Team:BGU Israel

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Project overview

Western modern lifestyle brought us a lot of wonderful innovations, but also many problems. Today, about 25% of the adult world population (and over 40% of the adult western population) suffers from the Metabolic Syndrome. This syndrome is a cluster of medical conditions, including: abdominal obesity, elevated blood pressure, Insulin resistance, high blood triglycerides and more.
These medical conditions are interconnected and are a result of complex metabolic pathways, meaning most traditional drugs used to treat them have undesired side effects. We intend to utilize synthetic biology in order to develop novel strategies for the treatment of metabolic syndrome. By addressing the causes of the syndrome rather than its symptoms, and by doing so in several different fronts, we hope to present a safe and better way to improve the global health.
We will focus on three approaches: Increasing the metabolic activity and energy expenditure of cells, reactivating the cell sensitivity to insulin and correct expression and folding of metabolic related hormones.

Team Members

Amit Gal

26 years old, fourth year BSc. Physics and BSc. Computer Science student. Served in the IDF as a combat intelligence officer. I have a multidisciplinary passion due to a major interest in many areas in science and technology. I am also interested in music and sports.

Liron Farjon

22 years old, second year Life Science student. I live in Lehavim, a small town in the north of our beautiful Negev. I served as a flight control simulator instructor in the IDF Air Force. I am a dancer and choreographer and also very curious and like challenges and new experiences.

Ori Loval

26 years old, second year B.Sc. Industrial Engineering and Management student. I have a special passion for working in a team, and have been fascinated by new technologies ever since I was a child. I love having dreams that seem impossible yet challenge me and I enjoy meeting new friends, hiking, reading and going out.

Priel Shmukler

26 years old, third year B.Sc. Information Systems Engineering student. I am a research assistant in my department in the field of artificial intelligence. I love team sport, gadgets, and exploring different cultures.

Reut Sapir

24 years old, second year Biology and Psychology student. I participate in 'Ashalim' - which is an excellence program in the Faculty of Natural science. In the army I was a commander of ground radar. I am very curious, love new challenges and have great memory for unimportant facts.

Roni Itzhaki

26 years old, third year Biotechnology Engineering student. In the army I was a Mortars officer in the infantry brigade. I have great ambition and volunteering spirit, and I recently finished a ten year program of developing leadership among youth.

Shani Gal-Oz

22 years old, second year Life Science student. I live in Lehavim, a small town in the north of our beautiful Negev. I served as a flight control simulator instructor in the IDF Air Force. I am a dancer and choreographer and also very curious and like challenges and new experiences.

Stav Shamir

26 Years old, fourth year Biotechnology Engineering student in an excellent PhD program. Originally from the southern city in Israel- Eilat. I have great passion for science since childhood, and I believe that thoroughness leads to successes.

Tal Atedgi

26 years old, third year Biotechnology Engineering student. Today I live in Beer- Sheva, Originally from Ashdod and for that I am in love with the sea. I am also addicted to TV shows, music and have great passion for science.

Tom Yemini

26 years old, third year Biotechnology Engineering student. I believe that biological machines are the most advanced technology in the world and it should be exploited for human purpose. I like music and play on the piano.