USISTF, the BIRD Foundation and the US-Israel Binational Science Foundation Partner to Host the 2012 U.S. - Israel Neurotechnology and Neuroscience Conference

WASHINGTON, Aug. 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The United States-Israel Science and Technology Foundation (USISTF), the Israel – U.S. Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation (BIRD), and the U.S.-Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF) announced today the plenary session speakers and program agenda for the 2012 U.S.-Israel Neurotechnology and Neuroscience Conference. The conference will bring together leading scientists from academia and industry to highlight recent developments in the study of brain function and brain disorders. The event is scheduled for September 12 at the National Academy of Sciences Building in Washington, D.C.

"From developmental disorders to psychiatric diseases, and age-related concerns such as Alzheimer and Parkinson's, the brain is susceptible to some of the most serious health problems affecting our society," said Ann Liebschutz, Executive Director at USISTF. "This conference reinforces USISTF's strong commitment to discovering new methods to prevent or treat neurological disorders."

The 2012 U.S.-Israel Neurotechnology and Neuroscience Conference will feature leading experts in the field of neurology, who will share recent breakthroughs in the diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders and how bi-national cooperation plays a key role in advancing brain research. Plenary session speakers for the conference include:

•          The Honorable Patrick Kennedy, former U.S. Representative for Rhode Island's 1^st congressional district
•          The Honorable Michael B. Oren, Israeli ambassador to the U.S.
•          Dr. Steven Hyman, Director of the Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
•          Colonel Geoffrey Ling, M.D., Ph.D., Defense Sciences Office at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
•          Dr. Jeffrey S. Nye, MD, PhD, VP and Global Head, Neuroscience External Innovation,
  Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of J&J
•          Mr. Zack Lynch, Executive Director at the Neurotechnology Industry Organization (NIO).

"Research of the human brain requires a multi-disciplinary approach from physicians, biologists, physicists, mathematicians, experts in computer science, engineers, and others," said Dr. Eitan Yudilevich, Executive Director at the BIRD Foundation. "At this conference, researchers and industry professionals from the U.S. and Israel will present new innovations, creating opportunities for collaborations and investments that will bring about groundbreaking research and treatments."

The program's agenda will provide attendees with insight to new methods and more accurate diagnostics for neurological research, focusing on: Memory and Brain Training, Brain Computing and Brain Machine Interface, Trauma and Stroke, Post Traumatic Stress and Recovery, Brain Cancer and Neurodegenerative Diseases.

"Brain research is an area which has gained great momentum in the last several years and Israel is among the leaders of this exciting field, and among the very few countries that have reached the commercialization of its academic neurological and brain research," said Dr. Yair Rotstein, Executive Director at BSF.

Registration is open, but attendance is limited. For more information or to register for 2012 U.S.-Israel Neurotechnology and Neuroscience Conference, please visit: http://www.cvent.com/events/accelerating-u-s-israel-neuroscience-neurotechnology-collaborations/event-summary-806f4abe85614b77a7ece3fb524a1be3.aspx

For questions, please contact Ms. Ann Liebschutz at (202) 204-3102 or [email protected] or Ms. Andrea Yonah, at the BIRD Foundation, at (609) 356-0305. 

About USISTF
The United States-Israel Science and Technology Foundation (USISTF) is a Washington-based non-profit organization established in 1995, that promotes mutually beneficial business collaboration between the US and Israel in the advancement of science and technology. The organization's mission is to strengthen the US and Israel economic relationship in the global marketplace through the integration of science and technology and also to serve as a model for future international collaborative efforts.

About the BIRD Foundation
The BIRD (Binational Industrial Research and Development) Foundation works to encourage cooperation between Israeli and American companies in the various areas of technology, and provides free assistance in locating strategic partners from both countries for developing joint products.

The BIRD Foundation supports projects without receiving any rights in the participating companies or in the project itself. The financial assistance is repaid as royalties from sales. The Foundation provides support of up to 50% of a project's budget, beginning with R&D and ending with the initial stages of sales and marketing. The Foundation shares the risk and does not demand that the investment be repaid if the project fails to reach the sales stage.

The BIRD Foundation works in full cooperation with the Chief Scientist's Office at the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Labor in Israel, and with the U.S. Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

About the US-Israel Binational Science Foundation
The U.S.-Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF) promotes scientific relations between the U.S. and Israel by supporting collaborative research projects in a wide area of basic and applied scientific fields, for peaceful and non-profit purposes. Founded in 1972 by an agreement between the United States and Israel, the BSF has awarded some $480 million to over 4,000 research projects of the highest quality. Many of these have led to important scientific, medical and technological breakthroughs with wide-ranging practical applications. The BSF is a highly regarded funding source among researchers in both countries and scientists participating in BSF programs have won prestigious awards such as the Nobel, Lasker, and Wolf prizes. http://www.bsf.org.il

Media Contacts:
Ilina Dimitrova
Sage Communications (for USISTF)
Phone: 703 531 8256
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE United States-Israel Science and Technology Foundation