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Technion Breakthroughs: Medicine
Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering
- Researchers led by Prof. Shulamit Levenberg have developed technology to tailor
grafted tissues that can respond to certain natural forces affecting blood vessels. The
researchers also found that matching the structure of the engineered vessels to the
structure of the host tissues at the site of implantation helps the tissue implant
integration, improving the chances that grafted tissues will survive. (04/16)
- Using tissue from pigs, Prof. Marcelle Machluf created a "scaffold" that preserves the
infrastructure of natural blood vessels and supports human stem cells. The result a
rebuilt heart that could be used as a post-heart attack implant. (11/12)
- Prof. Shulamit Levenberg is researching building pancreatic tissue with insulinsecreting cells, surrounded by a three-dimensional network of blood vessels. The
engineered tissue could pave the way for improved tissue transplants to treat diabetes.
(08/12)
- Prof. Joseph Itskovitz-Eldor and Dr. Ayalet Dar-Oaknin program embryonic and
adult stem cells to produce and multiply cells called pericytes, crucial to the
formation of healthy blood vessels. The breakthrough could benefit patients struggling
to recover from cardiovascular disease, or serious circulatory damage from conditions
such as diabetes. (06/12)
- Prof. Lior Gepstein takes skin cells from heart failure patients and reprograms them
to transform into healthy, new heart muscle cells capable of integrating with
existing heart tissue. The research opens up the prospect of treating heart failure patients
with their own, human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) to repair their damaged
hearts. (05/12)
- Using skin cells from a patient with an inherited heart disease to help test treatments
for that disease, Prof. Lior Gepstein also offers a glimpse at the future of personalized
medicine, where a person’s own cells can be used to determine which treatments might
work best—or should be avoided—for a particular condition. (01/11)
- The National Institutes of Health (NIH) re-approves for federally funded research four
stem cell lines that originated from cells "born" at the Technion-Israel Institute of
Technology. The H7, H9, H13 and H14 stem cell lines were derived in collaboration
with Prof. Joseph Itskovitz-Eldor of the Faculty of Medicine and Rambam Health Care
Campus. (05/10)
- Prof. Lior Gepstein has discovered a way to create beating heart cells using human
skin cells reprogrammed to become stem cells. The discovery could make it possible to
clinically repair damaged human hearts. (10/09)
- Using cancer cells from an ovarian cancer patient and human embryonic stem cells,
Prof. Karl Skorecki and Dr. Mati Tzukerman have created a cancerous tumor in a mouse
that mimics the way the tumor would develop in the patient's body. The result is a preclinical experimental model for cancer research that could facilitate the development of
personalized cancer therapies. (01/09)
- Profs. Shulamit Levenberg and Lior Gepstein use embryonic stem cells to create new
heart muscle with a built-in network of blood vessels. According to the researchers,
such vascularization would greatly improve the survival of the tissue when transplanted
in a human heart. (01/07)
- Prof. Shulamit Levenberg, together with a team from MIT, grew new muscle complete
with its own network of blood vessels in the laboratory, and implanted the new
muscle in a living mouse. The accomplishment is a first for tissue engineering, and
could make possible the repair and replacement of damaged muscle tissue when needed.
(06/05)
- Dr. Lior Gepstein and colleagues coax embryonic stem cells to develop into heart cells
and subsequently into beating heart muscle. They have also demonstrated that heart cells
grown from human embryonic stem cells can integrate into the host heart and help
regulate its activity, a breakthrough that may lead to the development of a biological
pacemaker and to using heart cells to repair heart tissue destroyed by heart attacks.
(09/04)
- Researchers led by Prof. Joseph Itskovitz-Eldor induce stem cells to form into blood
vessels. (12/03)
- Prof. Joseph Itzkovitz-Eldor and his team demonstrated the creation of tendons from
stem cells. These tendons have been successfully implanted in mice. The researchers are
learning how to control the length, width and other options in the process, before
beginning clinical tests.
