If you
analyze the news for the most serious problems affecting the planet, they would
include disease, hunger, drought, natural disasters and terrorism. Israel’s superb work to combat these menaces deserves
far more publicity. Here are some recent
examples.
The risk
of contracting cancer
is now estimated at 1 in 2, which puts the deadly disease firmly into the
crisis category. Weizmann scientists have
just developed a triple-effect
treatment to kill lung cancer cells and prevent them from
returning. The
Hebrew University of Jerusalem has designed a tiny
antenna that can be inserted into the stomach to detect and treat
early-stage gastric tumors too small to be treated by current methods. Meanwhile, Israel’s VBL Therapeutics reported
interim results from its Phase 2 trials of its VB-111 advanced ovarian
cancer treatment that reduced tumor size by at least 50% and also
extended the survival of patients with aggressive brain cancer (glioblastoma). And finally, let’s hear it
for Israel Prize laureate Dr. Haim (Howard) Cedar of the Hebrew University of
Jerusalem whose work to detect wrongly reproduced instructions in the DNA may
one day not merely cure, but actually prevent cancer from forming.
The media warns us that the next medical
crisis will occur when bacteria becomes resistant to antibiotics and that there
is insufficient research into alternatives.
But almost every week Israeli biotechs announce advances in this
area. Such as the P-1000 optical device
from Pocared Diagnostics
that performs bacteria
tests in minutes and even identifies which antibiotics the bacteria is
resistant to. Or the pulsed light
research at Tel Aviv University that kills
the listeria bacteria in infected milk products. In fact using pulsed light once a day may
mean that milk no longer requires refrigeration. Finally, Redhill Biopharma, which has just
completed a Phase III successful trial of RHB-105 for H.
pylori infections, the major cause of stomach cancer.
According to the World Bank, there is a
crisis in food security, with one-third of global child deaths due to malnutrition. Thankfully, Israel’s agricultural expertise
is combatting this crisis. The new
government of India has deployed Israeli technology to feed its growing
population in almost every state, the latest being Goa. Visit the Israeli Pavilion at the Milano
Expo to see Israel’s Hinoman, which is cultivating Mankhai, a sustainable
vegetable containing more protein than meat or fish. It is also high in vitamins, low in
carbohydrate, fat, sugar and salt and is GMO, gluten and pesticide free.
There is an even bigger global crisis with
drought. So Israel has just signed an
agreement to share its best practices on water with
the World Bank. The water crisis
affects even developed countries and Israeli water technology experts are busy
working in the Californian cities of Sacramento,
Los
Angeles and Beverly Hills.
Ironically, too much water is one
cause of the many crises from recent natural disasters. Massive floods
in Texas killed dozens and impacted thousands. So the Israeli organization IsraAID sent a
team of volunteers to help remove debris from damaged houses. And in Tbilisi, the east European capital of
Georgia, a team of Israeli veterinarians helped rescue
wild animals that escaped during severe floods. Meanwhile, IsraAID also launched its "A
Roof for All" program to provide safe and sturdy transitional shelter for
thousands of displaced families who lost their homes as a result of the last
two devastating earthquakes
in Nepal.
Israel is a key player in solving the
world’s energy crisis. Despite its
recent discovery of huge deposits of natural gas, Israel is firmly at the
forefront of renewable energy developments.
Israel’s latest billion-dollar company, SolarEdge
has just released a new solar
energy storage system and expanded its commercial products. And with Israel’s Ecoppia cleaning system, 5
million solar panels are now keeping free of the dust and sand that
reduces efficiency by up to 40 percent.
Meanwhile, those companies still having to clean-up after oil-spill
crises will be encouraged that Hebrew University of Jerusalem
scientists have developed a reagent that converts the oil into carbon dioxide
and water. And a new fast-deployed oil-spill
containment boom from Israeli startup HARBO will provide a major
improvement on disaster response times.
Israel’s work to combat the world terrorism crisis would take up too much room than I have available here. Suffice it to say, however, that eleven Israeli companies exhibited products at the recent Paris Air Show. One new Israeli device will prevent an on-board crisis should a pilot lose consciousness. The Cannary flight helmet smart system from Tel Aviv’s Lifebeam has sensors that measure the pilot’s vital signs and will take control of the plane in order to prevent disasters.
Finally, some 150 of the Jewish world’s leading
change-makers from 32 countries gathered in Jerusalem for the 2015 ROI
Summit. They will no doubt learn to
combat many crises as they seek to build a thriving Jewish future and a better world.
Michael Ordman writes a free weekly
newsletter containing positive news stories about Israel.
For a free subscription, email a request to
michael.goodnewsisrael@gmail.com
