Scientists from leading British and Israeli institutions gather at Oxford University for a meeting
The 3rd BIRAX Conference, taking place at the University of Oxford this week, is a testament to the flourishing scientific partnership between the UK and Israel. This partnership, guided by the UK Israel Science Council, has been investing over £7 million in bilateral research since its founding in 2011.
Prof. Raymond Dwek of Oxford University, co-Chair of the UK Israel Science Council, emphasizes the importance of this collaboration, stating that it benefits both countries and the global research community. Simultaneously with the conference, the UK Israel Science Council will meet to agree on new bilateral scientific priorities for focus until 2020.
The current bilateral scientific priorities focus on deepening research collaboration infrastructure and aligning with key policy priorities in science and innovation. The UK government's approach to international science partnerships, including those with Israel, emphasizes establishing frameworks for collaborative research programs, infrastructure partnerships, and innovation-driven initiatives.
Significant achievements in the UK-Israel research partnership include the development of joint programs building on memoranda of understanding that foster lab-to-lab collaborations and support physics-related and STEM graduate training initiatives. The partnership also leverages strategic investments supporting infectious disease research, technology, and skills transfer, suggesting that UK-Israel collaboration aims at applied research with societal impact.
The 3rd BIRAX Conference will showcase the latest developments in regenerative medicine, including joint research on diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, heart conditions, and other global health challenges. BIRAX has funded 15 joint research projects, including the use of heart cells to restore damaged heart muscle and the use of breath tests for the diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease.
The conference is attended by over 250 British researchers from 33 institutions across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, as well as nearly 100 researchers from Israel's research universities. Structured networking sessions are planned as part of the parallel events in Oxford.
Prof. Yonath, a 2009 laureate of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry and a founding member of the UK Israel Science Council, praises UK-Israeli partnerships, specifically BIRAX, for advancing medical research. A meeting of the BIRAX Funders and Partners will take place, bringing together UK, Israeli, and U.S medical research foundations and other supporters of the program.
The Council will review a year of unprecedented successes, including the launch of a suite of bilateral research programs and over 20 scientific visits with hundreds of scientists going back and forth. A Student and Young Researchers Symposium will occur as part of the parallel events in Oxford.
Sir Ciaran Devane, Chief Executive of the British Council, states that the British Council supports the delivery of BIRAX and is proud to help it achieve its noble ambitions. BIRAX is initiated by the British Council, the British Embassy in Israel, the Pears Foundation, and UJIA.
While the search results do not provide a comprehensive list of explicit current bilateral priorities or detailed achievements unique to UK-Israel cooperation, it can be inferred that priorities include advancing scientific infrastructure, innovation ecosystems, and addressing global challenges through collaborative research programs. The partnership likely builds on Israel’s strong academic excellence and long-term research infrastructure focus, consistent with priorities outlined for research funding bodies in Israel.
For precise current priorities and achievements, consulting official UK Israel Science Council publications or government releases specific to their bilateral science agenda would be necessary, as the provided sources do not include direct statements on this topic. An event by the Jewish Medical Association is scheduled as part of the parallel events in London.
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