Category: Uncategorized

Prof. Eliezer Shalev, Dean of the Technion’s Rappaport Faculty of Medicine:

“Future Medicine will focus on prevention, prediction, and early diagnosis – and technology will have an important role to play in this transition”

Prof. Shalev made these remarks at the “Mobile-Social-Cloud Meets Medicine” conference held by the Faculty of Medicine and Technion Computer Engineering Center (TCE) – where special sensors for smart phones were presented, capable of monitoring various diseases using cloud computing and big data

“Future medicine will focus on prevention, prediction and early diagnosis – and technology will have an important role to play in this transition,” said Prof. Shalev, Dean of the Technion’s Rappaport Faculty of Medicine at the Mobile-Social-Cloud Meets Medicine conference. The event was held by the Technion’s Faculty of Medicine and Technion Computer Engineering Center (TCE) in conjunction with Cornell University, within the framework of the T2MED Program launched by the Technion’s Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, which aims to encourage research and development of medical technology.

The event, organized by Prof. Uri Rosenschein from the Technion’s Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Prof. Shie Mannor from the Technion’s Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Prof. Deborah Estrin from the Faculty of Computer Science at Cornell University, was attended by academics from the Technion and Cornell University, representatives of startup companies who presented interesting new developments in the field and representatives of venture capital funds.

“Today’s technology makes it possible to do many things that were never before possible. The smart phone is a device that can also detect location and is a movement, velocity and acceleration indicator. Its camera and voice recording capabilities makes these popular devices ideal medical sensors. We will also be able to predict and detect high risk populations according to genetic traits using data mining, medical records and information from pharmacies, big data management, sophisticated algorithms and by using personalized medicine through sequencing technology and bio-informative tools” summarized Prof. Shalev.

In the first part of the conference, systems using smart phones were featured as sensors of different diseases. Prof. Shie Mannor from the Technion’s Faculty of Electrical Engineering spoke about the way by which raw data picked up by smart phones can be turned into accessible and comprehensible information. The automatic translation of the machine’s language will allow us to understand human behavior from the data in a way that would also permit a search, aiming to improve diagnosis and treatment of many medical conditions.

Dr. Mor Peleg, from the Department of Information Systems at the University of Haifa, described her role in the large European Project MOBILGUIDE, which provides discharge patients a belt that can measure different variables in their body, particularly those that influence heart activity, and transmit it via smart phone to a service center enabling doctors to make immediate diagnosis and decisions.

Dr. Elad Yom Tov, from the Microsoft Research Lab in Israel presented a study based on queries sent to the company’s search engine on medical issues. The researchers examined the prevalence of particular queries about medical conditions and medications, and the links between them. It turned out that when people asked about a particular illness, it was very likely (88.4%) that they will also perform queries on medications related to that disease.

Offer Fabian, co-CEO and co-founder of Medical Research, described a big data project conducted by his company together with Maccabi Healthcare Services, where the organization attempted to check variables in blood tests of people who were diagnosed with colorectal cancer. It turned out that before cancer was detected, the scan revealed a decrease in hemoglobin, even if it remains within the normal threshold. Although this test scan, which is not particularly pleasant, is highly recommended to people above the age of 50, the response level is not high. An electronic scan – one which is in addition to the numerous blood tests performed here in Israel for different reasons, may help identify people at risk and contact them with a request to take a scan in order to detect the disease at an early stage when it is still possible to operate with reasonable recovery prognosis.

The winners of the Hacking Health 3Day Startup competition, recently held by the Technion’s Faculty of Medicine, presented their project. Oren Fuerst from Dario LabStyle, a company that ordinarily develops an all-in-one device containing everything needed by diabetes patients (such as blood glucose meter, test strips and piercers, whereby the glucose meter continually reports to the cloud), demonstrated a project that is geared towards children with diabetes – the Gluco-Gotchi game. This is a type of Tamagoochi for diabetics, helping children understand the importance of meal times, time for insulin injections and more. Children take care of their “Gluco-Gotchi and as its condition improves, so does theirs. According to Fuerst, this is an attractive application, where children are able to identify with a virtual character. “The bottom line is that we are improving the cooperation of these young patients, by teaching and encouraging good habits to minimize complications. In the future we will attempt to do the same for other illnesses such as hypertension and obesity,” he said.

Omer Shor, the founder of MEDISAFE, introduced a new application that develops videos providing an explanation of a medication to replace the printed instructions attached to all medications. Every clip is tailored to a specific group of patients with similar characteristics, and each patient receives only the relevant video relating to the drug he/she is taking, along with reminders via relevant means including mobile devices. According to Shor, the system helps prevent double doses of medication from accidentally occurring, which is one of the most significant factors leading to death.

