Prof. Haim Gerti. grew up with the institute
Prof. Haim Gerti, head of the Department of Biological Chemistry, grew up in 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. 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 determined. The Weizmann Institute 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 a postdoctorate 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. At first glance it seems that Prof. Gerty and the Weizmann Institute of Science were born together, grew up and matured together, and they go from strength to strength together.
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 disrupting natural control mechanisms, causes excessive absorption of water, which subsequently causes an increase in blood pressure, which may 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 water sit). In his studies, Prof. Gerty demonstrated the central role of two proteins in the regulation of blood pressure: "sodium channels" and "sodium-potassium pumps".
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 advance the understanding of the factors that lead to an increase in blood pressure, and the ability to develop new methods and effective drug treatment for regulating blood pressure and preventing this common disorder.
