ISRAEL INNOVATION PROJECT

Scientists at Tel Aviv University equipped nearly 5,000 research participants with smartwatches to confirm the safety of vaccines against COVID-19. The study collected physiological data from participants who did and did not receive a booster shot, such as heart rate variation and sleep quality data, and compared the data to the patient’s baseline to validate that the vaccine was safe.

Sheba Medical Center announced a partnership with the US government’s National Institutes of Health to form a new pandemic research institute. The institute will enable researchers to quickly detect emerging pathogens and “predict the viral and bacterial threats of the future,” all the while developing the tools needed to prevent and fight epidemics and pandemics in the future.

Researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have found how a class of commonly prescribed antibiotics, aminoglycosides, cause kidney damage in up to a fourth of hospital patients. The team experimented with a bionic micro-kidney equipped with electrooptical sensors to measure levels of glucose buildup, finding that high glucose accumulation in treated kidneys led to rapid lipid accumulation and kidney damage.

A new product from startup company Watergen will enable homes, cars, and other structures to provide users with a water supply using technology that extracts pure drinking water from air. The company is currently working to reduce the machine’s energy usage to bring the cost per liter of water produced to that of the water grid.

Health tech startup MDI Health has created an “artificial pharmacology intelligence platform” to map complex relationships between different drugs and lifestyle factors, flagging concerns in a matter of minutes. The company hopes to tackle the widespread risk of adverse drug interactions that lead to 12 million hospitalizations in the US annually.

Israeli startup Exodigo has developed technology powered by artificial intelligence to create 3D digital maps of underground infrastructure to help construction companies avoid unnecessary excavation and damage. The tech’s algorithms can be trained “on anything that’s possible to be detected by physics,” creating opportunities for future collaboration with SpaceX for mineral exploration on Mars.

US-based Lockheed Martin has signed an agreement with Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems to collaborate on the development of a high-energy laser weapon system. The cooperation builds on the Iron Beam project to develop “the first-ever operational system for ground-based air defense against threats, including rockets, mortars and UAVs.”

Israeli company Gabriel has developed affordable software for prevention and response to shooting incidents using artificial intelligence. The software “triggers instant alerts based on human input via phone or panic button” in case of an incident, allowing bystanders to get to safety quickly, even in parts of the area where shots may not be heard.

A preliminary study from Tel Aviv University found that a majority of gynecological research focuses on fertility and childbirth, while giving little consideration to many issues critical to women’s quality of life. The study attributes the research disconnect to bias introduced by male dominance in the field, while recommending the separation of obstetrics, with a focus on reproductive health, from gynecology, specially dedicated to women’s health.

Israeli startup Tipa has developed a process that breaks down packaging for food and clothes into garden compost in a matter of months. The packaging has the same elasticity, durability, and look as conventional plastic packaging, without the 500-year lifespan that even then leads to microplastic particle pollution.

In a peer-reviewed study, scientists from Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem have derived both male and female stem cells from the same person, becoming the first in the world to do so. The researchers have also successfully grown nervous system cells from the stem cells, serving as a proof of concept of technology that could help better test differences in the effects of medical treatments between men and women.

A large-scale clinical interventional trial led by researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev found that the green Mediterranean diet significantly reduces visceral adipose tissue. These fatty tissues around internal organs are more dangerous than other types of fats, making them a better indicator of a participant’s health. The trial included data on 294 participants over 18 months.

A research team at Technion – Israel Institute of Technology has developed an invisible “air-screen” as an alternative to facemasks to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses. The device, mounted on the visor of a cap, protects the eyes, nose, and mouth of the wearer while eliminating the negative effects on facial identity, oral communication, and plastic waste of traditional facemasks.

Engineers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev have developed a method for analyzing medically themed social media posts to identify and characterize people suffering from chronic illnesses. The method draws on social network analysis and natural language processing to classify social media comments and differentiate between illnesses while collecting information about treatments, symptoms, and patients’ daily lives.

Researchers from Technion – Israel Institute of Technology found that antibiotic cocktails may reduce the treatment’s effectiveness in the long term but identified specific combinations that manage to prevent the development of bacterial resistance. The study comes on the heels of increased antibiotic usage from the Covid-19 pandemic, even though antibiotics are not an effective treatment for coronavirus, accelerating the development of bacterial antibiotic resistance.

Israeli government announced a $17 million investment for a series of drone trials, including the testing of heavy drones designed for the transport of large cargo and passengers in controlled airspace. The program will fund 24 separate pilot projects from ten different companies, beginning in January 2023 and spanning two years.

New technology developed at Tel Aviv University enables doctors to destroy cancerous tumors in a targeted, non-invasive manner using ultrasound and the injection of nanobubbles into the patient’s bloodstream. The microbubbles congregate around the tumor, which are then exploded using low-frequency ultrasound, reducing the amount of off-target damage compared with other treatments.

Cancer patients in Australia are trialing a new treatment method involving antibodies designed from scratch on an Israeli computer. The tech allows a designer to “program” the antibodies to decide which cells surrounding tumors are beneficial or harmful, removing limitations on the capabilities of antibodies based on those naturally found in humans or other animals.

