Proof of Concept grants from the European Research Commission (ERC) are designed to transform groundbreaking research into applied and technological developments.
Two Technion researchers win ERC grant
Two Technion researchers have won advanced grants from the European Research Council (ERC). These are PoC grants of 150 euros per researcher, intended to prove feasibility and promote the translation of academic research into application and commercialization, including the establishment of start-ups. They are only given to researchers who have already won ERC grants in the past.
Prof. Lior Gepstein From the Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, who heads the Cardiology Department and Research Division at Rambam Medical Center, he will receive the grant for the development of innovative treatments for atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm disorder, a dangerous disorder that leads to increased morbidity and mortality and a heavy burden on health systems. Traditional treatments for this disorder are limited in their effectiveness and may cause damage, pain, and various side effects as a result of the disorder itself or from its treatment with medications, cauterization, and the implantation of pacemakers and defibrillators. As part of the grant, Prof. Gepstein will develop an innovative treatment for atrial fibrillation, a treatment that may also prevent the changes that occur in the heart (atrial remodeling) as a result of this disorder. The treatment is based on an innovative approach that has changed brain research – chemogenetics. This approach harnesses artificial molecules and inert drugs, which have no chemical effect on target cells, to alter the cell's electrical properties in a way that affects specific receptors in the cell.
Prof. Yoav Shechner from the Viterbi Faculty of Electrical Engineering, who was recently appointed head of the Asher Institute for Space Research at the Technion, won an ERC Synergy grant in 2018 for the CloudCT project – cloud mapping using tomography. In this project, inspired by medical CT, he and his colleagues developed cloud mapping technology based on the smart use of cameras sensitive to the polarization of light. Prof. Schachner's group later discovered that technical challenges in calibrating these cameras hamper their performance and the application of the data in mapping. As part of the project that has now won a grant, he will develop a modular calibration system for such cameras, which will be suitable for practical environmental conditions. In doing so, he says, "we are leveraging skills we have acquired in software development, optomechanics, and environmental control."
Three researchers from the Hebrew University have won prestigious research grants of 150,000 euros each from the European Union Research Foundation – ERC
The European Research Council (ERC) of the European Union announced today (Thursday) its support for a number of Israeli research proposals, three of which are led by researchers from the Hebrew University. The three researchers from the Hebrew University have previously won an ERC grant and will now receive an ERC Proof of Concept grant – follow-up funding for existing grant holders to develop ideas arising from their research to an applied stage, worth 3 euros each.
The recipients of the grants from the Hebrew University are:
Prof. Elad Gross, Head of the Surface Chemistry Laboratory and Chairman of the Chemistry Department, on the development of an innovative coating to prevent rust on iron and steel:
The formation of rust on the surface of iron and steel poses a significant technological challenge, as it weakens the material and impairs its proper functioning. Dr. Gross' research laboratory at the Hebrew University recently developed an innovative molecular coating that prevents the formation of rust on the surface of iron and steel. The two-layer coating that was developed is extremely thin, environmentally friendly, and has proven highly effective in laboratory experiments. The goal of the project is to continue developing the technology and resolve various technological barriers, in order to create an effective coating that will contribute to reducing maintenance costs and extending the lifespan of iron and steel surfaces that are used for diverse applications in the fields of transportation, shipping, aviation and space, fuel and gas transportation, and infrastructure.
Prof. Danny Ben-Zvi, a researcher at the Faculty of Medicine, for developing a product that will preserve muscle and bone mass during weight loss
Rapid weight loss through surgery, medication, and dietary and behavioral changes leads to a decrease in fat tissue mass, but also to a loss of muscle mass and bone mass. Loss of muscle and bone mass is not a desirable phenomenon, because it increases the risk of developing diseases such as sarcopenia, osteoporosis, and other medical problems related to muscle and bone weakness. With the increasing availability of weight loss drugs, there is a need to preserve muscle and bone mass for an increasing number of people. The goal of the project is to develop new molecules that will stop the loss of muscle and bone mass during weight loss, by enhancing the body's natural mechanisms that maintain muscle and bone strength.
Prof. Ami Tsetri, researcher at the Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Neuroscience on development to improve the safety and efficacy of psychiatric medications:
The goal of this project is to develop an innovative automated system called HOMECAGE, which will enable continuous and accurate monitoring of individual mouse behavior within a group, while preserving social structure. The system will support preclinical trials to study the efficacy and safety of psychiatric drugs, while improving efficiency, precision and reducing costs, and advancing the development of safer and more effective drugs for neurological and psychiatric diseases.
