Author: AUFTAU

Game-changing program will incorporate cutting-edge field into mainstream medical practice.

Regenerative Medicine is an emerging field that develops methods to regrow, repair or replace damaged or diseased cells, organs or tissues. Now, Tel Aviv University has launched the Sagol Center for Regenerative Medicine  to accelerate research and training in this new and burgeoning field at TAU and in Israel.

The Center, which was inaugurated during TAU’s Board of Governors meeting, was initiated by TAU benefactor and Honorary Doctor, Sami Sagol, Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors, together with his wife, Tova, and is being supported by the Sagol family.

Regenerative medicine includes cellular therapies such as the generation and use of therapeutic stem cells, tissue engineering and biomaterials, and medical devices and production of artificial organs. Conditions that require regenerative medicine include kidney repair, heart disease, cancer, and neurodegenerative disorders.

The Sagol Center for Regenerative Medicine will develop regenerative-based treatments and medications and accelerate the transfer of findings from experimental research to practical applications. Through the Center, TAU medical students in a specially designed MD-PhD track, along with PhD candidates from other faculties, will receive fellowships. In parallel, the Center will provide research grants and cutting-edge equipment to facilitate discoveries. Prof. Benjamin Dekel, a physician and scientist from the Sheba Medical Center and the Klayman Chair of Nephro-Urology at the TAU Faculty of Medicine, will head the Center.

“My dream is to use this Center to facilitate a vision of clinical regenerative departments in the hospital setting and cure patients with the technology that our brightest researchers will develop,” Dekel said.

“It’s only the start of this regenerative field,” said Sami Sagol at the festive outdoor inauguration. “Billions are going to come into this field because we need it: governments, businesses and other players.”

Prof. Ariel Porat: “As he has done before, Sami has predicted the scientific future many years before others.”

During the inauguration ceremony, 2022 TAU Honorary Doctor Katalin Karikó gave the keynote talk on the future role of mRNA, her field of expertise, in regenerative therapies. A musical performance followed the lecture.

Prof. Dan Peer, TAU’s Vice President of Research and Development, concluded the event: “When Sami dreams, he dreams big. As a result of his visionary philanthropy, we will have an impressive impact on regenerative health.”

Featured image: From left: Sami Sagol, Prof. Ariel Porat, Prof. Dan Peer Credit: Chen Galili

Center, uniting TAU and ANU Museum, aims to bridge divides between Israel and Diaspora, boost understanding of contemporary Jewish thought and identity.

Tel Aviv University, together with the Koret Foundation and with ANU – Museum of the Jewish People (ANU), on Sunday, May 15 inaugurated the Koret Center for Jewish Civilization.

The festive ceremony took place during TAU’s 2022 Board of Governors meeting. It coincided with the announcement of a $10 million gift from the Koret Foundation to establish the Center in a three-way partnership with the University and ANU. 

The Koret Center was formed to enhance education and understanding of contemporary Jewish thought, social engagement, and identity. It aims to do so by drawing on the strengths of each partnering institution to enact a comprehensive, multi-year approach combining joint public, teaching and research activities. Such endeavors range from leadership and teacher training, to community building, live and online international events, and scholarly research on Judaism and the Jewish people. 

WATCH: The inauguration of the Koret Center for Jewish Civilization

Touching on the vision behind the Koret Center, Dr. Anita Friedman, President of the Koret Foundation and the Chair of TAU’s Global Campaign, said: “Those of us who are in leadership in the Jewish community need to take responsibility for where we find ourselves. 

“It is simultaneously the moment we are the strongest the Jewish people have ever been,” she said, adding, “[but] we are also under tremendous attack; delegitimization of Israel and antisemitism are widespread.” 

She explained that the Koret Center is “finding the way forward by bringing together the preeminent Jewish museum in the world…with the flagship academic institution of the State of Israel and the world and a major Jewish foundation.” 

As part of its programming, the Koret Center will produce five online courses on Jewish civilization, provide internships at ANU for 100 TAU students, and establish two biennial international conferences.  