(04/06)
- Profs. Karl Skorecki and Joseph Itskovitz-Eldor have grown insulin-secreting cells,
the first step toward a new approach to treating diabetes. (08/01)
- Prof. Joseph Itskovitz-Eldor of the Faculty of Medicine was on the international team
that first discovered the potential of stem cells to form any kind of tissue and
pioneered in stem-cell technology. The breakthrough garnered headlines around the
world. (1998)
Cancer
- The Technion Integrated Cancer Center (TICC), a first-of-its kind hub for global
cancer research, is inaugurated. Led by Distinguished Professor Aaron Ciechanover
and Prof. Ze’ev Ronai, the TICC will expedite the discovery of new diagnostic tools and
treatments through a collaborative “bench-to-bedside” approach. (11/16)
- Using synthetic DNA sequences as the tiniest of barcodes, researchers led by Assistant
Professor Avi Schroeder have developed a new diagnostic technology for determining
the suitability of specific anticancer drugs to a specific patient – before treatment
even begins. (11/16)
- Findings by a team of scientists led by Professor Yuval Shaked show how cancer
treatments actually accelerate the violence of the disease. The findings could provide a
key for reducing the recurrence of cancer, and allow anti-cancer drugs to do their
work as intended. (10/16)
- A team led by Prof. Doron Melamed identifies elements and the processes in the
biochemical pathway that allow B lymphocytes to be eliminated when they become
cancerous and able to evade the very system meant to destroy them. The groundbreaking
work can be used in the fight against Leukemia and other B cell cancers. (09/16)
- A groundbreaking cancer research initiative led by NYU Langone Medical Center
and the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology (and supported by noted
philanthropists and NYU Langone Trustees Laura and Isaac Perlmutter is launched).
Drug-carrying “nanoghosts” that battle melanoma and new treatments for malignant
mesothelioma are among the first joint research projects under the auspices of the
program. (04/16)
- Using tiny “nanopore” scanners that can detect individual DNA molecules,
Professor Amit Meller and colleagues are on the hunt for biological markers in cancer
cells that may help clinicians diagnose colorectal and lung cancers at their earliest stages.
(09/15)
- Prof. Hossam Haick develops a quick, simple and accurate breath test for the early
detection of stomach cancer – one of the most lethal forms of cancer – and for
identifying people at risk for developing the disease. (04/15)
- A study by Distinguished Prof. Aaron Ciechanover could hold a key to control cancer
cell growth and development. The two previously undiscovered cancer-suppressing
proteins were found during ongoing research on the ubiquitin system, an important and
vital pathway in the life of the cell, which is responsible for the degradation of defective
proteins that could damage the cell if not removed. (04/15)
- A joint Technion – Massachusetts Institute of Technology team, led by Prof. Ester
Segal, found that silicon nanomaterials used for the localized delivery of
chemotherapy drugs behave differently in cancerous tumors than they do in healthy
tissues. The findings could help scientists better design such materials to facilitate the
controlled and targeted release of the chemotherapy drugs to tumors. (02/15)
- Dr. Maty Tzukerman finds that cancer cells are much more diverse than previously
belived, and that they grow and proliferate more robustly in the presence of human cells.
The findings could someday lead to the development of new methods for controlling
the growth of cancer, and perhaps lead to treatments that will transform cancer from a
lethal disease to a chronic, manageable one, similar to AIDS. (03/12)
- A team led by Prof. Ari Admon and Dr. Michael Bassini Sternberg identified a new
source of blood-derived biomarkers that could help doctors determine whether a
recovering cancer patient has relapsed, and may someday aid in the early detection of a
variety of cancers. The technique might also provide a large enough source of
information to enable personalized treatment for the disease. (10/10)
- Combining nature and Greek mythology, Prof. Yoav Livney has developed a tiny
“Trojan Horse” system for delivering cancer-fighting drugs. With this system, the
drugs are delivered only once they are inside the cancerous cells, so there is no damage to
the healthy cells in the surrounding area. (07/10)
- The use of bisphosphonates – drugs already taken by millions of healthy women to
prevent bone loss – for more than one year has been associated with a 29 percent
reduction in the risk of postmenopausal breast cancer, according to a study led by Dr.
Gad Rennert. The data helps shed light on a possible new pathway for breast cancer
prevention. (12/09)
- An encapsulation breakthrough by Prof. Marcelle Machluf may enable doctors to
deliver anti-cancer drugs directly to tumors over extended periods of time, while
preventing the systemic side effects of chemotherapy and other current cancer treatments.