Mekorot, Israel’s national water company, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Morocco’s National Office for Electricity and Drinking Water for collaboration on technology for drinking water and liquid sanitation. The two companies will work together on seawater desalination, research and development, performance improvement, and innovation.

Researchers at Technion – Israel Institute of Technology have developed an innovative method for growing tissues to be transplanted into patients. The method involves printing tissues in a microgel bath as support material, preventing uneven shrinkage of tissues in the weeks after printing, improving the integration of the transplanted material.

A study from Tel Aviv University found that aerobic exercise can reduce the risk of metastatic cancer by as much as 72% through the consumption of glucose by internal organs, reducing the availability of energy for tumors. Data was sourced from an epidemiological study of 3,000 individuals over 20 years, finding high-intensity aerobics are key to maximizing the prevention of metastatic cancer.

Scientists at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem have constructed prototypes of bricks made from salt, turning a large waste byproduct of desalination and potash extraction procedures into valuable building materials. The technology mixes salt with other ingredients to prevent its breakdown before grinding and compressing it into bricks stronger than concrete.

Doctors at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center have used artificial intelligence software from Imagene to immediately analyze the DNA of tumors in two brain cancer patients. The technology detected the cancer mutations causing the tumors, which were validated by PCR, and specialized treatment was started within a day, shaving off days or weeks of the process compared to previous technologies.

Jerusalem-based diagnostics startup Salignostics is launching the world’s first saliva-based pregnancy test in the first quarter of 2023. The product built off technology developed for Covid-19 testing kits and delivers results in under 10 minutes without the need for blood or urine samples that pregnancy tests currently on the market depend on.

From Tel Aviv University News - A new treatment developed by scientists at Tel Aviv University showed a greatly decreased risk of lung metastasis in lab models of breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Researchers identified the mechanism of a cancer-promoting inflammatory response to chemo and counteracted the response with an anti-inflammatory agent, reducing chance of metastasis from 52% to just 6%.

Startup company Terra Space Lab is using remote sensors and data from satellites to detect wildfires and other extreme weather events from space. While the tech currently uses data from existing satellites, the company is developing their own AI-powered nanosatellites for a planned launch in 2024.

Israel’s Innovation Authority is conducting a two-year pilot study of autonomous buses to determine their viability for future use. The study is broken into two stages: the first will test the technology in a closed environment while assessing safety and legal viability, while the second stage will operate buses on public roads in an increasingly large range.

Israeli company Brenmiller Energy has developed high-efficiency thermal energy storage units, technology they hope will help to replace toxic lithium-ion batteries. The firm is partnering with Italian energy company The Enel Group to implement their system in a power plant in Santa Barbara, Tuscany, the first test of the tech on a large scale.

Eilat hosted the first ever International Conference on Food from the Sea and the Desert, featuring research and technology from institutions and startups focused on developing new and better aquaculture methods. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development plans to invest $7.6 million into education and infrastructure in Eilat to make the region “a national and international center for producing food from the sea and the desert.”

From The Times of Israel - The latest rankings of universities producing venture capital-backed entrepreneurs from PitchBook features five Israeli universities, including Tel Aviv University at number seven, its fifth consecutive year in the top 10. Other featured institutions include Technion – Israel Institute of Technology (15), Hebrew University of Jerusalem (31), Reichman University (38), and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (45).

Israeli company Daika Wood is turning wood waste from sawmills into furniture and other household products through their proprietary formula and process. The material can be molded like a soft plastic into different shapes before hardening, resulting in products with physical properties competitive with other traditional materials in the market. The material is also an alternative to medium-density fibreboard, or MDF, which often contains toxic resins.

Israeli glass manufacturer Phoenicia has partnered with climate tech company Airovation to convert carbon emissions from the plant into raw manufacturing materials. The technology will enable a “circular economy,” stabilizing the company’s supply chain and reducing its reliance on imports of raw materials.

Israeli startup Beewise Technologies is using advanced robotics and artificial intelligence to help stabilize populations of honeybees, pollinators of 75% of all fruit and vegetables on the planet. The company has “redesigned the beehive” to include sensors that collect vital data on the insects, with the potential to reduce bee mortality by 80% and increase crop yields by as much as 50%.

Three climate tech researchers and six startups from Israel were awarded grants worth over $2 million for the inaugural Climate Solutions Prize. Technologies in development include applications in “clean energy, transportation, water treatment, food manufacturing, waste reduction, and supply chain improvements.”

Reichman University in Herzliya is partnering with Google to open a new School of High-Tech to prepare students for programming, business development, sales, and data analysis. Meanwhile, Hebrew University is working with tech giant Meta on a new PhD program focusing on artificial intelligence research for marketplaces. The programs hope to prepare students for jobs in areas of high demand.

A new evaluation, training, and mentoring program seeks to recruit women in the Israeli Defense Force into jobs in the tech industry after discharge. The program places emphasis on women that have not had exposure to technology in their military service with the goal of addressing the underrepresentation of women in the Israeli hi-tech industry.

Psychology researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Stanford University have found that posed smiles can improve our mood. The study found a noticeable increase in happiness among participants that performed tasks while mimicking a photo of a smiling actor or were told to perform a smiling facial motion, giving more insight into the source of human emotion.