The Israeli government, which is acutely aware of the growing disconnect between Israel and global Jewry, has also pledged to lend critical support to the project.  

Touching on the urgent need to bridge ties throughout the Jewish world for the safety and future of the Jewish people, Jeffrey Farber, CEO of the Koret Foundation, said: “The Koret Center will pioneer new ways to educate Israeli and Diaspora Jews on contemporary Jewish, though, shared identity and shared Jewish stories.” 

Collaborating with Israeli schools, the Koret Center will provide teachers across Israel with innovative programs and resources to enhance their students’ understanding of Jewish peoplehood.  

In collaboration with the Koret Center, TAU will offer 325 BA, MA, and PhD scholarships for pedagogy, teacher and leadership training in Jewish Studies.  

Furthermore, the University will develop a new international graduate program in Jewish studies in cooperation with two major academic centers abroad in Europe and the U.S. 

In addition, TAU will establish a Koret International Society of Fellows for 25 postdoctoral students, who will participate in a yearlong research seminar. 

“Together we hope to transform Tel Aviv into a global focal point for bolstering the place of Judaism and the Jewish people in the world today,” said TAU President Prof. Ariel Porat at Sunday’s event. “This mission is critical, even existential.” 

The activities of the Koret Center will also help ANU expand its Jewish peoplehood education for Israeli public-school educators and youth. As such, the Museum will support instruction for 50,000 Israeli teachers and leadership training for 40,000 professionals and lay leaders. It will establish a J-Hub accelerator to support 60 to 80 Jewish peoplehood projects, capitalizing on ANU visitors to test apps and initiatives developed.  

Additionally, ANU will create an honors program for 240 Israeli high school students. The Museum will also serve as the educational and cultural training center for initiatives such as Birthright Israel. 

“We’re clearly seeing in the world now a fight between good and bad,” said Irina Nevzlin, Chair of ANU and President of the Nadav Foundation. “To be on the side of good…requires a lot of energy to stand on the side of good. And you can’t do it by yourself. You need partnerships.” 

She explained that the kind of partnership that bore the Koret Center has the potential to push the needle on some of the most pressing challenges the Jewish world faces to “make [Jewish] people feel proud and safe.” 

“The only way to fight evil is with education,” she said. 

Featured image: From left: Irina Nevzlin, Dr. Anita Friedman and Prof. Ariel Porat (Photo: Chen Galili)

Upgraded facility “will nurture world-class athletes and future medal winners.

At a festive ceremony held on May 11, Tel Aviv University inaugurated the Sylvan Adams Sports Center. The Sylvan Adams sponsored sports facilities at TAU now include both the Sports Center and the adjacent Sports Institute in his name.   

“It is my mission to invest in the sporting infrastructure of Israel,” said Adams, the Center’s benefactor and Vice Chairman of TAU’s Board of Governors, at the event. “The Sylvan Adams Sports Center at Tel Aviv University is a flagship project which will nurture world-class athletes and future medal winners.”   

Adams is also a TAU Honorary Doctor and Global Campaign cabinet member. The inauguration took place during the Board of Governors meeting. 

“Sports is a language—everybody speaks it. It enables us to show the true and best face of Israel,” Adams said, particularly in the face of the misconceptions about the country around the world.  

WATCH: Vice Chair of the Board of Governors and TAU Honorary Doctor Sylvan Adams Launches the Upgraded Sports Complex at TAU

Additionally, Adams noted that his projects at TAU continue the legacy of his late parents, Marcel and Annie, who were also TAU Governors and Honorary Doctors. He attended the ceremony with his wife Margaret.   

Speaking at the event, TAU President Prof. Ariel Porat said, “Sylvan Adams is the undisputed ‘Mr. Sports’ of Israel. The Center will consolidate TAU sports facilities into a single world-class hub of sports excellence, research, training, rehabilitation and community activities.” 

He added that it will serve thousands of members of the local community and hundreds of professional athletes, in addition to boosting TAU’s ability to recruit Israeli scientists from top international institutions. “Sylvan’s contribution to the Sports Center is a reflection of his love for Israel.” 

