Author: shlomi ben-oz

Prof. Tali Haran of Technion’s Faculty of Biology talks to us about the language of DNA and the impact of her work on cancer research

By Jessie Safia

Prof. Tali Haran, a member of the structural biology group at Technion’s Faculty of Biology, investigates DNA structure and protein-DNA interactions. Sitting in her lab, she looks through the small window and smiles as she tries to pinpoint the beginnings of her career path. “In high school I loved art, painting and photography,” she recalls, “and I was certain that my future would be strongly tied to the arts.” The sharp change in her career direction to science came about because of a particularly incompetent chemistry teacher. “This teacher did a poor job of teaching the materials, and this forced me to take private lessons and to essentially study this subject independently. This was my initiation into the wondrous world of chemistry.”

In the IDF (Israel Defense Forces), Prof. Haran worked on image processing and enlargement of aerial photography, and this strengthened her interest in wanting to leave art and to study chemistry. Staying true to her resolve, at the end of her army service she entered the Hebrew University of Jerusalem to pursue a BSc in chemistry. Due to her high scores on the general test she took in her first semester, she was fast-tracked to the second year of the degree studies where, according to Haran, “I began to put chemistry into practice and received a first-hand glance of the creativity that is science.”

Upon completing her Bachelor’s degree, Prof. Haran began her Master’s degree at the Weizmann Institute of Science. “During that time, in the 1980’s, the Weizmann Institute was considered as ‘the only country with a friendly border with Israel’ , because everything there was carried out in English, and it felt like being abroad.  My  work towards the M.Sc. degree, focused on the molecular structure of new cephalosporin antibiotic, contributed towards very stimulating and fulfilling scientific and social experiences, but I knew even at that time that I want to study DNA structure, but it was hard to crystallize at the beginning.”

So in the meantime she gained in-depth exposure to research on the structure of DNA, which in turn, led to her doctoral thesis on DNA crystals. Her pioneering work in this area, completed at Weizmann under the guidance of Prof. Zippi Shakked, made her a recognized figure in research on the spatial organization of DNA crystals.

“I began to put chemistry into practice and received a first-hand glance of the creativity that is science.”   

In 1986, after completing her PhD, Prof. Haran began a new scientific journey – DNA structure in solution – an area far removed from the realm of crystallography. “I began my postdoctoral research in this area at Yale University, under the mentorship of Prof. Donald Crothers; my first study focused on the interactions between DNA and psoralen, a naturally organic compound that binds to human DNA and is currently used in treating psoriasis. Later, my work concentrated on global bending of DNA. This was the starting point of my current research.”

Also in this area, Prof. Haran was a pioneer, and the first Israeli to study this area in laboratories abroad. At this stage in the interview, Prof. Haran gazed at a small statue on her desk – the iconic structure of the DNA double helix. “In essence, DNA is an architectural masterpiece – its structural design coupled with the various movements at DNA bases is part of its unique makeup. What interests me is the spatial shifts that characterizes its creative responses to environmental changes.”

After spending six years in the US, Prof. Haran returned to Israel to join the Technion’s Faculty of Biology. Here, at her lab of structural biology, she investigates the recognition mechanisms of DNA by proteins, with a focus on p53 – an important protein known as the “cell genome keeper.” Her fundamental assumption is that DNA and p53 interactions are defined by an “indirect readout” mechanism – where the protein detects a target sites on the DNA through the identification of the structural properties of DNA.

“Metaphorically speaking, DNA can be understood as being a set of semantics – a language that is similar to human verbal communications. Whereas in linguistics syntax is a set of rules whereby words or other elements of sentence structure are combined to form grammatical sentences, the semantics of DNA operate in a similar manner: different DNA structures and proteins bind through specific movements that are subject to certain ‘grammatical’ rules to form complete ‘sentences.’”

The term “cell genome keeper” was given to the p53 protein because of its tumor suppressor activities. Its interaction with DNA activates genes that protect the cell from various forms of damage, such as the development of cancerous processes. It has been found that 50% of cancer cases are due to the improper functioning of p53, so its importance is abundantly clear.

Since the discovery of the “cell genome keeper” over 30 years ago, scientists across the globe have been trying to decode its activation mechanisms in a healthy body (its attachment to binding sites in DNA) and to understand the causes leading to a failure in its ability to bind to these genes. One of the greatest mysteries is the way by which the p53 protein accurately identifies its target DNA sites and its ability to bind swiftly to them.

This is where Prof. Haran’s remarkable contribution takes effect – her research work has successfully deciphered this binding mechanism. “It turns out that p53 identifies specific structures in specific DNA segments. Therefore, we are currently working on identifying these structures and the causes for failure that can disrupt its tumor suppressing activities. Once we have a ‘map’ of all these structures and segments we will be able to understand how p53 operates under different stress conditions. In addition, we will also be able to comprehend which part of its structure became faulty. Perhaps this will allow us to be able to fix the failure neutralizing the activity of p53 and allow the protein to ‘do its job’ and prevent the development of cancer.”

