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Message from the President

REPORTN o v e m b e r 2 0 0 63

I am pleased to see the third report that celebrates the ever-growing activities of the National Institute for Biotechnologyin the Negev. Developments are moving at a rapid pace,thanks to the dedication and unbridled energies of the newly-appointed Director, long-time Deputy-Director, Prof. VardaShoshan-Barmatz. She has nurtured the NIBN through infancy,always acting with a deep concern for the researchers andtheir scientific goals. She is deeply committed to realizingthe ultimate goals of the Institute and to maintaining theexcitement and momentum of creating a new entity. We aretherefore delighted that she has agreed to take on theleadership challenge as the Institute steps into a new phaseof its growth.

Under Prof. Shoshan-Barmatz, the NIBN has recentlyundergone some significant structural changes, includingsteps towards establishing it as an independent legal corporateentity. Also, negotiations with the Government regardingpromised funding are nearing completion, despite the recentwar.

We are grateful for the dedication of a group of scientistsrenowned in biotechnology around the globe, including:Nobel Prize laureates Prof. Sir Aaron Klug OM FRS andProf. Aaron Ciechanover; and admired scientists Prof.Raymond Dwek FRS and Prof. Philip Needleman.Furthermore, the vision, insight and magnanimous supportof Dr. h.c. Edgar de Picciotto of Switzerland have led theway, joined more recently by newer partners, the KahnHumanitarian Fund and the Yeshaya Horowitz Association,both of Israel. Our gratitude to all of these exceptionalindividuals, who have devoted both time and concern to thedevelopment of the NIBN, goes beyond mere thanks.

As we begin the new academic year, I wish our dedicatedteam under the leadership of the International AdvisoryCommittee and Director Prof. Shoshan-Barmatz a year ofexciting new challenges and advancement.

Sincerely,

Prof. Rivka Carmi, M.D.President

Colonies of Bacillus sp. (Magnified x100)

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Teaming Challengeswith Vision

Prof. Varda Shoshan-Barmatz, Director

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The National Institute forBiotechnology in the Negev:Entering a new phase

As I assume the challenge of leading the NIBN, I would like to outline the changesnow underway at the Institute. The NIBN is in the process of transforming itselfinto the first academic institute modeled on a self-organized, independent researchinstitute developed in Israel. Research carried out under its auspices is both basicand applied in nature. As an independent entity, NIBN is responsible for choosingits members, allocating resources for its staff, selecting appropriate researchprojects, and evaluating its research standards.

As incoming Director, I am working to build a roster of NIBN members who arecommitted to realizing these goals. Towards this end, Advisory Scientific Committees(ASC), composed of NIBN members, scientists from BGU and others from industryare completing detailed reviews of current members’ research projects in orderto elucidate their biotechnology potential.

Our primary scientific aim is to provide a natural home for the key areas ofbiotechnology that are emerging from rapid developments in biology andbiomedicine. These areas will form the core research to be conducted at the NIBN.At the same time, it is imperative that we enhance and secure organizational andfinancial support for the research and education agenda of our members. Thenew model includes a mechanism to judge results and as such, the Institute iscommitted to taking an active role in encouraging its members' success inbiotechnological research, while educating a highly-skilled and intellectuallypowerful new workforce. For their part, members must contribute to advancingthe goals of the Institute by exploiting their complementary strengths in both basicand applied research to make major strides forward in their research. The combinedefforts of the University, the International Advisory Committee (IAC) and Institutemembers will assure the evolution of advanced biotechnology at the NIBN.Moreover, while developing into a world-class scientific research center withinits stated fields of specialization, the Institute will have to meet the challenge offorging links between scientists and industry.

Clearly, this is not a simple task. However, with the encouragement of the IAC,which comprises Prof. Sir Aaron Klug, Prof. Raymond Dwek, Prof. PhilipNeedleman and Prof. Aaron Ciechanover, together with our President and Vice-President and Dean for Research and Development, Profs. Rivka Carmi and MotiHerskowitz, respectively, there is no doubt that we will rise to these challenges.

I would also like to take this opportunity to extend my wholehearted thanks toProf. Irun Cohen, who served as the Director from November 2004 until July2006, for his work on behalf of the NIBN. Prof. Irun Cohen was a member of theteam which founded BGU's Faculty of Health Sciences some 30 years ago. TheInternational Advisory Committee, together with then-President Prof. AvishayBraverman, Prof. Rivka Carmi and Prof. Moti Herskowitz, were pleased to attractProf. Cohen to the position. I had the opportunity to work closely with Prof. Cohenwhile serving as Deputy-Director under his tenure and was able to see first-handhow he brought his wide range of interests and expertise to the NIBN. Our teammade considerable progress in developing the NIBN and preparing the groundworkfor the Government of Israel’s plans for its long-term partnership in funding theInstitute.

