March 1, 2016
The second of Weizmann Australia’s Making Connections Symposia series, held in October 2015 last year, has been hailed a great success – with around 100 researchers and guests attending to hear from leading scientists from the Weizmann Institute and Australia’s universities and research institutes.
The symposium consisted of a three-day event starting in Melbourne and concluding in Sydney, focused on the field of cancer research and targeted therapeutics. The research leaders shared findings and insights in their common goal to solve the cancer disease puzzle, which affects 1 in 2 Australian men and 1 in 3 Australian women.
In addition to the scientific symposium, Weizmann Australia hosted social events in both Melbourne and Sydney, where guests, supporters and researchers were treated to talks by Weizmann Institute scientists who shared their remarkable stories of scientific discovery and insights into the future of cancer research. Scroll down to the photo gallery below.
Weizmann Australia hosted nine visiting scientists from the Weizmann Institute in Rehovot, Israel. Included was world-renowned cancer researcher, Professor Moshe Oren, director of the recently established Moross Integrated Cancer Center (MICC). The MICC will work closely with the Israel National Centre for Personalised Medicine (also on the Weizmann campus) to take basic cancer research from the lab to the clinic.
At the cocktail evening held at the Museum of Sydney, Professor Oren along with Professors Michal Neeman and Varda Rotter spoke about their cancer research with passion. Weizmann Australia Chairman, Stephen Chipkin, praised their ground-breaking work and noted that the Weizmann Institute is ranked as one of the world’s top ten research institutes in the world.
“Our association with the Weizmann Institute brings us into contact with science Olympians which is most uplifting and something to celebrate!” Mr Chipkin said.
“Leiden University in Holland recently reaffirmed just that. It ranked the top 10 science research institutes of the world based on their scientific impact and involvement in scientific collaboration. Weizmann was one of those. In fact it was the only non-US Institute ranked in the top 10.”
Professors Oren and Rotter have worked together for many years. Both discovered the tumour suppressor gene P53, the most frequently mutated gene in human cancer (found in more than 50% of cases) and their work continues within the framework of the MICC.
At the Melbourne event, which was generously hosted by Philip Zajac of the Erdi Group, Weizmann’s Professor Avigdor Scherz talked of a revolutionary type of photodynamic cancer therapy, which is showing great promise in treating men with prostate cancer and could eventually be used to treat a myriad of other cancers.
There were so many interesting talks they cannot all be covered here, so special thanks goes to all who took part. You can find out more about who spoke by viewing the program here.
Please enjoy the photos below from the Melbourne dinner event – Swanston Hotel Grand Mercure Tuesday, 20 October 2015 and the Sydney cocktail event – Museum of Sydney, Wednesday, 21 October 2015.
Mrs Tamara Levine, Mrs Sheila Faktor, Dr Evelyn Royal (Sydney)
Dr Karen Spielman, Dr Kirsten Shteinman and Ms Lois Cohen (Sydney)
Mrs Averil Nurick, Mr Matthew Nurick, Mr Milton Levine (Sydney)
Professor Varda Rotter (Weizmann Institute of Science), Nicky Symonds, Vikki Biggs, Jane Dinte, Rina Michael (Sydney)
Mr Jon Pillemer, Mr Gavin Solsky
Mrs Carole Pillemer, Mr Ian Fishl, Mr Russel Pillemer (Sydney)
Mrs Elsie Goldman, Professor Michal Neeman (Weizmann Institue of Science), Mrs Judy Garb Weiss, Mrs Mimi Wise (Sydney)
Professors Sima Lev and Varda Rotter (Weizmann Institute of Science), Mrs Lucy Chipkin (Melbourne)
Mr Philip Zajac, Professor Michal Neeman (Weizmann Institute of Science), Mr Sam Herszberg (Melbourne)
Professor Moshe Oren (Weizmann Institute of Science), Mr Jeffrey Mahamoff AO (Melbourne)
Professor the Honorable David De Kretser AC, Dr Graham Southwick OAM, Professor Max Schwartz (Melbourne)
Lady Anna Cowan, Ms Kate Cowan, Mrs Helen Liberman (Melbourne)
Professor Paul Zimmet AO, Professor the Honorable David De Kretser AC (Melbourne)
Mrs Vivien Zimmet, Professor Paul Zimmet AO (Melbourne)
Mr Jeffrey Mahemoff AO, Mrs Helen Mahemoff, Mrs Lucy Chipkin, Mr Stephen Chipkin (President, Weizmann Australia) (Melbourne)
Prof Varda Rotter of the Weizmann Institute