(11/09)
- Technion researchers led by Prof. Yoram Reiter have developed a technique that could
produce a more effective blend of tumor-fighting immune cells used to treat cancers such
as metastatic melanoma. By delving deeper into the underlying properties of these cell
blends, called tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, the researchers developed a technique
that could produce a more effective blend of tumor-fighting immune cells used to
treat cancers such as metastatic melanoma. (05/09)
- Prof. Emeritus Yoram Palti develops NovoTTF, a treatment for the deadly form of brain
cancer glioblastoma multiforme. Using 4 electrodes placed on the surface of the patient’s
shaved scalp, the system delivers low-intensity, electrical fields called tumor treatment
fields (TTFs) to the tumor site. Tumor cells that are dividing and multiplying have unique
shapes and electrical characteristics. These make them susceptible to damage when
exposed to TTF, which then stops the tumor’s growth. Novocure’s NovoTTF is approved
by the FDA, and available for sale in the United States. (04/11)
- A team of researchers led by Prof. Yehuda Assaraf discovered new mechanisms
developed by cancer cells to become resistant to various chemotherapy drugs. The
findings could point the way to new approaches for fighting drug-resistant tumors.
(12/05)
- Distinguished Profs. Avram Hershko and Aaron Ciechanover were awarded the 2004
Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their discovery of the Ubiquitin system, the body’s
process for marking unnecessary proteins for destruction. The anti-cancer drug
Velcade that has proven effective against multiple myeloma, is based upon their work,
and several other drugs are also in development.
- Prof. Israel Vlodavsky and his team have identified an enzyme called heparanase, which
is secreted by tumors to attract blood vessels. This process, called angiogenesis, allows
the cancer to infiltrate the blood and metastasize around the body. The researchers are
working to inhibit the gene responsible for producing heparanse; shutting down that
lifeline could be another way to shut down cancer once it begins. (2004)
- Technion research has dramatically illustrated how the chemicals in tobacco smoke
destroy the protective substances in human saliva – and in fact combine with the saliva
to create a corrosive cancer-causing mix. (06/04)
- Dr. Yoram Reiter and colleagues test a novel new cancer treatment to eliminate or
shrink tumors in laboratory mice. The treatment causes anti-viral T cells – white blood
cells that play a large role in the body’s immune response – to recognize tumors as virusinfected cells, and thus attack them. (06/04)
- Researchers led by Dr. Gera Neufeld pinpointed the specific protein that makes
breast cancer cells invade other tissues. The LOR-1 protein (for lysyl-oxidase-related),
causes tumors to spread and also induces the large amounts of collagen fibers that are a
hallmark of deadly breast cancers. The team believes that chemicals to inhibit LOR-1
could be developed as possible treatments. (07/03)
Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease and ALS
- An international team led by Prof. Michael Glickman, of the Faculty of Biology, sheds
light on a key mechanism in the accumulation of protein plaques in the tissue of
Alzheimer’s disease patients. The findings run contrary to what was previously
believed, and could open new venues for intervention in the hope of developing a cure for
Alzheimer’s disease (07/14)
- Researchers led by Dr. Silvia Mandel identify a biomarker comprised of five genes
shown to predict Parkinson's disease with high accuracy. This could help identify
high-risk individuals before symptoms develop – a stage where prevention treatment
efforts might be expected to have their greatest impact. (06/12)
- Ladostigil – a novel compound designed to provide comprehensive medical treatment
for Alzheimer's disease – is licensed. Born in the minds and labs of the Technion's Prof.
Moussa B.H. Youdim and Hebrew University Prof. Marta Weinstock-Rosin, the drug in
animal studies provided symptomatic anti-Alzheimer's, anti-Parkinson's and antidepressant activities. (04/10)
- A study by Teva Pharmaceuticals demonstrates that the drug Azilect (which first
received FDA approval in 2006) – first developed by Profs. Moussa Youdim and John
Finberg – can slow down the progression of Parkinson's disease. The drug first
received FDA approval in 2006. (06/08)
- Prof. Yoram Baram has created a virtual reality device that combines auditory and
visual feedback to improve walking speed and stride length in patients suffering from
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson's. (04/07)
- Prof. Moussa Youdim and colleagues receive patents for three new drugs to treat and
perhaps prevent neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and
ALS. The trio of drugs mop up excess iron before it can trigger a "brain rust" chemical
reaction, a hallmark of many neurodegenerative diseases. (11/04)
Food, Vitamins and Other Nutrients
- A study by Assistant Prof. Eran Ben-Arye shows that nearly two-thirds of the herbal
medicines used by cancer patients in the Middle East have potential health risks.
