Month: January 2021

Technion researchers have developed an innovative technology for the automated monitoring of stress in agricultural crops. Early detection of water and heat stress is crucial for agricultural growers since the reduction in moisture is reflected in limited stomatal conductance, resulting in dwindled growth and eventually to the plant’s premature death. The development was led by the people of GIP, the Geometric Image Processing Laboratory, in the Henry and Marilyn Taub Faculty of Computer Science. 

Israel, which was renowned in the first decades of its existence as a modern agricultural power, transitioned over the years into the Startup Nation. In recent years, it turns out that the connection between the two – hi-tech and agriculture, agritech, for short – is likely to give the food world a significant boost. This is the backdrop for the establishment of the Phenomics Consortium, sponsored by the Israel Innovation Authority, in the framework of which the present research was conducted. The Consortium was created with the goal of furthering scientific and technological innovation through collaboration between academic research institutes and industrial companies.

The Technion researchers – research assistant Alon Zvirin, head of the GIP lab Professor Ron Kimmel,  and chief engineer Yaron Honen – have developed smart technology for the monitoring and prediction of crop stress and leaf segmentation. In the context of the former, Zvirin explains: “The detection of drought stress enables the plant to be saved, allows for the identification of diseases and the prediction of crop yield quantities, all of which are crucial information for the grower.” Through the use of color photographs, thermal imaging and deep learning, the researchers were able to predict stress and new leaf development with great success; in a test of the technology on banana seedlings, an impressive prediction level of over 90% accuracy was achieved. In the context of the latter – leaf segmentation – the researchers achieved unprecedented results in the identification of Arabidopsis and tobacco leaves by applying deep learning. To train the system on a large quantity of samples, the research team developed a vast database containing artificial leaf images, and then also tested the technology on other crops – avocado, bananas, cucumbers and maize.

According to Zvirin, “We included young researchers who were just starting out in the technology development process. They brought excellent ideas and did a great job. Two of them are also listed as lead authors of the articles: Dmitri Kuznichov, who will shortly be completing his master’s degree under the supervision of Prof. Irad Yavneh and Prof. Ron Kimmel, and Sagi Levanon – a graduate of the Psagot Excellence Program, who has started studying for his second degree in the Faculty.” The article on stress detection was published at the European Conference on Computer Vision, ECCV, and the paper on segmentation was published at the Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition, CVPR.  

The Phenomics Consortium

The name “Phenomics” is derived from the word “phenotype”, i.e. the observable physical properties of an organism, which possess agricultural, agronomic, or biological significance. In our case, this refers to the diagnosis of the plant’s condition on the basis of its observable characteristics – color, shape, and size. High throughput automated phenotyping today accounts for the bottleneck in the improvement of agricultural crops, and hence the importance of the present achievement. The Technion’s partners in the Consortium are agro-tech and biotech companies Rahan Meristem, Hazera Seeds, and Evogene; tech companies Elbit Systems, Opgal Optronics Industries, and Sensilize; and the following academic and research institutes: Ben-Gurion University, Tel Aviv University, the University of Haifa, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Volcani Center.

A study by three Technion researchers has revealed that simply spending time in nature isn’t enough: to be happy, we need to get really close to it, to touch it and smell it. And surprise: there’s no need to turn off your phone

During the first COVID-19-related lockdown, everyone baked sourdough bread. In the second lockdown, the trend was home gardening, and social media was flooded with a plethora of photos of pot plants and close-ups of colorful succulents. According to researchers, the change in trend can be explained by the fact that the second lockdown found Israelis in lower spirits that even carbs would find it hard to lift. The forced stay that kept entire families indoors turned even the brightest, most beautiful homes into traps that created a sense of being closed in, and their residents tried to mitigate its impacts with a little greenery on which they could feast their eyes and spirits.

Numerous research studies have supported this intuitive choice, demonstrating the importance of nature and green spaces to people’s emotional and physical wellbeing, but a new study has shown that “feasting one’s eyes on greenery” is merely the tip of the iceberg. In order to benefit emotional wellbeing, humans must get close up and physically touch natural elements. In a research study published in Conservation Biology, Technion researchers found that interaction with nature alone is not enough. In order for tangible benefits to be derived, they found it is important that planners design green spaces that positive and close interaction with nature. The effect of interaction of this kind occurs in two stages, In the first, “cues of close psychological distance,” such as smelling and touching natural elements, increase the state of nature relatedness. This state in turn intensifies the pleasure derived by participants.

The researchers, Professor Assaf Shwartz and Dr. Agathe Colléony of the Faculty of Architecture and Town Planning, and Dr. Liat Levontin of the William Davidson Faculty of Industrial Engineering and Management, explain that closeness to nature improves wellbeing more than passive exposure or simply looking at the green landscape. Based on a survey of 1,023 visitors at Ramat Hanadiv Nature Park, they found that the closer the interaction with nature (for example, interaction that included touching natural elements or smelling flowers), the more the positive affect of visitors was enhanced following the visit to the nature reserve, compared to other visitors who experienced nature from a greater distance (for example, by simply taking a walk).

“Our research has shown that people who have an emotional affinity for nature are generally happier and derive greater benefit from visits to green spaces or nature reserves,” explained Prof. Shwartz.