As we begin the new academic year, I would like to thank the members of thevarious committees for their devotion of time, efforts and continued support ofthe NIBN.

The challenges of creating a new model forexcellence in research at the National Institute forBiotechnology in the Negev (NIBN) have beenmany. Our goal as the International AdvisoryCommittee has been to create a unique and excitingenvironment for scientists from different disciplinesof medicine, biology and engineering to worktogether under the umbrella of the nascent NationalInstitute.

We envisioned the overall model as being onewhich would serve as a magnet, connectinginnovative people emanating from differentresearch subjects and structures and providing theopportunity for researchers to work and collaboratein entirely new ways. Today, the NIBN memberscan recognize new challenges and create newresearch strategies to address them, as well asexplore emerging issues in depth, in a researchenvironment that is designed to respond to theirinterdisciplinary needs. In such a way, the Instituteis expected to enable new advances inbiotechnology and to serve as the glue and linksbetween academia and industry.

As ongoing supporters of this newly-formedacademic entity, we are very pleased to see thatthe NIBN is ready to move on to a new phase undernew leadership. The incoming Director, Prof. VardaShoshan-Barmatz, has enthusiastically andeffectively taken the challenge to move into a newphase of development and lead it to internationalrecognition. The objective today is to search fornew opportunities for innovations in the field ofbiotechnology and that requires the insights andknowledge of individuals in academia.

The winds of excitement and adventure are nowblowing in the rejuvenated NIBN and we trulybelieve that the Institute is marching towards adefined strategic set of goals in biotechnologicalresearch and will begin to fulfill its envisagedfunction of acting as a catalyst for developingbiotechnology in the Negev.

These are stimulating times. However, it is clearthat significant additional funding is pivotal toachieving the goals of the Institute to promoteinnovative research. We are confident that theNIBN is facing an exciting future.

Prof. Sir Aaron Klug OM FRS, ChairmanProf. Raymond Dwek FRSProf. Philip Needleman

The International Advisory Committee

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Honoring NIBN Supporters

The Centennial Anniversary of David Ben-Gurion’s Aliyah toIsrael was marked during the 36th Annual Board of GovernorsMeeting in May 2006 with the presentation of a specialaward recognizing nine outstanding individuals for their“tremendous contributions to the University and the Negev,which have had an immeasurable impact on the region.”Edgar D. de Picciotto of Switzerland, the visionary forcebehind the creation of the National Institute for Biotechnologyin the Negev, was among the recipients, honored for hisforesight and magnanimous support for further developmentof the NIBN.

Also during the Board of Governors meeting, two specialfriends of the NIBN were recognized. Morris S. Kahn,founder of Amdocs, the Aurec Group and other hi-tech andcommunications ventures, received an Honorary DoctoralDegree for his ongoing support of the University and hiscontributions to science, humanity and culture through wide-ranging philanthropic activities focused on scholarship andconcern for others. The generous philanthropic support ofthe Morris Kahn Humanitarian (MKH) Fund has allowed forthe recruitment of young scientists with top credentials intheir fields from leading academic institutions worldwide toBGU.

Yair Green was awarded an Honorary Doctoral Degree inacknowledgment of his support of higher education in Israeland in particular, assistance to the University in fulfilling itsvision to develop the Negev through the Yeshaya HorowitzAssociation. As a member of the University's Board ofGovernors and its Executive Committee, Yair Green is anactive partner in realizing the University's mission. As foundingdirector of the Yeshaya Horowitz Association, he has spurredinnovative research in the fields of nanotechnology andbiotechnology and supports the scientists at the NIBN,amongst other endeavors at BGU.

Marking the honorary degrees bestowed upon Yair Greenand Morris Kahn, a conference on: “Biotechnology: Industryand Academic” was held. Edgar de Picciotto, Yair Green andMorris Kahn had the opportunity to hold discussions withthe NIBN team while at the University and learn about plansto develop sophisticated, state-of-the art laboratories, so asto make the Institute one of the most attractive researchcenters in Israel.

