The British and Israeli governments will jointly fund five major research
projects in regenerative medicine – the process of replacing or regenerating
human cells, tissues or organs to restore or establish normal function in
diseased ones.
The technique encourages the body’s own repair systems to
heal tissues or organs that previously could not be fixed. Regenerative medicine
also focuses on creating new tissues and organs in the lab and implanting them
in the body.
British Ambassador to Israel Matthew Gould announced the
program on Monday. It is part of the BIRAX Regenerative Medicine Initiative, a
five-year multi-million pound program that he called “one of the most ambitious
and innovative bilateral medical science collaborations between two countries
anywhere in the world.”
The prime ministers of Israel and the UK launched
BIRAX in 2008 to develop their potential of scientific
collaboration.
Prominent scientists from Britain’s top universities,
including Oxford, Cambridge and Edinburgh, will work together with Israeli
counterparts from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Weizmann Institute
of Science in Rehovot on stem cell research. The projects include developing
stem cell treatments for multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease, looking for
a regenerative therapy for type 1 Diabetes and finding ways to persuade the
immune system not to attack stem cells.
Gould said, “Britain and Israel
are both world leaders in regenerative medicine.
This project gets our
scientists working in joint research projects, so that together they can find
cures for some of the world’s most awful diseases. This will be a powerful
symbol of what Britain and Israel can achieve together, and an important step in
building the right partnership between our countries in science and
tech.”
Leading Israeli stem-cell scientist Prof. Jacob Hanna, a project
leader on a successful bid from Weizmann, commented: “Stem cell research brings
great promises and has seen remarkable breakthroughs in the last
years.
The generous funding for my project by the BIRAX initiative
enables me to address several remaining critical questions in stem cell research
and to strengthen scientific ties with internationally renowned British stem
cell scientists. I am confident the new collaborative contacts fostered by the
British Embassy and BIRAX will prove critical for advancing our research and
will lead to other long-lasting collaborations for many years to
come.”
Esteemed British scientist Prof. Lord Winston, who has endorsed
the project, agreed the collaborative potential is great.
“These
projects, playing on the academic strengths of both countries and of the highest
scientific quality, will not only have a major impact in this increasingly
important area of medical science, but will be likely to benefit many people
suffering from common diseases affecting the brain, such as dementia as well as
heart function and other illnesses.”
The UK-Israel Life Sciences Council,
a body of 19 leading scientists from the UK and Israel launched by UK Foreign
Secretary William Hague in November 2010 to improve science collaboration
between the two countries, has overseen the project.
“Science is rightly
one of the cornerstones of the relationship between Britain and Israel – our
countries are scientific superpowers,” said Hague. “Both are countries that have
built up our economies and our identity through being leaders in science and
technology.”
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