Following these findings, the researchers conducted an experiment among 303 Technion students. All participants spent half an hour outdoors on campus, with each assigned one of nine different cues-to-experience to perform while walking. These included smelling flowers, taking photographs of nature, touching natural elements, or turning off their phones. The findings showed that participants assigned cues of close psychological distance from nature (smelling and touching natural elements) indeed felt closer to nature and felt better after the walk than the control group (with no cues). Contrary to the prevailing opinion that it is important to experience nature undisturbed, participants who were asked to turn off their phones during the walk interacted less with nature, and reported both an increase in their negative feelings and a decrease in positive feelings after the walk was recorded. According to Dr. Levontin, “Turning off the phone may possibly cause people to think about it more and lead to FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) and does not enable significant interaction with nature.”

“People today are increasingly alienated from nature, and this has negative implications on their health and wellbeing and on the importance they attribute to the world of nature,” said Prof. Shwartz. “It’s important to plan green spaces that enable significant interactions with nature to improve our affinity to nature and emotional wellbeing.”

“I think we all felt it in the recent lockdowns,” added Dr. Levontin. “But it’s possible that as a result of our growing alienation from nature, planning green spaces is not enough to create a significant nature experience and contribute to quality of life. So thought must be given to how to encourage people to go outdoors and enhance their nature experience.”

“This is precisely where our research comes in,” Prof. Shwartz explained. “In the experiment, we demonstrated that with the help of minor cues, which we called “cues-to-experience,” people can be brought closer to nature. We also found that it is possible to enhance the nature experience among visitors, as well as its positive effect after the visit. Even smartphones can be used to create meaningful nature experiences for all of us in parks, gardens, and nature reserves. At the same time, it is important to make sure to also protect biodiversity and not to encourage interaction that is liable to be harmful to nature, such as picking flowers. Landscape architects and environmental planners need to think about solutions that will encourage the creation of interactions with nature, whose negative impact on biodiversity is minimal and positive impact is strong.”

The paper in Conservation Biology can be accessed here

Three young scientists from leading research institutions in Israel will each be awarded US$ 100,000 for their groundbreaking scientific research

The Blavatnik Family Foundation, the New York Academy of Sciences, and the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities announced today the Laureates of the 2021 Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in Israel. 

This year’s Laureates, who will each receive US$100,000, are:

• Professor Ido Kaminer (Physical Sciences & Engineering)—Technion – Israel Institute of Technology
• Professor Rafal Klajn (Chemistry)—Weizmann Institute of Science
• Professor Yossi Yovel (Life Sciences)—Tel Aviv University

 

The Blavatnik Awards recognize outstanding, innovative scientists at the early stages of their careers for both their extraordinary achievements and their promise for future discoveries. The prizes are awarded to researchers aged 42 and younger for groundbreaking work in the disciplines of Life Sciences, Chemistry, and Physical Sciences & Engineering. The Blavatnik Awards in Israel sit alongside their international counterparts, the Blavatnik National Awards and Blavatnik Regional Awards in the United States, and the Blavatnik Awards in the United Kingdom.

The 2021 Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in Israel will be conferred, as pandemic restrictions allow, at a ceremony held at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem on August 1, 2021. The Laureates will join a cadre of young scientists from across Israel who have been honored by the Blavatnik Awards in Israel since their launch in 2017. In addition, the Laureates will become part of the international Blavatnik Science Scholars community, which, by the close of 2021, will total 350 young scientists from around the world. Each summer the Laureates are invited to attend the annual Blavatnik Science Symposium in New York City at the New York Academy of Sciences, where past and present Blavatnik Awards honorees from around the world come together to share new ideas and forge collaborations for novel, cross-disciplinary research. 

“The passing year has demonstrated just how important groundbreaking science is,” said Len Blavatnik, Founder and Chairman of Access Industries and Head of the Blavatnik Family Foundation. “It’s imperative to encourage young scientists to venture broadly in their respective fields and to push the boundaries of scientific discovery. The achievements by these three outstanding Israeli scientists are a testament to their brilliance, perseverance, and imagination—characteristics held by many young Israeli researchers who will continue to make remarkable contributions to science for generations to come.” 

Nicholas B. Dirks, President and CEO of the New York Academy of Sciences, said that “The 2021 Blavatnik Awards in Israel Laureates are an impressive group of scientific pioneers. On behalf of the New York Academy of Sciences, we are proud of the contributions that these young scientists in Israel are making to the global scientific community, improving lives for the better through their research. We congratulate them on their achievements and look forward to seeing what their future holds.” 

Professor Nili Cohen, President of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, said: “In the midst of a challenging year, we are extremely proud that our young scientists are venturing forward to new heights, and advancing scientific innovation and breakthrough. Together with the Blavatnik Family Foundation and the New York Academy of Sciences, we are delighted to honor these exceptional Israeli scientists with this prestigious Award.”

During the nomination period for the 2021 Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists in Israel, 37 nominations were received from seven universities across the country. Members of the Awards’ Scientific Advisory Council, which includes Nobel Laureates, Professors Aaron Ciechanover, and David Gross, along with Chairman of the Israel Space Agency and Chairman of the National Council for R&D for the Ministry of Science and Technology of Israel, Professor Isaac Ben-Israel, were also invited to submit nominations. Three distinguished juries composed of leading scientists representing the three disciplinary categories and lead by Israel Academy members selected the 2021 Laureates.