Jessie Safia is a student in the Faculty of Biology. The article was written and edited as part of the coursework for “Science Communication.” The course is offered by the Faculty of Education in Technology and Science and is open to all Technion students.

An innovative process developed at the Technion presents unprecedented perfect efficiency in producing hydrogen from water using solar energy

The scientific journal Nano Letters has recently reported a significant breakthrough in the field of hydrogen fuel production. A major discovery occurred at the laboratory of Assistant Professor Lilac Amirav of the Schulich Faculty of Chemistry at the Technion, demonstrating a perfect 100% light-to-hydrogen gas conversion efficiency through solar water splitting. The research was conducted in the framework of the Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute (RBNI) and the Nancy and Stephen Grand Technion Energy Program (GTEP).

The search for environmentally clean and renewable energy sources is indispensable in face of a looming energy crisis, and environmental problems such as global warming. One promising approach to address these challenges is the use of photocatalytic systems, which harvest sunlight and split water, producing molecular oxygen and hydrogen.

Both sunlight and water are abundant and free of the political and economic vulnerabilities that characterize the traditional energy market. Hydrogen can be stored and utilized as a transportable fuel, to cope with the intermittent character of solar radiation. Unlike fossil fuels (oil, coal, or natural gas), hydrogen is a pollution-free source of energy. This direct solar-to-fuel energy conversion alleviates the energy storage problem, since fuel (chemical energy) can be stored more easily than either electricity or heat.

The photocatalytic system absorbs light and converts the solar energy into positive and negative electric charges, which then promote the chemical reactions that split water. Yet there are many constraints that hinder the development of efficient and practical technology. There are strict material-related requirements, starting from appropriate light absorption, through the nature of the electric charges that can be generated, and finally stability and price. Other challenges relate to the process itself. Loss of the electric charges due to unwanted reactions or recombination will lead to low efficiency. Hence, after four decades of global research, systems that are sufficiently stable and efficient for practical use have not yet been realized.

The researchers, Dr. Philip Kalisman, Dr. Yifat Nakibli, and Asst. Professor Lilac Amirav of the Schulich Faculty of Chemistry at the Technion have set a record for one of the half-reactions in this process, reporting 100% efficiency for the reaction that utilize the negative charges for the production of hydrogen from water. These results shatter all previous benchmark conventions for all systems, and leave little to no room for improvement for this particular half reaction. The impressive efficiency was achieved through utilization of a unique nanoparticle photocatalysts, operating in basic environment.

The system developed consists of two semiconductors, a tiny spherical nano size particle (quantum dot) of a singular material, embedded within a second material that is rod-shaped, with a platinum particle at its tip. The quantum dot attracts the positive charges, while the negative charges (electrons) accumulate on the platinum tip. The physical separation between these charges is the key to the success of the system. The electrons are responsible for the chemistry – the reaction that produces hydrogen from water. Every two photons form a hydrogen molecule without any losses – a target that has previously been thought of as impossible to attain. With a perfect conversion of all the absorbed light to hydrogen, a single photocatalyst nanoparticle can produce 360,000 molecules of hydrogen per hour. This is the highest achieved efficiency ever to be reported.

The Technion holds the first conference for outstanding female high school students from all over Israel “Tech Women 2016”, attended by 670 high school students, is designed to encourage female students to pursue higher education in science or engineering

“When I was in high school I really didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grew up, but one day the penny dropped and I realized that I wanted to be an engineer.  That’s because engineers are people who look for solutions to problems: they design and streamline things and help the world advance. This is what paved the way that led me here, to the Technion.”

These statements were made by Naama Koifman, a doctoral student in the Nanotechnology and Nanoscience track at the Technion’s Wolfson Faculty of Chemical Engineering, who hosted the opening plenary session of Tech Women 2016 on Wednesday, March 2, 2016.

Held courtesy of the Rosalyn August Girls Empowerment (GEM) Initiative, This was the first event of its kind, intended to encourage outstanding female high school students to pursue higher education in science and engineering. The conference was held in honor of International Women’s Day, which will be celebrated next week in Israel and around the world.

The 670 students who participated in the conference are all studying advanced-level mathematics, science and technology for their matriculation exams. They met with female researchers and faculty members, Technion alumnae and female graduate students. The students toured the laboratories and learned about the research topics and subject matter at five faculties: Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering and Civil & Environmental Engineering.

Speaking in advance of the event, Technion President Prof. Peretz Lavie said: “The first class at the Technion, which opened in 1924, was attended by 16 boys and one girl. Today, the percentage of women among undergraduate students at the Technion is 37%, and our goal is to reach 50% in all faculties. This special day was designed to convince female students that they belong here at the Technion and that they can do it. Our future in the State of Israel is based on engineering and scientific knowledge, and we look forward to seeing these students in a few years at the academic school year opening ceremony.”

