30 Jan 2005 

Israeli scientists, universities and companies are working to benefit the entire health system. You'll be hard pressed to be treated at an American hospital without an Israeli discovery coming to your aid.

“Israel is one of the countries that is leading the way in medical research… Israeli researchers are some of the best in the world.”
Christopher Reeve

From physician, to patient, to medical administrators and insurers, Israeli scientists, universities and companies are working to benefit the entire health system.

In fact, you'll be hard pressed to be treated at an American hospital without an Israeli discovery coming to your aid. There is virtually no area of medicine and bio-technology to which Israeli innovations have not made significant contributions. From state-of-the-art surgical lasers and intelligent sensors to unique computerized monitoring systems, Israeli devices save lives every day.

Football has the helmet-cam, baseball has the home plate-cam, racecar drivers have the windshield-cam, and now thanks to Israel’s Given Imaging, doctors have the Pillcam!

Rather than going through an unpleasant, invasive procedure, one can simply swallow the "Camera in a Pill" and the wonders of your gastrointestinal track can be viewed in streaming video. Developed in Israel and used in the United States and in 60 other countries, the PillCam
has redefined gastrointestinal diagnosis and benefited hundreds of thousands of patients worldwide.

Israel’s Given Imaging offers the first effective, patient-friendly gastrointestinal endoscope on the market. The healthcare system and third-party payers worldwide now have a first-line, cost-effective, ambulatory diagnostic procedure that can save precious resources - and lives. Israeli ingenuity is truly changing the face of medicine!

Two of the most revolutionary drugs on the market - Copaxone, which treats Multiple Sclerosis, and Rasagaline, which treats Parkinson’s - were brought to you by Israel’s Teva Pharmaceuticals. Teva is one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies and a major producer of generic drugs.

In fact, one in every 16 prescriptions filled in the US is a Teva product.

The FDA reports that generic drugs are saving consumers $8 to $10 billion a year at retail pharmacies. As the prescription debate rages on, Israel continues to lead the world in the production of affordable generic drugs.

Israel’s Ultrashape is yet another example of Israel’s amazing contributions to the world’s bio-tech and medical fields.

Are you happy with your body shape? If not, you are not alone - 70% of the western world population isn’t! What if you could lie down and get up an hour later and have fat burned from your body in a totally non-invasive procedure?

Israel’s Ultrashape has developed a method for directing ultrasonic energy to target and rupture fat cells. Residual fat tissue is cleared from the body the same way a bruise is, through natural processes, resulting in a safe outpatient procedure.

Have you been swimming and had an unpleasant encounter with a jellyfish? Now, thanks to Nidaria’s SafeSea lotion you'll never fear the “jellies” again.

Dedicated to the development of products that inhibit stings and prevent infection induced by jellyfish and other marine stingers, Nidaria technology has brought forth SafeSea, the first lotion of its kind that protects against most jellyfish, coral and sea anemone.

One-half of all technologies in development at Israeli government-supported incubators are related to medicine.

Researchers in Israel developed a new device that directly helps the heart pump blood, an innovation that can save lives for those with congestive heart failure.

Over one-third of all Israeli civilian research activities are devoted to life sciences.

An Israeli company developed a computerized system for ensuring proper administration of medications, virtually removing human error from medical treatment.

Israeli researchers have created a “biological pacemaker” which corrects faulty heart rhythms.

Israeli scientists are developing a nose drop that will provide a five-year flu vaccine.

An Israeli company has been given a U.S. grant to develop an anti-smallpox first aid kit.

A revolutionary new drug developed by Hebrew University prevents re-clogging of coronary arteries after undergoing "balloon therapy."

Israel ranks as the top country for scientific publications and almost 60% are in biology and related medical or agricultural fields. Israeli scientists developed the first fully computerized, non-radiation, diagnostic instrumentation for breast cancer.

Israeli scientists have created a DNA nano-computer that not only detects cancer, but also releases drugs that specifically target and treat cancerous cells.

Israeli stem-cell technology is being used in the U.S. to regenerate heart tissue.

Reproduced by permission of Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem.

http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Israel+beyond+politics/Discoveries+for+a+Healthier+Future+Jan+2005.htm#didyouknow