Israeli startup Emnotion is using artificial intelligence to predict extreme weather events up to three months before they happen. The technology takes a large volume of global meteorological data and identifies the most relevant microclimate information to create predictions on when and where weather disasters may occur.

Google opened its new Cloud Region in Tel Aviv to provide customers with “high-performance, low-latency services” to its customers across industries. The opening was made possible by a partnership with the Israeli government to provide cloud services to government ministries, emphasizing compliance with regulations and unifying their approach to digital security.

Israeli climate-tech firm Airovation Technologies has signed a memorandum of understanding with South Korean textile and chemical manufacturer Kolon Industries to collaborate on carbon capture at Kolon’s manufacturing facility. The agreement will implement capture and conversion of carbon dioxide to useful minerals and products, a technology designed after over 10 years of research and development at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Professor Simon Barak of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev is coordinating an experiment known as Aleph to test which plants may be suitable to grow on the moon. The experiment will be part of SpaceIL’s Beresheet 2 mission scheduled for 2025, when landers will carry a tray of seeds and dehydrated plants, water, heaters, and cameras to monitor the growth of the plants in the extreme conditions on the moon.

Israeli company Twine Solutions has developed the world’s first water-free dyeing system for yarn and textiles. The technology uses precision spraying to penetrate and color each fiber in the yarn, as opposed to traditional dyeing processes that require large volumes of water and chemicals.

Researchers from Tel Aviv University are executing trials on a new screening method for fetuses that greatly reduces risk from amniocentesis. The method collects a sample of blood instead of amniotic fluid while providing the same amount of information screening for diseases and disorders. The screening can also take place earlier in the pregnancy, at 10 weeks instead of 14.

Israeli company Airtouch Solar has signed a deal with India’s leading energy transition company Avaada Group to install and maintain Airtouch’s robotic dry-cleaning system for Avaada’s solar farms. The system will improve operational efficiency while saving water in arid regions, reducing losses while maintaining the company’s commitment to sustainability.

Several Israeli startups are focusing on reducing the climate impact of the aviation industry through innovation, from sustainable jet fuels, to lighter, stronger materials, to electric planes. All of these innovations could help reduce carbon dioxide emissions of the aviation industry, which currently accounts for about 2.4% of all CO2 emissions worldwide.

Boeing has signed an agreement with Assembrix, an Israeli 3D printing software company, to develop a new platform for printing parts. The agreement will contribute to Boeing’s advancements in 3D printing parts for civilian and military aircraft, missile launchers, and space stations, among other applications.

Technion scientists have created a new method for controlling the magnetic properties of materials inspired by biominerals found in natural living systems. The process involves the incorporation of amino acids into non-organic crystals, making the material highly susceptible to external magnetic fields.

An invention created by Israeli scientists from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology could reduce side effects in chemotherapy patients, creating the possibility of increased doses and better effectiveness. The technology relies on nano-carriers to target treatment to solid tumors, allowing drugs that were previously administered to the whole body to be precisely administered.

Tel Aviv University researchers have identified a mechanism that allows melanoma to metastasize to the brain. The study found that cancer cells recruit astrocytes, healthy cells responsible for maintaining homeostasis in the brain. With this knowledge, the study managed to delay the spread of the disease by 60-80% using existing treatments.

From ISRAEL21c - Medical tech company Imagene has developed an AI-powered system to analyze digitized biopsy images and deliver results in just minutes. The program can detect 28 cancerous biomarkers in several organs with average sensitivity and specificity of more than 95%.

Scientists at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev have designed a process to recover clean water and valuable phosphoric acid from hazardous phosphoric acid plant wastewater. The process reduced wastewater by 90% in laboratory experiments, a vast improvement over current evaporation pond methods.

Technion scientists are exploring immunotherapy cancer treatments that act as a “cancer vaccine,” activating the body’s own immune system to fight cancerous tumors. A study used mass spectrometry to identify tumor-specific proteins from lung cancer patients with plural effusions, proteins they hope can train the immune system to recognize as it would a virus or bacteria.

Israel’s national water company Mekorot has made the nation a global leader in water and energy management. By investing in water-tech startups and further research and development, the company has provided the desert climate of Israel with a year-round water supply, which is also a large contribution toward fighting the global climate crisis.

The Israel Space Agency and the Ministry of Innovation, Science & Technology announced a plan to spend $180 million over the next five years to support new startups in the space sector. The funding is part of a greater initiative from the Israel government to double the number of civilian space companies and quadruple the number of workers in the space industry in Israel.

Israeli auto tech startup REE Automotive has announced plans to build a new manufacturing facility in the United Kingdom featuring assembly lines staffed fully by autonomous robots. The facility will be able to manufacture the company’s electric and autonomous vehicle chassis in less than a minute with an oversight staff of just seven human workers.

“Tiny AI” technology developed by Israeli company Emza Visual Sense is being integrated into several series of new Dell laptops. The technology is designed to visually detect user engagement levels with machine learning and neural network-based algorithms, increasing security and power management capabilities in the device.

Israel’s Ministry of Energy and the U.S. Department of Energy announced a new round of $4 million of available funding for the development of new technologies to produce clean energy. Funding will be awarded to projects that scale up carbon-free technologies or that reduce the climate impact natural gas infrastructure.