From left: outgoing President Avishay Braverman, President Rivka Carmi,Edgar D. de Picciotto,

From left: President Rivka Carmi, Morris S. Kahn,Rector Jimmy Weinblatt

From left: President Rivka Carmi, Yair Green, Rector Jimmy Weinblatt

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4

Thinking SmallDr. Levi Gheber

Our lab conducts research in a variety of

interdisciplinary fields, largely but not

exclusively on issues relating to

nanobiotechnology. Nanobiotechnology

is understood as nanotechnology using

biological materials and building blocks,

or alternatively, biotechnology at nano

scales. Whatever the definition, we are

interested in very small biological objects

and ways to use them wisely to create

something useful.

We make intensive use of scanning

probe microscopy (SPM) in conventional

(AFM, NSOM) and in less conventional

ways (nano fountain pen), both to create

small structures and to characterize them.

We also make intensive use of optical

(fluorescence) microscopy in conventional

and less conventional ways (TIRFM). We

are constantly swinging from field to field

– from cell biology to condensed matter

physics, chemistry (organic, bio and photo),

advanced microscopy, digital signal and

image processing, and others. We hope

that what we are doing will find

applications in biochips, bioelectronics,

lab-on-a-chip, biosensors, t issue

engineering, etc.

A few of the projects and achievements

of our laboratory are described below.

Towards nano arrayed biosensorsand lab-on-a-chip.The basic definition of a biosensor is “A

type of biomolecular probe that measures

the presence or concentration of biological

molecules, biological structures, etc., by

translating a biochemical interaction at the

probe surface into a quantifiable physical

signal such as light or electric pulses.”

The well-known DNA chip consists

essentially of many DNA sensors placed

in an array. Each array entry reports the

detection of its complementary sequence

(by fluorescence). The concept of arrayed

biosensors is a very powerful one and can

be applied to many other biomolecules.

Protein chips, for example, though not as

widespread as DNA or RNA chips, are in

common use.

It may seem surprising, but one of the

problems with the current technology of

arrayed biosensors is the size of the

systems. Although in themselves

biosensors are very small, the technology

required is non-portable. Actually reading

the reported data calls for a fully equipped

laboratory, expensive equipment and

trained personnel – facilities found only

in research institutes, large companies and

hospitals. At present, therefore, the idea

of using arrayed biosensors to monitor the

quality of food on supermarket shelves,

drinking water in rivers and lakes,

biological threats in the atmosphere or

levels of various molecules in the

bloodstream of patients still seems an

unattainable dream. Yet this dream could

be realized if we could integrate an entire

laboratory on a chip that would be both

portable and autonomous, i.e. that would

be capable of collecting samples,

performing the required actions –

purification, amplification, labelling, etc.

– and reporting the results. This is precisely

the concept known as lab-on-a-chip.

Obviously, an important step on the way

to achieving such an ambitious goal is to

miniaturize the array of biosensors.

Nowadays bioarrays are manufactured

by a technique that yields single spots

(each spot is an individual biosensor)

approximately 100 µm in size and arranged

at approximately 300 µm intervals. We

are developing the technology to reduce

these dimensions by a factor of 1,000. Our

manufacturing tool is the nanopipette

(originally developed by Prof. Aaron Lewis

of HUJI), which consists of a capillary

tube drawn into a sharp tip with an aperture

of ~100 nm. The nanopipette is mounted

as a probe on a scanning probe microscope

(SPM) and can be controlled with

nanometric precision in three directions

(x,y,z). It is filled with a solution which is

drawn to the tip by capillary forces but

does not flow out unless the pipette is

contacted with a substrate. Upon contact,

minuscule volumes of solution are

delivered to the surface. This is known as

the nano fountain pen (NFP) method.

Protein printingWe have demonstrated our ability to print

spots of proteins ~200 nm in diameter and

spaced ~300 nm apart. Such a reduction

in dimensions increases the information

density by a factor of about 1,000,000 as

compared with existing technologies. This

could be a first step towards the ability to

take the biosensor array on a microscope

slide and fit it on an area one million times

smaller. The figure below shows spots of

green fluorescent protein (GFP) printed

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5

using NFP, as well as GFP lines. The image

on the left was obtained using atomic force

microscopy (AFM) and the one on the

right, with conventional fluorescence

microscopy.

Enzymatic nanolithographyMicrofluidics is a sub-discipline that has

emerged as a result of the continuous

efforts invested by the scientific community

in the development of a lab-on-a-chip. It

is evident that such an autonomous device

must be based on the fluidics associated

with collecting minute (fluid) samples and

transferring and processing them, which

in turn involves very small channels, wells,

pumps, valves, etc. All these are of interest

to microfluidics and microelectro-

mechanical systems (MEMS).