About the Laureates

PHYSICAL SCIENCES & ENGINEERING: 

Prof. Ido Kaminer, Assistant Professor, The Viterbi Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology

The work of Ido Kaminer, PhD, Head of the Robert and Ruth Magid Electron Beam Quantum Dynamics Laboratory, has influenced fundamental physics research with real-world applications by transforming our understanding of the quantum nature of light-matter interactions. New technologies developed in his laboratory open up the possibility of compact and tunable X-ray apparatuses for applications such as medical imaging and security scanning. He has also uncovered new aspects of the Cherenkov Effect—a burst of light seen when high-speed particles travel through gas, liquid, or solid—that was first discovered in 1934. The Cherenkov Effect was thought to be fully understood, but Professor Kaminer discovered hidden quantum features not previously identified by classical physics. This discovery led him to develop novel high energy particle detectors for particle accelerators such as the one at CERN.

Prof. Kaminer is affiliated with the Helen Diller Quantum Center and the Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute

CHEMISTRY:

Prof. Rafal Klajn, Associate Professor and Head of the Helen and Martin Kimmel Center for Molecular Design, Weizmann Institute of Science 

Most man-made materials are intrinsically static, and thus not capable of undergoing change in response to external signals. The ability to react to external stimuli, such as light, heat, and touch, is fundamental to the existence and functioning of living organisms. Organic chemist, Rafal Klajn, PhD, has developed dynamic nanomaterials that are engineered to possess some of these “life-like” characteristics. For example, he has created cube-shaped, magnetic nanoparticles that are capable of self-assembling into complex double-helical materials in the presence of a magnetic field.  These and other dynamic nanomaterials have potential applications in such diverse fields as water purification, energy storage, and catalysis.

LIFE SCIENCES:

Prof. Yossi Yovel, Associate Professor of Zoology, Tel Aviv University, Israel Young Academy member 

Yossi Yovel, PhD, is working to bridge the gap between two of the most influential fields in biology—ecology, the study of animals in their environment, and neuroscience, the study of how the brain controls actions. He has helped to establish the new field of neuroecology, the study of how the brain controls behavior in a rapidly changing natural environment; this combination is crucial to our understanding of biological processes in the natural world. Professor Yovel uses bats to study behavioral responses. He is a leading expert on the use of bats in scientific research and studies their use of echolocation to perceive and navigate through the world as a model for how the brain integrates sensory information to guide behavior. He has developed novel miniaturized GPS and other devices that monitor the behavior of freely moving bats in the wild. This work provides broader insight into group behaviors, integration of sensory information in the brain, and real-time decision making. Yovel also applies his understanding of bat echolocation in a range of robots. Yovel has made his technology freely available; it is used in fieldwork internationally and has the potential to aid in engineering acoustic control of autonomous vehicles.

About the Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists

The Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists, established by the Blavatnik Family Foundation in the United States in 2007 and independently administered by the New York Academy of Sciences, began by identifying outstanding regional scientific talent in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. The Blavatnik National Awards were first awarded in 2014, and in 2017 the Awards were expanded to honor faculty-rank scientists in the United Kingdom and in Israel. By the close of 2021, the Blavatnik Awards will have awarded prizes totaling US$11.9 million. Of all the Award recipients, 61 percent are immigrants to the country in which they were recognized and hail from 47 countries across six continents. For updates about the Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists, please visit www.blavatnikawards.org or follow us on Twitter and Facebook @BlavatnikAwards.

The European Union has awarded another grant to the research group of Professor Amit Meller of the Technion Faculty of Biomedical Engineering for their OpiPore project. The aim of OpiPore is to advance novel technology for analyzing single molecules, including detecting the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA molecules. To do this, the researchers are developing a new method to produce solid-state Nanopores (ssNPs)– diagnostic devices based on nanopores – en mass.

The ssNPs are a novel type of biosensors, capable of analyzing single molecules. Such analysis has immense medical and research value, since it can replace common diagnosis methods based on analysis of bulk solution. Such methods suffer from multiple disadvantages, including high costs, cumbersome lab equipment and insufficient accuracy.

To explain the leap provided by the ssNP devices, the researchers used the example of Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Existing Coronavirus tests are based on RT-qPCR technology, which requires a complicated process of collecting a sample from the patient using a swab, “opening” the virus to extract its genetic material, extracting the RNA, and reverse-transcription of the RNA to DNA. But that is not the end. For the existing equipment to detect the presence of viruses in the sample, a massive amplification (PCR) is performed, doubling the amount of DNA over and over until a sufficient amount is reached. Not only is the process long and expensive, but the amplification stage can sometimes cause significant errors in detecting the presence of the virus, i.e., in determining whether a patient is positive or negative for COVID-19.

The diagnostic process developed in Meller’s lab completely obviates the amplification stage, allowing direct counting and quantifying samples of the virus’ RNA, as well as normal human RNA molecules simultaneously. In this fashion, precious time can be saved, and mistakes may be avoided. The new method is based on drawing individual biological molecules, such as DNA and RNA, by means of an electric field, into a nanopore containing an electrical sensor. The output undergoes an analysis which allows direct and immediate identification and quantification of the molecules.

The technology was originally developed to detect tumor-associated RNA biomarkers that make it possible to diagnose cancer in its early stages. A short while after the COVID-19 epidemic, Prof. Meller’s group started working on adjusting this technology to address the urgent need for fast and precise Coronavirus tests. Proof of concept results showed the efficiency of this method in detecting the presence of SARS-CoV-2 even when the sample contained only trace amounts of the virus. This method, named “RT-qNP”, was recently published in ACS Nano. RT-qNP development was led by a post-doctoral fellow, Dr. Yana Rozevsky, in Prof. Meller’s lab, in collaboration with colleagues in Charité hospital in Berlin. The work has been supported by Prof. Meller’s ERC grant awarded by the European Union.