A new study from Tel Aviv University found that women aged 55 and over who snore are at increased risk for sleep apnea, which causes a decrease in blood-oxygen concentration and can be dangerous. Researchers recommend vigilance by doctors, dentists, and other health professionals to identify warning signs of sleep apnea in patients.

Hebrew University scientists have outlined a mechanism that harms eggs in zebrafish and mice when malfunctioning. The danger in the pathway occurs when the organization of chromosomes in the egg is defective, opening the door for further research into fixes for the defect.

Researchers at Sheba Medical Center have found that the bite of an invasive species of fire ants could threaten lives for the first time. Doctors found that a patient’s recurring, life-threatening symptoms were most likely caused by fire ant bites, prompting calls for better measures to contain or eradicate the invasive ants.

Biopharmaceutical company Madrigal Mental Care launched a new treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) utilizing nanotechnology developed by researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. The system involves a nasal spray that enables “nose-to-brain delivery of organic nanoparticles” in safe and precise doses.

Scientists at Weizmann Institute of Science have captured and analyzed bundles of RNA molecules that function in tandem in gene expression, but that originate from different chromosomes. The study also found that when these bundles were perturbed, the cellular process the genes belong to were disrupted, indicating that this grouping method is widely used in eukaryotic cells.

Israeli company PixCell has developed a new device to perform fast and accurate at-home blood tests. The device, dubbed HemoScreen, is capable of producing lab-accurate test results from a single finger-prick in less than five minutes, allowing immunocompromised individuals to limit their time in hospital settings.

Israeli company OmnySense has developed a household thermometer that also measures the user’s respiratory rate, pulse, ECG and blood oxygen, giving users a more complete picture of their physical condition. The data is uploaded to the cloud for further analysis through a free app, applying niche health-tracking solutions to general use.

Israel-based company High Hopes Lab is developing a specialized balloon that could be the world’s first scalable method for capturing carbon from the atmosphere. The balloon separates carbon from wind blowing through the balloon, stored in a freezer compartment, and transformed to carbon dioxide gas as the balloon descends, all costing less than $50 per ton.

Israeli medical device company Limaca Medical has received a Breakthrough Device designation from the FDA for its motorized, automated endoscopic biopsy device. The tool is designed to collect tumor tissue samples within or adjacent to the gastrointestinal tract without manual hand operation, the first of its kind, making the procedure quicker and leaving less trauma to the biopsied area.

Israel’s Transportation Ministry approved the use of a traffic signal controls and analysis system for use in traffic planning in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. The software simulates car, scooter, and pedestrian traffic to optimize traffic at every intersection in the city, reducing air pollution by optimizing wait times.

A peer-reviewed study from Bar-Ilan University theorizes a large part of learning occurs in dendrites rather than synapses, going against previous understanding of the structure and function of neurons. The findings may encourage more research into dendrite learning, with applications in drug development for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s as well as computing and machine learning.

A joint research project from four Israeli higher education institutions has developed a technology that scans, models, and artificially replicates coral reefs using 3D printing. The modelling technology will help scientists better understand the types of biodiversity reefs can support, as well as 3D print new structures to replace damaged natural reefs.

Startup company SolCold has signed an agreement with automaker Volkswagen to test its eco-friendly cooling technology and to develop a concept vehicle. The technology conducts solar energy into subatomic particles that lose heat, creating a cooling, multi-layer film to be applied to cars, buildings, or containers to help regulate their temperature in warm, sunny environments.

Israeli startup RedC Biotech is aiming to produce large supplies of blood for use in medical settings from a single “universal” stem cell donor. The process, like growing cultured meat products, would ease the strain on blood banks and ensure a blood supply for patients needing transfusions. Clinical trials on the synthetic blood are expected to begin in the next three years.

A new accelerator program called Game Hub hopes to provide support to Israeli developers of games with both cultural and commercial value. The program provides financing opportunities, workspace, and mentorship from game development professionals to new and developing companies, in collaboration with several Jerusalem organizations including the Jerusalem Development Authority and Hebrew University.

Tel Aviv University scientists have identified a mutant strain of microscopic algae capable of producing “green” hydrogen on an industrial scale via photosynthesis, the first such discovery in the world. While much of the hydrogen used for fuel is “gray” hydrogen, produced via natural gas that emits harmful greenhouse gases, the algae produce hydrogen free of carbon dioxide emissions and can sustain production continuously for more than 12 days.

Amazon has invested in Israeli robotics company BionicHIVE, the makers of an automated warehouse system based on synchronized autonomous robots. The system can “sort, select, and put away packages, navigate warehouse floors using in-built cameras and sensors, and move between people and objects” without human intervention, with immediate applications for supply chain facilities.

Netanya-based startup Pentaxi is developing a pilotless electric vertical takeoff and landing craft for carrying both cargo and passengers. The aircraft relies on advanced flight control systems to orchestrate five independently moving engines with a special tilt mechanism for vertical takeoff and landing and smooth flying. The company hopes to launch their cargo model in 2025.

Israeli company AI21 Labs has developed a new system of Natural Language Processing, AI’s ability to understand human speech and language, capable of deeper understanding of natural language. The system enables AI to move away from pretrained language models, which are only updated every few years, toward continuous learning, and makes improvements in the AI’s reasoning ability.

