News & Events
3 Aug. 2011 - Revolutionary surgical sealant could save lives (MFA)
LifeBond's bio-glue is unmatched as it heads into clinical trials ahead of marketing in Europe and the US.
According to Dr. Yuval Avni of Giza Venture Capital, which recently invested $20 million in LifeBond together with Aurum Ventures MKI, in some 10 to 20 percent of abdominal surgery cases, surgical staples allow leakage of fluids, which can lead to sepsis and death.
LifeBond's trademarked gelatin- and enzyme-based biological glue is the secret behind its LifeSeal GI staple line reinforcement sealant, which seals and strengthens the staple line and narrows the spaces between each staple. It cuts down on leakage, bleeding and tearing at the staple line, especially in diseased and fragile tissue. Mimicking late-stage blood coagulation, LifeSeal GI is the only medical adhesive of its kind.
The product is not like Krazy Glue but is actually a sophisticated "technology platform," explains Avner, a vascular surgeon. "We can tweak it depending on the application to glue fast or slow. Or if we want it in the body over months or days." Other bio-glues on the market, he adds, have very specific applications with no variability. "This is like a superglue that can treat all applications." (Read more)
2 Aug. 2011 - Advanced cell therapy for chronic wounds (Israel21c)
Israel's MacroCure helps the body heal itself with a unique product based on white blood cells from healthy donors
The physical deterioration of old age and illness is often manifested in what doctors call chronic wounds - wounds that just will not repair themselves. Petah Tikvah-based MacroCure has a product that aims to do what the body can't: Heal wounds that have festered for months, if not years.
CureXcell is unique in a number of ways, says Dr. Mitchell Shirvan, company CEO. "We believe that we have the most comprehensive approach to the problem of chronic wounds, showing a very significant reduction of the mortality rate in patients with deep sternal wound infections and a markedly improved healing rate for severe pressure ulcers."
CureXcell is made with white blood cells from healthy donors, using a safe and natural resource. Most important, says Shirvan, "our product is on the market in Israel, and it has already been administered by physicians to over 4,500 patients with severe chronic wounds that would probably have remained with them for years." (Read more)
17 Jul. 2011 - MetaCure treats diabetes without meds (Israel21c)
Attached to the stomach in a minimally invasive procedure, the Israeli-innovated device frees diabetics from pills and injections.
As disturbing new figures emerge that show that 350 million people worldwide now suffer from Type 2 diabetes, according to a recently published study by the World Health Organization and the Gates Foundation, and with the number of people suffering the metabolic disease rising dramatically every year, the race is on for long-term, effective cures.
Israeli medical device company MetaCure is beginning to commercialize its innovative minimally invasive solution, DIAMOND, which received the European Union's CE mark in 2007 and is undergoing additional clinical trials.
An implantable gastric stimulator with electrodes attached through laparoscopic surgery to the outer stomach muscles, DIAMOND enhances stomach muscle contractions, which are the natural physiological response to eating. This causes the patient to feel full more quickly during a meal. It also affects the gastrointestinal (GI) system's release of hormones influencing hunger, satiety and the absorption and metabolism of nutrients.
Initially it was meant as a treatment for obesity, which is one of the risk factors for diabetes. However, according to MetaCure business development director Lior Teitelbaum, DIAMOND was found to be effective independently in controlling blood glucose (sugar) levels. People with diabetes, the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, have abnormally high blood glucose because their bodies either don't produce insulin or don't use it properly. (Read more)
Proposal Submission and Funding Regulations Concerning Cooperation in Biomedical Technologies
between Germany and Israel
“BIO-DISC”
(May 2010)
Announcement
For the sixth Common Call for Proposals
Background:
The cooperation between the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Israeli Ministry for Science and Technology (MOST) dates back to a framework agreement laid down in an exchange of letters 36 years ago, in 1974. The field of biotechnology was included in that framework agreement in 1976.