As previously mentioned, this month the group was awarded a supplemental “Proof of Concept” ERC grant. This grant is focused on the production of the device itself, since large-scale drilling the nano-apertures is an immense technological challenge that currently delays the widespread implementation of ssNP devices. Through long and in-depth work, Prof. Meller’s research group has developed a unique technology for drilling the nano-apertures using a focused beam of blue laser. This technology will now be further developed, to bring it to clinical use as soon as possible.

While both grants were awarded at a time when the world is dealing with the Coronavirus pandemic, the aforementioned technologies are relevant to the diagnosis of many other diseases – not only viral and microbial, but also multiple types of cancer, as preliminary studies in the Technion laboratories have already demonstrated. The Coronavirus research is performed in close collaboration with the bio-bank unit of the Rambam Medical Center.

Technion scientists are deciphering a mechanism that integrates all the stages of the mRNA lifecycle into a unified system

Researchers from the Rappaport Faculty of Medicine at the Technion have uncovered a mechanism that coordinates the multi-stage process of gene expression: i.e., translating the information stored in the DNA into proteins. The study, published in Cell Reports, was led by molecular microbiology principal investigator Professor Mordechai Choder and Dr. Stephen Richard, with Dr. Tamar Ziv and Keren Bendalak of the Smoler Proteomics Center at the Technion.

The DNA can be thought of as the cell’s “recipe book,” written using four “letters” – the nucleotide molecules. Every cell in our body contains DNA with the same nucleotide sequence (with some exceptions). However, the tissues of our body – muscle, bone, skin, etc. are quite different from each other in how they are formed and how they function.

How is possible that all tissues’ cells contain the same DNA sequence but cells in different tissues express different sets of genes and function differently?

The answer lies in the regulation of gene expression – a wide range of mechanisms that, together, regulate which recipes out of the DNA-book will be “cooked,”i.e., which genes would be expressed in each particular cell, in what amounts, and when. Although this recipe book is the same in all cells, the recipes cooked from it may be quite different.

The mechanisms that regulate gene expression may be broken into four major stages, revolving around the production, transfer, translation, and decay of messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules – each encodes a unique protein:

mRNA Synthesis and Maturation: the DNA is a large molecule (almost 2 meters long). In the process called “transcription”, a gene encoding one protein (one recipe of the cookbook), is copied out into mRNA molecule, the nucleotide sequence of which is dictated by the DNA nucleotide sequence; this molecule carries the instructions for building the protein.

mRNA Transport from the cell nucleus into the cytoplasm, an intra-cell environment outside the nucleus, where proteins are produced. The nucleus can be thought of as a “safe” where the precious recipe book is kept. Recipes are copied out of it as necessary, but the book itself is never taken out of the safe.

mRNA Translation: this stage is carried out by the ribosome – the “protein factory.” The ribosome reads the mRNA instruction (a single recipe) and produces a protein. Proteins are composed of amino acids, the sequence of which is dictated by the mRNA nucleotide sequence; the amino acids sequence determines the protein nature and functionality.  Proteins perform many functions in our body and are responsible, in part, for what we are.

mRNA Decay: like most molecules in our body, mRNAs are turned over. Their degradation is carried out by factors that, as Choder’s group reported in 2013 (in Cell), also participate in transcription. Thus, mRNA synthesis and decay processes are linked.

“Every stage is regulated by a sophisticated mechanism, consists of many dozens of dedicated factors that execute the process and ensure its precision,” said Professor Choder. “I was interested in understanding the mechanism that integrates all these stages into a unified system, trying to obtain a bird’s eye view. I have hypothesized that, for proper expression, all stages must be coordinated. It is for this reason that I have focused for the last 15 years on “zooming out” our point of view from the discrete processes – transcription, translation, etc. to the whole system.”

This continued research, performed on the baker’s yeast S. cerevisiae, has yielded some dramatic discoveries, among them the discovery of mRNA coordinators, published in 2010 in Cell. The coordinators bind to the mRNA during transcription and accompany it throughout its life; a life that involves all the above-mentioned stages.

“To use a musical analogy, the coordinator is like a conductor of an orchestra, responsible for the coordination between the various instruments, that is to say – the different stages,” continued Professor Choder. “It evolved because a ‘false note’ in the orchestra, i.e., discoordination among the stages, can have fateful consequences to the organism.”

In the current article, the researchers went a step further and examined the means by which the stages’ components and the coordinators communicate. They found that they use a “language,” the “letters” of which are small molecules (such as phosphoryl, methyl, and acetyl) and the “words” are combinations thereof. These molecules bind to the coordinator, while it is attached to the mRNA, forming an mRNA/coordinator/small molecule complex. The coordinators, in turn, spread the “rumour” among the stages.

The language contains many different words, each representing a certain combination of letters and the positions within the coordinator (which position within its amino acid sequence) that they bind.  Every “word” delivers information and commands to the various stages and affects their functionality. As for what kinds of information the stages need to deliver, they range from the simple (e.g., “all is well, you may proceed”) to the more complicated (e.g., “slow down, something’s missing” or “send the mRNA to degradation – the problem is irreparable” etc.). This mechanism allows the transfer of information between stages, thus reducing errors along the way. According to Prof. Choder, it would be interesting to see if other molecular systems use similar coordinators and a similar language (or a dialect).