To reduce the size of arrayed biosensors

by three orders of magnitude (in one

dimension), one has to reduce the fluidics

and associated devices accordingly, leading

to nanofluidics and nanoelectromechanical

systems (NEMS).

Our approach to nanofluidics involves

proteolytic enzymes. These are enzymes

that hydrolyze peptide bonds and thus cut

proteins. The application of minute

volumes of proteolytic enzyme solutions

onto protein films creates depressions, like

wells and channels. In particular, we have

shown how channels and wells of

nanometric dimensions can be formed and

controlled using trypsin to etch bovine

serum albumin (BSA) substrates. The

advantage in using enzymatic etching is

that the etchant specifically recognizes its

substrate, unlike in the inorganic world

(for example, HF etching silicon oxide.)

Owing to this recognition, it is possible to

engineer substrates and appropriate

enzymes to selectively etch three

d imens iona l nanos t ruc tu re s i n

proteinaceous surfaces.

Polymer microlensesUsing the NFP method, it is possible to

deposit small drops of monomer solution,

which can be subsequently polymerized,

to yield spherical caps that act as

microlenses. We are able to produce

microlenses as small as 4 µm. in diameter

by this technique and position them with

nanometric accuracy in places of interest.

We have shown that using such

microlenses enables us to enhance the

fluorescent signal emitted by, for instance,

the fluorescent spots of a nanobiochip.

Nano molecularly imprintedpolymers (MIPs)In molecular imprinting, a target molecule

acts as a template around which cross-

linking monomers are arranged and

copolymerized to form a cast-like shell.

Initially, the monomers form a complex

with the template through covalent or non-

covalent bonds. After polymerization and

removal of the template, binding sites

complementary to the template are held in

place by the cross-

linked structure.

T h e t h r e e -

d i m e n s i o n a l

m o l e c u l a r l y

imprinted polymer

(MIP) network is

patterned with

nanometer-sized

cavities, capable

of se lect ively

binding the target.

MIPs are called

“plastic antibodies” and can be used as

artificial receptors of molecules. They offer

substantial advantages over natural

receptors due to their much greater stability

and lower cost of production.

Using the nano fountain pen, we are

able to create arrays of nanometer-scale

MIPs by a technique similar to that

employed to create microlenses.

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6

Dr. Ruth Birk

The expression of genetic information can

be highly dependent upon, and be regulated

by, nutrients found in food. The study of

how genes and gene products interact with

dietary compounds to alter phenotype and,

conversely, how gene products metabolize

nutrients, is termed nutritional genomics

or “nutrigenomics.” The new field of

nutrigenomics thus combines medicine,

genomic research and the science of

nutrition to examine the complex

interactions between diet and the human

genome. Nutrigenomics is interested in

food insofar as it comprises complex

dietary compounds, some with bioactive

or pharmacological properties. In the

laboratory of Dr. Ruth Birk, nutrigenomics

research, specifically addressing dietary

lipids and their effects on fat digestion by

the exocrine pancreas and storage in

adipose tissue, is being conducted.

Fats are an essential part of our diet,

serving as a key factor in normal function

and development throughout life, especially

in infancy. However, the same molecules

also act as facilitators of major chronic

diseases such as arteriosclerosis, diabetes

and obesity. Absorption of fat into the

body depends on its breakdown by

enzymes. The interaction of nutrients,

hormonal factors and neural factors in the

regulation of pancreatic digestive enzymes

has yet to be fully understood. We do know

that such regulation can work in two

directions: On the one hand, it is important

as a means of enabling digestion of fat,

thereby facilitating the entry of specific

essential fatty acids into the body. On the

other hand, inhibitory regulation can act

to prevent overflow of fat into the body,

obviating the development of chronic

diseases.

One of the goals of Dr. Birk’s research

is to optimize the digestion of different

types of fats by pancreatic enzymes in

neonates. Dietary fat, both in breast milk

and in formulas, is the largest source of

energy during infancy, accounting for

~50% of caloric intake. The Birk group

addresses special fat groups, such as the

long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids that

play a key role in brain and normal retinal

development during infancy, as well as

medium chain fatty acids, given as

supplements to facilitate growth of

underweight pre-term babies. The Birk

laboratory has demonstrated that medium

chain fatty acid fortification of neonates’

diet beyond a certain threshold actually

diminishes the generation of pancreatic

enzymes, leading to diminished, rather

than enhanced, absorption of fat. Other

work in the laboratory showed that over-

consumption of saturated fatty acids – an

important element of the Western diet –

causes intracellular accumulation of fat in

exocrine pancreas tissue and is associated

with cellular dysfunction and cell death,

ultimately contributing to the pathogenesis

of pancreatic diseases.

