“We need to ensure that our food system is both fair and equitable, but 3 billion people worldwide cannot afford a healthy and sustainable diet.”

Often, people’s diets are not a question of choice, but of circumstance. In Israel for example, the lowest quintile (20%) would have to spend 2/3 of their income to make healthy food choices. Poor diets result in a variety of maladies, with society (taxpayers) shouldering the cost down the line—hospitalization, lost productivity, children not realizing their full potential.

This is precisely why Prof. Troen loves being at the Hebrew University. “As a publicly funded institution, we have the responsibility and opportunity to care for the public—and this means public health,” he says. “As scientists, we must foster reasoned research-based debate and policy development around such issues. One way is to use our convening power; to bring together stakeholders, transcend politics, and focus on achieving individual and societal needs.” In other words, organizing conferences and symposia. Over the course of the last year, Prof. Troen was involved in leading a number of such international conferences.

He helped organize Food Insecurity – The Continuing Pandemic: Toward Sustainable Food Systems for Israel, which took place at the Israel Academy of Science and Humanities. The event hosted a number of experts from abroad, including Prof. Dan Glickman, who served as the US Secretary of Agriculture under President Clinton. Based on the success, Prof. Troen worked on two additional conferences, all action-oriented and combining science and policy.

The first converence was the two-day Batsheva de Rothschild Workshop, Avoiding the Coming Food Security Crisis: Novel Solutions at the Intersection of Agriculture, Environment and Health. Multidisciplinary stakeholders from four continents traveled to Israel to advance an evidence-based understanding of how governments, NGOs, organizations, and companies can best address looming food security challenges in Israel and worldwide.  

The second converence was a mini-symposium organized and hosted  by Prof. Troen at Hebrew University’s Robert H. Smith Faculty of Food, Agriculture and Environment: Science and Measurement in Food Security Policy. It brought together experts from the United States and Israel, including a wide range of stakeholders: members of Israel’s National Nutritional Security Council, governmental and civil service professionals, and civil society members. The goal was to examine and develop methods for mapping and addressing food insecurity—not only asking what is known, but how we know it—how is data collected and analyzed, and what barriers exist to better evidence-based practice and policy?

“I measure success as good public health, not monetary wealth.”

But health and wealth mustn’t necessarily conflict—data from the United States has shown a $2 return for every $1 invested in food security. Thus, it is possible to develop evidence-based policies that generate sustainable, environmental, and healthy solutions that are both equitable and financially and politically feasible.

Thanks to Prof. Troen and his colleagues, Hebrew University is sounding the alarm, while also offering guidance on how to best move forward. 

Published: July 26, 2023

Dr. Sheera Adar

Using sophisticated bioinformatic analysis to examine DNA in vast numbers of cells, Dr. Sheera Adar, of the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, aims to better understand DNA damage and repair and ultimately to advance effective, personalized cancer prevention and treatment.  

“We aim to understand how DNA damage, formation and repair occur in the human nucleus, how repair is coordinated with genome function, and the processes that are meant to prevent mutations but sometimes fail.” explains Dr. Adar.

She and her team use both experimental and computational methods to study DNA damage and repair and their effect on mutations and cancer, with an emphasis on lung, skin, and ovarian cancer.

In just one example, Dr. Adar’s lab investigated a DNA repair mechanism called nucleotide excision repair. The nucleotide excision repair pathway protects cells from carcinogenic damage induced by UV radiation or smoking. Intriguingly, it can also help cancer cells overcome damage caused by cisplatin chemotherapy treatment used to treat ovarian cancer.

By investigating DNA damage and repair mechanisms Dr. Adar’s work helps identify cancer-risk biomarkers that will lead to earlier cancer detection and help identify novel targets for personalized cancer treatment.

Published: August 10, 2023

He applied to Hebrew University against all odds, studied in a language he does not speak at home, completed two degrees within four years, repeatedly made the Dean’s List, started a PhD at the age of 22, and has become a role model in his community.

