Hadassah research improves lives

Joyce Toub, Collier/Lee Hadassah President

As I put away my Chanukiah for another year, I realize how Hadassah is also a beacon of light, leaving darkness behind and looking forward to a promising future. That future gives us insight into unexplored diseases, inventions creating new technologies, groundbreaking new studies and improved wellness for all humankind.

At our 100th convention in Jerusalem this past November, members were updated on Hadassah research showing that stem cells injected into the central nervous system can improve life for people with multiple sclerosis and for patients with ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. That nervous system condition weakens muscles and impacts physical function. Th ere is no known cause or cure.

Hadassah is the first in the world to create male and female stem cells from the same person with exactly the same genetic code. Most of us realize that men have the XY sex chromosome and women have the XX sex chromosome. But two out of every thousand men have Kleinfelter’s syndrome, where men carry an extra X chromosome that occurs because of a random genetic error. Their sex chromosome is XXY. With exactly the same genetic code, research will explain how gender differences affect health and health care. This will also help to compare the efficacy and toxicity of drugs as they are adapted to men and to women.

Gender differences can affect the risk of developing certain diseases: women have a higher risk of developing autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, while men have a higher morbidity with infectious diseases (e.g. COVID-19).

New podcast

Hadassah has a new podcast, “Hadassah on Call,” where new frontiers in medicine are explained by Maayan Hoffman, who gives us the latest breakthroughs in layman’s terms. She breaks down complex medical and scientific concepts to ensure that listeners gain a better understanding so we can act on critical information from our doctors.

Local programs

Our Collier/Lee Hadassah Chapter has been very active. We celebrated the 23rd Annual Recognition for Major Donors and Keepers of the Gate on Dec. 4. Our guest speaker was Naomi Adler, CEO of Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America. She shared many of Hadassah’s accomplishments and expressed gratitude for all your support.

I invite you to share in our upcoming programs. You’ll learn so much, meet wonderful people, and have fun!

Jan. 29 – Installation Luncheon and Fashion Show at Bonita Bay Club

Feb. 26 – Inspiring Women of 2023 at Audubon Country Club

March 3 – Hadassah Shabbat at Temple Shalom

March 4 – Hadassah Shabbat at Beth Tikvah

I look forward to seeing you soon!