The study was done with the generous support of the Israeli Science Foundation (ISF).

First in Israel: a COVID-19 test developed at Technion offers rapid testing on campus to prevent chains of infection

In the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic, a rapid and extensive testing operation developed at Technion benefits all residents of Technion City

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While Israel undergoes a mass vaccination program, the ongoing window of risk is being closed at Technion through an innovative system of rapid testing for COVID-19. 

The Technion announced the extensive testing operation as a fundamental protective measure for dormitory residents. The “NaorCov19” test being used in Haifa was developed in April 2020 by Professor Naama Geva-Zatorsky of the Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine.

“To protect the health of campus visitors and residents, to lead as normal a lifestyle as possible, and to return to routine life during the pandemic, it is necessary to break the chain of infection rapidly, through effective monitoring and diagnosis,” said Technion President, Professor Uri Sivan. “Living alongside COVID-19 is an enormous challenge for all the population, and I hope and believe the rapid implementation of the novel technologies developed by Technion researchers will assist us in arresting the spread of the virus, and that it will serve as a model for other places across the country.”

The technology has been commercialized by the Technion for further development by Rapid Diagnostic Systems ltd., which is developing the molecular diagnostic platform under the name “Naor.” (www.naordia.com).  The technology had been field-tested and developed in collaboration with multiple institutions and researchers including MAFAT (the R&D arm of the Israeli Ministry of Defence) and the Rambam Health Care Campus. 

The NaorCov19 test rapidly detects the SARS-CoV-2 virus and is based on a saliva sample and a short isothermal process that can be done on-premises. The process takes less than an hour if done on-site, and dozens or even hundreds of samples can be processed simultaneously. Technion students and staff leave saliva samples at stations around campus and use their phones to record it. They are then electronically notified about the results within a few hours of the sample collection.  The Technion community members are encouraged to be tested at least once a week, in order to reduce the risk of campus infection.

Thanks to its simplicity, the NaorCov19 is suitable for rapid testing on campuses and schools, at workplaces, airports and even onboard airplanes. It is also scheduled for self-testing at home.

The on-campus Naor tests are being performed as part of a study that has received the approval of the local institutional review board (IRB).

At the start of the 2020-21 academic year, the Technion administration announced the “Creating an Open and Safe Campus” initiative, which offers multi-layered protection of campus visitors. 

The First Layer is strict adherence to the “purple badge” rules: wearing a mask, hygiene, and social distancing. 

The Second Layer involves the monitoring of the campus sewage system using novel technology developed at Technion by Professor Eran Friedler of the Department of Environmental and Water Engineering. Sewage testing supports the monitoring of a large population, effectively and rapidly locating cases without the need to reach each individual. It has already effectively disrupted potential chains of coronavirus infection.

The soon to be implemented Third Layer is the Technion-developed “NaorCov19” test. This individual, rapid, and non-invasive system will help track and diagnose cases on campus. 

The Fourth Layer involves regular PCR tests for those who have relevant symptoms or who test positive on the “NaorCov19” test. Since the “NaorCov19” test is still waiting for the approval of Israel’s Ministry of Health, persons who test positive go on to take a regular PCR test for confirmation.

The “Creating an Open and Safe Campus” project is led by Executive Vice President for Research Professor Koby Rubinstein, Professor Avigdor Gal of the Faculty of Industrial Engineering & Management and Professor Danny Raz of the Henry and Marilyn Taub Faculty of Computer Science.

The President of the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Professor Uri Sivan announced today that the Technion will award an honorary doctorate to Pfizer CEO and Chairman Dr. Albert Bourla, for his extraordinary achievement in leading the record time development of the novel vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The vaccine, which is helping to end the coronavirus crisis, is expected to serve as a model for the development of a wide range of future mRNA-based treatments.

“As Chairman of the Board of Pfizer Inc., Dr. Bourla headed the trailblazing effort to develop a vaccine against the coronavirus,” explained Technion President Sivan. “In his 27 years with Pfizer, Dr. Bourla promoted multiple areas within the company, among them technological innovation. The development of the COVID-19 vaccine is an extraordinary biotechnological achievement that exemplifies the importance of science and multidisciplinary research. The vaccine, and similar ones, will bring healing to all of humanity and will rescue the world from the crisis that began at the end of 2019, with the epidemic outbreak. Dr. Bourla’s family history, as a son of Holocaust survivors from Thessaloniki, is a symbol of the remarkable vitality of the Jewish people, their liveliness, and their renewal capacity in the wake of the Holocaust.”

“I am moved by the news and honored to receive a degree from such an important and historical institution as the Technion,” Dr. Bourla said to President Sivan during a phone conversation informing him of being awarded the degree. “In my youth, I considered studying at the Technion; this is an emotional closure for me.”

Dr. Albert Bourla was born in Thessaloniki in 1961 to a Jewish family, part of which perished in the Holocaust. His family, who arrived in Greece from Spain following the Alhambra Decree, dealt in jewelry and diamonds, and their business spread across many countries. The Thessaloniki Jewish community, once the largest in Greece, had a population of approximately 80,000 in the 1930s. Approximately two-thirds of them perished in the Holocaust.