The dedication of the Sports Center will enable its expansion and renovation, equipping it with advanced facilities to improve the achievements of Israeli athletes and benefit the community. 

Planned additions include a new outdoor Olympic swimming pool that can provide athletes with world-class training conditions, thus encouraging success in international competitions and hold international conferences. 

In 2017, the Sylvan Adams Sports Institute at TAU was established to enhance athletic performance through science.  

Also at Wednesday’s ceremony, Adams presented certificates to the inaugural recipients of the Sylvan Adams Olympic scholarships at TAU: two-time Olympic swimmer Andi Murez, a student in the New York State/American Program at TAU’s Faculty of Medicine, and former Israeli national swimming champion Shahar Resman, a student in the Kellogg-Recanati International Executive MBA Program at the Coller School of Management.  

Backed by Adams, the scholarships were established to enable elite athletes to study for new careers following their retirement from competitive sports. 

Murez spoke on behalf of the scholarship recipients: “I hope we inspire younger athletes in both sport and in school. The scholarship helps us focus in school, but also motivate us to keep up the hard work of training and competing.” 

She added that she looks forward to continuing to use the “amazing sports facilities here at Tel Aviv University,” where she trained along with fellow Team Israel swimmers ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Games.   

“We reached the Olympic finals,” she said. “We couldn’t have done it without your support.”

Featured image: From left: Director of the Sylvan Adams Sports Institute Prof. Chaim Pick, TAU President Prof. Ariel Porat, Andi Murez, Sylvan Adams, Shahar Resman. (Photo: Chen Galili)

TAU Honorary Doctors and groundbreaking women share their stories in inspirational panel.

Jodi Kantor, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist; Prof. Katalin Karikó, co-creator of mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines; and Prof. Cornelia Bargmann, prominent neurobiologist and geneticist, offered a glimpse into their exceptional lives in a lively discussion.  

“You’ve made your way through smoke-filled editorial rooms and the exclusive world of elite science—both predominantly male fields,” said Prof. Milette Shamir, TAU Vice President International, who moderated the event titled, “Leading the Charge: A Unique Glimpse into How Powerful Women Break Down Barriers.” All three panelists received TAU Honorary Doctorates at this year’s Board of Governors meeting. 

Although the women come from different backgrounds, their life stories are strikingly similar. All found mentorship, support, and the belief in truth to be essential factors in propelling their success in leading change.  

Bargmann described coming from a “highly academic household. At our home, the values of education, constant sense of discovery, curiosity and love of learning were highly encouraged,” she said. 

As the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, Kantor grew up “surrounded by the atmosphere of investigative journalism,” an environment filled with questions about her grandparents’ past.  

“Science and investigative journalism share the spirit of open-minded inquiry,” said Kantor, who broke the Harvey Weinstein sexual assault story in the New York Times, spurring the world-changing #MeToo movement. A love of knowledge and a readiness to receive the unexpected connect the two, she added. 

Karikó grew up in a small town in communist Hungary and was the first member of her family to attend high school. “I was surrounded by loving parents and by very good teachers, who believed in me,” she said. From an early age, she was curious about the animals and nature that surrounded her. Upon being fired from a Hungarian university for being too scientifically daring, Karikó and her family immigrated to the United States, with $900 hidden in their daughter’s teddy bear—because they were not allowed to take such a sum out of the country. 

The panelists reflected on obstacles they encountered and highlighted the factors that could help other women following in their footsteps. “Limits can also be turned into opportunities,” said Bargmann. “People believed in me, not just women but men. In a [situation] of underrepresentation, it’s the responsibility of everyone to reach out and extend a helping hand.”  

Karikó reflected on society and government’s responsibility to support women and underrepresented groups. “Affordable, high-quality childcare was essential in allowing me to continue my work… Also government programs that reach out to underrepresented populations and give them real examples of what higher education is all about are essential.” 

