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UK minister boosts stem-cell cooperation in Israel visit, reiterates boycott opposition
Minister for Universities and Science David Willetts is visiting Israel to attend a major two day conference on furthering stem cell research between UK and Israeli scientists.
Willetts will attend the second BIRAX Regenerative Medicine conference at the Technion Institute of Technology in Haifa. BIRAX is an initiative of the British Embassy and British Council in Israel, which will see both countries invest £10million into joint research during the next five years. Seven large-scale research projects have already been funded, including initiatives focusing on multiple sclerosis, liver disease and Parkinson’s disease. Willetts will announce a second call for proposals for funding into stem cell therapies and type one diabetes, cardiovascular disease, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. The conference will be attended by 300 Israeli scientists and 80 of their British counterparts.
Willetts commented ahead of the conference, “By bringing together the best scientists our countries have to offer and funding innovative research between them, we can help progress international understanding of these illnesses.” Meanwhile, UK Ambassador to Israel, Matthew Gould said “This conference will bring together British and Israeli scientists working with stem cells. Our goal is that they will form collaborations to develop cures for some of the world’s most common diseases.” The BIRAX initiative is one facet of strong UK-Israeli scientific ties. Last May, Foreign Secretary William Hague signed a wide-ranging memorandum of understanding to boost scientific cooperation between the two countries.
Meanwhile, Willetts yesterday visited the Hebrew University’s Mount Scopus campus in Jerusalem alongside Israel’s Education Minister Shai Piron, where he reiterated the government’s opposition to attempts to boycott Israel, a point underscored by Prime Minister David Cameron during his visit to Israel earlier this month. Willetts told Haaretz, “[Boycotts] would be completely wrong, and there is no [UK] university that is boycotting Israel.” He added that the misperception of hostility towards Israel may have contributed towards a decline in the number of Israeli students studying in the UK.