Ruth Arnon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ruth Arnon
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| רות ארנון | |
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| Born |
Ruth Rosenberg
June 1, 1933 |
| Education | Herzliya Hebrew Gymnasium, Hebrew University of Jerusalem |
| Known for | Copaxone |
| Spouse(s) | Uriel Arnon (2 children) |
| Parent(s) |
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| Awards | Robert Koch Prize (1979), Wolf Prize in Medicine (1998) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Immunology, Virology |
| Institutions | Weizmann Institute of Science |
| Doctoral advisor | Michael Sela |
Ruth Arnon is a famous Israeli biochemist. She was born in Tel Aviv on June 1, 1933. Dr. Arnon helped create a very important medicine called Copaxone. This medicine helps people who have a disease called multiple sclerosis. She is also a professor at the Weizmann Institute of Science. There, she studies how to make new vaccines for diseases like cancer and the flu.
Contents
Ruth Arnon's Life Story
Ruth Rosenberg, who later became Ruth Arnon, was the youngest of three children. She was born in Tel Aviv, Israel. Her father, Alexander Rosenberg, was an electrical engineer and mathematician. He inspired her to be interested in science.
Ruth went to a school called Herzliya Hebrew Gymnasium. By the time she was 15, she knew she wanted to be a medical researcher. She studied chemistry at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. After that, she joined a special program in the Israel Defense Forces. This program allowed her to continue her studies.
Ruth earned her master's degree in 1955. She then served as an officer in the Israeli army for two years. During this time, she married Uriel Arnon, who was an engineer. They had two children, Michal and Yoram.
Ruth Arnon's Science Career
In 1960, Ruth Arnon started working at the Weizmann Institute of Science. She began her Ph.D. studies with Professor Michael Sela. Most of her work has been in a field called immunology. This is the study of how our bodies fight off diseases.
At the Weizmann Institute, Dr. Arnon held many important leadership roles. She was the head of a department and even a vice president of the whole institute. She also directed a center that studied tropical diseases.
Much of Dr. Arnon's research has focused on creating new vaccines. She also worked on finding ways to fight cancer. One of her biggest achievements was helping to develop Copaxone. This medicine helps people with multiple sclerosis.
Developing Copaxone
Dr. Arnon and Professor Michael Sela worked together on Copaxone. They started by creating a special man-made substance. They found that this substance could help stop a disease in animals. This animal disease was similar to multiple sclerosis in humans.
After 30 years of hard work, Copaxone was finally approved for medical use. It helps people with multiple sclerosis by protecting their nerves. It also helps prevent damage to the protective covering around nerves.
Current Research and Leadership
Today, Dr. Arnon is still doing important research. She is working on a new kind of flu vaccine that could protect against many different flu viruses. She is also researching a vaccine for cancer.
Her work on flu vaccines involves using something called virus-like particles (VLPs). These are tiny particles that look like viruses but cannot make you sick. They help your body learn to fight off real viruses. Her research helped start a company called BiondVax. This company is testing the universal flu vaccine in people.
In 2017, Dr. Arnon became a co-chair of the UK-Israel Science Council. She has been a part of this council since 2010.
Awards and Recognition
Ruth Arnon has received many awards for her amazing work in science.
- 1979 – Robert Koch Prize in Medical Sciences, Germany
- 1986 – Jimenez Diaz Award, Spain
- 1990 – Elected Member of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities
- 1991 – Hadassah Women of Distinction Award
- 1994 – Chevalier de l'Ordre de la Légion d'Honneur, France
- 1998 – Wolf Prize in Medicine for the development of Cop1, or Copaxone
- 1998 – Rothschild Prize in Life Sciences
- 2001 – Israel Prize in medicine
- 2009 – Elected member of the American Philosophical Society
- 2010 – First woman president of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities
- 2020 – OurCrowd Maimonides Award for Lifetime Achievement in Science, Leadership and Menschlichkeit
- 2021 – Honorary Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
See also
- Women of Israel
