Sir Zelman Cowen Inaugural Blue Sky Research Grants to Two Hebrew U. Scientists

Sir Zelman Cowen Inaugural Blue Sky Research Grants to Two Hebrew U. Scientists

Jerusalem - Two Hebrew University of Jerusalem researchers are among the winners of the inaugural Blue Sky Research Grants, awarded by the Sir Zelman Cowen Universities Fund.

The Sydney-based fund promotes scientific research and cooperative work between the University of Sydney and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The Hebrew University winners are Prof. Yehudit Bergmann, the Dr. Emanuel Rubin Professor of Medical Science at the Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada (IMRIC), and Prof. Dan Gazit, head of the Hebrew University’s Skeletal Biotech Lab. Each Blue Sky grant is for $100,000.

Prof. Bergmann heads a collaborative project with Prof. Jacob George at the University of Sydney, Australia. Prof. Gazit is part of a team headed by Prof. John Rasko at the University of Sydney and RPA Hospital. Prof Bergman’s project is entitled ‘Identifying Novel Factors for Improving Liver Regeneration in the Elderly and will build on earlier work. Describing her work, Prof Bergman said, “Working in mice models of human cancers, we have shown that pregnancy induces the rapid growth of liver cells, accelerating liver regeneration and reducing mortality. In this Blue Sky project, we will identify the factor(s) generated during pregnancy which induce this regeneration, and will explore their ability to reduce mortality, and the mechanisms of their action on liver cells. Our aim is to identify therapeutic options for humans requiring resection of liver tumors, whether primary or secondary.”

Prof Rasko’s project, ‘Characterising a Unique Substrate for Expansion and Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells for Use in Regenerative Medicine’, also builds on earlier work. Summarizing the project, Prof Rasko said, “We have recently shown that blood-forming cells respond favorably to being grown on an elastic bed or ‘nano-mattress.’ In this Blue Sky project we will test the potential of our ‘nano-mattress’ to enhance the ability of other human cells found in the bone marrow to make bone and connective tissue, such as tendons and cartilage, for applications in diverse diseases including those affecting the heart, joints, bones and immune systems.”

The Blue Sky Grant scheme was established in 2011 to provide seed funding for research in emerging areas, such as organ/tissue regeneration, where the investigators would use the funds to gain sufficient momentum to be competitive in larger funding systems.

Sir Zelman Cowen served as governor general of Australia from 1977 to 1982 and has been patron of the Sir Zelman Cowen Universities Fund since 1997, having served as a trustee prior to that time. The fund was established in 1978 in honor of his appointment as governor general in the previous year.