(02/16)
- A team led by Prof. Aaron Lerner presents evidence that processed foods weaken the
intestine’s resistance to bacteria, toxins and other hostile nutritional and not
nutritional elements, which in turn increases the likelihood of developing autoimmune
diseases. (12/15)
- A team of researchers at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, led by Professor
Michael Aviram, has discovered that the combination of pomegranate juice and dates
along with their pits provide maximum protection against atherosclerosis (plaque
buildup or hardening of the arteries), which can cause a heart attack or stroke. (04/15)
- According to a study by Prof. Michael Aviram, combining low-dose statin therapy
with pomegranate concentrate in patients with high blood cholesterol may significantly
reduce cholesterol levels and hinder oxidation of cholesterol in blood and cells. This
helps delay risk factors affecting the onset of artherosclerosis, heart attack and stroke.
(01/14)
- Using a natural milk protein called casein, Prof. Yoav Livney creates nanocapsules so
tiny that they solve the longstanding problem of how to add nutrients to clear
beverages without clouding or effects on taste or appearance. (03/12)
- Dr. Batya Kristal and graduate student Lilach Shema find that pomegranate juice that
has safe and monitored potassium content could help prevent complications among
kidney disease patients on dialysis. (11/10)
- Prof. Michael Aviram finds that eating dates daily could improve the quality of lipids
(fats) in the blood without raising blood sugar levels. (09/09)
- Prof. Andrew Levy demonstrated that dual therapy with vitamin E and statins is
shown to be more effective than statin therapy alone (01/08)
- Research by Prof. Andrew Levy identifies 40% of diabetics who would benefit from
vitamin E. (11/07)
- Dr. Yoav Livney and colleagues have engineered a way to deliver health-promoting
nutrients using protein particles naturally present in milk as carriers. The breakthrough
could lead to low fat or non-fat foods that contain nutrients now present only in fatcontaining foods, and could be used to enrich foods with other important nutraceuticals
like vitamins and antioxidants. (02/07)
- Research by Prof. Michael Aviram shows that pomegranate juice may provide
important health benefits for diabetic patients. (08/06)
Biomechanical Engineering
- In a breakthrough that could change the future of pacemakers, researchers led by
Assistant Professor Shelly Tzlil use mechanical stimulation to “train” cardiac cells to
beat at a given rate. The findings demonstrate for the first time that direct physical
contact with the cardiac cells isn’t required to synchronize their beating. As long as
the cardiac cells are in the tissue being mechanically stimulated, they are trained by the
stimulation, with long-lasting effects that persist even after it is stopped. (01/16)
- Researchers led by Prof. Hossam Haick have developed materials that can be integrated
into flexible devices to “heal” incidental scratches or damaging cuts that might
compromise device functionality. The advancement, using a new kind of synthetic
polymer (a polymer is a large molecule composed of many repeated smaller molecules)
has self-healing properties that mimic human skin, which means that e-skin “wounds”
can quickly “heal” themselves in remarkably short time – less than a day. (11/15)
- A life-sized artificial human lung created by Prof. Josue Sznitman and colleagues is
the first diagnostic tool for understanding in real time how tiny particles move and
behave in the deepest part of the human lungs (alveolar tissue). The patented platform
could provide a better understanding of the health risks associated with airborne
pollution, and be used for the evaluation and design of drugs for the respiratory system.
