Against the background of ground-breaking activity in the fight against the corona virus, this morning the President of the State, Mr. Reuven Rivlin, visited the research laboratories (in the Edmond and Lily Safra Brain Sciences Center).  The tour took place on the Edmond J. Safra Campus, accompanied by the President of the Hebrew University, Prof. Asher Cohen, and the Vice President for Advancement and External Relations, Mr. Yossi Gal.

Recently the Hebrew University’s researchers together with additional researchers made ground-breaking progress in the fight against the corona virus.  They developed a new and more efficient method for corona screening, based on materials that for the most part are available in Israel and significantly cheaper, and screen at a higher speed.  This achievement enabled the testing laboratory of the Hadassah Hospital and the Hebrew University to carry out over 100,000 tests thus far.

The President told the researchers that he is aware of the fact that the research being competitive is a positive engine for success but he added:  “Today I meet with you, our best brains in the Hebrew University, and recently I met with our best brains in the Biological Institute.  I also held such meetings in Ichiilov, also in Soroka, and I must tell you friends, you are not in competition with each other, and this is not a race in which one must be first.  We are in a marathon and if we don’t all reach the goal, we will find ourselves in great difficulty.  Reach out for joint research.  Only professionals can do that.  We will overcome, but please – let us join together, that will certainly be faster.”

The President of the Hebrew University, Prof. Asher Cohen said:  “ Today we presented to the President of the State of Israel, a graduate of the Hebrew University, a small part of the break-through research being carried out in the University.  Research and science being carried out in Israel, and in Jerusalem in particular, are the pride of Israel and the factors that drive the Israeli economy to the forefront of innovation and world entrepreneurship.  The corona crisis strongly emphasizes the importance of scientific research and its results in Israel and around the world and the need to invest in resources to advance it.”