The Birax scientific research academic exchange program brings together world -renowned scientists for advances in regenerative medicine.
A British-Israeli scientific collaboration in regenerative medicine has financed more than 7 million pounds (9.1 million dollars) in 15 bilateral research programs in a variety of projects, including stem cell treatments for multiple sclerosis and the disease ofParkinson and therapies for type 1 diabetes.
The British Council and the British embassy in Israel published on Wednesday the results of the innovative multimillionaire program called Birax (Great Britain Israel Research Academic Exchange).Birax was jointly launched by the prime ministers of the United Kingdom and Israel with the aim of gathering world leading scientists to advance progress in regenerative medicine.
The program has since become the flagship of the United Kingdom Science Association / Israel, the British Council and the Embassy said in a statement on Wednesday.
Focusing on the initial collaboration, the program brought together more than 1,000 scientists, including doctoral and postdoctoral students from 120 institutions, and resulted in a revolutionary research published in 30 leading scientific publications.The projects included the development of a breath test to detect Parkinson's disease and the reconstruction of damaged heart cells using stem cells.
“Birax is the cornerstone of scientific cooperation between the United Kingdom and Israel.Both countries are scientific superpowers, but we can achieve more working together, ”said British ambassador to Israel David Quarrey in the statement.“Birax works because it addresses some of the greatest challenges of world medicine -such as Parkinson, Alzheimer's, diabetes and heart disease -through authentic alliances of collaboration between world -class scientists in the United Kingdom and Israel.Now we are studying an ambitious new program for the next five years, through which we want to further deepen the outstanding cooperation between scientists from both countries. ”
The current program, a joint initiative of the British Council, the British embassy in Israel, the United Kingdom Science and Innovation NetGroup of 26 leading scientists from both countries.The group has four Nobel Awards, three members of the House of Lores, presidents of Universities and some of the most eminent scientists in the world.
"Birax serves as an excellent example of what can be achieved through the exchange of knowledge and experience, helping to promote understanding and friendship between Israel and the United Kingdom, which is an important objective of our work in the British Council"said Christian Dunmbumb, director of the British Council in Israel.
Source: The Times of Israel - Translation: Silvia Schnessel