Last week, Gila Gamliel, Israel’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, and Professor Avi Domb, Chief Scientist and Director General of the Ministry, visited Rambam Health Care Campus (Rambam) in Haifa, Israel. In light of current international boycotts, the Ministry announced its commitment to creating a financial model to fund medical research.
(L–R): Professor Michael Halberthal, Professor Avi Domb, Minister Gila Gamliel, and Professor Lior Gepstein (far right). Photography: Rambam HCC.
Israel is internationally acclaimed for its medical research. Hence, protests on American and European campuses calling for disinvestment and boycotting academia have physician-scientists worried—a lack of funding will significantly affect their research.
Last Wednesday, Professor Michael Halberthal, Rambam’s director general, together with Professor Lior Gepstein, director of the Division of Research, Dr. Amir Minerbi, deputy director of the Pain Institute, and Dr. Shlomit Yehudai-Rashef, director of the Clinical Research Institute welcomed Minister Gamliel and Professor Domb.
During the visit, Gamliel expressed concern over the detrimental impact of the boycotts, including undermining the freedom of research. She announced the establishment of a dedicated forum to counteract the boycotts and instructed ministry officials to collaborate with Rambam and other medical centers to formulate a model for funding local research.
“The groundbreaking research and pioneering treatments performed at Rambam are major assets that save lives. I congratulate you on your innovative endeavors, dedication, and exemplary preparedness for emergencies,” Gamliel said. “I envision customized, personalized medicine based on research and innovation to advance fast and effective treatment. My office will continue to support and promote medical research and innovation at Rambam and hospitals countrywide.”
During the visit, physician-scientists presented some of Rambam’s groundbreaking research achievements. From bench to bedside and concept to commercialization, their innovations are aimed at advancing human health. By taking advantage of artificial intelligence, Big Data, and other advanced technologies as they become available, these researchers are creating amazing life-saving treatments and therapies.
Professor Gepstein presented a Rambam-led initiative to establish a joint research network between the country’s major hospitals to foster collaborative research. “We are grateful for the ministry’s understanding and support in exploring a funding model that will benefit public health.”
Dr. Amir Minerbi presented the details of a research project currently underway with Dr. Milena Pitashny, head of Rambam’s Clinical and Research Microbiome Center. The two physician-scientists are investigating the connection between bacteria in the digestive system (microbiome) and fibromyalgia. “Every year, we’ve participated in several conferences in our field; this year we’ve participated in only one,” Minerbi pointed out. “On a personal level, our relationships with researchers worldwide remain the same, but, on an institutional level, there is more tension and hostility.”
Professor Halberthal was pleased with the outcome of the ministerial visit. “We thank Minister Gamliel for recognizing the importance of medical research and for her willingness to develop a governmental support model for hospital research,” he said.
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