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Two researchers at the Hebrew University (HU) of Jerusalem have been honored with a prestigious award for their study of the connection between several inflammatory diseases, cancer and bacteria.
Medical faculty members, Dr. Eli Pilarsky and Prof. Sigal Ben- Yehuda, won this year's Sir Zelman Cowen Universities Fund prize that recognizes significant achievement in the field of medicine.
The prize committee noted the impressive contributions of Pilarsky and Ben-Yehuda in understanding complex diseases like cancer and antibiotic-resistant infections, and, in a first, decided to award the two scientists this year.
Pilarsky told Xinhua that his research deals with the connection between chronic inflammatory diseases like hepatitis, and the development of cancer cells.
"The relevance of this discovery is that we were able to establish the link between the molecules secreted with such inflammations and the proliferation of cancer cells," Pilarsky explained, noting that "we discovered that the inflammation favors the cancer cells' growth, and now we are trying to find a way to manipulate these molecules to stop the cancer cells from appearing. "
"The importance of these findings lies in the fact that 20 percent of the world's cancer cases are attributed to inflammation processes," Pilarsky pointed out.
"If we can find the exact molecules that favor the cancer cells and learn how to reverse the process, we would be able to prevent 20 percent of the world's cancer," Pilarsky said.
Ben-Yehuda was nominated for her contributions to understanding the biology of bacteria.
Her discoveries, which include the demonstration of a previously unknown "nanotube" form of communication between cells, are also fundamental for understanding the mechanisms of bacterial resistance to antibiotics.
Her work carries great importance for the treatment of infections caused by the growing number of resistant bacteria, the university said.
Both winners, who are also members of the Institute of Medical Research Israel-Canada (IMRIC), will receive a medal and a 10,000- U.S.-dollar prize, to be presented at the Hebrew University Board of Governors annual meeting in June 2011.
The Sir Zelman Cowen Universities Fund is a joint project between the University of Sydney in Australia and (HU), and the award is given in alternate years between each university.
XINHUA
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