AFHU News Spring 2023

PAGE 26
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY
AFHU NEWS VOL. 30 PAGE 27
HEBREW UNIVERSITY AND UNIVERSITY
OF KENTUCKY RESEARCHERS RECEIVE $1
MILLION GRANT TO STUDY HUMAN BRAIN
COMPLEXITY
Hebrew University and University of Kentucky
researchers are exploring whether a new type
of protein substantially increases the molecular
complexity in the brain and improves its function.
This may have implications for the study of
neurological diseases such as schizophrenia,
epilepsy, and autism.
The researchers received a $1 million joint grant
from the American National Science Foundation
(NSF) and the United States-Israel Binational
Science Foundation (BSF) to study new aspects
of RNA biology.
The team of researchers, led by Prof. Ruth Sperling
of the Hebrew University Alexander Silberman
Institute of Life Sciences, together with Prof.
Stephen Stamm from the School of Medicine
in Lexington, Kentucky, hypothesize that a new
type of primate-specific proteins, translated from
molecules of circular RNA, improves the brain’s
function in relation to other organisms with a
similar number of genes.
AFHU Supporter
Testimonial:
Chad Lasdon
Learn how Chad Lasdon, a graduate of
AFHU’s Leadership Empowerment and
Development (LEAD) program, became
involved with AFHU and what supporting
Hebrew University means to him.
L-R: Chad Lasdon, Laura Abrams, Clive Kabatznik
Get To the Top with Hebrew
University Alumna Jenna Fisher ‘94
Jenna Fisher is committed to finding
transformational leaders who can guide companies
forward in a changing world. Over the past 20
years, she has developed strong relationships with
a broad cross-section of global business leaders
and the companies they shape. Having completed
more than 400 CFO and board searches, she
has a deep understanding of what professional
and personal experiences, as well as personality
traits, are needed at the top. She knows that the
most successful companies are led by diverse
teams who understand and reflect their products,
services, employees, and audiences. As a senior
partner at Russell Reynolds, a leading executive
search firm, Jenna co-leads the Global Financial
Officers Practice and conducts senior financial
officer assignments for leading global companies
across industries.
Prior to joining Russell Reynolds, Jenna was a
consultant with Bain & Co., where she advised
private equity clients and senior management
of Fortune 500 firms in technology, consumer
goods, and retail. She began her career as an
entrepreneur, founding and successfully selling
an educational services company in Houston.
Jenna received her B.A., with honors, in sociology
from Rice University and her MBA from The
Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. She
also attended Duke University Law School and
studied at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
In her new book To the Top: How Women in
Corporate Leadership are Rewriting the Rules
for Success, Jenna reveals how the world faces
a once-in-a-generation opportunity to close the
gender gap at the top of organizations today.
Drawing on scientific research and the powerful
stories of female business leaders, the book
outlines how we can seize the opportunity in front
Learn more about Jenna
and her book here.