(10/15)
- Technion researchers led by Prof. Lior Gepstein have successfully established a new
approach for pacing the heart and synchronizing its mechanical activity without the
use of a conventional electrical pacemaker. This novel biologic strategy employs light-
sensitive genes that can be injected into the heart and then activated by flashes of blue
light. (06/15)
- A research consortium headed by Professor Hossam Haick is developing a product
that, when coupled with a smartphone, will be able to screen the user’s breath for
early detection of life-threatening diseases. (02/15)
- A team led by Prof. Michael Aviram finds that exposure to nanoparticles (NPs) of
silicon dioxide (SiO2) can play a major role in the development of cardiovascular
diseases when the NP cross tissue and cellular barriers and also find their way into the
circulatory system. (01/15)
- ReWalk, the lightweight robotic exoskeleton that allows paraplegics to walk, stand
and take stairs by themselves, receives FDA approval for use by individuals. The
device was invented by Technion alumnus Amit Goffer. ReWalk Technologies also has
its initial public offering on the NASDAQ. (09/14)
- Technion researchers are part of an international team that has created a tiny screwshaped propeller that can move in a gel-like fluid, mimicking the environment inside a
living organism. Medical applications could include eye surgery, and the use of the
propellers to deliver tiny doses of radiation. (07/14)
- PillCam – created by Technion graduate-led Given Imaging Company Ltd. – receives
FDA approval as an alternative for patients who are unable to have a complete
colonoscopy. (02/14)
- Using facial recognition software, Prof. Ron Kimmel, a specialist in computer vision,
and Prof. Israel Amirav from Bar-Ilan University, have created an FDA-approved,
infant-specific inhalation mask. The mask even contains a small valve chamber that
allows for a pacifier to be suck in the child’s mouth while it is wearing the mask. (08/13)
- Using tiny gold particles and a kind of resin, a team led by Prof. Hossam Haick has
discovered how to make a new kind of flexible sensor that one day could be
integrated into electronic skin, or e-skin. If scientists learn how to attach e-skin to
prosthetic limbs, people with amputations might once again be able to feel changes in
their environments. (07/13)
- Insightec’s ExAblate, which uses magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound
technology to treat uterine fibroids and some forms of painful bone metastases
without the need for incisions, receives FDA post marketing approval. InSightec was
founded by Technion alum Jackob (Kobi) Vortman in 1999. (11/12)
- Professor Shy Shoham is testing the power of holography to artificially stimulate
cells in the eye, with hopes of developing a new strategy for bionic vision restoration.
(02/13)
- Prof. Dvir Yelin developed an optical microscope for viewing blood cells that could
do away with conventional blood tests. The device would make it possible to collect
vital blood information by simply shining a light through the skin to look directly at the
blood. (05/12)
- Dr. Danny Waisman and Prof. Amir Landesberg developed a device to continuously
and systematically monitor the dynamics of premature babies' breathing. The small,
noninvasive device dubbed "Pneumonitor," makes possible the early detection of
respiratory problems, allowing for preventative care before the onset of complications.
(04/12)
- Technion alumnus Amit Goffer creates ReWalk, a lightweight, robotic exoskeleton
that allows paraplegics to stand, walk, and take stairs themselves. Worn around the
legs and torso, the device works using a combination of motion sensors, electric motors,
and a computerized backpack - controlled by a wristband. (12/10)
- Prof. Moshe Shoham develops a micro robot that can crawl through the human
body. (07/09)
- Prof. Noah Lotan develops “smart” stents, used to open blocked blood vessels, that
release – based on natural cues – medications to prevent tissue from growing around
stents. (09/06)
- A miniature robot for fail-proof spinal surgery received FDA approval. The
brainchild of Mechanical Engineering Professor Moshe Shoham, it offers surgeons
improved accuracy while minimizing risks. (FDA-approved 09/04)
- PillCam, a pill-sized swallowable camera used around the world, was developed by
Technion graduate-led Given Imaging Company Ltd. as a diagnostic tool for
the digestive system. (first available in 2001)
Sleep Disorders
- Assistant Prof. Asya Rolls is a pioneer in neuroimmunology, the study of how one’s
state of mind impacts the body’s ability to heal itself. She is currently studying the
medical impact of sleep deprivation on the immune system. (03/14)
- A study by Dr. Lena Lavie suggests that some heart attack patients may actually
benefit if they also suffer from mild to moderate sleep-disordered breathing. (01/13)
- Prof. Peretz Lavie and Dr. Lena Lavie show that elderly patients with moderate sleep
apnea live longer than their counterparts in the general population. (03/10)
- Research by Prof. Peretz Lavie suggests that sleep apnea sufferers in their 20s are
more likely to die than other age groups. (02/05)
- Renowned sleep disorder expert Prof. Peretz Lavie creates the Sleep Strip disposable
sleep apnea/hypoapnea screening device for home use. (12/00)
- Prof. Peretz Lavie and Itamar Medical Ltd. President (and Technion graduate) Israel
Schreiber create the Watch-PAT device for monitoring the blood pressure – and
identifying cardiovascular problems – of patients with sleep disorders. (04/00)
Miscellaneous
- Prof. Roy Kishony leads a team of Technion and Harvard University scientists in
designing a simple way to observe how bacteria move as they become impervious to
drugs. Their paper quickly becomes one of the most cited in the history of the journal
Science, and the video demonstration they create is covered extensively in the media.