AI-based construction startup Ception unveiled a new real-time, 3D visual mapping system to provide better awareness to operators of heavy machinery for construction projects. The system uses visual feeds from cameras, cross-referenced by sensors, processing algorithms, and deep learning to provide an accurate picture of the machine’s surroundings, decreasing the likelihood of accidents.

A Technion research team successfully created edible muscle fibers by bioprinting living animal cells on a plant-based scaffold, a milestone in efforts to produce cultivated meat for human consumption. The technology from the project will contribute to efforts to meet the growing demand for meat products that are less detrimental to the environment.

A joint program between the South Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Israel Innovation Authority will offer up to $5.3 million per joint project between the two nations on the development of robotics technologies. Dubbed the “Lighthouse Program”, the funding opportunity will place special emphasis on projects in the health, logistics, agriculture and livestock, and domestic services fields.

Israel’s Defense Ministry conducted a series of successful experiments testing their groundbreaking laser areal defense system. The first energy-based weapons system in the world, the laser is claimed to be “effective, accurate and easy-to-operate” while also offering a large cost savings over current missile defense systems.

The Israel Innovation Authority approved a budget committing $17.8 million to two consortiums designed to develop “technologies for human-robot interaction” and to advance “command and control capabilities of autonomous vehicle fleets.” The funding will be distributed via grants to local companies and research institutions with promising research and development projects in the fields.

A research study by a pair of Technion scientists sheds light on the exceptionally fast rate of DNA unwinding by the RecBCD enzyme during DNA repair. The project discovered additional ATP binding sites on the enzyme, serving as a “funnel” to the catalytic site. The discovery may have implications in the study of both enzyme catalysis and of DNA repair.

Researchers from Tel Aviv University have shown that common dietary supplements can offer protection from Covid-19, as well as several other common illnesses. The study found that the combination of zinc with flavonoids found in many fruits and vegetables helps protect cells against a variety of RNA viruses, with a 50-95% reduction in genetic replication of the viruses.

Psychology researchers from Reichman University in Herzliya have developed a new technology that helps people with severe hearing loss or deafness to experience speech and sound through touch. The device delivers speech and sounds through vibrations on the fingertips of the listener, with potential applications including auditory rehabilitation programs.

An international team of researchers, led by scientists from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, developed a new combination of treatments for patients with advanced or metastatic head and neck cancer (HNC) to block a signaling pathway that suppresses the immune system. The team found the combination of drugs resulted in the disappearance of HNC tumors in mice, leaving researchers hopeful the treatment will be effective in clinical trials.

A research team from Weizmann Institute of Science found that a subset of fibroblasts may play a role in the origin of the rare autoimmune disease scleroderma. The study examined skin samples from nearly 100 scleroderma patients and found that fibroblasts in patients differed greatly from the controls while immune abnormalities showed no characteristic pattern, providing new insight into the causes and potential treatments of the disease.

A study from Weizmann Institute of Science discovered a genetic mutation that appears to protect individuals against ALS. The research showed that people with a specific mutation in regions of non-coding DNA that halts or reduces brain inflammation have just one-fifth the chance of the general population of developing the disease. Future studies will attempt to mimic the mutation in patients to see if it has a positive effect on people sick with ALS.

From The Jerusalem Post - The US and Israeli governments announced a new funding cycle for carbon-free energy initiatives through The Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation. The nations will invest up to $1 million per project for renewable energy research and development efforts involving at least one American and one Israeli company.

Tel Aviv health coverage company Marpai is using machine learning, artificial intelligence, and neural networks to “predict who will get sick, what it will cost and who’s the best in-network physician.” The technology focuses on predictions rather than diagnostics, drawing on customer data to evaluate a patient’s risk of having certain medical issues in the future.

From Technion - Israel Institute of Technology - Technion – Israel Institute of Technology is collaborating with Rambam Hospital to form a joint Center for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare. It will be the first joint academic-hospital AI center in Israel and will “develop advanced artificial intelligence systems to analyze a patient’s condition.”

Researchers from Weizmann Institute of Science unveiled Israel’s first quantum computer, one of just 30 machines in the world and one of less than 10 that use ion traps. The current five-qubit computer will be used to run advanced algorithms, while another, more powerful quantum computer with 64 qubits is in development to tackle computations unable to be performed by the largest classical computers.

A study from Tel Aviv University, Kaplan Medical Center, and Shamir Medical Center found over 25% of children discharged from an emergency room for a mild head injury are misdiagnosed, leading to post-concussion syndrome for several years following. The study followed 200 children that met the research criteria for periods ranging from six months to three years, finding about a quarter of them suffering from the chronic syndrome.

A team of Israeli scientists claim to have safely administer an effective but toxic immunotherapy drug to combat various cancers. The treatment enhances the effectiveness of the CD40 receptor using synthetic antibodies that have been engineered to apply itself very selectively, stimulating the immune system to fight many solid tumor cancers.

Israeli biotechnology company Tissue Dynamics claims it can cut the cost of drug development by 40-80%, and cut the time required by 30-50%, using their autonomous development platform. The process involves sensors placed in microfluidic models of human tissues made by robots, capable of analyzing the effect of new drugs on different modes of diseases, as well as their impact on normal tissues.

