49 Better Together Live-cell imaging, tissue engineering, and the digitalization of biological data: These techniques don’t merely imitate, but also actively integrate biological systems. Known as “bio-convergence,” this synergistic, hybrid field merges the knowledge and methodology of two or even three disciplines to create an entirely novel way of thinking about and doing scientific research. In turn, it is accelerating innovation and transforming biological observations into applications that save lives. Prof. Dror Fixler, director of Bar-Ilan’s Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, and his doctoral student Channa Shapira are collaboratingwith Dr. Hamootal Duadi of the Alexander Kofkin Faculty of Engineering and Prof. Jean-Paul Lellouche, Dr. Ronit Lavi, and Daniel Itshak of the Department of Chemistry to produce diamond-based nanoparticles that can deliver medications through the skin by means of safe and non-invasive optical lasers. Prof. Orit Shefi of the Faculty of Engineering is collaborating with Prof. Amos Sharoni from the Department of Physics and Prof. Hagay Shpaisman of the Department of Chemistry to develop 3-D delivery platforms made of biomaterials for inserting into the brain. Once there, they can help unveil the mechanisms underlying neural activity and can catalyze the creation of new neural networks in regions damaged by disease or injury. Vice Dean Prof. Rachela Popovtzer of the Faculty of Engineering is collaboratingwith Prof. EhudBanin of theMina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences to develop a biochip for the rapid, non-invasive, and microbiome-based monitoring and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. Prof. Gur Yaari of the Faculty of Engineering’s ComputationalSystems Immunology Lab is collaborating with Prof. Omry Koren of the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine to develop statistical tools for the processing and analysis of biological data related to the interplay between our microbiome and endocrine system. These tools will be used to develop therapies for the treatment of gastroenterological disease. Physics Engineering Chemistry Life Sciences and Medicine Data Science Prof. Dror Fixler Prof. Orit Shefi
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