The Institute for Medical Research

The Institute for Medical Research, Israel-Canada (IMRIC) at the Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, trains future scientists and conducts cutting-edge basic and translational biomedical research. Research at IMRIC spans major health challenges, including cancer, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, infectious diseases, and mental illness. By deepening our understanding of disease mechanisms, IMRIC contributes to improving human health worldwide.

 

Research

IMRIC researchers investigate fundamental biological processes, working to uncover the root causes of illness and develop new approaches to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

Teaching

Our diverse academic programs provide a wide range of opportunities for students pursuing careers in the biomedical sciences, including undergraduate (B.Sc.) and graduate (M.Sc. and Ph.D.) degrees across multiple specialized fields.  

 

 

News and Publications

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A New Mechanism Explains How Folic Acid Prevents Birth Defects

10 August, 2026
Folic acid supplementation during pregnancy is the commonly accepted treatment to prevent neural tube defects, yet the mechanism by which FA prevents neural tube defects (NTDs) remains unclear.
A research group led by Prof. Abraham Fainsod  from the faculty of medicine in the Hebrew University explored the molecular mechanism  of folic acid, findings shown in a paper recently published in PNAS.
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Their results show that folic acid promotes the production of the vitamin A derivative retinoic acid, thereby preventing NTDs. Eliminating the enzyme responsible for linking vitamin B9 to retinoic acid, ALDH1L1, abolishes the NTD-preventing effects of folic acid.

Link to the article  - https://www.growkudos.com/publications/10.1073%25252Fpnas.2616501123/reader

For the full paper please see file attached below!
 
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A natural alternative to antibiotics: The Hebrew University and Hadassah in €15m international study

6 August, 2026
An international, European-funded consortium is bringing together researchers from 13 countries to assess bacteriophage treatment as a potential alternative to antibiotics for current urinary tract infections. The Israeli institutions are partners in this extensive research project, which has received a grant of €15m from the European Union and is designed to find a solution to infections caused by resistant bacteria. The Israeli section is being led by Prof. Ronen Hazan and Dr. Sahar Melamed from the Faculty of Medicine and by Prof. Ran Nir-Paz from Hadassah Medical Center.
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Read the full article here: https://www.news-medical.net/news/20260728/Major-clinical-trial-aims-to-...
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