Israeli company Steadicopter recently unveiled a new type of unmanned helicopter for surveillance, intelligence, and reconnaissance purposes, as well as carrying cargo payloads. The helicopters are powered by hybrid engines, utilizing both battery power and a generator providing electric propulsion, for uses ranging from search-and-rescue missions to offshore rig monitoring.

Israeli startup UVeye has been selected by Volvo to provide the car manufacturer with AI-powered inspection systems for select US retailers. The system uses cameras and sensors to scan a vehicle’s exterior and undercarriage and uses machine learning models to identify any mechanical flaws or foreign objects in just minutes.

Researchers from Technion – Israel Institute of Technology have uncovered a mechanism of cancer metastasis activated by chemotherapy treatment. The team found that high amounts of LOX enzyme, a protein that makes lung tissue more hospitable for cancer cells, are secreted by T-cells in response to chemotherapy, a finding that could inspire new drug development and treatment that could prevent this phenomenon.

Israeli companies, including the Rehovot-based Lusix, are disrupting the diamond industry by manufacturing diamonds for jewelry in labs. The practice involves the heating of carbon-rich gasses to temperatures of 3000 degrees, creating a diamond “optically, chemically, physically and structurally identical to a mined diamond” while remaining more sustainable and eco-friendlier than traditional mining.

Israel and Bahrain signed a cooperation agreement for collaborations in the medical sector in each country. The agreement will enable the nations to share information and technology to better research and development, digital health, genetic research, and the ability of medical systems to cope with pandemic and medical emergencies.

A lab at Hebrew University of Jerusalem achieved the “reverse aging” of human eggs by uncovering an aging mechanism previously unknown and reversing the process through the administration of anti-viral drugs. The study provides hope that within 10 years, anti-viral drugs may be used to increase fertility in older women.

A new program sponsored by Israel’s Interior Ministry calls for the formation of “Innovation Teams” to “introduce new work processes and tools” to cities with significant populations of both Arab and Jewish people. The program initiatives will focus on “helping small businesses, enhancing civic hygiene, and improving transportation and connectivity.”

BGU scientists were part of a research team that found the first evidence for a plate tectonic chain reaction. The researchers applied methods typically used for magnetic reversals to magnetic noise variations found after the formation of a new subduction zone north of Arabia, finding the African plate accelerated and rotated, causing a sequence of tectonic events in the western Mediterranean.

BGN technologies announced the launch of a US-Israel consortium to protect energy sources and facilities from cyber attacks. Led by BGU and Arizona State University, the consortium will promote research and development collaboration between institutions focusing on the protection of manufacturing stages, storage, and energy distribution, with investments totaling $12 million.

Researchers from the University of Haifa found that a genetic mutation protecting individuals from malaria was more prevalent in populations in Africa, where it is endemic, than in people from Europe where it is not. The results suggest genetic mutations are the result of the accumulation of complex information that are the response to long-term environmental pressures.

A study from Tel Aviv University discovered a treatment for the degeneration of bioprosthetic heart valve transplants made from animal tissue. Scientists found that genetically modifying the heart valves to stop producing foreign non-human sugars significantly reduced the immune response to these compounds that leads to calcification and degeneration 10-12 years after implantation.

Researchers at Weizmann Institute of Science “found that the fingerprint of antiviral antibodies differed between mild and severe COVID-19 patients, and between recovering and vaccinated individuals.” The study identified distinct sugars attached to the tails of antibodies in each group, which positively “affect the quantity, quality and mode of protection achieved by vaccination, as compared to natural immunization.”

Biopharmaceutical company NeuroGenesis tested a new stem cell therapy targeted at multiple sclerosis patients that showed promise in small clinical trials. Nine of fifteen patients receiving injections into their spinal cord fluid showed decreased levels of NfL protein, considered a biomarker of the disease, and improved disability scores 12 months after the treatment, while only one of fifteen in the placebo group showed such improvement.

Israel-based health tech company New Phase is developing a new treatment for stage 4 metastatic cancer that has the potential to transform the illness from a death sentence to a chronic illness. The treatment involves the injection of iron oxide nanoparticles, which selectively bind to tumors before being heated by non-ionizing radiation, taking advantage of the disorganized vascular structure of cancer cells to shrink metastatic growths.

Weizmann Institute of Science researchers have uncovered the mechanism of the spread of certain types of aggressive breast cancers. Experiments showed large amounts of NUP93 proteins in breast cancer patients with poor survival records, which allows metastatic cancer cells to access the nucleus of healthy cells for replication and movement. Scientists hope these findings will lead to the improvement of targeted cancer treatments.

Researchers at Tel Aviv University and Shamir Medical Center were able to relieve symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) using a new method of treatment involving hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The study involved 35 combat veterans that suffered resistant PTSD and found improvement in all PTSD symptoms of the treatment group after 60 hyperbaric treatments.

PixCell Medical was awarded a grant from the International Health-Tech Pilot Program to further develop and expand the reach of their hematology testing system, HemoScreen. The instrument combines “novel microfluids, machine learning and AI into a point-of-care instrument anyone can operate” to accurately inform doctors on their treatment decisions based on real-time data from a patient’s blood test.

