Good News Israel presents exploring the brain; monitoring mental illness with a smartphone, and much more.
By Michael Ordman
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
A virus that kills resistant bacteria infections
Researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have isolated (from Jerusalem sewage) a “safe” virus EFDG1, which can kill the bacteria infections associated with up to 33% of root canal treatments. EFDG1 eradicates even antibiotic-resistant strains of the bacteria.
http://new.huji.ac.il/en/article/25479
BrainTech 2015
The international conference BrainTech 2015 in Tel Aviv, beginning 11th March, features neuroscientists, entrepreneurs, senior executives, investors, startups and decision-makers who will explore challenges, discover promising projects, create partnerships and accelerate innovation in brain technology.
http://itrade.gov.il/us-dc/2015/02/16/startup-nation-brain-nation/
http://conference.israelbrain.org/
Monitoring mental illness by smartphone
Israel’s LifeGraph has developed a smartphone-based platform for monitoring mental illness. LifeGraph detects changes in a patient’s sleep, social communication, mobility and speech. It provides psychiatrists with innovative insight into the behavioral patterns of the patient.
http://lifegraph.net/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSgljEBcOH0
The nose-to-brain express route
A major problem in treating mental illness is in overcoming the Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) with effective medication. Israel’s SipNose has developed an innovative nasal delivery device platform that can penetrate the BBB and provide fast, non-invasive treatment to patients.
http://www.sipnose.com/
Opening up the inner workings of the brain
As Tel Aviv prepares to host the 2015 BrainTech conference, Professor Henry Markram (formerly of Israel’s Weizmann Institute) outlined the goals and activities of the Human Brain Project, of which he is co-director.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/alzheimers-to-meet-its-match-in-brain-map-project-researcher-claims/
Fooling the malaria parasite
Back in Dec 2012 I reported how Dr Ron Dzikowski at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem had discovered the genetic reason why malaria was so difficult to treat. Now Professor Dzikowski and other HUJ scientists have used the discovery to disrupt the parasite’s defense mechanism.
http://new.huji.ac.il/en/article/25531
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