ILSI-Biomed Israel

Stem Cells as Seek-and-Destory Missiles against Cancer

As published in New Scientist, stem cells were succesfully modified to act as seek-and-destroy missiles against cancer in mice brains Stem cells are often viewed as the ultimate solution for regenerative medicine, and for a good cause. Given the correct cues, they can regenerate whole parts of the body, and even re-create an entire embryo (although that would require QUITE some understanding of the cues involved in the process). It seems, however, that now a new use has been found for the...

Antioxidants Cause Genetic Abnormalities?

A new research reveals that high doses of antioxidants cause stem cells to develop genetic abnormalities, paving the way for cancer When people look back on the beginning of the 21st century, they might think this was the time of the antioxidants. Antioxidants supplements are being sold everywhere, usually without a doctor prescription, as a way to halt aging, heart diseases and whatever else is promised on the label. But current research, published online in the medical journal Stem Cells, r...

Meet the Speakers: The Future of siRNA

siRNA is one of the molecules of future medicine, with some success at early clinical trials. How will this molecule affect the future of therapeutics? Twelve years ago, a novel mechanism for shutting down genes has been described in a nature paper. The mechanism described made use of molecules called siRNA – Small Inhibitory RNA – whose potential for the development of new therapies for diseases like cancer has been recognized immediately. Last year, Dr. Dan Peer managed to create lip...

Novel Nanosensors for Cancer Detection in Whole Blood

Cure for cancer? Nowhere near so far. But work is being done on early detection of cancer, which could be almost as good as a cure. I keep reading everywhere about cures for cancer. Almost every day I hear about this or another new way to solve cancer, coming in the freshest press release from the universities and research labs. This is nonsense, obviously. Cancer is just a tiny word for the hundreds of different afflictions that arise when a cell can’t control itself any longer and the i...

Cancer Vaccine on the Way?

Successful experiments on mice show promise for the development of a vaccine against cancer. We live in the era of the vaccines. It has been just a little over two hundred years since the first vaccine was invented against smallpox, and eventually eradicated the disease from the face of the earth. Since then, vaccines were devised against many kinds of diseases, which are almost nonexistent today. Now, a new type of vaccine is being developed, and may serve as the turning point of the wa...

Weekly Start-up: CapsuTech Ltd

Vision: To improve treatment for cancer patients by delivering the drug straight to the tumor, and achieve a more efficient treatment without side effects.         Name: CapsuTech Ltd CEO: Dr. Eyal Neria Sector: Pharmaceuticals Suc-Sector: Natural Materials Medical Field: Cancer Est.: 2006 Stage: Pre-Clinical Vision: To improve treatment for cancer patients by delivering the drug straight to the tumor, and achieve a more efficient treatment without side effec...

Champions Biotechnology Establishes a License with Ramot for the Development and Commercialization of a Tumor-Fixing Antibody

A new single-chain antibody fragment, identified by Tel Aviv University researchers as having the ability to fix a protein that’s mutated in more than 50 percent of human tumors, has been licensed to Champions Biotechnology for development and commercialization. Back when I was a first degree student of biology, I was sternly told that antibodies are only used for diagnostic purposes. It never struck me quite right. After all, in the body they’re an important part of the immune system. Am...