Speaking at the opening of the event, Dean of Undergraduate Studies Prof. Yachin Cohen said: “There are over 5,000 female students at the Technion, and 32% of the master’s degree students and 44% of doctoral students at the Technion are women. Unfortunately, the number of female faculty members at the Technion is still low and we must improve in this respect.”

Addressing the students, Prof. Daniella Raveh, member of the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, said: “I really love airplanes. They are my occupation and my hobby. I am fortunate in being able to do what I love and I also have a pilot’s license. Aeronautics is a field that’s suitable for men and women alike, and any good engineer who graduates from the faculty is guaranteed employment in the field.”

Assistant Prof. Yael Yaniv from the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, who has three degrees from the Technion, told the students: “I attended Municipal High School No. 5 in Haifa. I was very happy when they opened a math program, but on the first day I found out that I was the only girl and I wanted to quit. Fortunately for me, my mother didn’t let me give up, and in ninth grade I started studying at the Technion Faculty of Electrical Engineering – because people told me it was the toughest school of all. Today, as a member of the Technion Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, I know that anyone can do whatever he or she wants, and it doesn’t matter if you’re a man or a woman. Here at the Technion you can make any dream come true.”

Sarai Duek, a doctoral student at the Faculty of Computer Science, told the students: “Today, after earning two degrees at the Technion and half-way through my doctorate, I can tell you: the Technion is hard, but here you become better and stronger, you meet amazing people and, of course, you get to study at the best place there is.”

2015 Winner of the Dickson Prize in Science donates a portion of the prize money to the Technion

Technion alumnus, Prof. Judea Pearl, whose pioneering research efforts led to the development of knowledge representation and reasoning tools in computer science, received the prestigious award from Carnegie Mellon University in the U.S.

Professor Judea Pearl, a Technion alumnus, who was awarded the 2011 Harvey Prize from the Technion, received the 2015 Dickson Prize in Science on February 29th. The Dickson prize, which includes a medal as well as a monetary award of $50,000, is given each year by Carnegie Mellon University to Americans who have made an outstanding significant contribution to science. Prof. Pearl announced that he will be donating a portion of the prize money to the Technion, where he completed his Bachelor’s degree.

Upon completing his BSc at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the Technion, Pearl went on to pursue his Master’s degree in physics at Rutgers University and a PhD in electrical engineering from the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn. In 1970 he became a faculty member at UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles). He currently directs the university’s Cognitive Systems Laboratory and heads the research in artificial intelligence, human cognition and philosophy of science. His work on reasoning and uncertainty laid the groundwork in computerized systems, with far-reaching applications in a wide range of fields, namely: security, medicine, genetics and language understanding. Prof. Pearl is also a Distinguished Visiting Professor at the Technion Faculty of Computer Science.

Prof. Pearl, one of the foremost leaders in the field of artificial intelligence, is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering, a founding fellow of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI) and a member of IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering). He also serves as the President of the Daniel Pearl Foundation, named after his son, who was working as a journalist in Pakistan in 2002 when he was kidnaped and murdered by Pakistani terrorists.

In 2011 Pearl received the A.M. Turing Award, considered the ‘Nobel Prize of computing,’ and then the Harvey Prize bestowed by the Technion in recognition of significant contributions in the advancement of humankind in the areas of science and technology, human health and peace in the Middle East. The Harvey Prize was awarded to Judea Pearl, “In recognition for his pioneering research efforts which serves as a foundation for knowledge representation and reasoning in computer science and has profoundly influenced modern life. His Bayesian network, which mimics the activities of the human brain, has had a profound influence on diverse fields such as artificial intelligence, statistics, philosophy, health, economics and cognitive sciences. The Harvey Prize in Science and Technology is awarded to Professor Pearl in recognition of the inherent breakthroughs of his research and their impact on such a wide variety of aspects in our lives.”

The Dickson Prize was established in 1969 through the philanthropy of the late Dr. Joseph Z. Dickson and his wife Agnes Fisher Dickson. It was awarded to Prof. Judea Pearl on February 29, 2016 in a festive ceremony at Carnegie Mellon (CMU), at which time he gave a lecture on the topic of “Science, Counterfactuals and Free Will.”

The Yanai Prize for Excellence in Academic Education has been awarded for the fifth consecutive time through a substantial donation towards the promotion of academic education at the Technion, “In appreciation of faculty members, who set an example through their endless contributions to teaching and learning and for their efforts to improve student involvement and sense of belonging to the Technion.”

