Donations made by The Foundation to Ichilov Hospital (“Ichilov”) have resulted in monumental scientific progress and discovery. A flagship example of this is the work undertaken at ‘The Idan Ofer Medical Centre for Bioconvergence’. This centre combines two fields of study, which have historically been treated as unrelated: molecular genetics and bio-engineering. Ichilov maintains that this unique blend of sectors has paved the way for exceptional research and development opportunities. The success of this pioneering centre has also led Ichilov to review their strategy going forward, with particular emphasis now being placed on communication between medical departments, irrespective of whether they are deemed related. Given that the combination of molecular genetics with bio-engineering has resulted in advances in immunology, inflammatory diseases and metabolic disorders, Ichilov now seeks to avoid anything that inhibits the flow of key information and ideas between departments.
Funding scientific research that demonstrates a ground-breaking approach and a challenge to the status quo, is a common strategy employed by The Foundation. Not only does this novel approach open-up a world of possibilities at Ichilov, but it also inspires a movement towards integrated medicine across Israel and beyond. Accordingly, the immense long-term impact of donations of this kind are often challenging to quantify. A further example of an impactful donation made to the hospital by The Foundation is that which resulted in the construction of the Sammy Ofer building. Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, the hospital gained international recognition as it was the first medical facility in the world to begin its vaccination program. The vaccine was administered to the public from the pandemic clinic, which is located within the Sammy Ofer building. This demonstrates the importance of The Foundation’s ongoing support in pushing forward development and progress. The Foundation places particular emphasis on supporting scientific research that might improve outcomes for individuals today and for many years to come.