Dr. Bourla completed all of his academic degrees at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and holds a Ph.D. in veterinary medicine and reproductive biotechnology. In 1993 he joined Pfizer, one of the world’s leading biopharmaceutical companies, where he went on to hold a series of positions. He oversaw antibody development and served as Group President of Pfizer’s Global Vaccines, Oncology, and Consumer Healthcare business. In 2018 he was appointed Chief Operating Officer, and in 2020 he became the company’s Chief Executive Officer.

In recent years Dr. Bourla has led Pfizer in strengthening ties with technology companies and in adopting technologies such as artificial intelligence. At the beginning of 2020, following the global outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, he harnessed most of the company’s resources to develop a vaccine, meeting challenging schedules. Throughout the process, Dr. Bourla promised there would be no compromise with regard to the safety of the vaccine, and approval was obtained after an extensive study that included more than 40,000 subjects.

The honorary doctorate will be conferred on Dr. Bourla during the next annual Technion Board of Governors meeting in November 2021.

In the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic, a rapid and extensive testing operation developed at Technion benefits all residents of Technion City

While Israel undergoes a mass vaccination program, the ongoing window of risk is being closed at Technion through an innovative system of rapid testing for COVID-19. 

The Technion announced the extensive testing operation as a fundamental protective measure for dormitory residents. The “NaorCov19” test being used in Haifa was developed in April 2020 by Professor Naama Geva-Zatorsky of the Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine.

“To protect the health of campus visitors and residents, to lead as normal a lifestyle as possible, and to return to routine life during the pandemic, it is necessary to break the chain of infection rapidly, through effective monitoring and diagnosis,” said Technion President, Professor Uri Sivan. “Living alongside COVID-19 is an enormous challenge for all the population, and I hope and believe the rapid implementation of the novel technologies developed by Technion researchers will assist us in arresting the spread of the virus, and that it will serve as a model for other places across the country.”

The technology has been commercialized by the Technion for further development by Rapid Diagnostic Systems ltd., which is developing the molecular diagnostic platform under the name “Naor.” (www.naordia.com).  The technology had been field tested and developed in collaboration with multiple institutions and researchers including MAFAT (the R&D arm of the Israeli Ministry of Defence) and the Rambam Health Care Campus. 

The NaorCov19 test rapidly detects the SARS-CoV-2 virus and is based on a saliva sample and a short isothermal process that can be done on-premises. The process takes less than an hour if done on site, and dozens or even hundreds of samples can be processed simultaneously. Technion students and staff leave saliva samples at stations around campus and use their phones to record it. They are then electronically notified about the results within a few hours of the sample collection.  The Technion community members are encouraged to be tested at least once a week, in order to reduce the risk of campus infection.

Thanks to its simplicity, the NaorCov19 is suitable for rapid testing on campuses and schools, at workplaces, airports and even onboard airplanes. It is also scheduled for self-testing at home.

The on-campus Naor tests are being performed as part of a study that has received the approval of the local institutional review board (IRB).

At the start of the 2020-21 academic year, the Technion administration announced the “Creating an Open and Safe Campus” initiative, which offers multi-layered protection of campus visitors. 

The First Layer is strict adherence to the “purple badge” rules: wearing a mask, hygiene, and social distancing. 

The Second Layer involves the monitoring of the campus sewage system using novel technology developed at Technion by Professor Eran Friedler of the Department of Environmental and Water Engineering. Sewage testing supports the monitoring of a large population, effectively and rapidly locating cases without the need to reach each individual. It has already effectively disrupted potential chains of coronavirus infection.

The soon to be implemented Third Layer is the Technion-developed “NaorCov19” test. This individual, rapid, and non-invasive system will help track and diagnose cases on campus. 

The Fourth Layer involves regular PCR tests for those who have relevant symptoms or who test positive on the “NaorCov19” test. Since the “NaorCov19” test is still waiting for the approval of Israel’s Ministry of Health, persons who test positive go on to take a regular PCR test for confirmation.

The “Creating an Open and Safe Campus” project is led by Executive Vice President for Research Professor Koby Rubinstein, Professor Avigdor Gal of the Faculty of Industrial Engineering & Management and Professor Danny Raz of the Henry and Marilyn Taub Faculty of Computer Science.

 

Researchers at Technion – Israel Institute of Technology and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Hamburg, Germany, in collaboration with scientists in Israel and Spain, have discovered remarkable molecular properties of an antimicrobial peptide from the skin of the Australian toadlet. The discovery could inspire the development of novel synthetic drugs to combat bacterial infections.

An antibacterial peptide that turns on and off 

The researchers solved the 3D molecular structure of an antibacterial peptide named uperin 3.5, which is secreted on the skin of the Australian toadlet (Uperoleia mjobergii) as part of its immune system. They found that the peptide self-assembles into a unique fibrous structure, which via a sophisticated structural adaptation mechanism can change its form in the presence of bacteria to protect the toadlet from infections. This provides unique atomic-level evidence explaining a regulation mechanism of an antimicrobial peptide.

The antibacterial fibrils on the toadlet’s skin have a structure that is reminiscent of amyloid fibrils, which are a hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Although amyloid fibrils have been considered pathogenic for decades, it has recently been discovered that certain amyloid fibrils can benefit the organisms that produce them, from humans to microbes. For example, certain bacteria produce such fibrils to fight human immune cells.

