Month: December 2024

 

Tokushima University hosted the TISI (Tokushima International Science Institute) Research Workshop 2024 from September 11 to 14, in Tokushima, Japan. This pivotal event brought together 19 researchers from the Technion, despite the security situation in Israel. Participants included Nobel laureate Distinguished Prof. Aaron Ciechanover, Distinguished Prof. Moti Segev, Distinguished Prof. Ilan Marek, Technion’s former VP for Research Prof. Koby Rubinstein, Prof. Shulamit Levenberg, Prof. Ido Kaminer, Prof. Yehonadav Bekenstein, Prof. Lev Chuntonov, Prof. Haguy Wolfenson, and the Technion’s Artist-in-residence, Dr. Orit Wolf.

 

 

Participants had the unique opportunity to share their research, engage in meaningful discussions with their research partners from Tokushima University, and strengthen the collaborative partnership between the two universities. The first half of the event featured inspiring and multidisciplinary presentations. The latter half was dedicated to in-depth individual research discussions and enriching cultural explorations. The workshop also hosted a special gala event in the format of the Technion’s series “Music, Science, and Inspiration” established and directed by pianist Dr. Orit Wolf. The gala event featured live music by Dr. Wolf and a traditional performance of the Awa Odori dance which is one of the highlights of the city of Tokushima.

 

The workshop was an opportunity to demonstrate the Technion’s pioneering research and its unique views on integrating science and art.

 

 

Established in 2021 with support from Nichia, TISI has been operating international collaborative research on a two-year cycle and has funded 14 research projects to date. In January 2025, five more collaborative research projects will be funded. The partnership with the Technion is led by Prof. Yasuhiko Kawamura, President of Tokushima University, VP Prof. Kiyoshi Fukui, and Prof. Takuya Sasaki, the TISI director.

 

In late 2020, an agreement was signed between the Technion and Tokushima University to promote academic collaboration, joint research, and the establishment of a special program for the exchange of doctoral and postdoctoral students. The agreement was facilitated through an intermediary from Nichia Corporation, the world’s leading company in making blue semiconductor lasers and white light-emitting diodes (LEDs) which have changed the world’s lighting. Nichia is headed by its President, Hiroyoshi Ogawa.

 

Situated in southern Japan, Tokushima University was established as a national university in 1949. Its research spans a wide range of disciplines. Many of its graduates have played important roles in research and cutting-edge product development at Nichia, and their significant contributions have led to Nobel Prize-winning discoveries in blue and white semiconductor light sources.

 

The hanukkiah was designed and 3D-printed using ceramic materials and natural blue and white pigments at the DD Lab research laboratory, led by Architect Shany Barath. The design incorporates the message “100 Years of the Technion” as an encoded texture on the body of the hanukkiah.

The hanukkiah features colorful candles made of semiconductor perovskite nanoparticles, produced in Prof. Yehonadav Bekenstein’s research lab. These candles glow under ultraviolet light, and their colors are determined by their size and chemical composition.

Together, the hanukkiah and candles symbolize growth, collaboration, and hope.

For the video click here

The Israeli Sustainable Aviation Fuel Knowledge Center (iSAF) was inaugurated at the Technion, supported by the Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology, and in partnership with Boeing, the world’s largest aircraft manufacturer. The center marks a significant step towards producing sustainable fuels for the aviation sector.

The center aims to lead Israel toward its 2030 goals, which focus on developing technologies for the local production of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), and prepare for 2050, when international regulations will mandate the exclusive use of SAF.

 

 

Led by experts from the Wolfson Faculty of Chemical Engineering, including Center Director Dr. Alon Grinberg Dana and Center Manager Ido Lieberman, the center includes 14 researchers from the Technion, Bar-Ilan University, and Ben-Gurion University. The center is supported by teams from the Schulich Faculty of Chemistry at the Technion, the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at the Technion, the Wolfson Faculty of Chemical Engineering at the Technion, the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Technion, the Faculty of Material Science at the Technion, The Faculty of Chemistry at Bar-Ilan University, and the Faculties of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Ben-Gurion University.

 

The center’s establishment is part of the Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology’s efforts to promote applied research that bridges government, academia, and industry, aimed at developing economically viable SAF. The ministry issued a call for proposals to establish a national knowledge center to consolidate expertise and research infrastructure accessible to all SAF researchers in Israel.

 

The Technion, selected to lead the initiative, will collaborate closely with Boeing’s global research center. Additionally, the center will contribute to training the next generation of scientists and engineers through a “Doctoral Network” and organize annual events, including national conferences, professional workshops, and hackathons.