Arthur Wechsler, CEO of Healarium, presented an application that allows patients to access his/her medical file documents (applicable primarily in the U.S., where a decentralized health system is in effect), and grant doctors of their choosing access to the la tests, x-rays, medical summaries, etc. Additionally, the company created a modeling intervention system so that doctors could intervene as necessary.

Ziv Yekutiel, CEO of the MON4T, demonstrated a self-testing brain functioning system. The system is designed to improve the health and safety of patients suffering from neurological disorders. “After neurological surgery it is important to monitor discharged patients regularly, but currently, only ​​random checks are done and at extended intervals, and there is no one to respond to a sudden worsening of a patient’s condition.”

To view lectures and slides from the event click: http://www.youtube.com/course?list=EC290778372A24464D

President Shimon Peres at his Visit to the Technion:

“Today our most urgent task is to make peace with the Palestinians.”

“I prefer an imperfect peace over a lack of a perfect peace; luckily the Technion was founded 24 years before the establishment of the State of Israel – and laid the foundations for the future of the nation.”

The President of Israel, Shimon Peres, said at his visit to the Technion that the most urgent task today is to make peace with the Palestinians. “This would be the greatest revolution made since the founding of the state. I prefer an imperfect peace over a lack of perfect peace,” said Peres at a special panel discussion with Technion’s three Nobel Laureates, led by Dr. Yossi Vardi.

The President’s visit began with a presentation of the Formula racing car, which was built at the Technion. The car, created by a group of students from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering under the guidance of Professor Reuven Katz, placed the team in 19th place out of 57 in the Formula Student Competition – and first place among teams participating in the competition for the first time. Students Ahmed Omari and Doris Fitilon, who presented the car to the President, explained that the team is a mixture of Jewish and Arab students. “So that’s basically a car for two nations,” the President replied with a smile.

Technion President, Professor Perez Lavie, presented President Peres with a plaque which had a picture from his first visit to the Technion alongside a picture of Israel’s first Prime Minister, David Ben Gurion, of one of his first visits to the Technion. “There is no doubt that the vision of your teacher and predecessor Ben Gurion, to establish a global scientific center in Israel, has really taken shape,” said Professor Peretz Lavie. “The sense of mission which led to the establishment of the Technion is still with us today. Thank you for the opportunity you have given us to show you some of our scientific and engineering achievements.”

A series of breakthrough research originating from the Technion was presented to the President: landing drones on unmanned vessels (Professor Ehud Rivlin from the Faculty of Computer Science), a formation of three miniature satellites (Professor Pini Gurfil from the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering), a novel method for treating tumors (Professor Emeritus Yoram Palti), advanced membranes for water treatment (Professor Raphael Semiat from the Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Professor Moris Eisen from the Faculty of Chemistry), and prediction of future events using artificial intelligence (Professor Shaul Markovitch from the Faculty of Computer Science and Dr. Kira Radinsky).

Later, President Peres met with the university’s future generation of scientists. Sarah Katzir, the Head of the Unit for the Advancement of Students at the Office of the Dean of Students, introduced him to the young men and women enrolled in the varied Technion programs – “Nitzanei HaTechnion” (initiated by the President himself – an excellence program for young students from the Druze community conducted under the auspices of the Ministry of Education and “Atidim” organization), “Future Scientists and Inventors” (also initiated by President Peres, this is a youth program providing talented students with pre-university education and laboratory experience), the Program for Ultra-Orthodox Students (this year 80 ultra-orthodox students are studying at Technion’s “Mechina” – pre-university program), and “Atidim in Industry” (a program for discharged soldiers from the country’s periphery – they are provided with pre-university studies supported by the “Atidim” organization).

Dana Maklada, a sixteen year old from Daliyat al-Carmel, told the President that she and her friends come to the Technion once a week for an enrichment program.

Matar Rozen, a fifteen year old from Moshav Abirim in the Galilee, said that she very much enjoys coming to the Technion. “If wanting to learn and invest is geeky then I have no problem being a nerd,” she said to a cheering crowd.

Chen Asher, aged twenty-six from Acre, said that he came to the Technion thanks to the “Atidim in Industry” program.

Yehuda Morgenstein, from the “Halamish” (Ultra-orthodox learn practical professions) program, spoke about the initial shock of transitioning from the Yeshiva world to the Technion. “We sat and studied between 12-15 hours a day to catch up on the material,” he said. “We were different. When we would go to the cafeteria they told us that the Kashrut inspectors had already visited today,” he added as sounds of laughter were heard from the audience.

