Over 100 B
ritish and Israeli researchers and partners participated this week in a conference organised by the Britain Israel Research and Academic Exchange Partnership (BIRAX) in London.
BIRAX funds cutting-edge collaborative research projects between Israeli and British scientists. In the last six years, BIRAX has focused on regenerative medicine and committed over seven million pounds to support 19 projects tackling some of the world’s gravest diseases.
The British Council and the UK Science and Innovation Network (SIN) hosted the fourth BIRAX Conference. This was the first BIRAX conference that focused on the ageing process and its impact on human health.
The interdisciplinary programme at King’s College London consisted of lectures, as well as opportunities to network and hold informal discussions.
British Ambassador to Israel David Quarrey said: “This week saw a fantastic exchange of ideas between top researchers from both countries. Partnership between the UK and Israel can help us address one of the biggest challenges facing all societies – that is, ageing societies. Working together we can improve many people’s lives”.
Organisers said the event was to “create more collaboration between the two counties, which face similar challenges related to ageing populations”.
The aim was to raise £5 million funding, some of which has already been donated by the Pears Foundation and medical charities such as the British Heart Foundation. The money will pay for up to 12 projects, each lasting three years, split equally between the British and Israeli researchers.
