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Dear Friends,
Chanukah arrived early this year, and with it came the holiday whirlwind complete with Omicron. This new Covid variant has much of the world glued to the news to learn about restrictions and what this newest strain means for the global pandemic, which we had hoped was waning. We are proud to report that Tel Aviv University (TAU) researchers are at the forefront of guiding Israel's response and providing expert public health information. Dr. Oren Kobiler, from TAU's Sackler Faculty of Medicine, is encouraging, "It is best not to panic over Omicron. We do not need to be hysterical at all. This new variant will not change the entire dynamic of the disease. … There are no indications so far that vaccines will not protect against severe illness, and it is unlikely that their efficacy will decrease." His full statement can be found here.
Professor Jonathan Gershoni noted in an interview on i24News, "There is nothing new or outstanding, there are no new mutations that we haven't seen. We know the vaccine is effective in protecting against serious disease of corona." The interview can be seen here.
Recently, a few faculties at Tel Aviv University have received top rankings and accolades, including the Steve Tisch School of Film and Television, which was named a top 21 film school outside of the U.S. by The Wrap. The school is known for successful alumni who produce and write many of today's top television shows including Tehran, which just won the International Emmy Award for drama, making it the first Israeli show to win the award. Congratulations to Tisch School alum Alon Aranya, whose Paper Plane Productions produced the show, and Omri Shenhar and Moshe Zonder, who co-created Tehran.
Tel Aviv University ranked 8th in the world for alumni entrepreneurship and is among the world's top 50 universities for global entrepreneurship according to PitchBook. The Coller School of Management ranked 13th in the world for producing entrepreneurs in the same ranking. The school recently announced it will launch an online MBA program, enabling students from around the globe to study at this competitive international school. What's more, TAU is the first Israeli university to launch an online MBA program.
Top level awards and rankings are the result of countless hours of work and innovation by many professors, researchers, students, and labs across campus. This past week, Professor Illana Gozes of TAU's Sagol School of Neuroscience and Adams Super Center for Brain Studies was named among the winners of the 2021 Healthy Longevity Catalyst Awards, presented by the U.S. National Academy of Medicine for her contributions to Alzheimer’s research. She and her team also received orphan drug status from the FDA for an experimental drug they developed that will assist with the treatment of a rare developmental syndrome — ADNP — which is responsible for symptoms associated with autism and Alzheimer's.
I look forward to sharing news with you monthly and hope you find as much pride in it as I do.
Wishing you a happy Chanukah. May the light from the Chanukah candles bring love and light into your home.
Shabbat shalom.
Jennifer Gross
Chief Executive Officer
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