AKIC-BSF will mature and by Prof. Ian Wilson (The Scripps Research Institute) develop into a unique and internationally-recognized entitled “An integrative approach to structure-based centre. vaccine design for HIV and Influenza virus ” and a video lecture by Prof. Klug on Engineered zinc finger protein. The centre maintains state-of-the-art equipment, which will be further strengthened with acquisition of additional equipment to comply with its commitment to scientific excellence. The Steering Committee of AKIC-BSF includes Prof. Ueli Aebi, Prof. Sir Alan Fersht FRS, Nobel laureate Prof. Roger D. Kornberg, Prof. Jennifer Lippincott-Schwartz and Prof. Ian Wilson FRS, FRSE. The dedication ceremony of the AKIC-BSF took place on April 11th, 2013, in the presence of HE Mr. Matthew Gould MBE (UK ambassador to Israel), Profs. Raymond Dwek, Ian Wilson and Ueli Aebi, members of the Klug family and scientists from BGU and other academic institutions in Israel. The dedication ceremony was organized by the NIBN and was moderated by Prof. Varda Shoshan-Barmatz, NIBN Director. The ceremony was opened by Prof. Raymond Dwek (University of Oxford) who introduced Mr. Matthew Opening of the Aaron Klug Integrated Centre for Gould. Mr. Gould gave a very warm introductory Biomolecular Structure and Function with an invited panel address to the participants. Gould explained why he consisting (Left to right) of Prof. Moti Herskowitz (VP and Dean for R&D, BGU), Prof. Raymond Dwek (University of was delighted to be at this dedication. He commented Oxford), HE Matthew Gould (British Ambassador to Israel), that “any ambassador would be delighted to pay tribute Prof. Ian Wilson (The Scripps Research Institute) and Prof. to Prof. Klug and to be at an event that sets in stone the Ueli Aebi (University of Basel). 3 NIBN | Newsletter Genetically encoded non-canonical amino acids: Adding new chemistries to ribosomally synthesized proteins he ribosomal