U.S.-Israel Binational Science Foundation

👏 Congratulations to the recipients of the second round of 2024 Rahamimoff Travel Grants for Young Scientists! The Rahamimoff Travel Grant program connects exceptional Ph.D. students from Israel and the U.S. through valuable cross-border research opportunities. This year, Israeli students will access top-tier facilities and expertise in the U.S., collaborating on pioneering research in medicine, neuroscience, physics, computational science, aging, agriculture, and more. 🎓 Meet the awardees and their research pursuits: Bar-Ilan University 🔹 Mr. Ron Nagar – Investigating how SIRT6 protects against age-related chromatin deterioration at the NIH’s National Institute on Aging. Ben-Gurion University of the Negev 🔹 Ms. Alaa Abu ahmad – Exploring resilience in stress-related disorders at UC Berkeley. 🔹 Mr. Lior Fine – Developing advanced crop mapping systems with satellite and aerial data at the University of Maryland. 🔹 Ms. Keren Iudanov – Enhancing catalyst efficiency through data science at the University of Utah. Tel Aviv University 🔹 Ms. Roni Gattegno – Advancing brain cancer treatment with ultrasound and nanobubbles at Columbia University. 🔹 Ms. Nuha Diab – Addressing super-resolution challenges in computational imaging at the University of Washington. 🔹 Mr. Ofir Blumer – Improving molecular dynamics simulations with stochastic resetting at the University of Colorado, Boulder. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem 🔹 Mr. Alexander Prosnyakov – Measuring beta-neutrino correlations for quantum research at UCLA. Weizmann Institute of Science 🔹 Mr. Tal Barkai – Mapping human thyroid function using spatial transcriptomics at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. These BSF travel grants represent a vibrant exchange of talent between U.S. and Israeli Ph.D. students. The collaborations fostered through these awards promise to significantly enhance their research and accelerate their professional development. ❗️The next deadline to apply is Wednesday, 28 May 2025. 🏅 Explore the full list of current and past awardees: https://lnkd.in/dMfMeUW #BSFTravelGrant #USIsraelCollaboration #PhDResearch #ScientificPartnerships

Love thrives on connection - not competition. But new BSF-funded research suggests that seeing someone flirt with your partner might not spark passion - it could actually diminish it. U.S.-Israel collaborators Prof. Gurit Birnbaum (Reichman University) and Prof. Harry Reis (University of Rochester) found that witnessing unwanted flirtation triggers a self-protective response, leading to lower desire and less investment in the relationship. Across three experiments, participants who saw their partner being hit on - whether in imagined scenarios, virtual reality, or real-life recollections - reported feeling less romantic desire and were less willing to invest in the relationship. Rather than reinforcing attachment, external attention appeared to create emotional distance, possibly as a defense mechanism against potential rejection. Love is complicated, but U.S.-Israel collaboration is helping us make sense of it. By bringing together leading psychologists from both countries, BSF-funded research sheds light on the forces that shape our relationships - offering deeper insights into what strengthens (and weakens) the bonds that hold us together. Happy Valentine's Day! ❤️ 🔗 Read more here:https://lnkd.in/e59EMpZc 👉 See the full study: https://lnkd.in/ens3KHMt #ValentinesDay #LoveAndScience #BSFfunded #Psychology #US_Israel #Collaboration

This International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we're highlighting Prof. Tamar Wainstock of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, whose research is transforming our understanding of pregnancy risks, reproductive health, and environmental influences. With support from an active BSF grant, Prof. Wainstock is leading a U.S.-Israel collaboration with Dr. Jeremy Sarnat of Emory University to investigate risk factors for recurrent preterm birth. Using environmental metabolomics, their study explores how air pollution, stress, and toxins contribute to preterm births - offering vital insights that could improve maternal care and public health policies. Prof. Wainstock’s work extends far beyond pregnancy outcomes. Over nearly a decade, she has led studies revealing how air pollution increases the risk of gestational diabetes, fetal health complications, and even male fertility decline. A prolific researcher, she has published over 200 scientific papers, advancing our understanding of how environmental exposures shape reproductive health and long-term well-being. Her research has profound real-world implications. By analyzing extensive hospital records, her team has linked pregnancy complications to childhood health risks up to age 18, shedding light on how early-life exposures shape long-term well-being. Her studies have also revealed how fertility treatments may slightly increase the risk of childhood malignancies - a crucial finding in Israel, where assisted reproductive technologies are widely used. Beyond scientific discovery, Prof. Wainstock is committed to driving policy change. Her research highlights how even small environmental regulations can significantly improve birth outcomes, demonstrating the power of science to shape healthier communities. As a scientist, she stands out not only for the depth of her research but for its tangible impact on public health. This #WomenInScienceDay, we celebrate her dedication to advancing knowledge and improving lives. Learn more about her groundbreaking work: https://lnkd.in/dxW3ZYNf #BSFfunding #WomenInSTEM #US_Israel #Collaboration #PretermBirth #Epidemiology #MaternalHealth