The findings suggest that the antibacterial peptide secreted on the toadlet’s skin self-assembles into a “dormant” configuration in the form of highly stable amyloid fibrils, which scientists describe as a cross-β conformation. These fibrils serve as a reservoir of potential attacker molecules that can be activated when bacteria are present. Once the peptide encounters the bacterial membrane, it changes its molecular configuration to a less compact cross-α form and transforms into a deadly weapon. “This is a sophisticated protective mechanism of the toadlet, induced by the attacking bacteria themselves,” says structural biologist Prof. Meytal Landau, the lead author of this study. “This is a unique example of an evolutionary design of switchable supramolecular structures to control activity.”

Potential for future medical applications

Antimicrobial peptides are found in all kingdoms of life and thus are hypothesized to be commonly used as weapons in nature, occasionally effective in killing not only bacteria but also cancer cells. Moreover, the unique amyloid-like properties of the toadlet’s antibacterial peptide, discovered in this study, shed light on the potential physiological properties of amyloid fibrils associated with neurodegenerative and systemic disorders.

The researchers hope that their discovery will lead to medical and technological applications, e.g. development of synthetic antimicrobial peptides that would be activated only in the presence of bacteria. Synthetic peptides of this kind could also serve as a stable coating for medical devices or implants, or even in industrial equipment that requires sterile conditions. 

The study is a result of a collaboration between scientists at EMBL Hamburg and Technion, and groups in Israel and Spain. It is an example of EMBL’s approach to life science research in its next scientific Programme Molecules to Ecosystems. EMBL will integrate interdisciplinary approaches to understand the molecular basis of life in the context of environmental changes, and to provide translational potential to support advances in human and planetary health.

For the article in PNAS click here

 

Two Technion – Israel Institute of Technology faculty members have won ERC Consolidator Grants, prestigious awards allocated by the European Union (EU) as part of the Horizon 2020 research and development program. This year, the ERC (European Research Council) received 2,453 research proposals, and on December 10th announced the 301 researchers who had been selected as the recipients of €600 million in grants. The grants support researchers who focus on pioneering research, including daring multidisciplinary projects where the risk discourages investments by private entities.

The two winners from the Technion are Dr. Netanel Korin of the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, and Professor Emanuel Milman of the Faculty of Mathematics, who together will be awarded grants totaling approximately €3.7 million.

Dr. Netanel Korin of the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering was awarded for the development of technology for the treatment of brain aneurysms – bulging, weakened areas in the wall of a blood vessel in the brain that may cause intracranial hemorrhage and pose a risk to life. The condition creates an abnormal widening or ballooning of the blood vessel, and this weakened spot in the vessel can rupture, and cause extensive brain damage and even death.

In the past, aneurysms were treated by opening the skull. Today, however, most patients are treated by endovascular coiling, a method that avoids cutting open the skull, and instead utilizes a catheter to insert stents or platinum coils to block the aneurysm. Though less invasive, in certain endovascular coiling can cause the aneurysm to rupture and cause the damage it is intended to prevent.

In his grant-winning research proposal, Dr. Korin presents VasoSurfer, a new strategy that involves the use of a liquid with high surface tension to “surf” in blood vessels. In the first stage, a surface-tension-based device is carried to the location of the aneurysm, where it gently isolates the problematic area and protects it without stopping the blood flow. At this point, the aneurysm is filled with a biological adhesive, which prevents the aneurysm from rupturing, and that will, with time, lead to the complete healing of the blood vessel.

Professor Emanuel Milman of the Faculty of Mathematics was awarded his grant for research into isoperimetric inequalities – a field combining geometry and analysis which is aimed at understanding the interaction between volume and surface area. Isoperimetric problems date back to the ancient Greeks and the story of the founding of Carthage by Queen Dido, who sought to enclose an area of land big enough to build a whole city with a single oxhide. Isoperimetric inequalities also play a key role in numerous facets of differential geometry, partial differential equations, probability theory, and more. 

Given a space, the isoperimetric problem seeks to characterize the shapes (of prescribed volume) whose surface area is minimal. For example, it was already known to the ancient Greeks that among all sets in the plane enclosing a given area, the circle has a minimal perimeter. The problem is well understood on two-dimensional surfaces but becomes far more complex and challenging in three-dimensions and higher. For example, the problem remains open inside a three-dimensional cube. 

Prof. Milman proposes to address these challenges in several natural and important settings using new tools that he and others have developed.

 

The Schrödinger Medal Will be Awarded to Technion Distinguished Professor Yitzhak Apeloig:

The former Technion president will receive the medal for his seminal computational and experimental contributions to silicon chemistry and organic chemistry.

Distinguished Professor Yitzhak Apeloig of the Schulich Faculty of Chemistry has been awarded the 2021 Schrödinger Medal of the World Association of Theoretical and Computational Chemists (WATOC). Past recipients of this honor include four Chemistry Nobel Prize winners and many of the pioneers of computational quantum chemistry.

The prestigious medal is awarded each year to a single scientist whose contribution to theoretical and computational chemistry is particularly outstanding. Professor Apeloig’s selection was based on his seminal contributions to the chemistry of organosilicon compounds and to organic chemistry, and for the impressive combination of experimentation, computations, and theory in his research.

