|
Dear Friends,
Sometimes it's hard to know where one year ends and the next begins. So many have high hopes and resolutions for a new year, yet life goes on day-to-day regardless of such hopes and resolutions, and no-one knows what’s around the corner. In the words of Leonard Cohen’s song, “Who by Fire,” we watch in horror as Los Angeles goes up in flames. And as we have done for over a year now, we continue to pray for an end to the war, the release of our hostages, and now for those affected by this catastrophe.
While the new (secular) year has already seen disaster, it still brings hope for change and better times ahead. Our involvement with Tel Aviv University (TAU) is one of the most positive ways to influence and secure the future. Here, each of us can make a difference.
I believe that the University represents resilience, the best of change, and hope for the future. By engaging with TAU, we are helping to effect change in Israel and society, because discoveries and research solve world problems. A few recent examples include:
A groundbreaking study from the Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research has unveiled how bacterial defense mechanisms can be neutralized. The discovery has the potential to address the global antibiotic resistance crisis and enhancing genetic manipulation techniques for medical, industrial, and environmental applications. According to Dr. Ronen Kreizman, CEO of Ramot, TAU's technology transfer company, "This breakthrough could revolutionize fields like drug development, synthetic biology, agriculture, and environmental technology. By fine-tuning genetic material transfer, we can address pressing global challenges."
Professor Ronit Satchi-Fainaro led a study that created a GPS for cancer treatment with the ability to direct drugs directly to a tumor. The new platform to deliver the drug pairs to specific cancer types, including skin and breast cancer, significantly amplifies their therapeutic effects and safety profiles. Researchers from the Department of Pathology, School of Chemistry, and the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology at TAU's School of Medicine were part of the multidisciplinary team.
A new study from the School of Medicine reveals that the brain cannot learn two conflicting behaviors at the same time. The study shows how the brain actively blocks dual learning to resolve conflict and prioritize a single response. Conducted on fruit flies, the research uncovers how the brain's "navigation center" intervenes to prevent memory clashes, shedding light on why multitasking often leads to forgetting key details. The researchers explain that humans learn in a variety of ways, and cracking the brain's decision code shows that the brain cannot learn using multiple methods. This discovery not only rewrites what we know about human learning but also opens doors to better strategies for addressing learning disorders like ADHD and Alzheimer's.
Archeologists from TAU have proposed an answer to a scientific mystery as to why prehistoric humans in the Levant did not create cave paintings. The researchers suggest the extinction of large animals in the Levant explains why prehistoric humans did not paint on cave walls in Israel. The researchers explain: "When prehistoric humans in Western Europe depicted large game in cave paintings, many of these animals were already extinct in the Levant — so there was no need to try to portray them for shamanic rituals held deep within caves."
As we begin 2025, I want to thank you for your continued support that enables groundbreaking research, scholarships for student reservists, interdisciplinary research in climate change and sustainability, and so many more innovative programs. Despite all the challenges, TAU continues to make an impact thanks to your generosity. I hope that you will join me in continuing to make positive changes and support in real time.
Sincerely,
Dr. Garry A. Rayant
Chairman, American Friends of Tel Aviv University
|