 

The center will operate with five primary goals:
1. Developing a national research strategy for alternative aviation fuels.
2. Creating world-class advanced research infrastructure.
3. Fostering scientific and engineering leadership while training the next generation of scientists in the field.
4. Encouraging Israeli and international collaborations between academia and industry.
5. Accumulating and disseminating knowledge to researchers, the public, and decision-makers.

 

The center is guided by a steering committee comprising representatives from each participating university. The committee is chaired by Prof. Dan Major of Bar-Ilan University and includes Dr. Avi Raveh (representing the Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology), Mr. Haggai Mazursky (Boeing), Prof. Gidi Grader (Technion), Prof. Idan Hod (Ben-Gurion University), and Dr. Alon Grinberg Dana (Technion), who will serve as the center’s director.

The establishment of this center positions Israel at the forefront of alternative aviation fuels and global sustainability efforts.

 

Researchers from the Andrew and Erna Viterbi Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering have developed an approach that grants rigid surfaces “electromagnetic transparency” that is maintained for any angle of wave incidence on the surface. Prof. Ariel Epstein and doctoral student Amit Shaham conducted the research, which was recently published in the journal Advanced Optical Materials.

The innovative technology is based on an electromagnetic principle called the Generalized Huygens’ Condition, which enables the creation of advanced metasurfaces that maintain electromagnetic transparency at any angle. This omnidirectional transparency manifests at the level of the engineered unit cell (meta-atom) and the entire surface (metasurface).

Existing metasurfaces suffer from numerous limitations when waves hit them from wide angles, and the new approach addresses this issue. This breakthrough and its implications could be used in many different technologies, including flat antennas, optical devices for analog image processing, thin mirrors and lenses, and compact imaging systems.

 

The research and its derivatives were presented this year by Amit Shaham at major conferences in the field. At the European Conference on Antennas and Propagation held in Glasgow (EuCAP 2024), the conference’s judging committee awarded him the Best Paper in Electromagnetics. At another conference (hosted by IEEE) held in Florence (IEEE APS/URS 2024), he won second place in the student paper competition.

 

For the full paper: click here

From these humble beginnings, the Technion grew steadily, and today it hosts approximately 15,000 students. With campuses in China and New York, around 575 faculty members, four Nobel Prize laureates, approximately 100,000 alumni, and as one of the world’s top 100 universities, the Technion is a globally renowned institution deeply committed to the State of Israel and impacting humanity.

 

In the 100th cohort, there are approximately 2,100 undergraduate students, 48% of whom are women. This is a significant change compared to the first cohort, where women comprised less than 6%. The percentage of female deans and senior management has also increased over the past decade.

 

The Technion and its graduates are associated with a series of notable Israeli discoveries and inventions, including the invention of the disk-on-key (USB flash drive), the development of a miniature satellite launched in 1998, the creation of the international data compression standard (Lempel-Ziv), Azilect – a drug for Parkinson’s, the discovery of the protein degradation mechanism in cells, the discovery of quasicrystals, technology for manufacturing giant space lenses (in collaboration with NASA), DNA-based electronics, innovative diagnostic technologies, the Nano Bible, an exoskeleton that allows paralyzed individuals to walk, and the Iron Dome defense system, whose importance has been made indisputably clear in the past year.

 

Since the Technion opened its doors, a quarter of a century before the establishment of the State of Israel, national service has been a core component of its mission. Since the start of the Iron Swords War, the Technion and its graduates have rallied to support Israeli society. In the next 100 years, the Technion will continue to conduct groundbreaking research and train the next generation of engineers, scientists, doctors, architects, and educators who will secure the future of the State of Israel.

 

 

A consortium led by Prof. Hossam Haick of the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology has secured an €8 million grant from the European Union, a remarkable achievement given the competitive nature of such funding. Prof. Haick, dean of Undergraduate Studies and faculty member in the Wolfson Faculty of Chemical Engineering with a secondary affiliation in the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, spearheads this groundbreaking project titled VOLABIOS.

 

The project focuses on improving early diagnosis and monitoring of schizophrenia – a chronic condition affecting approximately 1% of the global population (80 million people). Schizophrenia is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide, reducing life expectancy by an average of 10–15 years.

VOLABIOS aims to develop advanced, cost-effective diagnostic tools that improve patient quality of life, reduce diagnostic errors by 30%, and optimize treatment and monitoring processes. Utilizing cutting-edge technologies, including multi-omics (genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and transcriptomics), portable spectrometry, and artificial intelligence, the project seeks to identify chemical and biochemical signals of the disease – non–invasive biomarkers excreted from the human body.

