The close research cooperation between Prof. Yossi Tam from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
and Prof. Jürg Gertsch from the University of Bern impressively shows how international
cooperation drives biomedical innovations.
Both scientists combine their expertise in cannabinoid and biomedical research to develop new therapeutic approaches against widespread diseases such as obesity, diabetes, chronic inflammation and liver and kidney diseases.
Following the death of Prof. Raphael Mechoulam, the pioneer of cannabinoid research, Prof. Tam succeeded
him at the School of Pharmacy, where he leads an active research group on metabolism and obesity.
Prof. Gertsch, in turn, brings his many years of experience in molecular pharmacology and his close connection to Israel to the collaboration. He heads the interdisciplinary Sinergia research project "Food-medicine continuity in vervet monkeys: Investigations into the
interaction of nutritional quality, stress management and the endocannabinoid system", funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation, in
which Prof. Tam is also involved and has received funding of
around 700,000 Swiss francs for his laboratory at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
The focus of this research is on plant-based active ingredients from food and the body's own molecules, which have a targeted effect on processes such as fat storage, inflammation and tissue damage. The aim is to better understand how the body reacts to stress-related diseases with targeted nutrition and to develop new, safe and effective drugs from this.
This work combines modern science with findings from nutrition. The collaboration between Prof. Yossi Tam and Prof. Jürg Gertsch is a long-standing scientific partnership dedicated to the development of new therapeutic approaches for widespread health problems such as obesity, diabetes, inflammation, and liver and kidney disease.
This partnership was also supported by the Foundation for Medical Students of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and forms the basis for new treatment approaches that could help patients with obesity-related diseases, chronic inflammation and organ damage in the future.