ACADEMIA

Ruth Arnon

Biochemist

Israeli scientist Ruth Arnon earned both her MSc and her Ph.D. at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem prior to joining the world-renowned Weizmann Institute in 1960. She is the incumbent of the Paul Ehrlich Chair in Immunochemistry and has held a number of senior posts at the Institute. Arnon has made significant contributions to the fields of vaccine development and cancer research, and to the study of parasitic diseases. She co-developed Copaxone, a multiple sclerosis (MS) drug currently marketed worldwide. Arnon is currently performing research on a universal, recombinant influenza vaccination. Her honors include the French Légion d'Honneur and the Israel Prize. In 2010, Arnon became the first woman to be elected as president of the Israel Academy of Science and Humanities. (Photo: Weizmann Institute of Science.)