Aseel was born to educated parents and grew up in the Druze village of Hurfeish. Good students were expected to choose either medicine, law, or engineering. In fact, until the 11^th grade, Aseel was set on studying medicine. But then he had a change of heart. “I didn’t want a doctor’s lifestyle,” he recalls. He had always loved biology, discovering the unknown. “Biologists are the engineers,” he jokes, “and doctors just implement their findings.”

While the Druze community does serve in the military, Aseel received a medical exemption. He knew that his next step would be higher education, and he was encouraged to study closer to home, where he would surely earn top marks. In particular, he was warned against Hebrew University – it was too hard, people said. Not one to follow the herd, he went online and registered at Hebrew University.

He found himself, 17 years old, living in Jerusalem, and studying biology in Hebrew. “We learned Hebrew in school,” he explains. “We just didn’t learn to use it.” He completed his BSc within 2.5 years, and then joined an accelerated MSc track towards the end of his studies, and he was selected to receive a generous scholarship from the Strasal Foundation.

Aseel discovered his interest in stem cells and embryology in Prof. Nissim Benvenisty’s lab, where he completed his doctoral research. The next decision was easy: Aseel decided to continue to doctoral studies.

Aseel is working on two research projects. The first focuses on the FMR1 gene which, when silenced (inactive), causes Fragile X Syndrome. He is working on identifying chemical ways to reactivate the gene in vitro.

 His second research project is in parental imprinting, which determines whether specific genes (from either  the sperm or the egg) are expressed. When improperly executed, the embryo can develop any number of  imprinting disorders, such as Prader-Willi syndrome, Angelman syndrome, or others. Aseel is trying to identify  specific regulators that affect imprinting, to provide insight into this process and offer a path towards a cure.

 His scholarships make it possible for Aseel to devote all his attention to his studies. “I was making a living as a  tutor. Now everything I do is on campus. Even as a teaching assistant, my mind is wrapped around my own  research.”  

 Every year, Aseel is invited to address students at his old high school. He tells them to listen to their hearts. “Follow what you love,” he tells them. “You can be whatever you want to be.” In fact, since he enrolled at Hebrew University, additional students from his village, and the Druze community, have followed in his footsteps – including his brother.

Today there are about 100 Druze students on campus, and they meet regularly through a studen club, Sabil (“path”). “I love hanging out with other Druze students, since we’re a minority within a minority. I still feel connected to my village, even when I’m in Jerusalem,” he says.

Published: June 2, 2024

A Strasal scholar, the 25-year-old Arad native is completing her master’s degree in Biology at The Edmond J. Safra Campus, focusing on the genes that influence growth and development within stem cells, for good and for ill.

She explains these genes have the potential to massively influence our bodies, and she is determined to understand even a little of the secrets hidden within what she describes as “small, random particles.”

“I suppose I see it as the basis of our existence in a certain way,” Mishel says. “This is what interests me the most - it is a world of endless, unlimited and undiscovered possibilities. That all of this is happening inside us and we have no clue how it works really amazes me.”

As an undergrad, Mishel chose to study the Hebrew University for its convenience - not as far from Arad as the northern schools, not as close as Beer Sheva and less expensive than living in Tel Aviv, but it was not long until she truly fell in love with both the institution and the city.

“I really love the campus,” she enthuses.  “The Safra Campus is green with open spaces and when I am a little tired of reading, I can go for a walk. There is a boulevard with trees that is really lovely; there is also lots of wildlife - porcupines, jackals, cats.”

The campus is also located within the beating heart of the capital, nestled alongside the Knesset, Israel Museum, and Supreme Court.

“You feel like you are entering a different world,” she says.

Mishel’s family place great value on higher education and are very encouraging of her plans to continue with a PhD. And she is very aware of the difference that her scholarship makes to her studies, which she says allows her to devote herself entirely to her research, without having to worry about other issues.

“It takes the weight off my shoulders,” she explains, adding that she is both cognizant and appreciative of the generosity and dedication behind the scholarship.

“I do not take it for granted that people support and encourage the scientists in the university,” Mishel says.

“I don’t know if they see it like this, but not to chase the latest hot and shiny thing, but to support science and the students instead of erecting a building shows me that they understand,” she adds.

“I hope they know we are working very hard so that it bears fruit.” 

Published: February 11, 2026