The Hebrew University of Jerusalem proudly congratulates Prof. Yuval Dor and Dr. Agnès Klochendler of the Faculty of Medicine, The Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada on being awarded the highly competitive European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grant .
This prestigious recognition, awarded under the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme, supports senior researchers in pursuing ambitious, curiosity-driven projects with the potential to achieve major scientific breakthroughs. The ERC Advanced Grant competition is among the most selective funding schemes in Europe, designed to empower leading scholars working at the forefront of their fields.
The awarded project focuses on uncovering the earliest events that lead to the development of type 1 diabetes , an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system destroys the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas. The research team, led by Prof. Dor and Dr. Klochendler, has proposed a novel model for the origins of the disease. Contrary to the widely held view that viral infections serve as the primary trigger, their research suggests that the initial cause may lie in disruptions of RNA metabolism, specifically in a process known as RNA editing, within the beta cells themselves.
By investigating how defects in RNA editing may initiate autoimmune responses, the researchers hope to reveal entirely new mechanisms underlying type 1 diabetes. The findings could have far-reaching implications for the prevention of the disease and for the development of treatments targeting its earliest stages, before significant damage to pancreatic cells occurs.
Prof. Oron Shagrir, Rector of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, congratulated the recipients:
"Prof. Dor and Dr. Klochendler's ERC Advanced Grant is a testament to their scientific excellence, creativity, and commitment to addressing one of the world's most pressing health challenges. Their pioneering research has the potential to transform our understanding of type 1 diabetes and open new avenues for prevention and treatment. This remarkable achievement reflects not only their individual accomplishments but also the strength of the Hebrew University's research community and its enduring contribution to improving human health worldwide."