A distinguished delegation from the Israel Cancer Research Fund (ICRF) visited Rambam Health Care Campus, highlighting a shared commitment to advancing innovative cancer research and honoring five decades of the Fund’s impact in Israel.
The ICRF delegation at Rambam. Photography: Rambam HCC
A delegation from the Israel Cancer Research Fund (ICRF) visited Rambam Health Care Campus (Rambam) as part of the organization’s 50th-anniversary mission to Israel. ICRF is the largest nongovernmental source of cancer research funding in Israel and is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious academic cancer research grantmakers in the world.
Founded in 1975 by Dr. Daniel G. Miller and a group of American and Canadian physicians, scientists and philanthropists, ICRF was established to support outstanding Israeli scientists and prevent the loss of talent due to limited research funding. Since its founding, the organization has provided more than $100 million through more than 3,000 research grants, funding research by hundreds of Israeli cancer researchers and contributing to groundbreaking scientific achievements including the development of FDA-approved therapies such as Gleevec, Doxil, and Velcade. Rambam currently employs five active ICRF award recipients including Prof. Irit Ben-Aharon, Dr. Erez Hasnis, Dr. Emily Avitan-Hersh, Dr. Chen Buxbaum, and Dr. Ruth Perets.
The delegation was hosted by Professor Irit Ben-Aharon, Director of the Joseph Fishman Oncology Center. During the visit, Professor Ben-Aharon gave a presentation about the Fishman Oncology Center and Rambam's Translational Cancer Research Hub, highlighting the hospital’s expanding leadership in discovery and innovation. The delegation visited the Leir Foundation Clinical Research Institute at Rambam’s cancer laboratories and toured the Sammy Ofer Fortified Underground Emergency Hospital. Dr. Michal Mekel, Rambam's new Director General, delivered greetings on behalf of the hospital leadership.
Together with the ICRF, Rambam continues to advance cancer research and translate medical discovery into better outcomes for patients in Israel and beyond.