This initiative unites 20 partners from 11 countries across Europe, including Aachen University (Germany), the University of Cambridge (UK), the Greek Ministry of Health, and the French company FIRALIS. Together, they bring expertise in academia, technology, medicine, law, and public policy to drive innovative solutions for early schizophrenia diagnosis and care. The advisory board features renowned experts in the fields of psychiatry, healthcare policy, and decision-making.

Technion Executive Vice President for Research Prof. Noam Adir said, “One of the goals of modern medicine is to develop technologies that will identify human diseases at early stages at high precision. This includes psychiatric diseases, such as Schizophrenia, that are typically difficult to diagnose. Prof Hossam Haick is one of the world’s premiere scientists in the field of disease diagnostics using molecular marker identification methods. In the research described here, Prof. Haick has brought together scientists from academia, government, and industry to merge molecular marker technologies with AI, to significantly improve the speed and accuracy of schizophrenia diagnosis. Importantly, the group believes that their research will lead to a system that will be applicable to mental health providers, worldwide.”
The project will analyze biomarkers derived from various sources in the body. Initial stages include a retrospective analysis of 9 million medical records, including 120,000 related to schizophrenia. This will be followed by a clinical study involving 3,692 patients across six medical centers in Europe and a blind validation study with 1,000 participants to confirm biomarker accuracy and relevance.

VOLABIOS aims not only to enhance medical treatment but also to make advanced diagnostic tools accessible to healthcare systems worldwide. It will create an open knowledge base to support future research and develop new approaches to diagnosing complex mental health disorders.

The leadership team includes Prof. Haick as chair and coordinator, Dr. Yoav Broza, and Ms. Liat Zuri, both of the Technion, as consortium manager and financial and administrative manager, respectively.

 

About Prof. Hossam Haick
Prof. Hossam Haick, head of the Laboratory for Nanomaterial-Based Devices in the Wolfson Faculty of Chemical Engineering at the Technion, is a world-renowned expert in non-invasive disease diagnosis using volatile compound analysis. A paper published last year in the Journal of Cancer Research recognized him as the most-cited researcher globally in this field, highlighting his significant scientific achievements and exceptional contributions to early cancer detection research.

Prof. Haick’s work demonstrates innovative technologies that enable the diagnosis of various cancers. He has also showcased the effectiveness of these technologies in diagnosing additional diseases, including Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, tuberculosis, and kidney diseases. His technological developments have received substantial funding from the European Union, including support for a smart patch for tuberculosis monitoring, which earned a multi-national grant from the Gates Foundation.

A pioneer in leading major international scientific consortia, Prof. Haick has spearheaded several influential projects, including:

• LUCIA, focusing on lung cancer risk assessment;
• A-PATCH, developing and clinically testing a smart patch for tuberculosis diagnosis and monitoring;
• SNIFFPHONE, creating miniature systems for disease diagnosis through breath analysis.

His latest consortium, VOLABIOS, marks his first initiative dedicated to brain diseases. This project aims to advance non-invasive diagnostics to new frontiers, revolutionizing the field and paving the way for innovative approaches to mental health care.

The Technion-Israel Institute of Technology will award the Harvey Prize in Science and Technology to Prof. Stephen Baylin, Prof. Peter Jones, and Prof. Andrew Feinberg for their groundbreaking work in cancer epigenetics.

Epigenetics focuses on changes in genome activity that are independent of the DNA sequence. Epigenetics explains how identical DNA sequences can produce different outcomes, with fundamental implications in diverse aspects of health and disease. One of the epigenetic processes extensively studied by this year’s Harvey Prize laureates is DNA methylation.

DNA methylation plays a role in determining which genes are silenced, and which can be switched on to produce proteins. The correct methylation markers are essential for life-long health, influencing embryonic development, cell division, cellular health, responses to environmental changes, and more. Disruptions in methylation can cause serious health problems, including cancer, diabetes, heart disease, brain disorders, and autoimmune diseases.

The individual and collaborative work of the three laureates has revolutionized our understanding of the role of epigenetics in cell differentiation and function. Their work, which integrates epigenetics with discoveries related to genetic processes, has transformed outdated paradigms about cancer development and disproved the traditional notion that the disease is driven solely by genetic mutations. Therapeutics based on their discoveries on the epigenome are already saving lives and improving patients’ quality of life. This integration of basic science and applied medicine led to the decision to award the Harvey Prize in Science and Technology to Prof. Stephen Baylin, Prof. Peter Jones, and Prof. Andrew Feinberg.