Toward the end of the panel, Kantor gave a broader perspective: “Gender is not just a topic, but an entry-point into a different narrative than the one we are used to seeing,” she said. She added that there were powerful players who tried to prevent her story about sexual abuse in the film industry from being published. “But they were no match for the truth and for the brave women who told their stories. We can’t solve a problem we can’t see. We have to expose the hidden truth in order to change it,” she concluded.

11 distinguished individuals and one organization from diverse fields receive University’s top honor.

In a festive ceremony held during the 2022 Board of Governors meeting, Tel Aviv University awarded honorary degrees to 11 individuals and an organization, all of whom have made exceptionally positive impact on the world.  

The recipients were: Jodi Kantor, New York Times investigative reporter and an award-winning author; Katalin Karikó, developer of the mRNA-based vaccine platform for COVID-19 and other diseases; Michael Victor Berry, theoretical physicist; Bernd Huber, academic leader and expert in public finance; Cornelia Bargmann, influential neurobiologist and geneticist; Eric J. Gertler, public service and business leader; James S. Gertler, philanthropist and business leader; Jehuda Reinharz, path-breaking scholar of Jewish history; Jurgen Renn, expert on evolution of knowledge; and Solomon Lew, industry leader and philanthropist.  

The Honorary Fellowship was awarded to the Iranian American Jewish Federation of New York and the George S. Wise medal awarded to Mark J. Carney, former Governor of the Banks of England and Canada.  

WATCH: A recap of some of the most memorable moments from the Honorary Degrees Ceremony 2022

Guests were treated to spirited performances by TAU music students and the world renown Shalva Band, whose members have disabilities, which left no one sitting still. 

“The honorees of this event are all driven by a deep social consciousness, whether in the areas of academia, business, civic service or philanthropy, and their contribution is boundless,” said Dafna Meitar-Nechmad, Chairwoman of TAU’s Board of Governors. 

The event highlighted one of the University’s most important recent achievements: the Emergency Ukrainian Fellowship Fund, established in just a few days by TAU friends worldwide. The Fund enabled tens of Ukrainian scholars to continue their studies at TAU, after war erupted in their home country. 

One of those scholars, Maiia Levinson, spoke at the ceremony: “The scholarship I received has not only helped me to move to a safer country … but also made one of my biggest dreams come true—the opportunity to do research on cancer immunology.  

 “The knowledge and friendship I received here will be helpful for my country, when I come back home,” she said. 

Speaking on behalf of all the honorees, Cornelia Bargmann thanked TAU and reflected on the role universities play in the modern world. Being part of a university “is a privilege, and with privilege comes responsibility: the duty to share [knowledge] with the world,” she said. 

More than 300 guests, among them senior TAU officials, academics, Governors and friends, attended the ceremony and reception.  

New focus on history reaffirms importance of field, supports early and midcareer researchers and practitioners.

The Dan David Prize was awarded to a diverse cohort of historians and researchers from around the world on May 11, at a multimedia ceremony during Tel Aviv University’s Board of Governors meeting. 

The Prize, which for the first time in its 20 year history focuses exclusively on the historical disciplines, is awarded to early and midcareer researchers and practitioners who explore and study the human past in bold and creative ways. Totaling $3 million, it is the world’s largest history prize. Each winner receives $300,000 to further their research and work. Ten percent of the Prize purse is dedicated to scholarships for outstanding postdoctoral researchers in fields that study the past. 

The 2022 winners are: 

• Mirjam Brusius, a cultural historian who studies visual and material culture in global and colonial contexts.  
• Bartow Elmore, an environmental historian who uses everyday products—from sodas to seeds—to demonstrate how large multinational firms have reshaped global ecosystems.  
• Tyrone Freeman, a historian of philanthropy who researches African-American charitable giving and activism. 
• Verena Krebs, a cultural historian who draws on material culture and art, alongside written sources, to uncover the complex relationship between Ethiopia and Western Christendom. 
• Efthymia Nikita, an osteoarchaeologist who uses a wide range of innovative methods to unlock what human skeletal remains reveal about the health, diets and mobility of ancient peoples.  
• Nana Oforiatta Ayim, a curator, writer, filmmaker and public historian whose work recenters African narratives, institutions and cultural expressions in telling the past.  
• Kristina Richardson, a social and cultural historian of the medieval Islamic world.  
• Natalia Romik, a public historian, architect and curator whose work focuses on Jewish memory and commemoration of the Holocaust in Eastern Europe, especially Poland and Ukraine.  
• Kimberly Welch, a historian who uses endangered local legal archives from the antebellum American South to explore lawsuits brought by free and enslaved Black people.  

