NIH Record - National Institutes of Health

Israeli Minister of Health, Ambassador Visit

Litzman and Collins
Israeli Minister of Health Yakov Litzman (l) and NIH director Dr. Francis Collins

Photo:  Ernie Branson

Dr. Tabak shakes hands with Israeli health minister
NIH principal deputy director Dr. Lawrence Tabak (r) welcomes Israeli Minister of Health.

Photo:  Ernie Branson

Litzman talks with NIH leaders in Clinical Center atrium.
Preparing for a tour of the Clinical Research Center, the Israeli minister of health is greeted by several NIH leaders including (from r) deputy director for extramural research Dr. Michael Lauer, acting deputy director for administration Dr. John McGowan, deputy director for intramural research Dr. Michael Gottesman and FIC director Dr. Roger Glass.

Photo:  Ernie Branson

NIH leaders and the Israeli leaders seated around board room table
NIH leaders gather with the Israeli delegation in the Clinical Research Center’s Medical Board Room.

Photo:  Ernie Branson

NIH scientists with Israeli delegation seated at board room table.
At a Q&A session, NIH scientists (from l) Dr. Ofer Zimmerman of NIAID and Drs. Sigal Shachar and Dr. Jasmin Leshem, both of NCI, talk about the researcher/clinician fellowship that allows physicians to conduct research in the U.S. and see patients related to their research at the same time. “We discussed the significance of this program, how it contributes to advancing and improving medical practice and how we should try and implement a similar program in Israel,” said Shachar.

Photo:  Ernie Branson

Dr. Gahl with open arms describes a treatment protocol to Litzman
Dr. William Gahl (second from l), director of the NIH Undiagnosed Diseases Program, describes a treatment protocol involving the drug EPI-743. Also shown are pediatric nurse practioner Lynne Wolfe (seated) and research nurse Ashley Rice.

Photo:  Ernie Branson

The Israeli delegation and NIH leaders sit around a board room table.
The Israeli delegation meets with NIH leaders.

Photo:  Ernie Branson

Israeli Minister of Health Yakov Litzman and Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Ron Dermer visited NIH on Jan. 4, following a memorandum of understanding signing with HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell. The MOU emphasized increased cooperation in the fields of health, medicine and science.

While at NIH, Litzman and Dermer and their delegation met with NIH senior leadership, including NIH director Dr. Francis Collins, principal deputy director Dr. Lawrence Tabak, deputy director for intramural research Dr. Michael Gottesman and deputy director for extramural research Dr. Michael Lauer. Later, the group toured the Clinical Research Center and visited a patient unit with Dr. William Gahl, director of the NIH Undiagnosed Diseases Program.

Rounding out the afternoon, the group met with NCI leaders, including acting director Dr. Doug Lowy, and attended a Q&A session with Israeli scientists who discussed the importance of NIH, its contribution to health and research in the U.S. and the possibilities of building a similar institution in Israel. 

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