Dr. Birk is also exploring the biological

signals that control satiety and hunger and

the mechanisms through which such signals

regulate the synthesis and secretion of

digestive enzymes, thereby controlling the

entry of foods into the body. Her group

showed that some of the signals regulating

satiety and hunger also control the release

or inhibition of digestive enzymes. Future

modification of these signals could serve

as pharmaceutical tools for reducing the

digestion and absorption of dietary fats.

Fat storage is another area under

investigation by the Birk group. Obesity

has reached epidemic proportions in the

Western world, as indicated by recent

reports showing that 25-30% of the West’s

population can be classified as obese.

Obesity is strongly and positively linked

to increased risk of developing chronic

diseases. In the body, adipose tissue

develops from “innocent” pre-adipocytes

into fully differentiated storage cells

possessing the metabolic capability to

efficiently store fat, a process during which

several genes are sequentially activated in

a known sequence. Dr. Birk’s team is

studying one such set of genes. The research

is of interest not only in terms of basic

science but in that it may also serve as a

first step towards the development of new

pharmacological solutions designed to

facilitate or inhibit the development of

adipose tissue.

Towards a strategy for fighting obesity:Understanding the digestion, absorption and accumulation of dietary fats

Fat cell (adipocyte) filled with fat droplets(magnified x100).

A typical cluster of exocrine pancreas cells (acini)(magnified x 40).

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7

By learning how to reign in “communities”

of microorganisms, microbial ecology, the

study of such communities, holds great

promise in the service of mankind. Of the

thousands of potential applications

imaginable, the ability to grow bacteria

capable of producing enzymes for

industrial use or biomaterials for

biomedical needs is widely used. Microbes

play useful roles as bio-degraders or

“bioremediators” of wastewater and

polluted areas. These and other applications

have helped place research into microbial

diversity at the forefront of scientific

research today. Such efforts are presently

limited, however, by the fact that although

bacteria are found all around us, current

cultivation methods only enable scientists

to grow less then 1 percent of these

organisms in the laboratory. That leaves a

lot of work for Dr. Ariel Kushmaro, a

specialist in the field of microbial ecology

and head of the Microbiological

Biotechnology Laboratory in the National

Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev

(NIBN).

Dr. Kushmaro was awarded a Ph.D.

with distinction from Tel Aviv University

and then trained as a Postdoctoral Fellow

at the Kevin Center for the Study of

Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Hebrew

University of Jerusalem, and in the

Depar tment of Organismic and

Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University.

Upon arriving at Ben-Gurion University

(BGU) in 2001, Dr. Kushmaro established

a laboratory for the study of microbial

ecology and biotechnology. Today, the

Kushmaro laboratory is working towards

developing novel technologies for the

culturing of previously “uncultured”

microorganisms. One promising approach

uses agar sphere polymeric encapsulation

platform technology, where a double layer

encapsulation method that allows capturing

single microorganisms in an agar sphere

is employed. By encasing the sphere in a

polymeric membrane that restricts the

movement of the microorganisms but

allows diffusible to pass freely, Dr.

Kushmaro is able to retrieve novel

microorgan isms f rom d i f fe ren t

environments such as soil or ocean waters.

His lab is also trying to develop high

throughput screening techniques for the

detection of sub-inhibitory concentrations

of anti-microbial compounds from various

environments.

As a Ph.D. student, Dr. Kushmaro

attracted international attention for his

Dr. Ariel Kushmaro

work on the bleaching and subsequent

damage of certain species of coral caused

by bacterial infection. Continuing in this

direction at BGU, Kushmaro has recently

discovered a novel protist-coral association

and described the ecological role of this

interaction. The members of the Kushmaro

lab are now engaged in a range of

investigations from coral microbial ecology

and diseases to the antimicrobial activity

of coral-associated microorganisms.

The approaches being developed by

Dr. Kushmaro and his team will help open

a window onto the world of uncultured

microorganisms, with the ultimate aim of

increasing the possibility of detecting novel

and potentially useful antimicrobial agents.

Given the current need for novel antibiotics

and enzymes, such research is undoubtedly

of high value to the pharmaceutical

industry.