 

About the Laureates

 

Prof. Stephen Baylin, the Virginia and D.K. Ludwig Professor for Cancer Research at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, was born in North Carolina. He completed his M.D. at Duke University, followed by research training at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and postdoctoral studies at Johns Hopkins. A member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, Prof. Baylin has received numerous awards, including the Shubitz Cancer Research Prize from the University of Chicago, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Kirk A. Landon Award for Basic Cancer Research, and the American Cancer Society’s Medal of Honor.

 

 

Prof. Peter Jones, from Van Andel Institute in Michigan, was born in South Africa, raised in Zimbabwe, and completed his Ph.D. at the University of London. Currently president and chief scientific officer of Van Andel Institute, he studies the relationships between DNA methylation, gene expression, and cell differentiation. His accolades include the American Cancer Society’s Medal of Honor, the AACR Kirk A. Landon Award for Basic Cancer Research, past presidency of the AACR, and elections to the American Association for the Advancement of Science, U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the U.S. National Academy of Medicine, the American Academy of Arts & Sciences and the AACR Academy.

 

 

Prof. Andrew Feinberg, a research professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, was born in Pennsylvania. He earned his M.D. through the accelerated medical program at Johns Hopkins and an M.P.H. in public health. He conducted postdoctoral research in developmental biology at the University of California San Diego, medical training at the University of Pennsylvania, and advanced studies in genetics at Johns Hopkins. His numerous honors include honorary doctorates from the University of Amsterdam, University of Uppsala, and Karolinska Institute, the NIH Director’s Pioneer Award, a fellowship in the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and membership in the U.S. National Academy of Medicine.

 

Technion President Prof. Uri Sivan said, “The Technion awards the Harvey Prize to researchers whose work makes a significant contribution to humanity and human welfare. The pioneering work of these three researchers has transformed the field of epigenetics, revealing its vital impact on cellular function and the onset and progression of disease, particularly cancer. Their studies have paved the way for new diagnostic approaches and accelerated the development of treatments targeting epigenetic mechanisms.”

 

About the Harvey Prize
The Harvey Prize, the Technion’s most prestigious award, was established in 1971 by industrialist and inventor Leo Harvey (1887–1973), a devoted friend of the Technion and the State of Israel. The prize is awarded annually for outstanding achievements in science, technology, and human health, and for significant contributions to humanity. Over the years, the prize has earned a reputation as a “Nobel predictor,” with more than 30% of recipients subsequently winning the Nobel Prize.

The prizes will be presented to the three laureates in June 2025 at a ceremony during the Technion Board of Governors meeting, marking the centenary of the Technion’s opening.

The Technion has opened a new season of its multidisciplinary series “Music, Science, and Inspiration,” founded and artistically directed by pianist Dr. Orit Wolf. These free events, open to the general public, enrich the interface between science, music, and art.

 

 

Initiated in 2022 under the auspices of the Technion President’s Fund, and with the generous support of American donor Ms. Sonia Marschak, the series was spearheaded by Dr. Wolf, a member of the inaugural cohort of the “Artist in Residence” program launched by Technion President Prof. Uri Sivan. This series’ vision is to create a platform for dialogue and inspiration among scientists, engineers, artists, and musicians. Since its inception, dozens of scientists, engineers, Nobel laureates, and international artists have participated.

The first of its kind in Israel, the series brings together scientists, academic and administrative staff, students, alumni, and the general public. Each meeting is dedicated to a different theme shared by multiple disciplines, blending music, science, and technology, with participation from Technion researchers and guest artists.

According to Dr. Wolf, “The connection between science and art is not just ‘possible’ but ‘essential.’ These seemingly distinct fields share much in common. The interdisciplinary meetings at the Technion expose artists, scientists, engineers, and the wider audience to new content, inspiring creativity and operational innovation in both art and science.”

The first event of this season will take place on Wednesday, December 11, focusing on the power of emptiness and space. It will explore the concept of void across physics (the creation of the universe), biology, landscape architecture, sculpture, and music. Dr. Wolf will host Prof. Hagai Perets from the Faculty of Physics, Prof. Tal Alon-Mozes from the Faculty of Architecture and Town Planning, Prof. Dori Derdikman from the Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, art lecturer Dr. Gilit Ivgi, internationally acclaimed violinist Michael Shaham, and composer Noam Yaakoby, a Technion student in mathematics and computer science.

The event will take place in the Heller Student Union Cinema, starting at 3PM and lasting approximately 90 minutes without intermission. Admission is free but requires prior registration.

