Prof. Chaim Gerti, vice president of the Weizmann Institute, passed away while serving in his position

The story of the boy who grew up in the backyard of the institute and saw the institute as "a wonderful place, surrounded by the aura of a scientific temple"

Prof. Haim Gerti told more than once how he grew up and was educated in what he liked to describe as "the backyard of the Weizmann Institute of Science". He was born in 1948 in Bulgaria, and in 1950 immigrated to Israel with his family, who settled in Rehovot. His childhood memories are thus, unsurprisingly, connected to the landscapes and gardens of the Weizmann Institute of Science. An example childhood memory: "The children of Rehovot Elementary School played an important role in the life of the institute. We were often called upon to serve as greeters for important guests from abroad. More than once they made us stand along the road leading to the institute and gave us flags to wave."

With or without connection to the waving of the flags, Haim Gerti became interested in science while still a young child. In high school (mathematical and physical major) it was already clear that he was attracted to mathematics, chemistry and biology, and his professional future, as they say, was decided. The Weizmann Institute of Science was depicted in his eyes as a "wonderful place, surrounded by the aura of a scientific temple". He completed his studies for a bachelor's degree at the Hebrew University, and went on to study for a master's degree and a doctorate in the field of biophysics at the institute, under the guidance of Prof. Roy Kaplan. After doing post-doctoral research at Columbia University, USA, he returned to the institute in 1984 as a senior researcher, and in 1988 he was promoted to the rank of associate professor. In 1997 he was promoted to the rank of professor. In this year, he also performed one of the most difficult tasks at the institute: the merger of two departments. Under his leadership, the Department of Biochemistry and the Department of Membrane Research and Biophysics were united, creating the Department of Biological Chemistry - one of the largest of the institute's departments. In 2002 he was appointed to the position of Vice President of the Institute for Technological Applications, and in 2006 to the position of Vice President.

Prof. Gerty's research contributed to the understanding of the natural processes that regulate the absorption of sodium salts in the body. It is known that increased absorption of sodium salts, as a result of disruption of natural control mechanisms, causes excessive absorption of water, which subsequently causes an increase in blood pressure, a phenomenon that in itself can cause heart disease, kidney disease and stroke (the kidney is the organ that filters the blood in the body and regulates the amount of salt and the water in it). In his studies, Prof. Gerty demonstrated the central role of two proteins in blood pressure regulation: "sodium channels" and "sodium-potassium pumps", through which these substances pass into or out of the cell. He found, among other things, that the mechanisms that regulate the activity of the channels work in response to a chemical signal that is expressed in an increased release of steroid hormone from the adrenal gland. This hormone penetrates the kidney cells, binds to a unique receptor, and subsequently causes two processes: the "opening" of new channels that were not active before, and the increased formation of new channels. These studies significantly advanced our understanding of the factors that lead to an increase in blood pressure, as well as the ability to develop new methods and effective drug treatment for blood pressure regulation and the prevention of this common disorder.

In his position as the vice president for technological applications, Prof. Gerty made a number of significant and courageous decisions, which led to a significant strengthening of the institute's financial situation.

The president of the institute, Prof. Daniel Zeifman says in his memory: "Chaim was (how hard it is to say this in the past tense), a wonderful person. Smart, positive, focused, and he deeply understood the essence of the institute, its goals and the values ​​that stand at its foundation. I had the great privilege of working with him and benefiting from his wisdom for the past eight years. Haim worked and thought tirelessly, with the aim of promoting the institute and providing its scientists with everything they need to soar to new heights and exhaust their abilities. He had a rare ability to differentiate between the main thing to address, focus and simplify the problem or question - then quickly make the right decision, and immediately, without delay, move on to face the next challenge.

"The institute has lost a friend, a scientist, and a great leader. Haim's fingerprints are clearly visible and felt throughout our campus, and in each of its research laboratories. His spirit, including his unique and well-honed sense of humor, steeped in a lot of human love, will always sing with us."
Prof. Gerty left behind a wife, Nira, also a graduate of the institute, and three sons, two of whom are graduates of the institute.
Prof. Gerty's funeral will leave the Weizmann Institute of Science, to the Rehovot cemetery, on Tuesday, December 2, at 10:00.