USAID SUPPORTS CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH AT THE FEINBERG GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THE WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE
NEW YORK, NY—October 3, 2017—The American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science is pleased to announce the award of $1,200,000 by the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID’s) American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (ASHA) program to the Feinberg Graduate School (FGS) at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel. The award, made to the Trustees of the Feinberg Graduate School, will support the purchase of critical instrumentation for the newly established Food and Environmental Metabolomics Lab (FEM-Lab).
The FEM-Lab will advance the Weizmann Institute’s cutting-edge research on plant metabolites, small chemicals that are the basis of human health and nutrition, fibers, medicines, natural pest and weed controls, and more. The study of these chemicals holds the promise of applications in areas ranging from alternative energy to global health and food security, with the potential to improve lives worldwide.
“With the support of this award, Weizmann scientists and graduate students are poised to make breakthroughs that will have a positive impact on the most vulnerable communities in developing countries around the world,” said Marshall S. Levin, Chief Executive Officer of the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science. “We thank ASHA for promoting discoveries that benefit all of humanity.”
“We are grateful for this generous grant from ASHA which will help the Feinberg Graduate School enrich its activities and purchase scientific equipment crucial for this important area of research,” Prof. Irit Sagi, Dean of the FGS, said.
The Feinberg Graduate School is one of over 30 organizations spanning more than 20 countries to receive new grants from the USAID/ASHA program. USAID administers the U.S. foreign assistance program providing economic and humanitarian assistance in more than 80 countries worldwide. Through a competitive annual grant, USAID/ASHA supports schools, libraries, and medical centers outside the United States that share universal values, such as empowering women and inclusive societies, as well as promoting innovation and entrepreneurship, while advancing best practices in health care and education. Since its inception, the program has provided assistance to approximately 300 institutions globally.
Previous ASHA grants have enabled the Feinberg Graduate School to develop and improve educational and research activities for its students in many areas including biology, chemistry, physics, math and computer science, and science teaching.
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The Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, is one of the world’s top-ranking multidisciplinary research institutions. The Institute’s 3,800-strong scientific community engages in research addressing crucial problems in medicine and health, energy, technology, agriculture, and the environment. Outstanding young scientists from around the world pursue advanced degrees at the Weizmann Institute’s Feinberg Graduate School. The discoveries and theories of Weizmann Institute scientists have had a major impact on the wider scientific community, as well as on the quality of life of millions of people worldwide.
The American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science is a community of dedicated people who share a common vision in support of the Institute. The generous assistance the Institute receives from individuals, foundations, and corporations is vital for its future. Committee members show their devotion to the advancement of the Institute’s goals by becoming partners in the search for answers to the most difficult challenges facing humanity.
