Science Without Borders Israel:
Featuring Israel Binational Science Foundation 

Science Without Borders is an innovative program designed to increase awareness of international biotech and life science sectors. Through Science Without Borders, Johns Hopkins faculty, researchers, and staff have the opportunity to learn about international biotech and life science efforts and discover ways to possibly partner and collaborate with the featured country.

Featured Country: Israel

This month's featured guest is Dr. Yair Rotstein, the Executive Director  of the U.S. - Israel Binational Science Foundation. The Binational Science Foundation (BSF) was established in 1972 by the governments of Israel and the U.S. to promote cooperation in the advancement of basic and applied research for peaceful purposes in fields of scientific interest to both countries. As of today, the BSF has awarded more than 5000 grants for joint scientific projects. Forty-two Nobel laureates have taken part in BSF supported research. Two US - Israeli teams won a Nobel Prize for their BSF supported research. To learn more about the Binational Science Foundation and its offerings, visit www.bsf.org.il

Featured Speaker: Katherine L. Wilson, Ph.D.

The event will also feature a panel discussion with Katherine L. Wilson, Ph.D., Professor of Cell Biology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, who is a past BSF grant recipient. Kathy's BSF research is focused on the cell nucleus, 'mothership' of the human genome. The Wilson and Gruenbaum labs are harnessing the power of C. elegans genetics to understand how mutations in nuclear 'lamina' proteins (lamina, emerin and BAF; key components of the nucleoskeleton) cause human diseases that range from muscular dystrophy, bone disorders and cardiomyopathy to diabetes, metabolic syndrome and accelerated 'aging' (progeria).