The eleven faculty members awarded the prestigious Yanai Prize for Excellence in Academic Education are: ·

• Professor Joseph Avron, from the Faculty of Physics · Associate Professor Ran El-Yaniv, from the Faculty of Computer Science ·
• Associate Professor Shlomo Bekhor, from the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering ·
• Professor Joseph Ben-Asher, from the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering ·
• Assistant Professor Ayelet Baram-Tsabari, from the Faculty of Education in Technology and Science ·
• Assistant Professor Moran Bercovici, from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering ·
• Associate Professor Mark Talesnick, from the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering ·
• Professor Daniel Lewin, from the Wolfson Faculty of Chemical Engineering ·
• Professor Ilan Marek, from the Schulich Faculty of Chemistry ·
• Professor Ross Pinsky, from the Faculty of Mathematics ·
• Professor Danny Raz, from the Faculty of Computer Science

“Yanai Prize winners are exemplary individuals, and they embody the close ties between research excellence and teaching excellence,” said Technion President Prof. Peretz Lavie in his speech at the award ceremony. “The Yanai Prize for Excellence in Academic Education was established in order to improve the quality of teaching at the Technion. A change was apparent from the very first year that it was awarded, and ever since it became a brand synonymous with excellence in teaching.

Technion’s 2016 Yanai Prize award winners are role models; the phrase ‘Yanai Prize winner’ has evolved into a desirable standard for excellence in teaching.” In her speech, Prof. Hagit Attiya, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, said, “Yanai Prize winners are the torchbearer leading the way for others to follow. They are exemplary individuals worthy of imitation. This is the most important and significant award given by the Technion for excellence in teaching, and clearly illustrates and defines the value Technion places on teaching.”

“You don’t view teaching as a burden, but as an opportunity,” said Omar Amit, the Chairman of the Technion’s Student Union (ASAT) at the ceremony. “Studies at the Technion are not easy. Technion students come here to study, not just to pass the time or to please their parents. You understand the power you have in your hands and you give them what they need most – inspiration.”

Moshe Yanai, a global pioneer in the field of information storage, in making his generous contribution, sought to give back to the institute in gratitude for the life skills that he gained during his studies here 40 years ago. Looking back he recalls the years of study at the university had been hard and difficult, and to this end decided together with Technion President Prof. Peretz Lavie, to contribute 12 million dollars to award lecturers who have demonstrated teaching excellence – a gift that would in turn also greatly benefit Technion students. The prize, which awards 100,000 ILS to each prize winner, will be given over a period of ten years.

In his closing remarks Yanai thanked the Technion for allowing him to meaningfully and effectively contribute to Israeli society. “The Technion helped build the foundations of the State of Israel and has had a tremendous impact on the country’s economic strength; I for one can say that the institute has had a far-reaching influence on my life and I have a lot to be grateful for. It is commonplace that academic institutes rely most on research and publications with teaching taking on a backseat. The significance of this prize is that it places a spotlight on teaching and educating and brings it out to the forefront. Although research and publications are very important, the value of teaching and academic education at the strategic level supersedes them. I would like to thank the Technion President as well as all of the staff members who invested great efforts in turning this dream of mine into a reality. I would also like to express my sincerest gratitude to all of tonight’s award winners who have selflessly placed the interests of the community above their own.”

2015 Yanai Prize for Excellence in Education Award Ceremonies Program

The Technion mourns the loss of Mr. Alfred E. Mann, of Beverly Hills, CA. A noted scientist, and entrepreneur, Mr. Mann was a loyal supporter who established the Alfred Mann Institute for Biomedical Development at Technion (AMIT), focused on enabling commercialization of innovative biomedical technologies that improve human health.

Together with his wife, Claude, Mr. Mann was a Technion Guardian, a designation reserved for those who have reached the highest level of commitment.

Al Mann was awarded a Technion Honorary Doctorate in 2005 “in acknowledgement of your innovation as a scientist and technology entrepreneur, and your phenomenal success in launching companies that manufacture medical devices and processes benefiting millions; in recognition of your industrious research efforts aimed at searching for new technologies to improve the health of people the world over; in tribute to your boundless philanthropy; and in appreciation for your belief in the ability and potential of the Technion and your overwhelming generosity demonstrated by your commitment to establish the Alfred E. Mann Institute for Biomedical Engineering at the Technion.”

Alfred E. Mann was a biomedical industry pioneer, an innovative scientist, and a noted philanthropist. The son of parents who immigrated to the US from Russia, he received a BSc and MSc from the University of California, Los Angeles. His entrepreneurial spirit emerged quickly and his career took off in 1960 when he founded and served as president of Heliotek, a company that developed solar cells and semiconductor devices, but his real interest was captured by the vast possibilities of designing and manufacturing medical devices.

In 1969, along with a research team at Johns Hopkins University, Al Mann developed the first rechargeable cardiac pacemaker which led to his establishing Pacesetter Systems for the development, manufacture, and distribution of cardiac pacemakers.

