Professor Cohen Of Ben-Gurion University Receives Rappaport Prize For Excellence In Biomedical Research

Main Category: Heart Disease
Also Included In: Biology / Biochemistry
Article Date: 22 Mar 2010 - 2:00 PDT

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Prof. Smadar Cohen, incumbent of the Claire and Harold Oshry Chair in Biotechnology, and head of the University's Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, has been awarded the prestigious Rappaport Prize for Excellence in Biomedical Research, an award totaling $100,000. The Prize is given annually to a researcher whose research has either significantly advanced or has the potential to significantly advance any medical or biomedical field.

On receiving the news of the award Prof. Cohen commented: "I thank the committee that chose me to receive this prestigious award which values the work of academic researchers contributing to human welfare through their research. My research achievements were reached thanks to the support of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, and through cooperation with Prof. Jonathan Leor and his students."

Prof. Cohen received the prize for her research, which led to the creation of an innovative and pioneering product using algae in the field of cardiac disease, preventing cardiac tissue damage following acute myocardial infarction. The hydrogel, called BL-1040, is a resorbable liquid polymer that is administered via the coronary artery during standard catheterization and flows into the damaged heart muscle. BL-1040 undergoes a liquid to gel phase transition within the infarcted cardiac tissue and forms a protective "scaffold" that enhances the mechanical strength of the heart muscle during recovery and repair, thereby preventing pathological enlargement of the left ventricle after the MI. BL-1040 is excreted naturally from the body within six weeks after injection, leaving behind a stronger, more stable heart muscle. In August 2009, BioLineRx Ltd., the Israeli clinical stage drug development company, granted a license to an American company to continue to develop it in clinical trials.

Prof. Cohen has 26 issued patents, published numerous papers and edited two books. She is on the Editorial Board of Tissue Engineering Journal and on the Scientific Advisory Board of several biotechnology and nanotechnology companies, and is a member of the Katamon Committee of the Israel Ministry of Trade and Industry Magnet Program. In 1997, she was nominated as a fellow of the Israel Ministry of Science.

Source:
Andrew Lavin
American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

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