When brain signals go awry, the effects can be devastating. Imagine a well-coordinated orchestra, where every instrument plays in sync. In our brains, protein kinase A (PKA) acts like a conductor, ensuring that neurons communicate properly for learning, memory, and movement. But what happens when one musician plays out of tune? With support from a U.S.-Israel BSF grant, Dr. Ronit Ilouz (Bar-Ilan University) and Dr. Ted Abel (University of Iowa) investigated a rare genetic mutation in the PRKAR1B gene that disrupts PKA’s function. This mutation was identified in patients experiencing Parkinson-like symptoms, but until now, scientists didn’t understand how it caused disease. To uncover the mystery, the researchers developed a mouse model carrying the same mutation. Their experiments revealed that the mutated protein, instead of working smoothly, starts clumping together, much like an orchestra where the musicians get tangled in their own sheet music. This protein buildup damages neurons over time, leading to age-related cognitive and motor impairments. Now, in the binational team's most recently published study in Brain, Dr. Ilouz and Dr. Abel, along with Dr. Eduard Stefan (Erasmus University Medical Center), show that this protein aggregation happens not just in this rare disease, but may be a broader mechanism in neurodegeneration - including in Alzheimer’s disease models. Understanding how a single genetic glitch can cause protein aggregation opens new doors for studying neurodegenerative diseases - and possibly, for developing future treatments. 🔗 See the study here: https://lnkd.in/eEmgCXRQ #BSFfunding #Neurodegeneration #BrainResearch #BSFGrant #US_Israel #Collaboration

🧬 Could RNA editing hold the key to new therapies for cancer and brain diseases? What if we could rewrite the genetic instructions inside our cells to treat diseases like cancer and brain disorders? That's what Prof. Ayelet Lamm (Technion - Israel Institute of Technology) and Dr. Heather Hundley (Indiana University Bloomington) are exploring in their latest BSF-supported study. Published in Nucleic Acids Research, they show that the location of RNA editing enzymes in the cell - like chefs in different kitchens - determines which genetic recipes get altered. These enzymes fine-tune genetic instructions in specific cell areas, enabling the production of a broader variety of proteins - the building blocks of life. Why does this matter? Disruptions in RNA editing are linked to serious diseases, including cancer and neurological disorders. By better understanding how RNA editing is controlled, Prof. Lamm and Dr. Hundley’s research could eventually lead to targeted therapies that correct genetic errors, offering new hope for patients. The binational team's third BSF-supported collaboration demonstrates the power of sustained international partnerships in scientific discovery. As the researchers noted, "this study provides new, groundbreaking insights in genetic medicine, which may lead to the development of innovative treatments for severe diseases." BSF is proud to support such meaningful research, which could impact the future of genetic medicine and lead to life-saving treatments. 🔗 Read more here: https://lnkd.in/dHET4jxk 👉 See study: https://lnkd.in/dVfAKFEk #BSFfunding #RNA #genetherapy #cancer #braindiseases #US_Israel #collaboration #scienceresearch

Congratulations to Prof. Menachem Elimelech, a three-time NSF-BSF collaborator, on this important study! It’s great to see the NSF-BSF CBET grant support this work, which highlights the value of U.S.-Israel collaboration in advancing desalination technology.

BSF grantees were featured prominently in The Hebrew University of Jerusalem's top discoveries of 2024, contributing to four remarkable achievements that showcase the university's tradition of academic excellence and its world-class scientists. These discoveries highlight the broad range of research supported by the BSF: 🔹 Prof. Anat Perry-Sharon is uncovering how sleep affects empathy and social behavior, with implications for mental health and human interaction. 🔹 Prof. Dorit Aharonov is breaking new ground in quantum computation, paving the way for innovations in AI, cybersecurity, and more. 🔹 Prof. Aaron Palmon is advancing oral health research, promising new treatments for oral diseases. 🔹 Dr. Yael Heifetz is transforming our understanding of reproductive biology, offering hope for future fertility treatments. At BSF, we’re honored to have supported these brilliant researchers in their journeys as they’ve worked to bring their lab discoveries into the real world. Seeing their efforts make an impact and contribute to advancing science and society is what makes our mission so meaningful. 🔗 Learn more about these key discoveries here: https://lnkd.in/esHUt297 #BSFfunding #scienceresearch #AcademicExcellence #US_Israel #collaboration #HebrewUniversity