Mann’s creativity in the medical device field was unbounded and he went on to found several other companies. Citing two from an impressive listing: Minimed, a manufacturer of microinfusion systems and continuous glucose monitoring systems; and Medical Research Group Inc, a manufacturer of implantable medication infusion systems and developer of a long-term glucose monitoring system and prosthetic artificial pancreas. Alfred Mann served as Chairman of the Board and CEO of MannKind Corporation, a diversified biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel therapeutics and drug delivery technologies for treatment of diabetes, cancer, autoimmune, and inflammatory diseases.

Mr. Mann, together with his wife Claude, was committed to philanthropy. As the creator of the Alfred Mann Foundation and benefactor of the Alfred E. Mann Institute for Biomedical Engineering at the University of Southern California, he helped ensure that  biomedical research produced lasting and important discoveries. His commitment to helping others through research and philanthropy was extended to the Technion via the establishment of AMIT, a decision recommended and supported by Claude following their first visit to Israel and the Technion in 1998. The Technion honored Claude by dedicating the Claude Mann Laboratories Complex in 2007.

Redefining part of 300 year-old classification system for grouping members of the animal kingdom

New “molecular fingerprint” of animal kingdom emerges from gene regulation survey

An international team of biologists has identified the molecular signature of the animal kingdom, providing genetic evidence for an animal classification that has been used for nearly 300 years. Their research, published this week in the journal Nature, offers a historic dataset for the field, serving developmental biologists, evolutionary biologists, and computational biologists alike.

The study was led by Professor Itai Yanai of the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology Department of Biology, in cooperation with research teams in Australia, Germany, the US, and Israel. The research team investigated an extremely diverse set of animal species, applying an extremely powerful technique called CEL-Seq, developed in 2012 by Dr. Tamar Hashimshony in the Yanai lab. CEL-Seq allows for the monitoring of the activity of all genes in individual cells, and the team used it to analyze gene regulation in 70 embryos in each of ten species.

The researchers found a striking pattern of universality across the species. Between phases of similar genes turned ‘on’ at the beginning and the end of development, a mid-developmental transition was discovered. This newly discovered gene regulatory pattern explains how the differences among animals develop and evolve, which allows biology to now have molecular means to define the specific properties of groups of species.

Their work further defines a category of animal life under-defined since 1735 when Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus, recognized as the father of the biological classification of organisms, proposed a two-name classification system for the world’s plants and also animals classified animals into “families” based on similarities and differences in body “plans.” The work sheds new light on how, at the molecular and genetic levels, animals of different body designs (whether they have a true spinal column (mammals) or just a nerve cord (chordates) have evolved to be different and why.

Nearly eight million different species of animals are thought to inhabit the planet, covering a striking exuberance of diversity. For example, animals span five orders of magnitude of adult body sizes. Prof. Yanai’s team began this research by asking what is common to all animals. To tackle this question, they chose ten of the most different animals one could choose: a fish, a worm, a fly, a water bear, a sponge, and five others, each of a different phylum (a term coined by German naturalist Ernst Haeckel in the 19th century to describe a group of animals with the same body plan). About 35 phyla are typically recognized, however it remains controversial with contention over whether this is a meaningful classification and, if so, what attributes are the same, or different across all animals.

“We selected species representing ten different animal phyla,” said Prof. Yanai. “For each phyla we determined the gene expression profile of all genes from the development of the fertilized egg to the free-living larvae. We found a surprising pattern of gene expression conservation in all species occurring at a pivotal, transitional period in development.”

By studying the molecular programs of development in ten very different animals, the researchers found that all of the animals they studied express two distinct “modules” of genetic expression. (A module is a set of genes – similar across the organisms – that are turned ‘on.’) During the transition between the modules, mechanisms of cell signaling and regulation occur.

With this new knowledge, the researchers proposed a definition for phylum as “a set of species sharing the same signals and transcription factor networks during the mid-developmental transition.” In other words, they clarified the definition by suggesting that those organisms sharing a phylum, formerly by virtue of body design alone, also share a unique and similar genetic and molecular transition that other species do not.

To demonstrate their proposal, the researchers developed an “hourglass model” that captures gene expression differences between species. The inverse hourglass model shows the origin of phyla compared with the hourglass model that demonstrates “within phylum evolution.”

Embryonic development is called the “phylotypic” stage. This is when the embryo begins to assume recognizable features typical of vertebrates. The phylotypic stage represents a general layout on which specialized features—such as the turtle’s shell, the pig’s snout, or your large brain—can be mounted later in development.

The researchers proposed that during the phyletic transition period, properties specific to each phylum are genetically encoded. Their emerging dataset, they said, will be useful in studying the hallmarks of animal body plan formation from the embryonic stage.

As with many scientific discoveries, the researchers suggest that their work “raises more questions than it answers.” For example, “what molecular pathways underlie phyletic transition in each phylum? Why are the phyletic-transition mechanisms so relatively susceptible to change? Is the coupling of the conserved modules universal to all multicellular life?”

