About Us
Founded in 1944, the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science develops philanthropic support for the Weizmann Institute in Israel, and advances its mission of science for the future of humanity.
https://weizmann-usa.org/news-media/feature-stories/remembering-prof-michael-sela/
May 31, 2022...
The worldwide community of the Weizmann Institute of Science deeply mourns the passing of our beloved longtime leader, preeminent scientist, and dear friend, Prof. Michael Sela.
Throughout his illustrious career, Michael made numerous discoveries that forever changed immunological research, shedding light on the genetic control of the immune response.
He co-invented the blockbuster drug Copaxone® for the treatment of multiple sclerosis as well as three cancer treatment drugs – Erbitux®, Vectibix®, and Portrazza® – which have improved the lives of millions worldwide.
Jun 27, 2022... REHOVOT, ISRAEL—June 27, 2022— Of all the fungi that live in the human body, the most infamous is probably the yeast Candida. This distant cousin of baker’s yeast is notorious for causing various types of thrush that can be a major nuisance, but it can also lead to an invasive infection that may, on occasion, prove fatal. In a study published today in Nature Immunology, a Weizmann Institute of Science research team headed by Prof. Jakub Abramson uncovered a previously unknown defense mechanism employed by the immune system in fighting Candida infections.
Jul 07, 2022...
NEW YORK, NY—July 7, 2022—The American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science, a nonprofit developing philanthropic support for the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, announced today that four Detroit-area philanthropists have recently committed highly impactful gifts to support breakthrough research initiatives.
Closing out their Fiscal Year on June 30, 2022, the American Committee recognizes their generous Michigan philanthropists for their leadership, dedication, and vision that will deeply impact global health, medicine, education, technology, and more.
Jul 14, 2022...
The American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science (ACWIS) has announced major gifts from four Detroit-area philanthropists in support of programs and initiatives at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel.
The gifts will establish or bolster contributor-named centers and institutes that extend the capacity of Weizmann’s scientific research initiatives in global health, medicine, and science education. No gift amounts were disclosed.
Jul 19, 2022...
The American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science, a nonprofit developing philanthropic support for the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, announced that four Detroit-area philanthropists have recently committed highly impactful gifts to support breakthrough research initiatives.
The American Committee recognizes these generous Michigan philanthropists for their leadership, dedication and vision that will deeply impact global health, medicine, education, technology and more.
Aug 04, 2022... REHOVOT, ISRAEL—August 4, 2022—The myriads of microbes in our gut, collectively termed the microbiome, are considered important to our health, but they can also harbor bacteria that contribute to inflammatory bowel disease or other disorders. Currently, however, it is impossible to target such disease-contributing bacteria without harming the surrounding beneficial microbes. Antibiotics kill friendly microbes along with the harmful ones, and in any event, they tend to trigger bacterial resistance and to have side effects. In a study published today in Cell, Weizmann Institute of Science researchers have demonstrated the feasibility of a potential therapy for killing inflammation-causing gut bacteria in a targeted manner: by using viruses that infect them.
Aug 19, 2022... REHOVOT, ISRAEL—August 19, 2022—Non-nutritive sweeteners – also known as sugar substitutes or artificial sweeteners – are supposed to deliver all the sweetness of sugar without the calories. But a controlled trial conducted by Weizmann Institute of Science researchers, published today in Cell, suggests that contrary to previous belief, such sweeteners are not inert: They do have an effect on the human body. In fact, some can alter human consumers’ microbiomes – the trillions of microbes that live in our gut – in a way that can change a person’s blood sugar levels. And the effects these sweeteners produce vary greatly among different people.
https://weizmann-usa.org/news-media/feature-stories/some-not-so-sweet-news-about-sugar-substitutes/
Sep 15, 2022...
If you take your coffee with Splenda or drink a diet soda at lunch, you might be interested in the Weizmann Institute’s new findings on sugar substitutes.
Artificial sweeteners were created to provide the sweetness of sugar without the calories – but it turns out they come with an added cost. New research conducted by Weizmann researchers (and recently published in Cell) suggests that sweeteners do have an effect on the human body. In fact, they can alter our microbiomes and change our blood sugar levels.
Dec 05, 2022...
There is no cure for Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, the two chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) that cause flareups of abdominal pain, diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss and even malnutrition.
Ulcerative colitis affects only the colon, while Crohn’s can attack any part of the digestive system.
Although scientists debate whether IBD is an autoimmune disorder, they agree that the painful inflammation is caused by an abnormal immune response to lifestyle triggers (such as diet) and environmental triggers (such as bacteria).
Jan 25, 2023...
Researchers have for years tried to discover what determines “resilience to stress,” a term describing the ability to adapt to difficult situations and to overcome adversity. Is it acquired through experience, or is there a tendency to easily recover from stress possibly ingrained in us from a very early age or even from birth?
A new study lead by Prof. Gil Levkowitz of the molecular cell biology and molecular neuroscience departments at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot has revealed an important piece of this puzzle. The study examined zebrafish – small, black-and-white-striped, transparent fish whose natural habitat spans rivers, ponds and rice paddies in Pakistan, Myanmar, Nepal and India.
©2023 American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science
