Contributions by Physician – Scientists to Israeli Biomedical Innovation

Contributions by Physician – Scientists to Israeli Biomedical Innovation

Organised by the Jewish Medical Association UK and BIRAX 

The Britain Israel Research and Academic Exchange Partnership – known as BIRAX – is an initiative of the British Council and British Embassy in Israel, in collaboration with several funding bodies in the UK and in Israel.

BIRAX funds joint research projects between the two countries in the fields of stem cell and regenerative medicine therapies.

The Director of the British Council in Israel commented recently that “Through BIRAX, the best scientists in Britain and Israel are working together to develop therapies and find cures for diseases that affect millions of people. We are proud that in partnership with medical research foundations we are able to support this.”

Professor Chris Mason, co-Chair of the BIRAX Research Call and Professor of Regenerative Medicine Bioprocessing, UCL said: “Bringing together world-leading scientists from Israel and the UK will accelerate cures and transformative therapies for a number of serious conditions that impact the lives of millions of patients and their carers.”

The UK-Israel Science Counci co-chaired by Prof Raymond Dwek, Director of the Glycobiology Centre at Oxford University, provides the scientific oversight for the BIRAX programme.

The third BIRAX conference is taking place this year in Oxford on April 11th and 12th in association with OSCI.

As part of its charitable role in informing and educating about Israeli medical approaches and achievements, the Jewish Medical Association (UK) has invited some of the visiting Israeli physician scientists, that will be speaking at the BIRAX Conference, to tell a wider audience about their work, which makes such an important contribution not only to Israeli biomedical innovation but also to strengthening the medical academic links between the two countries.

Tuesday 12th April 2016

Welcome Reception 19:00:
Gavin de Beer Lecture Theatre, Anatomy Building, University College London, Gower St., London WC1E 6BT

Presentations and discussion 19:45:
Gustave Tuck Lecture Theatre, University College London, Gower St., London WC1E 6BT

Confirmed speakers are:

Prof Tamir Ben Hur  (Professor of Neurology, Hadassah – Hebrew University Medical Centre), with research interests in the- therapeutic properties of stem cells, and their bilateral interactions with the nervous system in normal and pathologic states, and whose clinical work is in the field of general and neuro-immunology. Prof Ben Hur’s BIRAX project is together with Prof Siddharthan Chandran (University of Edinburgh) and is entitled “Towards regenerative medicine in multiple sclerosis”. They are exploring the therapeutic potential of cell therapy in an experimental model system for the progressive phase of multiple sclerosis. Further details can be accessed here.

Prof Jonathan Leor  (Prof of Cardiology, Tel Aviv University – Sackler Faculty of Medicine and Sheba Medical Centre, Tel Hashomer) whose research interest is in the biology of myocardial infarction and myocardial regeneration, and whose clinical work is in cardiovascular medicine.

Prof Eli Lewis  (Director, Clinical Islet Laboratory, Ben Gurion University of the Negev – Faculty of Health Sciences) whose research interest is in islet transplantation and immune diversion, and whose clinical work includes many treatment trials in diabetes.

 

There is no charge for this event (although donations from non-members of the Association would be welcome!) but in order to facilitate catering and security arrangements please notify info@jewishmedicalassociationuk.org that you will be attending.