“The transition we identified may be a hallmark of development only in animals,” the researchers concluded. “Or, future work may show that this is a general characteristic of development in all multicellular life.”

Building a Better Microscope. Technion Breakthrough – New Light Wave Compression for Really Seeing at the Molecular Level

New silicon platform compresses light waves past their ‘diffraction limit’ to vastly improve resolution for bio-imaging and nano lithography applications

Researchers at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology have developed technology to compress light wavelengths fourfold, providing a way to focus light beyond normal wavelengths to reach nanoscales (a nanometer is a billionth of a meter) in length.

Using the metal-oxide-silicon (MOS) platform technology they developed for reducing the former “diffraction limit” of light wave length from 671 nanometers to 65 nanometers, a level at which “super-resolution” is possible, the researchers have made it possible to greatly advance the resolution quality for potential applications ranging from medical imaging to nanolithography (printing tiny electronic components).

“With increased brightness and resolution, microscopes will have increased accuracy at the molecular level,” says Prof. Guy Bartal of the Technion Department of Electrical Engineering. Nanometer-scale structures, such as the lab-on-a-chip device that can integrate several laboratory functions on a single chip, can be fabricated easier and at lower cost using lasers with shortened wavelengths. Bioimaging can also become more accurate and detailed with improved light resolution.  

A paper outlining the characteristics and potential applications of the new platform was published in a recent issue of Optica (Vol 2 No. 2 pp 1045-1048), a publication of the Optical Society of America.  

“The metal-oxide-silicon (MOS) platform we developed gives us the ability to shape, focus and control optical waves beyond their normal wavelengths,” said Prof. Bartal, who explained that as light wavelength is reduced, resolution becomes greater. “This means we can control the resolution and brightness of our focus, and also select its type and shape.”

The team’s super-resolution platform uses ultrathin commercial silicon membranes coated on one side with a thin layer of silicone oxide (Si02) and a metallic layer so as to set the diffraction limit in a controllable way using two-dimensional silicon-based wave guides. (Fig 2)

Not only does the new platform allow the researchers to successfully pass the diffraction limit, which was previously restricted to half the light’s wavelength, the new technology also “pushes” past that restriction without changing the color of the light.

“By providing resolution comparable to state-of-the-art methods, and while keeping the simplicity and flexibility of a diffraction-limited system, we offer the potential to develop a simple, easy-to-fabricate microscopy platform that is compatible with the mature silicon industry,” said Dr. Bergin Gjonaj, a senior researcher in the lab who developed a method to dynamically control the location of the nano-scale focusing.

The researchers’ ultimate goal is the creation of a more accessible device that is “on par” with current super-resolution techniques (which are still expensive, slow or energy-intensive) to make it possible to see biological activities at the molecular level.

The study was funded in part by the KLA-Tencor Corporation and the Israel Science Foundation (ISF) and supported by the Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute and Micro-Nano Fabrication Unit (MNFU) at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology.

Improves potential of solar to become a major energy source

HAIFA, ISRAEL (February 18th, 2016) – A patented breakthrough by researchers at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology improves the efficiency of organic photovoltaic cells by 50 percent, and could someday provide a huge boost for the viability of solar power as a major source of energy. The researchers recently published their findings in the Journal of Applied Physics.

Organic photovoltaic cells convert solar energy into electric power through organic molecules. One of their advantages over “traditional” solar cells made of silicon is that they can be mounted on lightweight, flexible, and easy-to-replace sheets, which can be spread on roofs and buildings like wallpaper, converting solar energy into electrical current. In the future, they could also be used to provide a cost-efficient and reliable source of electricity in isolated regions.

Despite the advantages of organic cells, their conversion potential to this point has not been fully utilized, according to lead researcher Professor Nir Tessler, of the Technion Faculty of Electrical Engineering, and director of the Wolfson Microelectronic Center and of the Sarah and Moshe Zisapel Nanoelectronics Center at the Technion.

“In our study, we found that the organic photovoltaic cell’s efficiency and electricity production are limited by structural aspects,” he explains. “We have proved that the limitations are related not to the material, but to the device structure. We have developed an addition to the existing systems, improving the efficiency of converting solar energy into electric current inside the cell from 10% (a level considered to be “high efficiency”) to 15% (the level at which industry experts say organic solar cells will be cost-effective), and adding 0.2 volts to the cell’s voltage.”

The development is based on increasing the energy gap between the electrodes by changing their fixed position in the system. By doing so, the researchers were able to increase the voltage, leading to an increase in system power. “This improvement is significant for the relevant industry, and it was achieved by focusing on structural changes in the device, versus developing new materials, a common approach by researchers in this field. It seems as if we have stretched the laws of physics with the aid of engineering.”

Prof. Tessler estimates that he and his team will complete the development of a prototype system within a year.

