Hospital counters obesity with computer game, magician saves choking baby, targeting cancer hotspots and much more!

By Michael Ordman

ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS

Hospital counters obesity with computer game

Israel’s Sheba Medical Center has launched a smartphone gaming-based program to help overweight children adopt a healthier lifestyle. They are using the Rumble app from Israel’s UVTAL (see here previously), and a smartwatch to monitor sleep, heart rate and physical activity.
https://www.jns.org/sheba-medical-center-initiates-gaming-program-to-combat-child-obesity/

Magician saves choking baby

United Hatzalah’s Aharon HaKosem, “the magician” works performing magic shows in Hod Hasharon. In his unpaid work as a volunteer EMT, he was called to save a choking baby. After back blows and chest compressions, “abracadabra” – the infant spat out a small object and re-started breathing.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/315217

Targeting cancer hotspots

A team of researchers, led by Israel’s Weizmann Institute, used algorithms to find neoantigens – “hot spots” on tumors – that provide access to current immunotherapies for multiple cancer patients. The scientists then engineered T cells from healthy individuals to completely destroy the tumors.
https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/new-israeli-cancer-study-leads-to-possible-breakthrough-in-immunotherapy-682152

https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/315059
https://www.jci.org/articles/view/129466

App lowers blood pressure

A 3-year study of the digital health app from Israel’s Hello Heart (see here previously) shows that over 84% of participants with stage II hypertension achieved a reduction in their systolic blood pressure. It was the largest multi-year efficacy study of a digital therapeutic to control hypertension.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3920395,00.html
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2785012

11 more projects for precision medical research

11 new projects have been granted a total of NIS 32 million in the 4th annual round of the Israel Precision Medicine Partnership (see here previously). They include AI for cancer and Crohn’s, discovery of new disease genes, and treatments for rare disorders.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/11-israeli-projects-get-millions-in-funding-for-personalized-medicine-research/

New AI innovation lab for personalized treatment

Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Merck and Teva have opened AION Labs – a new Israeli innovation lab for startups to develop cutting-edge AI-based technologies for personalized treatments. Startups will use computational biology to discover and develop patient-centric precision medicines.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/new-innovation-lab-brings-together-pharma-biotech-giants-for-ai-therapeutics/
https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/pfizer-astrazeneca-help-launch-computational-science-lab-in-israel-682248

Testing new treatments for safety

Israel’s Quris has launched a “patient on a chip” – the world’s first AI platform for predicting which candidate medicines will work safely in humans. Quris’s leadership team includes Israel’s Nobel Laureate Aaron Ciechanover and Dr. Robert S. Langer, co-founder of Moderna.
https://jewishbusinessnews.com/2021/10/18/quris-ai-to-predict-which-drugs-will-safely-work-in-humans/
https://www.quris.ai/

Roche partners Ibex for AI cancer detection

Roche has entered an agreement with Israel’s Ibex Medical Analytics to jointly develop an embedded image analysis workflow. It will allow pathologists to check biopsies using Roche’s NAVIFY & uPath software while seamlessly accessing Ibex’s AI algorithms, insights, and tools.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-startup-ibex-medical-aims-to-transform-cancer-diagnostics-with-ai-tech/
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3920455,00.html

A faster Aliyah for medical professionals

A new Israeli government program will speed and support the Aliyah process for Jewish health professionals. It will benefit some 3,000 Jews, mainly from the former Soviet Union, the US, Canada, France and Argentina and overcome the shortage evident during the Covid pandemic.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-seeks-to-ease-immigration-for-doctors-nurses-due-to-manpower-shortage/
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/315208

Surgeons rebuild soldier’s shattered face

Two weeks after an IDF captain was shot in the head, surgeons at Rambam Hospital used 3D technology to rebuild his face. A bullet hit the officer near his brain, eyes, and tongue, shattering his jaw. But with the exception of some scarring, it will soon be completely restored.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/after-idf-soldier-takes-bullet-to-face-doctors-rebuild-his-jaw-in-high-tech-op/

CLICK HERE FOR THIS WEEK’S GOOD NEWS FROM ISRAEL ARCHIVE.