In 2000 the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Office of the Chief Scientist of the Israeli Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor (MOITAL) agreed on a joint program for supporting joint industrial R&D cooperation in Biotechnology. On the basis of these agreements a common funding framework was designed in 2004: “German-Israeli Cooperation in Biotechnology - BIO-DISC”. Under the BIO-DISC framework so far, 5 calls for proposals were published jointly by both countries, and following mutual evaluation, over 30 bilateral projects have been funded.
Recognizing the potential of biotechnology to answer urgent upcoming questions in the 21st century with regard to health, food supply, renewable resources, energy and climate change, the Partners have agreed to launch a sixth call for project proposals under the BIO-DISC programme .
Call Objectives
In accordance with the agreements mutually laid down in 2004, funding will be provided for projects in the field of industrial and applied research in biotechnology for translating biotech know-how into new processes, products and services.
In order to be selected for funding, proposals will be evaluated by the following criteria, subject to the national applicable funding rules:
- Technological innovation
- Economic potential and perceived impact of the proposed product/service.
- The added value of the cooperation between project partners
- The capability of the partners (R&D personnel, Infrastructure, Finance, Marketing)
Submission Procedure and Timeline
Industrial Track:
A proposal must be submitted by at least two industrial entities, one from each country in order to be eligible for funding. The project proposals must be industrial driven and have to be coordinated by one of the industrial partners.
Research partners are invited to join as the companies' sub-contractors to complement the expertise and to promote technology transfer from academia to industry.
Projects in this track are funded, respectively, by the BMBF in Germany and MOITAL-OCS in Israel.
Within the projects, exchange of scientists from industrial partners for duration of up to 3 months is eligible for funding. The aim is to perform a defined task of the project within the partner’s laboratory. Furthermore an extensive networking is desired. A report on the outcome of the task fulfilled during the exchange period agreed by both partners has to be provided.
Feasibility Study Track:
A limited number of feasibility studies by university research groups (as well as public and private research institutes) can be funded. The aim of the feasibility studies is to perform preparatory research activities providing the basis for a project which can be submitted to the industrial track in one of the subsequent funding rounds, as delineated in 2004.
Projects in this track are managed by the BMBF in Germany and MOST in Israel.
Project Funding
The German and the Israeli partners of the selected projects will receive financing through the mechanisms and rules of BMBF and OCS (industrial track). The level of the financing can vary due to each country's regulation, depending on the evaluation of the project and the status of the respective partner. Prerequisites for awarding of grants as well as all terms and conditions for awarding of grants remain unaltered compared to 2004.
Submission Procedures
Proposals are to be submitted in 2 phases:
· For the first phase, concise project's outlines (pre-proposals), enabling preliminary evaluation, will be submitted in English to both program management agencies, not later than 5 July 2010 (phase I).
· BIO-DISC Project's outlines will be reviewed according to the criteria outlined in the BIO-DISC announcement.
· Proposals that meet the BIO-DISC program criteria will be invited to submit a formal funding application (full proposal) to MOST, OCS and BMBF in Q4/2010 (exact date will be informed to the submitters).
· Phase II: Funding decisions will be made during Q4/2010. Project starts are foreseen in Q1/2011.
Submission date:
The project outlines (pre-proposals) in the Industrial Track have to be submitted by e-mail not later than 5 July 2010 both to the
Projektträger Jülich
Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH
Dr. Hans-Peter Peterson
D-52425 Jülich
Commissioned by the Federal Ministry of Research and Education,
and to
MATIMOP
Israeli Industry Center for R&D
Ms. Ilana Gross
e-mail: ilana@matimop.org.il
In Israel: The proposals of the Feasibility Study Projects will be forwarded by email to:
Ministry of Science, Culture and Sport (MOST)
Department of Scientific Relations with Germany and International Organizations
Mrs. Nurit Topaz
Tel: ++972-2-5411157
E-mail: nurit@most.gov.il
Note:
In order to facilitate a follow up of the collaborative projects the coordinator has to submit an annual report on the project progress in English to his/her national agency in addition to the national reporting obligations.
Israel invited to join OECD
The unanimous decision, taken by the 31 member-states, recognizes Israel's achievements, economic strength and ability to contribute to the organization and to world economy.