Link to the article in the Journal of Applied Physics

Vigor Medical Technologies Ltd., operating within the framework of the Technion’s T-Factor Start-Up Launch Program, takes first place (out of 150 companies) in the iNNOVEX Competition. The company developed a novel device that enables the safe insertion of medical instruments into the chest area.

Vigor Medical Technologies Ltd. won first prize at the annual iNNOVEX Competition, and in so doing has been named the most innovative and promising Israeli start-up for 2016. The competition, which was held jointly by Google and the OurCrowd Foundation, attracted some 150 young start-up companies developing novel products expected to have great impact on the lives of many.

Vigor – a start-up developing devices to prevent lung and heart collapse – was established a year and a half ago by Dr. John Abeles, an American physician from Florida who was also the company’s first financial investor, Irina Kavounovski, a Technion graduate from the Faculty of Chemical Engineering who is currently serving as the company’s CEO, and her father Igor Waysbeyn who is the company’s CTO; Waysbeyn specializes in emergency medicine and holds a Master’s degree in mechanical engineering.

Vigor developed a plastic mechanism to treat chest trauma. Thoracic related trauma, which accounts for approximately 4 million cases a year worldwide, is the major cause of death in accidents. Medical treatment offered at such events involves the insertion of drains and surgical tools to the chest area. The ability to provide such treatment within the first hour after traumatic injury – often referred to as the “golden hour” – is critical as it typically determines the fate of the victim in about 80% of cases. However, such medical intervention can be very dangerous because it could potentially damage internal tissues in the chest.

Today, abdominal laparoscopic surgery (minimally invasive) is done using access devices (Trocar), through which surgical tools are inserted and manipulated. The problem is that this device is dangerous for use in chest surgery, as it may damage internal tissues and cause serious or even fatal injuries, especially when used out in the field by paramedics.

Vigor’s product changes the game rules: it allows medical personnel, including paramedics and medics, to perform the treatment without fear of inflicting damage. This product, unlike Trocar devices used in abdominal surgery, allows simple and quick replacement of its drains, so it is also suitable for make-shift field conditions.

Vigor’s product is suitable for treating penetrating trauma (caused by gunshot or stabbing) as well as blunt force trauma (caused by impact such as from a fall, traffic accidents, or other). It becomes fixated to the chest walls and creates a permanently sealed passage that prevents the infiltration and escape of air and liquids, and allows the fixation of the drain for the removal of fluids and air from the chest. The product has been adapted for use in civilian rescue services (such as Israel’s Magen David Adom (MDA)) military emergency response units, emergency departments and trauma centers, and to treat patients after chest and abdominal surgery.

The company started out within the framework of the start-up accelerator program MassChallenge in Boston, and went on to take part in the Technion’s T-Factor Start-Up Launch Program. David Shem Tov, the Director of T-Factor, emphasizes that Vigor was the first company to join the accelerator program and is expected to complete its seed stage soon. “This is our goal,” he explains, “to provide Technion researchers, students and alumni with assistance in launching start-ups implementing their innovations. We accompany them through the initial stages, provide them with access to Technion’s technological environment, give them financial support, and do everything in our power to help them build their company.”

In less than two years Vigor’s product completed development and entered preclinical trials, and is expected to soon begin the necessary processes for approvals by the regulatory authorities in the United States (FDA) and Europe (CE). Vigor’s CEO Irina Kavounovski expressed her gratitude, “Technion accompanied us closely both with funding and training, and the Technion Society in France (ATF) directed us towards potential investors and fitting business competitions in France. Here in Israel we received assistance from the Chief Scientist and our product received very positive feedback from the MDA’s chief paramedic. We believe that this win here at iNNOVEX 2016 will open-up more doors and opportunities for potential investors and for growing our contacts in the medical world.”

 http://www.vigormt.com/

WellToDo has developed an innovative technology, based on research originally done at Israel’s top technology academic institute, The Technion, for the removal of common water contaminants.  The company is focused on solving severe water problems in the US.

AST and the Technion recently invested in WellToDo, a company that has developed a technology for the removal of water contaminants. Originally developed in the Technion, WellToDo’s technology, converts water contaminants to non-polluting compounds, using a unique chemical process.  This is an innovative technology that can solve severe water pollution problems in the USA.  WellToDo was chosen by GE as one of the most innovative and promising water technologies in the world.

WellToDo’s technology utilizes a chemical process that converts water contaminants to non-polluting compounds.  This approach is in contrast to current technologies, which separate the water into a main stream which is clean and a side stream that contains a very high concentration of the contaminants.  These technologies shift the pollutants to another place but do not neutralize them. The WellToDo technology is the only available chemical process that removes contaminants without generating any contaminated streams or by-products.