Israeli startup GEOX signed a commercial agreement with Japanese company Sompo International to use their product to better assess property damages due to natural disasters in Japan. The image analyzer uses artificial intelligence to assess a building’s risk of damage due to natural disaster, providing a more accurate insurance price assessment for customers.

Israeli ag-tech startup Greeneye Technologies is helping curb the excessive use of herbicide on crops through their new approach to weed control. The company’s product turns ordinary machines into “smart sprayers” with the assistance of mounted cameras and artificial intelligence. The system can detect over 200 types of weeds with over 95% accuracy, enabling farmers to use the most effective herbicide and only where needed.

Israeli startup Healthy.io is hoping to expand the reach of their FDA-approved at-home urine analysis tests to the UAE. The product uses artificial intelligence and image recognition technologies to enable a smartphone camera to read urine test strips with clinical-grade precision.

Israel’s Defense Ministry and the Israel Innovation Authority announced about $62 million in funding to develop Israel’s first quantum computer. The project aims to boost Israel to the front lines of computational innovation by increasing computing power, with potential applications in cybersecurity, pharmaceuticals, banking, finance, and advanced manufacturing.

Two Israeli companies are seeking to decrease sugar content in fruit juice to make them more viable as a healthy beverage option. Startup Blue Tree is developing a method to selectively remove certain sugars from juices, while Better Juice is using enzymes to degrade sugars of all kinds in juices to other compounds such as dietary fiber that does not change the sweet taste of the beverage.

A new study from Tel Aviv University associates abnormal brain activity during sleep and anesthesia as a symptom of Alzheimer’s that may show years before other symptoms. Researchers found increased activity in the hippocampus in Alzheimer’s model animals while under anesthesia, resemblant of the brain’s failure to regulate the neural network and offering a head start on treatment that could prove valuable to patients.

Israeli startup CytoReason has announced an extension to their partnership with pharmaceutical giant Pfizer to continue to bring their computational machine learning models to drug development. The technology collects proprietary data from pharmaceutical companies and uses it to simulate human diseases in specific tissues and cells, ultimately shortening trials, reducing costs, and identifying new drug opportunities.

DNA sequencing of plankton from deep-sea sediments is providing the first detailed picture of plankton biodiversity from all deep-ocean levels. The study confirmed that deep-ocean plankton are much more diverse than mid-level plankton and is allowing scientists to understand which members of plankton communities contribute the most to biological processes.

A new study from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Soroka Medical Center found that a routine prenatal ultrasound can identify signs of autism spectrum disorder. The study examined hundreds of prenatal scans and found abnormalities in the heart, kidneys, and head in 30% of fetuses that developed autism, three times higher than the general population. The study may enable doctors to diagnose autism earlier and begin treatment at birth.

From The Times of Israel - Israeli startup HIL Applied Medical is implementing breakthrough technology developed at Hebrew University to deliver proton-beam radiotherapy to cancer patients at a fraction of the cost. Proton radiotherapy kills less healthy tissue than traditional X-ray or photon radiation treatments, improving both patient survival and quality of life. The new device cuts the total cost for hospitals from $30 million to $15 million, enabling more hospitals to adopt the method and to reduce treatment costs for patients.

From Tel Aviv University News - Researchers from Tel Aviv University successfully engineered the world’s first 3D human spinal cord tissue transplant. The study implanted the engineered tissues into a lab model with long-term chronic paralysis, demonstrating a high rate of success in restoring walking abilities. Scientists are preparing for clinical trials in human patients and hope their technology will help paralyzed patients walk again.

Sheba Medical Center has partnered with AdOM Advanced Optical Technologies to test the company’s Tear Film Imager (TFI) device to detect Covid-19 on the surface of the eye. The device measures muco-aqueous and lipid sublayers of the eye’s tear film and is already used to diagnose other eye conditions. The study will test the device’s specificity and sensitivity compared to PCR tests on about 500 Covid patients over 30 days.

The world’s first fully autonomous store is set to open in the United States thanks to a “Smart Shelf” developed by Israeli company Shekel. The shelves include an advanced weighing system that, combined with artificial intelligence-based algorithms, can detect exactly what was removed from the shelf and add it to the customer’s virtual shopping cart, while performing the inverse function if an item is returned to the shelf.

Technion researchers have developed a machine learning model that rectifies the underrepresentation of women in clinical trials of medical treatments. The algorithm uses natural language programming and vector representation of words to enable “gender-sensitive use of clinical literature” before correcting gender bias and thereby improving the suitability of treatments for female patients.

Weizmann Institute of Science researchers have demonstrated the possibility of mapping real-time gene expression using colors by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The scientists developed a new method using MRI to simultaneously track the expression of two genes in different colors, opening the door for further development and application in areas such as therapies for cancer and stem cell treatments.

Israel’s Space Agency officially signed an agreement with NASA to join the Artemis Accord, a program aimed at landing astronauts on the lunar surface and establishing a long-term human presence on the moon. Israel is the fifteenth country to sign the Artemis Accords, joining partner nations including Australia, Canada, the UAE, and the UK.

