The Establishment of the Institute – Background
The fight against cancer is one of humanity’s greatest challenges, and as such is a key preoccupation of the medical and research world. In Israel, cancer patient treatment comprises about 40 percent of all hospital activity, and cancer is the leading cause of death. Globally, Israel ranks relatively high in morbidity rates, but relatively low in mortality rates. The primary cause of this gap is probably the strong public healthcare system with a comprehensive suite of services, advanced medicines and excellent healthcare. All these allow for high quality and accessible treatment combined with improved early detection. Increasingly, more patients in Israel retain their routine lives with cancer as a chronic disease, managed over many years. Cancer research is a main driver of the significant developments in diagnosis and therapy that occurred over the last 20 years – and it is one of the reasons for the establishment of the Davidoff Center at Beilinson Hospital. The founding of the Samueli Institute, a new research institute at the Davidoff Center, brings us closer to the next quantum leap in this field.
The Founding Story and our Vision
In 2022, Dr. Henry Samueli, founder and chairperson of Broadcom, and Dr. Susan Samueli, who works in health-promoting philanthropy, decided to support the establishment of an innovative research institute that will advance cancer research and realize their dream: to bring about significant breakthroughs in the way cancer patients are treated, by pioneering an integration of human-centric, science-driven and technology oriented approaches, and pave the way to increased life expectancy and improved quality of life for patients all the over the world.
The Samuelis chose the Davidoff Center at Beilinson Hospital headed by Prof Gal Markel as home to the new institute – founded on the belief that the next significant advancement in cancer research and care will come from Israel. The main reason for this belief is the distinctive combination of abilities that characterizes the Davidoff Center, Beilinson Hospital, Clalit Health Services. The Davidoff Center is the only cancer center in Israel where tremendous clinical expertise and professionalism, research and human-centric approach, synergize with the unique, unified hospital-community continuum of care.– As one of the largest and oldest health organizations in the world, insuring more than half of the population of Israel, Clalit holds huge databases with breadth and historical depth from its hospitals and the community. The Samueli Institute will be granted with unprecedented access to this world-class research asset. . Finally, Beilinson’s formidable capabilities and reputation in forging collaborations with local and global players in the field of oncology will provide a strong infrastructure. Together, these provide the new Institute with an excellent starting point to become the spearhead in challenging the current dogmas in cancer, for the benefit of patients in Israel and all over the world.
The Samueli Institute: Mission and Course of Action
The Samueli Institute aims to change the face of cancer medicine and generate innovative solutions to the myriad challenges in the cancer field by catalyzing groundbreaking innovation, initiating and facilitating research and collaborations, up to clinical proofs of concept and implementation strategies.. The Institute’s activity will revolve around the synergism and unconventional courses of action of leading experts in oncology, behavioral sciences, biology, advanced data analysis and artificial intelligence.
The Institute's philosophy is to operate as a company with business standards within an academic hospital, to exhibit efficiency, agility and structure on one hand, in tandem with human-centric values, clinical assets and knowledge sharing on the other hand. The Institute will initiate new research trajectories and act in full and synergetic cooperation with additional research and treatment units in and outside the hospital, in Israel and abroad – recognizing the immense importance of teamwork and of information and knowledge sharing as the key to success.
Research-Treatment Approach
Research activity at the Samueli Institute will be “human-centered” and focus on patients and their families, in order to identify the most efficient path for clinical implementation and impact. The Institute will put great emphasis on promoting and developing innovative engagement strategies of patients, primary care givers and staff, with the objective to create a unified circle of support and assistance throughout the patient’s entire journey.
Heading the Leadership Team
Prof. Gal Markel, a world-renowned cancer researcher and entrepreneur, Director of the Davidoff Center and Deputy CEO of the Rabin Medical Center, is the Chairperson and co-founder of the Samueli Institute.
Prof. Salomon Stemmer, Head of Research, Development and Innovation and Deputy Director of Davidoff Center, is a co-founder of the Samueli Institute.
Brig. Gen. (res.) Avner Paz-Tzuk, a senior high-tech executive, and former commander of IDF elite technology units and IDF Chief Education Officer, is the CEO of the Samueli Institute.
Dr. Michal Besser, a global expert in research, development and manufacturing of advanced cell and biological therapies for cancer, is the CTO of the Samueli Institute.
The Institute’s leading team is comprised of some of Israel’s best experts in the medical, research, technology and innovation fields.
Start of Activity at the Institute
The Samuelis' generous donation will initially be devoted to establishment of the Institute’s human capital and advanced technological infrastructures according to the three core areas of interest:
The first is a broad, integrative, dynamic data lake with advanced AI-based analytics to enable retrospective integrative learning, and propel prospective hypotheses generation and predictions. The second is an array of advanced research and clean laboratories, headed by Dr. Michal Besser. These will enable investigation of patient-derived materials, develop and manufacture pivotal biological technologies for pilot clinical trials. The third component is an integrative 360° patient care, monitoring and intervention program, focusing on engagement, including the establishment of the Patient Champions Unit (Yahalom). This Unit proactively accompanies patients and primary care givers at the personal level throughout the entire patient journey, and thereby serves as a care delivery team as well as a unique research and implementation resource.
The founders of the Samueli Institute, its leadership and the partners at Beilinson and Clalit, embark on this undertaking out of a deeply rooted commitment and belief that the Samueli Institute will make a significant impact on the quantity and quality of life of cancer patients around the world.