During the ceremony, Ariel David, Dan David Foundation Board Member and son of the Prize founder, spoke of the decision to refocus the prize on history. We wanted to “inject a new purpose into the Prize in an area which is increasingly underfunded and under attack,” he said. “It is clear that our history is a fundamental part of our identity and we cannot comprehend….the present without the past.” 

He added, “I believe the winners perfectly reflect the values of the new Prize.” 

TAU President Prof. Ariel Porat echoed the sentiments, addressing the audience: “In the face of dwindling investment and enrollment in the humanities worldwide, the Dan David Foundation and TAU are reaffirming the humanities’ value together with its centrality to the entire spectrum of research.”  

“The study of history…teaches about the complexity of human nature,” said Kimberly Welch, speaking on behalf of all the winners. She thanked the Dan David Foundation for the prize, which “recognizes the wider scholarly communities we are part of” and the importance of the field. 

Tamar Ish Shalom, a leading Israeli journalist and TAU alumna, moderated the ceremony, which included dynamic musical performances. 

The Prize, headquartered at Tel Aviv University and endowed by the Dan David Foundation, was established in 2001 by the late entrepreneur and philanthropist Dan David to celebrate and encourage achievement in the sciences and humanities. 

Featured image: Dan David Prize Winners 2022, from left: Kimberly Welch, Tyronne Freeman, Nana Oforiatta Ayim, Verena Krebs, Efthymia Nikita, Mirjam Brusius, Natalia Romik, Verena Krebs and Bartow Elmore. Credit: Guy Yehieli

Participants met with professors and students, learned about academic programs and participated in guided tours on campus.

After two consecutive years on Zoom, it was such a joy to finally be able to open our campus for visitors to TAU Open Day today. Over 6000 prospective students arrived throughout the day to learn about the various study programs, admission requirements and application processes.

This year, we added tailor made, guided tours to the program, enabling the participants to chat with our students, academic and administrative staff, visiting faculty buildings and labs.

For instance, in The Buchmann Faculty of Law, participants met with law students who answered their burning questions, such as how to combine studies and work, whether or not law studies could be combined with a second discipline, about the social life at the faculty, and more. In The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, the prospective students visited research labs and chatted with the researchers. In The Iby and Aladar Flaischman Faculty of Engineering, they watched experiments in mechanical and materials engineering, whilst in the lobby of the Coller School of Management participants were treated to short TED-styled talks by faculty members on the studies of accounting and management. 

English speaking visitors met with representatives from TAU International, who offered information on English-language Bachelor’s degrees. Student exchange representatives were also available to present the extensive selection of study abroad options that TAU students can enjoy during their studies.

“Although we have all gotten quite used to Zoom and other online meetings, there’s really no substitute for in-person gatherings of this kind,” says Sharon Ariel, Marketing Director at Tel Aviv University. “It was important for us to allow prospective students to get max benefit from their campus experience today. Organized tours and meetings across campus gave them the opportunity to learn about the study programs from current students, see labs up-close and observe as leading researchers in their fields conduct experiments, listen to lectures by faculty and administrative staff about different study options and tracks, as well as entering lecture halls for the first time and walk around our beautiful green campus. On our Open Day we gave those who consider studying at TAU the opportunity to feel like a student for one day.”

Didn’t make it to Open Day?

All information on admission requirements for the various programs can be found on our registration website (in Hebrew) or on the TAU International website (in English). 

Festive event brings hundreds of Governors and friends to campus from around the world, for first time since 2019.

3D human spinal cord implants, a new type of prehistoric human and what could be the ultimate solution to Global Warming.