image: Health Tech Valley Simulation by Architect Dagan Mushli
Credit: Courtesy Bar-Ilan University
Bar-Ilan University and Sheba Medical Center today announced the establishment of a joint research institute to accelerate the translation of laboratory discoveries into clinical treatments. The $120 million institute connecting academia, healthcare, and industry will be established within Sheba’s Health Tech Valley (HTV), the new state-of-the-art health, innovation, and technology campus in Ramat Gan under the ownership of Migdal Insurance and Financial Holdings.
The biotech institute will serve as a bridge between science and practice, focusing on areas such as cancer research, 3D printing of organs and tissues, and the development of advanced medical devices, while drawing on specialized laboratories for computational biology, AI for medical data, medical robotics, and genetic engineering. The research ecosystem will also advance the development of advanced sensor technologies and microbiome research, paving the way for more personalized medical treatments.
“The establishment of this institute fits into the broader picture of Israel's biotechnology boom, which in recent years has become a magnet for public and private investments worth billions of shekels,” said Prof. Arie Zaban, President of Bar-Ilan University, who led the agreement signing alongside Prof. Yitshak Kreiss, Director General of Sheba Medical Center. “Our collaboration with Sheba will significantly accelerate the transition from laboratory discovery to clinical application.”
Prof. Yitshak Kreiss, Director General of Sheba Medical Center said: “The ecosystem we are building in Sheba's Health Tech Valley together with leading partners like Bar-Ilan University, not only positions Israeli research at the global forefront, but is also the realization of a vision where the healthcare system serves as a powerful growth engine for the economy and industry.”
The research institute will be managed by a joint steering committee and operate in a model similar to the American NIH (National Institutes of Health), a national research institute specializing in biomedicine. The NIH model has proven the ability to transform basic discovery into clinical treatment in years rather than decades. Similarly, the main goal of the Bar-Ilan–Sheba research institute is to shorten the path from laboratory to medical practice, enabling faster development of new drugs, innovative treatments, and advanced diagnostic tools.
The establishment of the research institute is the fruit of years-long collaboration between Bar-Ilan University and Sheba Medical Center that has already yielded several startups and life-saving treatments. The two call upon all research entities in Israel and across the world to take part in the innovative research institute.
Health Tech Valley will be Israel’s most advanced health tech ecosystem, located adjacent to Sheba Medical Center and less than a kilometer from Bar-Ilan University. The campus will provide a holistic environment for healthcare innovation, comprised of research hubs, advanced labs, and smart sustainable facilities and supporting partnerships with global health and tech giants.
Sheba Medical Center, ranked 8th among the world's best hospitals by Newsweek, is internationally renowned for groundbreaking research, leadership in developing and implementing AI in health systems and advancing cutting-edge digital health solutions, and best-in-class medical care.
Bar-Ilan University has an international reputation as academic leaders due to its influential research in medicine and life sciences, engineering, AI, chemistry, and physics, alongside its expertise in data science and bio-informatics, which form the basis for the development of breakthrough drugs and medical technologies.
Zohar Yinon, CEO and Senior Vice President of Bar-Ilan University: “Sheba and Bar-Ilan’s collaboration is a strategic move designed to position Israel at the forefront of international medical science. The combination of scientific knowledge, clinical expertise, and industry partnerships, along with the biotech valley’s advanced laboratories and infrastructure, will make Israel an international center of excellence and central attraction hub for entrepreneurs, scientists, physicians, international companies, incubators, and venture capital funds.”
Prof. Dror Harats, Chairman of the Research Authority at Sheba Medical Center: “Sheba stands at the forefront of medical innovation, and the connection between groundbreaking research and rapid clinical application is critical for developing advanced treatments and maintaining public health. Establishing the joint research institute with an investment of hundreds of millions of shekels is a significant step toward positioning Israeli research as an international leader, enabling us to extend lives and improve the quality of life for many patients in Israel and globally, while simultaneously providing an additional vehicle of growth for the entire Israeli economy.”
Tal Hauptman, Real Estate Manager in the Investment Division at Migdal Insurance and Financial Holdings: “This unique project, strategically located near Sheba and in collaboration with Bar-Ilan University, has significant potential to be a national growth engine that will attract research bodies from Israel and around the world.”
Avi Baruch, Head of Health Tech Valley (HTV) Administration: “The research institute is a significant part of establishing Israel's health valley. The vision before us is changing the face of medicine in the world through connecting medicine, academia, the health industry, researchers, and scientists. Sheba's HTV will attract human capital, investors, entrepreneurs, and more.”
About Bar-Ilan University
Bar-Ilan University is one of Israel’s leading research universities, with ten faculties and over 70 research institutes spanning diverse fields. Home to 24 Israel Prize laureates and numerous internationally acclaimed scholars, the university leads groundbreaking research in AI, sustainability, medical and life sciences, cyber, nanotechnology, and more. The university’s researchers have developed innovations ranging from cancer treatments and clean energy to advanced AI applications and educational technologies. Alongside academic excellence, Bar-Ilan places strong emphasis on community engagement and student well-being, making knowledge and innovation accessible both within and beyond the campus. For more information, visit: https://www.biu.ac.il/en
About Sheba Medical Center
The largest and most comprehensive medical center in the Middle East, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer is generating global impact through its medical care, research and AI-based healthcare transformation. Sheba's City of Health boasts acute-care, rehabilitation, children's, cancer and geriatric hospitals, research and innovation hubs, medical simulation center, center for disaster response and a virtual hospital on one comprehensive campus in the center of Israel. Sheba serves as a true hospital without borders, welcoming patients and healthcare professionals from all over the world and consistently providing the highest-level medical care to all in need. For more information, visit: https://sheba-global.com