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Dear Friends,
On November 29th, we celebrated Israel's 75th year of existence by remembering the historic United Nations vote establishing what is now modern-day Israel. It is remarkable how much this small country has accomplished since its founding in 1947, including establishing Tel Aviv University (TAU) in 1956. What started as three research institutes joining together (the Tel Aviv School for Law and Economics, the Institute of Natural Sciences, and the Academic Institute of Jewish Studies) is today the largest university in Israel. TAU is a globally-ranked research institution, a center of excellence, and the premier university in Israel, with nine faculties, 17 teaching hospitals, 18 performing arts centers, 27 schools, 340 research centers, and 400 laboratories.
The stats and numbers speak to the size of Tel Aviv University, but it is the many contributions happening across campus including life-changing research that make TAU a global leader where ideas are created and nurtured, eventually resulting in answers to real-world problems. TAU is a leader in providing multidisciplinary solutions and in establishing global research centers where challenges are studied from multiple perspectives.
The global challenges we face today are not one-dimensional, so solutions require a multi-disciplinary approach. The Center for Combatting Pandemics brings together experts from multiple scientific disciplines with the goal of fostering research to assist Israel and the world to better cope with crisis situations that will result from future epidemic outbreaks. Similarly, the Center for AI and Data Science includes more than 250 faculty members from varied disciplines, working together to advance innovative research and education in these fields.
A new technology developed by researchers from Tel Aviv University's Department of Biomedical Engineering and Department of Pathology uses a combination of ultrasound and nanobubbles to destroy cancerous tumors in a targeted manner that is non-invasive and could be an alternative to surgery. By injecting nanobubbles into the bloodstream in combination with low frequency ultrasound, researchers were able to make tumors explode. This treatment is more targeted and reduces damage to healthy tissue.
Recently there were two new studies from TAU about reducing the risk of metastases after surgery to remove a tumor. Professor Shamgar Ben-Eliyahu of TAU's Sagol School of Neuroscience and School of Psychological Sciences and Professor Oded Zamora of TAU's Faculty of Medicine found that common anxiety medications taken prior to surgery markedly reduced the risk of metastases after colon and rectal cancer surgery. The study also found that the drugs minimized anxiety and reduced stress.
A study done by Professor Carmit Levy and Dr. Yftach Gepner, both from the Faculty of Medicine, found that intense cardiovascular exercise can reduce the risk of metastatic cancer by 72%. The researchers found that intense exercise increases the glucose consumption of internal organs, thereby reducing the availability of energy to the tumor. This is the first study ever to investigate the impact of exercise on the internal organs in which metastases usually develop, such as the lungs, liver, and lymph nodes.
I am proud to share that Tel Aviv University is also a leader in ensuring a diverse campus and providing a top-notch education to all students. TAU was the first university in Israel to have an Equity and Diversity office, ensuring that students like Ana Leticia Araujo from Brazil have the opportunity to fulfill their educational goals. I invite you to watch Ana's story and I hope you will be moved to consider supporting our scholarship campaign so students such as Ana will have the opportunity to receive a Tel Aviv University education.
Wishing you a happy Chanukah and a joy-filled holiday season. Shabbat shalom.
Jennifer Gross
Chief Executive Officer
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