Israel Opens a National Center for Newborn Screening, at the Sheba Medical Center

Tel Hashomer, Israel.... May 4: A new national center for the screening of newborn blood for debilitating and deadly metabolic and endocrinological diseases was dedicated today at the Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer in Israel. Named for Sigi and Marilyn Ziering of Los Angeles, who donated much of the $7 million raised for the center, the revolutionary project centralizes the screening of blood from all babies born in Israel regardless of race, religion or national origin -- placing Israel at the forefront of newborn health by providing state-of-the-art preventative care for all.

All 150,000 babies born annually in Israel will be screened at the new center for debilitating and deadly metabolic and endocrinological diseases. If treated properly during the first months of life, doctors can prevent mental retardation, blindness and death caused by these diseases. The Center has state-of-the-art technology and information systems - purchased in the U.S.; and advanced work protocols provided by an international scientific advisory panel consisting of experts in this field, including medical and laboratory professionals from New York State.

The opening of this advanced center was made possible through the generosity of Mrs. Marilyn Ziering, wife of the late Sigi Ziering of Los Angeles, California. Mrs. Ziering dedicated the center on Sunday, along with a 40-person mission of Sheba friends from the west coast of the United States. "I am thrilled to be able to contribute to health of Israel's kids in this way," said Marilyn Ziering at the noontime dedication ceremony. "I know laboratories, and this is a GOOD laboratory!" she declared. For the past fifty years, the Zierings have owned and operated DPC Medical Technologies of California, a major diagnostic kit manufacturer.

Dr. Kenneth Pass, former director of New York State's Neonatal Screening Program, a central advisor to the new Israel laboratory, traveled to Israel specifically to participate in the deciation. "Not only has it been an honor and a pleasure to help Israel get its screening center off the ground, but NY State had benefited from this collaboration, as well," he said. "I salute you for the magnificent center you have built here, to the highest international standards."

Professor Susan J. Gross, Chairperson of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Jacobi Medical Center and North Central Bronx Hospital in NY, and Dr. Robert Koppel, a neonatologist at the Schnieder Children's Hospital in Long Island, were among the pioneers who introduced newborn screening to Israel. Prof. Gross saluted Doctors Mordechai Shani and Zeev Rotstein, the directors of the Sheba Medical Center, for their vision and commitment to making newborn screening a reality for all Israeli children.

Prof. Y. Zlogotora, head of metabology for the Israel Ministry of Heath, thanked Mrs. Ziering for her "great gift to the State of Israel." As of 2009, the Government of Israel will assume all operating costs of the center.

Dr. Shlomo Almashanu, director of the Sigi and Marilyn Ziering Israel National Center for Newborn Screening at the Sheba Medical Center, told the 100 guests gathered for the center dedication that in recent months the center had identified and saved the lives of newborn children with congenital hypothyroidism, PKU, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, and VLCAD. "We even caught a confirmed case of glutaric aciduria type I in a baby born to a Palestinian mother, who told the genetic counselor about her three previous babies who died without a diagnosis!" he said.

Marilyn Ziering of Los Angeles and her grandchildren cutting the ribbon to open the new Sigi and Marilyn Ziering Israel National Center for Newborn Screening, at the Sheba Medical Center in Israel. 

CONTACT for INTERVIEWS and FURTHER INFORMATION: 

• Prof. Mordechai Shani, Chairman of the Executive, Sheba Medical Center, Tel. 03-530-3939, mordechai.shani@sheba.health.gov.il
• Dr. Shlomo Almashanu, Director of the Sigi and Marilyn Ziering Israel National Center for Newborn Screening at the Sheba Medical Center, Mobile +972-52-666-6714, shlomo.almashanu@sheba.health.gov.il
• Professor Susan J. Gross, Chairperson of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Jacobi Medical Center and North Central Bronx Hospital in NY, suedoc1@aol.com, Mobile 917-543-7051
• David M. Weinberg, Sheba Public Affairs Dept. Mobile +972-52-666-6096, david.weinberg@sheba.health.gov.il

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About the Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer

Born in 1948 along with the fledgling State of Israel to treat the wounded of Israel's War of Independence, the Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer (www.sheba.co.il) has grown into Israel's national medical center -- the largest and most comprehensive medical center in the Middle East.

Renowned for its compassionate care and leading-edge medicine, Sheba is also a major medical-scientific research powerhouse that collaborates internationally with the bio-tech and pharmaceutical industries to develop new drugs, treatments and technologies, and a foremost global center for medical education.

SMC is situated on a 150-acre campus at Tel Hashomer on the outskirts of Tel Aviv, comprising 120 departments and clinics and 1,700 beds, employing more than 1,300 physicians, 2,400 nurses and 3,300 other healthcare workers, scientists and support staff. The medical center uniquely combines a major Acute Care Hospital with a Rehabilitation Hospital, Women's Hospital, Children's Hospital, Laboratory Division, Outpatient Division, and an Academic Campus. It is the university teaching center for Tel Aviv University's medical and nursing schools.

Sheba is a national and international medical leader, and has taken upon itself many projects on a regional level. It is home to the Israel National Center for Health Policy and Epidemiology Research (equivalent to the U.S. National Institutes of Health), the internationally-acclaimed Israel National Center for Medical Simulation (MSR), the Israel National Blood Bank and Cord Blood Bank, the Middle East Pediatric Congenital Heart Center, and the Ziering Israel National Center for Newborn Screening.

The Sheba Rehabilitation Hospital is one of the largest and most comprehensive rehabilitation hospitals in the world, with respiratory, neurological, orthopedic, psychiatric, geriatric, multiple sclerosis and head trauma rehabilitation departments. It also serves as the national center for the rehabilitation of terror victims and Israel Defense Forces wounded.