2M Euro for Hadassah College Biodiversity Project

The European Union has granted 2 Million Euros for a biodiversity project led by Hadassah College of Jerusalem. The project will be implemented in partnership with the Biodiversity and Environmental Research Center of the Palestinian Authority, Leitat Technological Center in Spain, and the Hellenic Regional Development Center in Greece. Two US-based Universities Rutgers University, New Jersey and the North Carolina State University, will also participate in the project. Prof Bertold Fridlender, Director of Hadassah College’s Biotechnology Department said that the goal of the project is to identify endemic plants from the Mediterranean area, which contain compounds that may be valuable for industrial products such as pharmaceutical products, food additives, cosmetics and others. This collaborative research will promote social and financial developments in the Mediterranean Sea Basin Area.” As part of the Bio-Xplore project, a Mediterranean branch of the Global Institute for Bio-Exploration (GIBEX-MED) will be created. The GIBEX centers are active today in Africa, America and Asia, and aim to initiate and support international joint research and development. These joint activities promote the development of biological products based on natural resources endemic to each of the partnering countries. The products are focused on achieving health and environmental targets in developing countries. The project will be part of the curriculum of the Biotechnology Department in Hadassah College. Dr. Gili Josef, a faculty member of the Department will be the Project Manager.