📣 Call for Pre-Proposals: BSF Climate Solutions Special Program In Memory of Prof. Anton Post The U.S.-Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF) invites cross-disciplinary collaborative research proposals addressing transformative climate solutions. This U.S.-Israel initiative focuses on tackling the complex, interconnected challenges of climate change through novel technologies, policies, and approaches across multiple disciplines. Proposals should examine the far-reaching impacts of climate change on the natural environment as well as human populations, their geographic distributions, and economic systems, aiming to deliver solutions that promote environmental sustainability and societal resilience. Key Details: ➤Pre-Proposal Deadline: April 2, 2025 ➤Full Proposal Deadline: Late August 2025 (by invitation only) ➤Funding: Up to $150K per project per year (maximum $600K over 4 years) ➤Eligibility: Collaboration between at least one Israeli and one U.S. researcher from different major disciplines. 🌍 Program Highlights: ➤Focus on transformative research that incorporates discovery, engineering, implementation, and societal acceptance. ➤Targets climate challenges in the atmosphere, earth, and oceans (e.g., carbon capture, renewable energy, ecosystem preservation). ➤Encourages proposals with high risk and non-conventional approaches. ➤Pre-proposals must include scientific background, a transformative concept, objectives, a work plan, and a tentative budget (max 5 pages). ➡️ For program details, visit: https://lnkd.in/eYmgjsHa 📩 For inquiries, contact: ➤Dr. Heni Haring: heni@bsf.org.il ➤Ms. Miri Yelagin: miri@bsf.org.il #BSFfunding #ClimateSolutions #US_Israel #collaboration #climatechange #noveltechnologies #researchfunding #scienceresearch

Manot Cave, nestled in Israel's Western Galilee, offers a rare and fascinating glimpse into the spiritual lives of early humans. This ancient site has revealed a 35,000-year-old ritual complex, the first evidence of communal rituals in the Levant, reshaping our understanding of how symbolic practices fostered collective identity and social cohesion in early societies. The findings, recently published in PNAS, are the result of a collaborative effort supported by a BSF grant awarded to a U.S.-Israel team that includes Prof. Israel Hershkovitz (Tel Aviv University), Dr. Ofer Marder (Ben-Gurion University of the Negev), Prof. Mark Hans (Case Western Reserve University), and Dr. Omry Barzilai (Israel Antiquities Authority). Alongside international partners, they uncovered a turtle-shell-like engraved rock placed in a sacred, acoustically unique space deep within the cave - an area likely used for communal rituals that symbolized renewal, and strengthened social bonds. 👉 See the study here: https://lnkd.in/eWTHdv2a Prof. Israel Hershkovitz explains, “This discovery sheds light on how rituals and symbols shaped collective identity, marking a pivotal step in the development of complex societies.” The study offers powerful evidence that early humans didn't just gather in caves - they transformed them into sensory-rich ritual spaces. By blending sight, sound and fire, they crafted environments where communal rituals, like singing, dancing and worship, could thrive and foster emotional and social connections. These practices played a crucial role in reinforcing group identity and supporting the transition from small, isolated hunter-gatherer groups to more complex, socially organized communities. We are honored to have been part of this groundbreaking study, supporting a cross-border collaboration that reveals the deep connections between early human societies, rituals, and the cultural practices that shaped our world today. 🔗 Read more: https://lnkd.in/erdujScG #BSFFunding #scienceresearch #ManotCave #HumanOrigins #PaleolithicResearch #USIsraelCollaboration

As the holiday season begins, we look back on a year of remarkable research partnerships made possible through BSF funding. This year has tested us all in ways we could not have anticipated. Yet, even in the face of profound challenges, the friendships and collaborations between U.S. and Israeli researchers have shown extraordinary resilience. Guided by a shared commitment to rigorous science and meaningful discovery, these partnerships have strengthened and flourished. Through our collaboration with the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), numerous travel grants supporting young scientists, prestigious awards, and our flagship BSF grants - now entering their sixth decade - we’ve continued to advance knowledge and deepen the bonds that connect our academic communities. Wishing everyone celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, and the New Year a season filled with warmth, inspiration, and hope. Here's to another year of discovery and collaboration! #BSFfunding #scienceresearch #US_Israel #Collaboration #discovery #partnership #Christmas #Hanukkah #NewYears2025