At the panel discussion with three of Technion’s Nobel Laureates in Chemistry, Professors Avram Hershko, Aaron Ciechanover and Dan Shechtman, the President told them about how David Ben Gurion once asked him to set up a world champion soccer team. “I didn’t succeed in this task, but the Technion may very well become the Technionite world champions,” he said. “Ben Gurion used to dream big dreams and would let me dream as well,” he added. “I am proud of the Technion. Science is vital to our existence. The world is barely functioning and whole countries around us are falling apart. The future is in innovation, but if we don’t find a way to control fanatics or teach them to contain themselves – this world will be a dangerous place. The State of Israel must build ties with large global companies as well, not only with other countries. We are a small country and we are left with no choice but to have a great vision.”

Professor Aaron Ciechanover spoke about the personalized medicine revolution and said that it will change the face of medicine in the coming years. “We are currently setting up in Israel, medical institutes for personalized medicine,” he emphasized. “There is a need to improve science and technology education, but we mustn’t forget about the humanities.”

Professor Dan Shechtman said that the idea to eliminate the psychometric exam was a good one and recommended changing the name of the Ministry of Education to “The Ministry for Future Infrastructure.” He added that, “Universities need more young men and women to teach science and engineering.”

Professor Avram Hershko talked about the importance of basic research. “The more we understand about the workings of the human body, the better the drugs we’ll be able to develop,” he said.

“I saw at my visit to the Technion fascinating research and an impressive representation of Israel’s young people,” summarized President Shimon Peres on his visit to the Technion.

View the album of pictures from the festive visit.

Technion scientists discovered electronic fields “hidden” in plasma channels. This was revealed in the prestigious scientific journal Physical Review Letters.

This discovery, made by Technion researchers from the Faculty of Physics, has far reaching implications for devices built on nanosecond pulsed discharge.

“99 percent of the universe around us is composed of plasma,” explains Dr. Shurik Yatom who conducted the research under the guidance of Professor Yakov Krasik from the Faculty of Physics. “On Earth there is very little plasma and we must produce it in laboratories. It is useful in our attempts to produce energy; it is used in multiple devices such as high-current generators and microwave compressors, in sterilization processes, screens, small satellite engines, and recently we started using it for healing wounds. When it comes to time spans of nanoseconds, conventional wisdom so far has been that there is no great resistance, yet we at Technion discovered powerful electrical fields which translates into considerable resistance and results in energy loss.”

Technion scientists have found the presence of plasma in electric fields of up to several thousands of Volt/cm.  Most scientists use optical measures to measure the electric fields without changing the plasma properties.  In the described experiment, Technion researchers used two spatially coherent laser beams whose dispersion creates two additional coherent beams, according to the “Raman Scattering” effect. Measuring the intensity ratio  between these two new beams allows for the temporary measurement of the electric field at a very high resolution. The electric fields remains in plasma channels due to plasma resistance that lead to significant energy loss, which up till now was considered insignificant.

In the photo: Professor Yakov Krasik from the Faculty of Physics

Photographed by: The Technion’s Spokesperson’s Office

The Broadcast is now finished. While we prepare it for YouTube, please enjoy photos from the visit so far here.

President of Israel Shimon Peres is visiting Technion today.

Highlight: a panel discussion on the future of scientific research, with 4 Nobel Prize laureates: Peres, Avraham Hershko, Aaron Ciechanover and Dan Shechtman, moderated by Yossi Vardi.

You can watch the visit LIVE here! From 11am Israel time.

World Time Converter.

What happens when you introduce engineering students to 3rd world communities? Societies change and lives are saved, using engineering. Technion Professor Mark Talesnik, founder of the Israel’s “Engineers without borders” tells us that even “shit” can change the world we live in.

Continuing this tradition of engineering outreach, the Technion International School and Technion-EWB Chapter, in cooperation with Kathmandu University, has launched an ambitious, pioneering program bringing the world’s brightest science and engineering students forward to solve basic development questions in impoverished and communities in Nepal’s Kathmandu Valley.

At the same time, students participating in the Engineering for Developing Communities program gain invaluable skills in a variety of subjects as well as practical field experience on the ground, bringing their projects and ideas to life for the benefit of others.

The Technion is at the forefront of Israeli science and the nation’s impressive high-tech, bio-tech and agro-tech industries. But the Technion is also deeply committed to research, development and action in sustainable community development.

Since May of 2008, the Technion has been home to a chapter of the international Engineers Without Borders NGO. Engineers Without Borders is a non-profit humanitarian organization established to partner with developing communities worldwide in order to improve their quality of life.