Growing the ”Uncultured“ Microbial Majority

Protist from Fungia granulosa coral mucus A) A large number of protists embedded in the epidermis of F. granulosa. Note the zooxanthellae in gastrodermisB) Photomicrograph of a single protist embedded in the coral epidermis stained by toluidine blue. C) SEM of a protist embedded in the coral epidermisD) Transmission electron micrograph of an protist showing its nucleus. Note the coccoid bodies are encased in a membrane, and the cell body is actuallyembedded in the coral tissue (See, E. Kramarsky-Winter, M Harel, N Siboni, E Ben Dov, I. Brickner, Y. Loya and A. Kushmaro. 2006. Identificationof a protist-coral association and its possible ecological role. Marine Ecology Progress Series 317: 67-73)

Encapsulated spheres incubated on coral Fungia granulosa surface (A). Micro-colonies of bacteriain agar spheres after 3 weeks as observed under the microscope (B).

A

B

A B C D

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Recent Special Events (May-October)Conferences

Grants Awarded

Conference on: “Biotechnology: Industry and Academia”, in honor of Yair Green and Morris Kahn, BGU, May 31, 2006

“Frontiers in Microscopy: The BGU 300 KV Electron Microscope,”inaugural mini-symposium, organized by Dr. O. Medalia.May 28, 2006“Biotechnology: Industry and Academia,” held in honor ofYair Green and Morris Kahn, BGU, May 31, 2006Internal workshop of NIBN scientists, Sede Boqer, July 2, 2006

“From shrimp gender to cancer therapy – Pharmapox annual meeting,” organized by Prof. A. Sagi, Nov. 9-12, 2006“GLYFDIS - The European Commission - 6th Framework Programmeeting”, organized by Prof. Angel Porgador, Dead sea, Israel, Dec. 7-9, 2006“The Negev Systems Biology Get Together.” A mini-conference organized by Dr. E. Rubin, Feb. 20, 2007.

Meeting with the NIBN International Advisory Committee (IAC),including Prof. Sir A. Klug, Prof. P. Needelman and Prof. R. Dwek,May 28-30, 2006. A second 3-day meeting will be held onDec.10-12, 2006.Meetings with special advisors to NIBN and with leaders of biotechnology companies:

Auriga Group - Dr. Uriel Halavee and Prof. Shmuel BukstanBioDiscovery Israel - Prof. Max Herzberg (founder of Orgenics, VBL, Vecta and chairman of Sepal Ltd., a cancer drug company)Biotech Development Consultants (BDC) - Dr. Christian Policard, Adv. Nicole Burle, Dr. Michel Kaczorek (Paris, France)Bio-Rad Haifa, Ltd. (formerly Proteoptics Ltd.)Cabilly Shmuel - Established several companies in Israel, and is a former CTO of Invitrogen Israel, and a holder of the'Cabilly' patentInvitrogen Israel - Dr. Uri Yogev and associatesKeddem Bioscience, Ltd - Dr. Dror OferAnkersmith - Dr. Nir NavotAnigma - Dr. Zeev SmilanskiDr. Anat Eitan, Hagit Sepkuty-Beckenstein - Special advisors to NIBN

At these meetings, NIBN was presented as the first academic modelof a self-organized, independent research institute to be developed

Upcoming Conferences

Industry Contacts and Visits to NIBN

NIBN members were awarded grants from the followingcompetitive foundations: BSF, DIP, GIF and the EuropeanCommission - 6th Framework Program.

Dr. Amir Aharoni (will start Dec. 2006) was awarded a grantof $500,000 from The Legacy Heritage Fund and the IsraelScience Foundation.

During the last year, NIBN members published papers inleading journals such as, Nature Genetics, Proc. Nat. Acd.Sci. USA., Nature protocols, Nano Letters, J. Biol. Chem.,J. Immuno, Nature Immunology

in Israel, under whose auspices both basic and applied researchwill be carried out. It was moreover pointed out that the NIBNis designed to bridge academia and industry. All meetingswere held at NIBN and were accompanied by a visit to theelectron microscope and other units. Discussions concerningpossible collaborations with these companies are ongoing,with some agreements already in preparation.

The National Institutefor Biotechnology in the Negev

Beer-Sheva, 84105, Israel

Tel: 972-8-6461912

Fax: 972-8-6272983

Website: nibn.bgu.ac.il

E-mail: nibn@bgu.ac.il

Director:

Prof. Varda Shoshan-Barmatz

vardasb@bgu.ac.il

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

Publications