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 rn C CO CD 21