This partnership involves the implementation of sustainable engineering projects, while involving and training internationally responsible engineers and engineering students.

Prof. Mark Talesnick says, “We teach our students how to think, how to crunch numbers… but nowhere do we teach them anything to do with a social conscience. Nor are we training our graduate engineers as leaders in society.” Now, through EWB, Talesnick offers students “Engineering with a soul,” in hands-on engineering tasks. He says that even small budget projects have a big effect on the community.

“A small push from us can stimulate huge gains for the community and great gains in the development of our engineers,” he says. About 25 students took part in the project and its preparations. A group of three women and three men students together with Talesnick implemented the project on the ground in Nepal.

Hannah Bardin, 27, has been involved in the EWB-Technion initiative since the initial meeting held on campus. “This is a really unique opportunity to combine my engineering education with social values,” says this master’s student who is specializing in water management. She continues, “Being able to apply engineering skills in order to help a community and actually deal with real life engineering challenges was an experience I couldn’t get anywhere else.”

The Technion EWB chapter is actively involved in development projects in Israel’s Negev desert Bedouin community, as well as elsewhere in the Middle East.

Mr. Matanyahu Englman has been appointed the Executive Vice President and Director General of the Technion. He holds a BA (with honors) in Economics and Accounting and an MA (with honors) in Business Administration (majoring in Accounting and Finance) – both from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Since 2010, Matanyahu Englman served as the Deputy Director General of the Technion. Some of his previously held positions include CEO of the Shoham Local Council, Deputy Director General of the Jerusalem College of Engineering, and Managing Director of the Jerusalem Branch of the Accounting Firm, Fahn Kanne & Co.

Matanyahu Englman took office this week, on January 1, 2014. He replaces Professor Arnon Bentur who before holding this office, served in a long line of senior administrative positions at Technion (as the Director of the National Building Research Institute (NBRI), Vice President for Research, the Director of the Samuel Neaman Institute, Dean of the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Chairman of the International School).

The NAM Program (an acronym in Hebrew for Outstanding Arab Youth), part of the “Yedidim Atidim” (Hebrew for “Future Friends”) organization founded and funded by Eitan Wertheimer, brings talented young Arab men and women from disadvantaged backgrounds to the Technion.

The NAM program (an acronym in Hebrew for Outstanding Arab Youth) at the Technion will salute its first one hundred graduates at an event to be held at the Technion, with the central lecture to be given by Nobel Prize Laureate, Research Professor Dan Shechtman, on “The Importance of an Engineering-Scientific Education.” Mr. Eitan Wertheimer, the founder and primary supporter of the program, will also participate in the event, along with Technion President, Professor Peretz Lavie, and the heads of high-tech companies where NAM graduates are already working at.

Samar Jamama is one of these graduates, holding a BSc in Industrial Engineering and Management from the Technion. Today he works at the Nazareth branch of Amdocs. Born and raised in Yafia (located in the Lower Galilee), Samar is the oldest of four children. His father, a construction worker, invests in the future of his children. “Don’t be like me,” he tells them, “I’m 46 years old and already tired.”

Samar studied at the high school in his village. The principal recommended him for the NAM program. He underwent the acceptance tests and interviews, and was accepted. “I always knew that one day I would find myself at the Technion,” he said. “Even if I wouldn’t have been accepted to the program I would have worked for a couple of years and saved up so that I could go to the Technion. NAM paid for my pre-university “Mechina” studies, dorms and tuition, and freed me from financial burden. All of the expenses are paid for by the program. We also received support in preparing for the psychometric exam, as well as access to social workers who helped solve personal problems; I am grateful to Shirley who has become a second mother to me.”

Samar is referring to Shirley Yogev, the program director. Samar also speaks warmly about Eitan Wertheimer who opened for him and his friends the gates of the Technion and an entrance way to higher education. “I volunteer at my old school, giving tutoring lessons. I also represent my Faculty at open days, introducing the benefits of studying at the Technion to potential candidates, on a voluntary basis. This is the least I can do in return and in gratitude to the NAM program for all it gave me. Today I work in development and want to pursue a master’s degree. Of course I’d like to continue my studies at the Technion. It’s true that you study hard here but I love this university. I come here every Sunday, even when I’m not studying. The NAM program is a bridge to the Technion for young Arab men and women. The “Mechina” softens the shock of the transition from high school. Everyone in my village has heard about NOAM and aspires to be accepted to the program.”

NAM opened in July 2006. Currently, some 280 students are enrolled in the program.