For details and registration, click here

Researchers from the Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering at the Technion have created a groundbreaking method for producing protein-based microgel particles. This achievement, led by Dr. Luai Khoury and M.Sc. student Tina Khirallah was recently published in Advanced Materials.

 

 

The method developed by the Technion researchers offers numerous advantages, including efficiency, speed, simplicity of production, and the ability to work with nanoscale materials such as proteins and biological molecules. These features make it a cost-effective alternative to existing methods, with the potential to revolutionize fields like pharmaceuticals, biosensors, food, tissue engineering, and environmental science.

Microgels, part of the “soft materials” family, have generated significant interest in diverse fields, including biomedicine, pharmaceuticals, environmental engineering, and culinary science. However, current techniques for their production face significant challenges, such as controlling particle size, scaling up production for large quantities, requiring advanced equipment, adapting to biological materials, and meeting market demands for competitive pricing.

The research team developed a simple and efficient method for producing microgel particles. According to the researchers, “Our method was inspired by processes such as espresso preparation and oil extraction, which rely on creating emulsions (mixtures of two immiscible phases) within a three-dimensional porous structure.”

 

 

In their published study, the researchers demonstrated how particle uniformity and size could be controlled by adjusting the flow rate of the two phases within the porous medium and by varying their ratio. They focused on producing functional protein-based particles while preserving the required protein structure. Furthermore, the particles responded to various external stimuli. These particles can also act as biological sensors, detecting hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) molecules at different concentrations. These molecules can damage DNA, harm other cellular structures, and even lead to cell death, highlighting the importance of their detection.

For the full paper click here

A new course that will train students in social-technological entrepreneurship with an emphasis on solutions for people with disabilities has started at the Technion. Disability Breakthrough Technology is open to all Technion students, as well as students studying physiotherapy at the University of Haifa. It will include visits to the Loewenstein Rehabilitation Hospital and the Rehabilitation Hospital at Sheba Medical Center. Course topics will include accessibility, psychology of people with disabilities, aspects of design, and background in biomedical engineering, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy.

 

 

According to Dr. Yacov Malinovich, who leads the course, “In recent years, awareness of the needs of disabled people has increased, and this has become even more important in light of the ongoing war. Some of the solutions lie in the development of suitable technologies for rehabilitation, and this is an opportunity for students and engineers to contribute significantly and directly to people’s well-being. Israel has extensive knowledge in this field, with many examples – unique wheelchairs, emergency bracelets, special surfboards, and more.”

 

 

Dr. Malinovich is one of the founders of Haifa3D (www.haifa3d.org). Haifa 3D is a volunteer organization that designs and manufactures assistive devices for children and adults with upper limb disabilities, including “robotic” hands for children and many other devices tailored to the requests of those with disabilities. The organization has a long-term collaboration with the Biorobotics and Biomechanics Lab (BRML) in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and other faculties at the Technion.

“The new course will be conducted from an interdisciplinary approach and will feature guests from various academic and rehabilitation institutions,” said Dr. Maliovich. “Through our connection with rehabilitation institutions and people with disabilities, we aim to develop relevant technological solutions that will truly assist those in need. At the end of the course, each student team will submit their product as a final project.”

The course will be held at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in collaboration with t:hub – the Technion Innovation and Entrepreneurship Hub, the Department of Physiotherapy at the University of Haifa, and the Technion Social Incubator. It is an annual course worth six academic credits.

Professor Dan Garber from the Faculty of Data and Decision Sciences has been awarded the prestigious ERC Consolidator Grant by the European Research Council (ERC). These grants of approximately €2 million per researcher support pioneering R&D efforts. They are awarded to select researchers who have groundbreaking ideas, during the formative stages of their research teams and work plans.

 

 

Prof. Garber completed all his academic degrees at the Technion – a B.Sc. in electrical and computer engineering, an M.Sc. in computer science, and a Ph.D. in data and decision sciences. After earning his doctorate, he pursued postdoctoral research at Toyota Technological Institute in Chicago. He returned to the Technion as a faculty member in 2017.

Prof. Garber specializes in continuous optimization, a field bridging mathematics and computer science. “In my research group, we develop innovative and efficient algorithms for solving fundamental problems with applications in fields such as statistics and machine learning,” he explained. “Continuous optimization is a critical tool in many areas, including training neural networks in deep learning, with significant impacts across science and engineering.”

The ERC Consolidator Grant will support Prof. Garber’s ProFreeOpt project, which aims to address profound questions related to developing a new generation of highly efficient algorithms for solving a wide range of high-dimensional continuous optimization problems.