The project is led by Dr. Dorit Avni from the Miguel * Research Institute, Director General of the Ministry of Science and Technology: "Receiving the grant from Horizon 2020 is undoubtedly an impressive achievement and international recognition that not many reach. The achievement proves the importance of the research and its groundbreakingness"
A grant of 7.5 million euros was awarded by HORIZON 2020, the European Union's research and development program, to the Algae4IBD research project led by Dr. Dorit Avni, a senior researcher at the Miguel Research Institute of the Galilee Development Company, supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology. The purpose of the grant is to promote a breakthrough in the development of natural materials from algae, for pharmaceutical solutions based on algae and functional foods, for innovative treatments for chronic inflammatory diseases that currently have no cure, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD, colitis and Crohn's disease).
HORIZON 2020, an organization of the European Union, is the largest platform in the world for financing research, analysis and innovation in the world, with a total budget of approximately 77 billion euros. The research and development program of the European Community provides funding to various sectors and entities, with the aim of promoting technological excellence in Europe and partner countries including the State of Israel, cooperation in research, development and innovation.
The Director General of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Shai Lee Spigelman says: "Congratulations to Dr. Dorit Avni and the Miguel Research Institute and the team of co-researchers. Receiving the grant from Horizon 2020 is undoubtedly an impressive achievement and international recognition that not many reach. The achievement proves the importance of the research and being a pioneer in finding an effective treatment using algae for inflammatory diseases. The Ministry of Science and Technology will continue to support, develop and encourage the existence and performance of applied research and development in the peripheral areas through the regional R&D centers that the Ministry supports, through researchers from the region and for the region and mutual rapprochement between science and the community in general and the community in the periphery in particular."
Dr. Dorit Avni says: "Winning the grant is the most significant achievement in my work as a research scientist and thanks to it we will carry out groundbreaking research and development at Miguel that will lead to new solutions for diseases that have no therapeutic response. The research will be carried out in an international collaboration in which 21 parties will participate, among them, my research partners at Miguel, in the field of natural materials and analytical chemistry, Prof. Suleiman Khativ. The fact that my idea, a cream for skin and tendons and followed by many partners in the project, excites me greatly. I am glad that the European Union has chosen to invest in this research program, over all other ideas. This is wonderful feedback for me as a researcher and I wish my partners and me great success."
Research institutes and industrial companies from Europe and partners participate in the research grant: France, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Czech Republic, Hungary, Belgium, Germany and Slovakia. From Israel, the Miguel Research Institute, which leads the association and the Yamoja company, are partners in the cultivation of algae established in 2017 and located in the Tel-Hai Industrial Park.
The field of research and the use of algae is gaining momentum in research and industry and is arousing great interest among entrepreneurs and researchers, who see algae as a central branch of agriculture in the future. Algae are used for a variety of applications, including as a source of protein for human use directly or indirectly, through fish feed in aquaculture, water treatment, medicine, nutrition and cosmetics. Despite the knowledge that has accumulated in the world about algae, being rich sources of protein, vitamins, anti-inflammatory substances and other beneficial substances, only 10-15 of the tens of thousands of known varieties of algae, including chlorella, spirulina, ulaba and more, are used for commercial use.
Algae are divided into two main types: macroalgae (seaweeds) and microalgae (single-celled organisms that use the sun for growth and photosynthesis). Macroalgae have been used in the kitchen for thousands of years (for sushi, nori, wakame, etc.) and also seaweeds of the type Avalva and Gracilaria. Algae contain active substances that are good for humans, such as antioxidants and substances that affect inflammatory processes.
In Dr. Dorit Avni's laboratory for the study of natural substances and regulation of the immune system, at the Miguel Research Institute, studies are conducted in the field of extracting natural substances such as: algae, mushrooms, quinoa, etc., in order to determine their effect on chronic inflammation and the immune system, to characterize the unique biological substance in the natural substances and determine its suitability as a source of components related to the control of the immune system such as sphingolipids.
In the last ten months, since the outbreak of the corona epidemic, intensive research has been conducted to discover the mechanism that causes the cytokine storm in corona patients and the effect of spirulina algae to eradicate this mechanism.
The Miguel Research Institute is a regional mega R&D center of the Israeli Ministry of Science and Technology owned by the Galilee Development Company located in Kiryat Shmona, an internationally recognized multidisciplinary applied research institute, specializing in biotechnology and computer science, plant science, precision agriculture, environmental science, food, nutrition and health. Recognized as a powerhouse of applied research, which collaborates with academic institutions, industry, innovative start-up companies, peer research institutes and more.
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"Dr. Dorit Avni says: "Winning the grant is the most significant achievement in my work as a research scientist and thanks to it we will carry out groundbreaking research and development at Miguel that will lead to new solutions for diseases that have no therapeutic response."
Very nice, Dr. Avni, that you already know for sure about breakthroughs that are expected to come in the future. A little modesty wouldn't hurt...
Congratulations and all the rest, but Miguel isn't it these guys who promised a quick vaccine for Corona? For some reason after all the noise and ringing we don't hear too much from them on this issue.