A new independent fund, managed by Dvash Group in strategic cooperation with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Yissum, will invest in breakthrough technologies emerging from the University and Israel’s broader innovation ecosystem. The fund will initially focus on deep tech, quantum technologies, dual-use technologies, and cybersecurity.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), marked by excessive activity and impulsivity, is linked to changes in the brain's dopamine system, though the mechanisms remain unclear. Researchers in Japan investigated the role of N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor (NSF), a protein linked to dopamine receptors, in D2 receptor-expressing cells. Using genetically modified mice, they found that loss of NSF led to lower dopamine levels and ADHD-like behaviors, offering insight into how brain changes may contribute to ADHD and informing future treatments.

A new study finds that socio-culturally responsive virtual reality (VR) training can strengthen English teachers’ pragmatic competence—the ability to use language appropriately across social and cultural contexts. Involving 122 EFL teachers, the 108-hour intervention used fully immersive simulations featuring AI-driven avatars. Participants showed statistically significant improvements in pragmalinguistic accuracy and sociopragmatic appropriateness. Focus-group findings highlighted immersive engagement, adaptive feedback, communicative confidence, metapragmatic awareness, and reflection as important contributors to the observed improvements.