(09/16)
- Prof. Asya Rolls demonstrates that the brain’s “reward system” transmits messages
– via the peripheral nervous system – that positively affect the immune system. The
findings suggest a potential mechanism of action of the placebo effect, and might one day
lead to development of new drugs that utilize the brain’s potential to cure. (07/16)
- An Israeli research team led by Prof. Ze’ev Hochberg shows that the environment in
which one lives from the womb to about age one largely determines an adult’s
height. (03/15)
- Prof. Akram Alian from the Faculty of Biology offers up a detailed, 3-D molecular
map of a protein called integrase that is part of the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus
(FIV), which could help scientists also understand how this protein works in HIV. The
breakthrough could lead to advances in the search for anti-HIV drugs. (09/14)
- Led by Prof. Shy Shoham of the Department of Biological Engineering, a team of
researchers develop a novel brain-like platform containing three dimensional cell
networks that simulate complex aspects of brain activity, and which can be directly
visualized. The breakthrough could provide a better way for understanding the structure
and function of the brain and central nervous system. (06/14)
- Sealantis, Ltd., founded in 2010 by Prof. Havazelet Bianco-Peled and the Alfred Mann
Institute at the Technion (AMIT), announces positive results from the first clinical trials
of Seal-V, a vascular sealant that helps rapidly control bleeding during vascular
surgery. (03/14)
- Work by Profs. Eitan Kimmel and Shy Shoham could advance the use of ultrasound to
noninvasively unlock the brain’s secrets. This could make possible the creation of new
treatments for illnesses, such as epileptic seizures. (01/14)
- Prof. Amit Miller and a team of researchers at the Technion and Boston University have
discovered a simple way to control the passage of DNA molecules through nanopore
sensors. The breakthrough could lead to low-cost, ultra-fast DNA sequencing that would
revolutionize healthcare and biomedical research, and spark major advances in drug
development, preventative medicine and personalized medicine. (11/13)
- Prof. Eliezer Shalev leads a team that finds that cells from the amniotic membrane
part of the placenta normally discarded after a woman gives birth could one day be a
source for human eggs. (01/13)
- Prof. Doron Melamed has discovered a way to reverse the aging process by removing
old B lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell in the vertebrate immune system) from old
mice, and forcing the production of young, potent cells to replace them. (01/11)
- Researchers led by Prof. Karl Skorecki new genetic data that could be used in the future
to predict who will develop end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). ESKD requires dialysis
or transplantation to sustain life, and is fatal in most regions of the world, where these
treatments are not available. (12/10)
- By modifying the properties of the common antibiotic gentamicin, Dr. Tamar BenYoseph and Prof. Timor Bassov have developed what could become an effective
treatment for many human genetic diseases, including cystic fibrosis (CF), Duchenne
muscular dystrophy, Usher Syndrome and numerous cancers. (04/09)
- Researchers use a common blood protein used to create a strong, flexible
biomaterial to close wounds with minimal scarring and limited rejections by immune
system. Prof. Eyal Zussman and Prof. Ari Admon (11/08)
- Technion Lecturer Dr. Carmit Levy, the CEO of startup company Pneumedicare,
develops a device for monitoring respiration of premature babies (02/08)
- Gelrin/“Bone glue”, the brainchild of Prof. Dror Seliktar, fuses synthetic and
biological materials and greatly speeds bone regeneration. (12/04)
- The research of Prof. Nathan Karin could lead to vaccines against inflammatory
automimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and
Crohn’s disease. (10/02)