Professor Apeloig joined the Technion faculty in 1976 and served as President of the university from 2001 to 2009. He pioneered the use of computational tools based on quantum theory to predict molecular characteristics and molecular reactions, as well as organosilicon chemistry. He has received a plethora of important awards, including the Taub Award for academic excellence, the Distinguished Teacher Award from the Technion, the Humboldt Prize, the award of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), the gold medal of the Israel Chemical Society, the Wacker Silicone Award, and the ACS Kipping Award in Silicon Chemistry. He is an honorary member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a member of the European Academy of Sciences, holds an honorary doctorate of science from the Berlin Institute of Technology, has been awarded the Order of Merit of the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, and is an honorary citizen of Haifa, Israel.

The World Association of Theoretical and Computational Chemists (WATOC) aims to promote the field of theoretical and computational chemistry and to advance the interactions between scientists working in this field worldwide. Its most recent congress was attended by 1,500 scientists from all around the world.

The Schrödinger Medal is named after the Austrian physicist Erwin Schrödinger, one of the fathers of quantum mechanics and a Nobel Prize laureate who developed a wave equation named after him – the Schrödinger equation. The equation describes the behavior of atomic particles, for which Newtonian mechanics are inapplicable. The solution of the equation provides us with complete information about the properties of a particular molecule or compound and allows the prediction of the properties of unknown compounds. Solving the equation is very complicated mathematically, and until the development of electronic computers was only possible for very small molecules, like the hydrogen molecule. With the improvement of computing power, quantum-mechanical calculations have become possible also for relatively large molecules, and today – even for large organic molecules, like proteins.

Some WATOC members work on developing mathematical methods and computer programs to solve the equation. Others, including Prof. Apeloig, apply these methods to study and predict the characteristics and reactions of various compounds. Prof. Apeloig was one of the first experimental chemists in the world to realize the potential of computational methods and applied them in his research already in the 1970s. Today, many chemistry studies in the academy and in the industry (such as the development of new compounds, new medicines, etc.) are performed using computational methods, most commonly in a collaborative effort between experimenting and calculating research groups. One of the unique features of Prof. Apeloig’s research is that the experimental and computational research is usually performed by the same student, who acquires knowledge in both disciplines, an important factor in his/her scientific development.

In the current state, before the vast majority of the population is vaccinated, , the most efficient solution for handling the Coronavirus epidemic lies in rapid and frequent testing. Rapid testing is important to safeguard the health of campus visitors and assist in the quick return to normal routines. Around the world, universities have adopted processes for testing and diagnosing COVID-19 in order to restore a healthy and safe campus.

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Campus routine is an important part of life at Technion. Students, staff and faculty are eager to return to the campus, to the academic routine and to the live meetings in classrooms, laboratories, dormitories and learning spaces. To support a gradual return and to maintain health, the Technion is opening a rapid testing station at the Student Union (Beit HaStudent). The tests are based on a technology developed in the laboratory of Prof. Naama Geva-Zatorsky of the Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, in collaboration with researchers at the Rambam Hospital.

The test is non-invasive, analyzing saliva and delivers results in just a few hours. It is available at no cost and is performed as part of a study approved by the Technion’s Helsinki Committee.

About the Technology

The technology was originally  developed by Prof. Naama Geva-Zatorsky and is being commercialised by the Technion for further development by Rapid Diagnostic Systems ltd., which is developing the platform under the name Naor. The initial product, “NaorCov19”, is a non-invasive, saliva- based rapid molecular diagnostic test (www.naordia.com).  In recent months, the company had been collaborating with multiple institutions including the R&D arm of the Israeli Ministry of Defence, MAFAT.

The technology is modular, permitting anything from individual testing (a home-testing kit) to large-scale tests at testing stations or laboratories. The self-collection sampling takes less than a minute, and the sample processing procedure takes less than an hour, whereas the same workstation may run dozens of samples simultaneously. Thanks to its simplicity, the testing kit is suitable for rapid testing at workplaces, airports, schools, etc. The test has 90% accuracy in the infectious stages, when the viral load is medium to high.

The new and innovative test is based on principles similar to those used in laboratory PCR systems, but requires the use of only a single temperature heating, significantly simplifying the processing procedure while using an easily available equipment. The results are obtained in a manner that does not require complex decoding, namely if the colour of the liquid changes, the test is positive for Coronavirus. Therefore, it reduces the cost of equipment and transportation, as well as the need for manpower and laboratories to perform tests and decipher them.  The platform also allows for the saliva collection stations to be fully self-service, with the utilization of SMS. Once the results are processed, the individual being tested is notified on his phone.

The developers hope that soon the kit will shortly enter a mass production phase, which will enable frequent testing for all the population, permitting a safe return to normal life, alongside the Coronavirus.

When and where

A sample collection station  is located at the 1^st floor of the student union (Beit HaStudent) in the Neve Sha’anan Technion campus. The station will be open  Sunday through Thursday, 10:30-12:30. To be tested, you need to sign up in advance  at this LINK , fill out the informed consent form and decide whether you wish to authorize the sharing of results with the Technion.

Note that an electronic signature is required only on first entry to the test sign-up website. For future access, you will be asked to enter the sample number on your phone, and provide a security code that will be texted to your phone.

Confidentiality

Test results are confidential and will be delivered to you using a secured link once you’ve authorized the Technion system access to the results. Upon your approval, test results could be forwarded to the Technion’s head of Coronavirus security for further treatment, to ensure the safety of dormitory residents and campus visitors. The anonymous data will also serve for further research by Technion researchers of the Coronavirus.

We are proud that a test developed in the Technion will assist in breaking the chain of infection and in maintaining the health of campus visitors, and wish you all good health.