Researchers have discovered a pattern of specific antibody levels in Covid-19 patients that may enable doctors to identify patients that are more likely to suffer long COVID, caused by an immune response that attacks the body instead of the virus. Scientists hope their findings will “facilitate research, understanding, and ultimately targeted treatments for long COVID.”

From The Jerusalem Post - A remote electrical neuromodulation (REN) device made by Theranica proved safe and effective at treating migraine symptoms in the world’s largest prospective real-world study of such treatment. The device is placed on the upper arm and triggers conditioned pain modulation through REN, controlled by a smartphone. The study consisted of over 23,000 treatments over 20 months and found that over 65% of participants experienced pain relief after two hours.

Researchers at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center have discovered the pathway by which pancreatic cancer cells spread in the liver. The study found a mutation causing the absence of two key proteins, in greater severity in liver metastasis than in other areas of the body. Scientists hope the findings will lead to better treatments to prolong the lives of patients.

Scientists at Reichman University in Herzliya are exploring connections between senses, including sensory substitution techniques requiring little training. Their work, including experiments on sensory linkage and the development of new devices, seeks to improve quality of life for both individuals with sensory disabilities and the general population.

Researchers from Weizmann Institute of Science and Sheba Medical Center have developed a noninvasive method for detecting inflammation in the intestines. The method involves stool testing, as opposed to an invasive colonoscopy, to facilitate the diagnosis of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, among others.

Representatives from eleven Israeli startups will take part in Arab Health, an annual health technology exhibition in Dubai, to showcase their leading healthcare innovations. Participating companies will meet with representatives from South Korea, India, Japan, and Singapore, among others, with the goal of significantly strengthening exports of technology to improve the lives of patients around the world.

Israeli startup Restore Medical has developed an implant to be inserted into the pulmonary artery of congestive heart failure patients to change the pressure of the healthy right ventricle to support a failed left ventricle. The implant procedure is relatively simple, taking just an hour, and can lead to a reduction of symptoms and hospital visits for patients.

New findings show that multiple sclerosis (MS) is largely driven by infection of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), the same virus that can cause infectious mononucleosis. The Harvard University study found a 32-fold increase in risk of MS after infection with the virus. Researchers hope targeting EBV could help lead to the discovery of a cure for MS.

Israel recently launched the fourth phase of their national drone initiative, allowing flights over urban areas to transport basic products, provide first aid and monitor traffic movement. The move is good news for startups like Percepto, who responded to hurricanes and wildfires in the past two years in the US by sending in autonomous drones to examine damage to power lines and communication infrastructure.

Researchers at Technion – Israel Institute of Technology have developed a fast, efficient method for removing PFAS pollutants, known as “forever chemicals”, from drinking water. The technology combines oxidation processes and targeted polymers to increase efficiency to close to 90 percent, compared to current adsorption methods.

Researchers at Weizmann Institute of Science recently detected a rare type of supernova that has never been observed before. Wolf-Rayet stars, characterized by the absence of light elements at the star’s surface, were theorized to collapse into black holes instead of a normal explosion that produces a supernova, a theory that was shattered with the team’s discovery and analysis of light emitted from the explosion of one of these stars.

A study at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev successfully trained goldfish to use a wheeled platform that could be driven in reaction to the fish’s movements inside a water tank mounted on a platform using laser remote sensing technology. The fish were able to move the vehicle to a target while avoiding dead-ends and navigating past obstacles.

A grant of nearly $6 million has been awarded to 11 Israeli companies developing innovative space technologies by the Israel Space Agency, the Israel Innovation Authority, and the Innovation, Science and Technology Ministry. The companies were selected for their innovation, research-and-development capabilities, and the competitive advantage their products offer.

Israeli water tech company Alumor has developed a household water purification system that it claims is “sustainable, cheap, easy to use, and could provide millions of households in developing countries with clean drinking water.” The system uses solar energy to power ultraviolet technology that kills viruses and bacteria often found in water sources in the developing world and purifies water for less than half a cent per liter.

Intel Israel is implementing new technology in its line of EVO laptops that will allow users to sync devices running on different platforms to their computer. The tech is designed to ease the user experience by improving the ability to transitioning data from one device to all kinds of others and to unify the capabilities of many devices into one.

Two recently published studies show that symptoms of autism can be identified in infants as early as in the first year of life. The first study, from the Mifne Center for Early Intervention in the Treatment of Autism, showed that infants in which autistic behavior was observed were later diagnosed with autism between the ages of 2.5 and 3. The second study, from Bar-Ilan University, found that children with autism showed statistically significant improvement with therapeutic interventions beginning in their second year as opposed to their third.

The Israel Innovation Authority is launching a new measurement of social consciousness for companies, called the Environmental, Social and Governance Index (ESG). The criteria are designed to assist in the evaluation of opportunities for socially conscious investors while funneling more money into companies tasked with addressing issues such as “carbon reduction, employee diversification, corporate governance and modern slavery.”

Scientists at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev have discovered the biological function of a peptide as a protein kinase inhibitor, the first in the world to do so. The research found a portion of “non-coding” mRNA that in fact contained a sequence for a short peptide that inhibits cancer cell survival and tumor progression, which could lead to a class of better cancer drugs.