On May 10th 2010, the Organization for International Co-operation and Development (OECD) officially invited Israel to become a member of the organization. The unanimous decision, taken by the 31 member-states, recognizes Israel's achievements, economic strength and ability to contribute to the organization and to the world's economy.
The accession negotiations were led by the Foreign Ministry. An additional team for professional subjects was headed by the Ministry of Finance.
In order to maximize Israel's connections with the organization, the Foreign Ministry is currently establishing Israel's Delegation to the OECD. The Delegation will operate out of the Embassy in Paris, and the Ambassador to UNESCO will be Israel’s Ambassador to the OECD, in addition to his other duties.
During the three year review process that checked compliance with OECD standards and benchmarks, OECD experts closely examined the policy and functioning of government offices, governmental authorities and the public sector and also met with representatives of economic and social organizations, universities and NGOs. Following this review process, recommendations on improvements and efficiencies were made.
Becoming a member state of the OECD will lead to economic advances and enhance Israel's image, as well as improving the functioning of various sectors in Israel's society and economy, including in the fields of environment, education and employment. The improvement and upgrading process will continue even after Israel joins the OECD as part of the government’s commitment to ongoing peer review by the organization and to adjust its regulation policy to the standards held by member-states.
According to Dr. Yuval Avni of Giza Venture Capital, which recently invested $20 million in LifeBond together with Aurum Ventures MKI, in some 10 to 20 percent of abdominal surgery cases, surgical staples allow leakage of fluids, which can lead to sepsis and death.
LifeBond's trademarked gelatin- and enzyme-based biological glue is the secret behind its LifeSeal GI staple line reinforcement sealant, which seals and strengthens the staple line and narrows the spaces between each staple. It cuts down on leakage, bleeding and tearing at the staple line, especially in diseased and fragile tissue. Mimicking late-stage blood coagulation, LifeSeal GI is the only medical adhesive of its kind.
The product is not like Krazy Glue but is actually a sophisticated "technology platform," explains Avner, a vascular surgeon. "We can tweak it depending on the application to glue fast or slow. Or if we want it in the body over months or days." Other bio-glues on the market, he adds, have very specific applications with no variability. "This is like a superglue that can treat all applications." (Read more)
Born from a need on the battlefield, Israeli company LifeBond has created a new application for its surgical adhesive material that seals surgical wounds to specifications. Expected to be on the European market by next year, the product addresses a serious problem on the operating table.
The physical deterioration of old age and illness is often manifested in what doctors call chronic wounds - wounds that just will not repair themselves. Petah Tikvah-based MacroCure has a product that aims to do what the body can't: Heal wounds that have festered for months, if not years.
CureXcell is unique in a number of ways, says Dr. Mitchell Shirvan, company CEO. "We believe that we have the most comprehensive approach to the problem of chronic wounds, showing a very significant reduction of the mortality rate in patients with deep sternal wound infections and a markedly improved healing rate for severe pressure ulcers."
CureXcell is made with white blood cells from healthy donors, using a safe and natural resource. Most important, says Shirvan, "our product is on the market in Israel, and it has already been administered by physicians to over 4,500 patients with severe chronic wounds that would probably have remained with them for years." (Read more)
The physical deterioration of old age and illness is often manifested in what doctors call chronic wounds - wounds that just will not repair themselves. Petah Tikvah-based MacroCure has a product that aims to do what the body can't: Heal wounds that have festered for months, if not years.
CureXcell is unique in a number of ways, says Dr. Mitchell Shirvan, company CEO. "We believe that we have the most comprehensive approach to the problem of chronic wounds, showing a very significant reduction of the mortality rate in patients with deep sternal wound infections and a markedly improved healing rate for severe pressure ulcers."
CureXcell is made with white blood cells from healthy donors, using a safe and natural resource. Most important, says Shirvan, "our product is on the market in Israel, and it has already been administered by physicians to over 4,500 patients with severe chronic wounds that would probably have remained with them for years." (Read more)
