The Galilee Society - The Arab National Society For Health Research & Services(R.A.)

Garden Rue
Ruta chalepensis
Family: Rutaceae
Rue is a strong-smelling, somewhat bitter botanical herb, often incomparable to any other plant. Culinary uses of Rue have been documented from Ethiopia, through the Mediterranean region, to England. In Palestine, Rue is best known as an additive to storing and curing black olives. Medicinally Rue has been used to treat arthritis and eye skin diseases. Leaves and stems are immersed in olive oil and placed in the sun for up to 15 days; the oil can then be applied to the skin. An infusion of the leaves is also known to treat poisoning.

About Us

Goals of the R&D Center

The Goals of the R&D Center are to:

Develop and expand the Center to become the first Science and Technology Palestinian University inside Israel;

Perform advanced scientific and technological research that seeks economic growth based on progressive industry and technology (in health, agriculture, environment, medicinal plants, and biology);

Encourage Arab investment in industry, technology and science;

Improve the standards of living of the Palestinian community in Israel through research and application (environment, farming, industry, and socio-economics);

Absorb Arab scientists and researchers and provide opportunities in their fields of advanced specialties;

Play an active role in protecting the environment; and

Preserve local plant species and re-introduce their traditional uses to the community.

The Facility

The R&D Center operates from a 600 square meter top-of-the-line facility located in Shefa Amr which includes:

Six laboratories: toxicology, microbiology, pharmacology, molecular biology, biotechnology, and environmental engineering;

A number of accessory laboratories: tissue culture lab, dark room, cold room, radioactivity room, instruments room and chemical storage;

Offices; and

A seminar room.

R&D Center Activities

Areas of Research

The research strategy of the R&D Center is to create projects that capitalize on unique aspects of the regional environment and strongly reflect the needs of local communities. Research conducted by R&D Center staff falls into three broad categories: (1) Health, (2) Environment, and (3) Agriculture.

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Regional Projects

The many regional challenges in the Middle East are not only political but also environmental and economic. In addition to overpopulation and weak economies, this arid region suffers from water scarcity and growing desertification. The need for sustainable development requires regional cooperation and creative solutions to existing problems.

Since its inception, the GS R&D Center has initiated innovative research on medicinal herbs and agriculture to maximize water reuse, develop new cost-effective economic branches and profit from the rich folk medicinal heritage to create employment opportunities. The GS R&D Center has achieved marked success in the following areas:

Coordinating large, multi-lateral research projects with Palestinian, Jordanian, Egyptian and European partners;
Employing scientists with specialties in a wide array of scientific fields, and with broad professional experience;
Acquiring state of the art equipment and research labs enabling staff to produce high quality results;
Maintaining international scientific, research and quality management standards.

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Creating Economic Opportunities

Through patents gained as a direct result of the R&D Center research, senior researchers together with the GS have established several start-up companies, with varying levels of activity. Some of these start-up companies are Enzymotec, Zaitouna and Attarex. The establishment of these start-up companies by the GS R&D Center is an important step in gaining national and international recognition for the research being conducted by the GS R&D Center scientists. Furthermore, revenues gained from the company profits will help secure a degree of financial security and independence for the Center.

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Creating Educational Opportunities

R&D Center scientists offer their interests and expertise to develop a broad array of educational opportunities for elementary and high school students. These are supplementary subjects not covered in the curricula. They cover study activities and research of medicinal plants at the Al-Maissam facility; and environmental subjects at the pilot wastewater treatment site in Sakhnin.

At both centers, more than 10,000 students and teachers were able in 2003 to explore and learn about organic agriculture, water resources and use, native plants, composting, alternative building methods, irrigation techniques, wastewater treatment, and medicinal attributes of regional plants and permaculture.

Each year a number of post and under-graduate students from various higher education institutions assist and complete research projects under the supervision of R&D Center scientists in a variety of fields. Six assistants and research students, women and men, were recruited at the R&D Center in 2003.

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Donors and Affiliates

The Regional Research & Development Center extends its thanks to its supporters

Affiliates

Formal affiliates of the R&D Center are: