BIU's Diabetes Initiative Goes Global
Developed by the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, The Russell Berrie Galilee Diabetes SPHERE is tackling diabetes and reducing healthcare disparities in northern Israel, inspiring the world to follow
As the global diabetes epidemic continues to escalate—quadrupling since 1980—the Russell Berrie Galilee Diabetes Social Precision-medicine Health Equity Research Endeavour (SPHERE) at Bar-Ilan University’s Azrieli Faculty of Medicine is tackling various aspects of this pressing international health crisis. With effective strategies in place, SPHERE is now broadening its local initiatives in northern Israel to influence diabetes prevention and treatment globally.
This week, the executive leadership of SPHERE hosted its inaugural Diplomatic Health Innovation Summit, bringing together key members of the diplomatic community in Israel to foster international collaboration by showcasing SPHERE's adaptable healthcare solutions. Economic and innovation attachés from nearly 20 countries, including the UK, US, Germany, Canada, France, India, Italy, Uzbekistan, Taiwan, Singapore, Latvia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Catalonia, and Bulgaria participated.
In his opening remarks Bar-Ilan University President Prof. Arie Zaban noted that just as the pursuit of interdisciplinary research at Bar-Ilan has helped cross the language barrier of different disciplines, the University’s more recent emphasis on inter-sectorial projects is fostering meaningful external collaborations that can truly generate impact. SPHERE is a noteworthy example of these efforts because scientific knowledge is being used to foster groundbreaking collaboration with municipalities, hospitals and schools, helping to reduce the level of diabetes in Israel’s peripheries, he said.
The summit featured insightful presentations by SPHERE Director Prof. Naim Shehadeh and Deputy Director Dr. Sivan Spitzer, followed by discussions on potential collaborations with diplomatic representatives.
Prof. Naim Shehadeh, Director of SPHERE: “SPHERE was founded to address the pressing issue of health inequity in northern Israel, bringing together medical professionals and researchers specializing in social disparities to work collaboratively. Through our collaborations with international partners, we have realized that many of the insights gained here can be applied globally. After three years of impactful work, we are excited to expand our international outreach. It is a privilege to host representatives from numerous countries, and we look forward to building partnerships that will benefit regions most in need of effective health solutions.”
The diplomatic summit was initiated by SPHERE Chief Operating Officer Martin Duifhuizen in partnership with Innovation without Borders (IWB), a leading forum dedicated to connecting international diplomats with Israel's cutting-edge innovation ecosystem. “Through the IWB network, we empower and open avenues for international representatives from various countries to connect with Israel’s cutting-edge ecosystem. I had the privilege to work alongside SPHERE and promote the summit as a pivotal opportunity to foster transformative partnerships, advance healthcare innovation and strengthen international collaboration, ultimately driving global progress in science and healthcare,” said Liron Attias, CEO of IWB.
Ronit Applebaum, Healthcare Innovation Sector Lead, British Embassy in Israel: “I was truly impressed by the groundbreaking work SPHERE is doing, particularly in Israel's peripheral regions. The challenges faced by these regions, such as limited access to quality healthcare and a diverse population, are mirrored in the North of England. With the National Health Service pushing for innovation and the UK government's significant investment in the North as part of the ‘leveling up’ program, there's a unique opportunity for collaboration and knowledge exchange between our two countries.”
Nitzan Bittan and Jean-Denis Dufour, Trade Commissioners at the Canadian Embassy in Israel highlighted Canada's commitment to diabetes research and care. “These opportunities to foster international collaboration, learn from each other's successes and challenges, and ultimately improve healthcare worldwide, are invaluable. I look forward to future events that will continue to drive this progress,” said Bittan.
Since its establishment just three years ago, the Russell Berrie Galilee Diabetes SPHERE -- an acronym for Social Precision-medicine Health Equity Research Endeavour -- has emerged as Israel’s largest health equity initiative. A collaboration between Bar-Ilan University’s Azrieli Faculty of Medicine and The Russell Berrie Foundation, SPHERE is dedicated to enhancing diabetes prevention, control, care, and research in northern Israel through multi-sector partnerships with HMOs, hospitals, the Ministry of Health, and key stakeholders.