Michel Revel

Prof‭. ‬Revel is Professor Emeritus of Molecular Genetics at the Weizmann Institute of Science‭. ‬His research on Interferon‭, ‬its mechanisms of action and the isolation of the human Interferon-beta gene‭, ‬have led to the development of Interferon-beta therapy for the treatment of multiple sclerosis‭, ‬Rebif®‭, ‬Blockbuster drug marketed worldwide‭.‬

In recent years‭, ‬Prof‭. ‬Revel's laboratory focused on hESC and succeeded to produce nerve myelinating cells that‭, ‬when transplanted in myelin-deficient animals‭, ‬have regenerated the myelin coating‭. ‬These studies contributed to the development of a suspension culture technology for hESC which can then be used to produce differentiated human cells such as insulin-producing pancreatic‭ ‬beta cells and nerve myelinating cells‭.‬

Alongside his research and development activity‭, ‬Prof‭. ‬Revel is deeply involved in the ethics of science and biotechnology‭, ‬and‭ ‬served as chairman of the Israel National Bioethics Council‭, ‬and was a member of the International Bioethics Committee of UNESCO‭.‬

Prof‭. ‬Revel was the recipient of the Israel Prize for medical research‭, ‬the EMET Prize for biotechnology‭, ‬and is a member of the‭ ‬Israel Academy of Science and Humanities‭. ‬He has been a member of Israel's National Committee for Biotechnology‭, ‬serving for three years as its chairman‭.