AMERICAN COMMITTEE FOR THE WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE
The Detroit
and Lee To Speak At
Children's
Research Fund Weizmann Meeting
At the Weizmann Institute of Sci-
ence, the research agenda has
long included the fight against
diseases of childhood.
BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
DETROIT EXECUTIVE
COMMI 1TEE
Lois Spector Freeman
Chainpoman
Eric R Boman
President
The Weizmann League
Norman A. Pappas
First Vice Chairman
Claude Oster, D.O.
Vice Chairman
Major Gifts
ADVISORY COUNCIL
Eugene Applebaum
Marlene Borman
Paul Borman
David B. Hermelin
Joseph M. Jacobson, D.D.S.
Robert Sosnick
Fred S. Yaffe
S 1 EERING COMMITTEE
Susan Citrin
Dennis G. Dembs
Beth Gans
Elaine L. Hartman
Nancy Jacobson
Lisa Lis
Linden D. Nelson
Florine Mark Ross
- A Weizmann biologist originat-
ed the concept of amniocentesis.
- Another developed a revolu-
tionary technique for bone mar-
row transplants from
non-compatible donors. This
process has saved the lives of
bubble-chamber children and
has also been used to treat se-
vere cases of leukemia and radia-
tion poisoning.
- Institute scientists have identi-
fied an oncogene (the inborn ge-
netic element which scientists
believe initiate cancer) associated
with chronic myeloid leukemia,
one of the most common cancers
in children.
These are but a few of the many
research projects conducted at
the Weizmann Institute into dis-
eases of childhood. You can help
Weizmann scientists in their ef-
forts to combat juvenile diabetes,
cystic fibrosis, Downs Syndrome,
pediatric cancer and other dis-
eases of childhood by supporting
the establishment of the Detroit
Children's Research Fund. For
more information contact the De-
troit Weizmann office at 313-258-
9890.
S
ara Lee Schupf will be the
featured guest at a parlor
meeting on August 31 at the
home of Marlene and Paul Bor-
man. Sara Lee, namesake of the
baking company, is the current and
first woman president of the Amer-
ican Committee and a member of
the Institute's international board
of governors.
Monies raised at the August 31
meeting will benefit the establish-
ment of the Detroit Children's Re-
search Fund at the Weizmann
Institute of Science.
The Detroit Committee for the
Weizmann Institute of Science
is pleased to announce its
ANNUAL DINNER
and the establishment of the
DETROIT CHILDREN'S RESEARCH FUND
September 22, 1993
Hyatt Regency Hotel • Dearborn, Michigan
An evening of elegance with dining, dancing,
and a special performance of
"ALL NIGHT STRUT"
a musical revue of the 30's and 40's
For more information, contact Rhona Fidler at 313/258-9890
Your gift will make smiling easier
for children everywhere.
Louis Bern
Vivian Berry
Harold Blumeristein
Penny Blumenstein
Evelyn Burton
Barbara Dechter
Hiram A. Dorfinan
Joel Dorfman
Burton D. Farbman
Alan J. Freeman
Milton R. Gilma
Darryl T. Goldberg, M.D.
Martin R Goldman
Irwin Green
Joel E. Jacob
Daniel L. Knopper
Graham H. Landau
Gail Greenfield Mondry
Ira Mondry
Edythe Jackier Mulivor
Martin R. Novick
Graham A. Orley
Susan Pappas
Myrna L. Partrich
Balfour Peisner
Jack A. Robinson
William M. Ross, D.O.
Elliott C. Schubiner
Jane F. Sherman
Yvan J. Silva, M.D.
Robert N. Silver
Susan Sosnick
Harry Waitss
Richard E. Zuckerman
SCIENCE COUNCIL
Joseph N. Epel, Ph.D.
Thomas D. Gelehrter, M.D.
Han-y Maisel, M.D.
I. Matthew Rabinowics, M.D.
Vainuris K. Vaitkevicius, M.D.
Rhona S. Fidler
Executive Director
For Problem
Pregnancies,
An Early
Warning
Hospitals in Israel are planning to
test a new urine and blood analy-
sis technique for detecting In-
trauterine Growth Retardation
(IUGR) as early as four to six
weeks into pregnancy. This
would allow doctors to spot trou-
ble when the fetal brain is first
forming. Current tests for placen-
tal problems are reliable only af-
ter 18 to 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Weizmann Professor Ephraim
Yavin, who developed the early
warning procedure with Profes-
sor Shaul Harel of Tel Aviv Med-
ical Center, hopes early detection
will ultimately facilitate preven-
tion and treatment of IUGR relat-
ed problems.
IUGR is responsible for 33 per-
cent of all low birth weight in-
fants. It is strongly linked to infant
and childhood mortality, cerebral
palsey, speech and learning dis-
abilities, and small body size.
Sara Lee Selupf
Weizmann Scientists
Mount A Multi-faceted
Attack On Diabetes
eizmann Institute scien-
tists have made several
significant strides in their
multi-pronged attack against dia-
betes.
W
A peptide isolated by Prof. run Co-
hen of the Cell Biology Department
was used to cure diabetes in mice
and may provide the basis for an
early diagnostic test and vaccine
against juvenile diabetes in human
beings.
Juvenile diabetes, known as Type I
diabetes, is an autoimmune disor-
der in which the immune system
cells destroy the body's own in-
sulin-producing beta cells. By iso-
lating the peptide target of the
attack and introducing it into dia-
betic mice, Cohen and his team
were able to cure 90 percent of the
animals. Moreover, they managed
to abort the autoimmune attack at
a critical early phase when the
mice still had enough beta cells left
to supply sufficient insulin.
Professor Yoram Schechter of the
Department of Hormone Research
is continuing his studies of vanadi-
um salts, which he found relieve
many of the symptoms of diabetes
in mice and rats, and can be ad-
ministered orally. Schechter is ex-
ploring how these salts are able to
mimic the action of insulin and is
investigating new methods of ad-
ministering vanadium that may be
more efficient and less toxic than
the sodium vanadate presently
used.
Dr. Michael Walker of the Depart-
ment of Biochemistry is pursuing a
different approach, which might
some day enable juvenile diabetes
to be treated through gene thera-
py. Walker has isolated a "tran-
scription factor that is responsible
for activating the insulin gene in
beta cells.
6735 Telegraph head, Suite 365 • Bloomfield Hills, Michigan- 48301 (313) 258-9890 • Fax (313) 258-9892
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