WellToDo was founded in 2013, based on the unique technology developed by Prof. Moshe Sheintuch and Dr. Uri Meytal of the Chemical Eng. Faculty in the Technion. This technology is effective for removing contaminants such as Nitrate, which are commonly found in drinking water, and other contaminants found in waste water in the mining, power generation and the food and beverage industries.

The company started in the incubator program of the Chief Scientist of the State of Israel and the technology for the removal of Nitrates, the most common ground water pollutant, has been validated  in two different ground water sites.  Drinking water contaminated with Nitrate can cause severe health problems and can be fatal to infants.  Monitoring of this contaminant has become a high priority in many countries and contaminated water sources are now prohibited for drinking.  Nitrate contamination of ground water is extremely severe in the US, especially in the mid-west and the states of Nevada and California where drought in the past years have made this problem more acute.

Recently the company raised one million dollars from the A. Shizter group of companies, through its subsidiary AST.  AST has a successful track record with investments in companies coming out of the academia and the incubator program.  The Technion, already a significant shareholder in WellToDo, also participated in the investment round through its dedicated investment fund and maintained its holdings in the company. The investment was accompanied by Adv. Meytal Katz of Primes, Shilo, Givon Meir law firm.

The investment raised will be used to penetrate international markets with an emphasis on the US where the company is already involved in a large project with American Water, the largest water utility in the US.  WellToDo is also in discussions with other industrial companies and water utilities in the US and is now implementing the technology with “Mekorot” the Israel national water utility.

Hovav Gilan, CEO of WellToDo: “The investment of AST and the Technion in WellToDo is a significant milestone for us.  This investment will allow us to penetrate new markets where the need for water treatment is high and our technology offers significant advantages.  We highly appreciate the vote of confidence in the company.”

Boaz Shitzer, CEO of AST: “We consider WellToDo a promising technology that will enable us to supply breaking solutions to our customers in Israel, the US and in India and China where we are seeing a strong interest in WellToDo’s unique platform”.

  

Technion researchers decipher the mechanism of cell-cell fusion, which is vital to embryo formation and development

Technion researchers have deciphered the mechanism of cell-cell fusion, which is vital to basic life processes, including embryo formation (sperm-egg fusion), fetal development and growth of tissues such as muscle and bone. This process is apparently involved in inflammatory and cancerous processes as well. The study was published in the journal Cell Reports.

Prof. Beni Podbilewicz of the Technion Faculty of Biology, who led the study, explains that “it is clear that such a critical process must be closely controlled in space and time. However, despite its importance, this control mechanism has not yet been completely deciphered, and that was our mission in this study: understanding the genetic and cellular mechanisms responsible for controlling fusion.”

Cell-cell fusion is a process in which two cells cling together, their membranes merge in the contact area, and the two cells become one. First the outer layers of the cell membrane fuse, and then the inner layers.

Prof. Podbilewicz, who has been studying the above mechanism for quite some time, discovered that the key player in the process is EFF-1, a developmental fusion protein.  Prof. Podbilewicz said, “We see this protein as a sculptor, since in this process it sculpts cells and organs.”

In the current study, conducted in Prof. Podbilewicz’s laboratory by Dr. Ksenia Smurova, it became clear that successful fusion requires the presence of EFF-1 in both cells that are destined for fusion.  Moreover, the researchers found that in order for fusion to occur, the EFF-1 protein from both cells must meet in the contact area between the cells. However, in order to prevent excessive fusion that can cause the death of the entire organism, these proteins must be kept away from the cell membrane and reach it only at the desired stage. Dr. Smurova discovered that two proteins (Rab5 and dynamin) are responsible for constantly keeping the EFF-1 away from the cell membrane.  

The current study at the Technion, like many other studies in this field, was carried out on the worm (nematode) C. elegans. This microscopic worm has many advantages from a research perspective, including being the first multi-cellular organism whose genome has been fully sequenced. In addition, it is a transparent worm whose organs are visible in non-invasive photography. Several Nobel Prizes have been awarded to scientists for studies with C. elegans, which began in the 1960s.

“After deciphering the mechanism in C. elegans, we examined the action of EFF-1 on cells from insects and mammals, and we have shown that it leads to fusion in these cells as well. The mission of the future is of course to examine the action of this gene in human cells and to determine whether controlling the expression level of this vital gene will enable us to treat infertility, prevent defects in embryonic development, inhibit inflammatory and cancerous processes and more. “

Prof. Podbilewicz, who grew up in Mexico, came to Israel after graduating from high school.  After spending some time at Kibbutz Nir David, he returned to Mexico, completed his undergraduate studies in Mexico City and went on to Yale for his doctoral studies and Cambridge for his postdoc. After his marriage, he immigrated to Israel and has been a faculty member of the Technion Faculty of Biology ever since.  His main hobby – singing – has been part of his life since he was 15. He sang with the Yale Glee Club, Yale Camerata and Cambridge Philharmonic Society, and is now a tenor with the Madrigal Singers Ensemble.

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