Eli Keshet

Eli Keshet is an Israeli biochemist and professor of molecular biology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He is the laureate of the 2021 Israel Prize for Life Sciences.

Biography Keshet completed his B.Sc., M.Sc. and Ph.D. at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His post-doctoral work included studies in the laboratory of Howard Temin at the University of Wisconsin (1976–79). In 1982 he began teaching at the Hebrew University, becoming an associate professor in 1986 and a full professor in 1993. In 2006 he won the EMET Prize, in 2014 the Rothchild award and 2015 the NAVBO Benditt Meritorious Award.

Research His main research area deals with the question of how new blood vessels are created when there is a shortage of oxygen. This process has far-reaching implications for the development of diseases concerning the eye's retina, as well as cancer. Keshet's findings also brought the realization that the excess oxygen given to babies who were born prematurely may cause them blindness, and has brought about a change in the way they are treated.

Keshet published more than 130 papers in journals which have been cited over 34,000 times. 2015: NAVBO Benditt Meritorious Award for an American's life-work in the study of blood vessels diseases 2015: Teva Founders Award 2014: Rothschild Award 2006: EMET Award