Page 5 - Rappaport Institute Magazine 2024

THE RAPPAPORT INSTITUTE
02-03
It is an immense pleasure and privilege to assemble the scientific harvest of the researchers of the Rappaport Faculty of Medicine of the Technion. Their productive research reflects a landscape of intense impact over the national and global science, and their peak were Nobel prizes granted to Prof. Hershko and Prof. Ciechanover. Fruitful scientific activity requires resources, and the Faculty members were fortunate to benefit the vision of the Rappaport family.
For over half a century, the Rappaport family has left an indelible mark over the State of Israel. In our corner, the philanthropic activities of Mr. Baruch (Bruce) and Mrs. Ruth Rappaport paved way to the Technion’s Faculty of Medicine, laying the foundation for medical education and research. Following this cornerstone, the Rappaport Institute for Research in the Medical Sciences was established to further propel medical advancements.
The torch of leadership was gracefully passed through the years, where today Mrs. Irith Rappaport steers the contributing activities forward, writing another grand chapter in this remarkable vision by the establishment of the Technion Integrated Cancer Center.
Our deep gratitude is also given to the long-time trustees of the Rappaport Foundation, whose unwavering dedication helped ensure the continued operation of the Rappaport Institute and significant support for research.
The group of researchers in the Rappaport Faculty of Medicine reflects the human puzzle of the Israeli society. They have completed doctoral theses in diverse topics, and proceeded to post-doctoral training periods in leading academic institutions world-wide. Some of the faculty members also have degrees in medicine, engineering or computer science, contributing to synergistic scientific work. Our researchers are influential in medical education, teaching and research of medical sciences in Israel and across the world, in various scientific fields, such as biochemistry, neuroscience, immunology, microbiology, genetics and developmental biology, cancer, physiology, biophysics and systems biology. The research at the faculty advances the understanding of human biology, the mechanisms of diseases of the human body, as well as development of novel therapeutic approaches and drugs.
Amazingly, despite the challenges the Israeli society has faced, the pursuit of groundbreaking impactful research at the Rappaport Institute has never ceased. In fact, these difficult times have only served to strengthen our determination to improve human health outcomes.
Looking towards to the future, the Rappaport Institute is committed to facilitate prolific excellent research in bio-medicine, a vision which culminates in the establishment of Rappaport - Technion Integrated Cancer Center, becoming an attractive hub to more innovative front-line scientists in bio-medicine, but also from the engineering or computational faculties in the Technion, and other leading universities in Israel and abroad.
It is a tremendous privilege and honor for me to serve as Director of the Rappaport Institute through this term, and I am deeply committed to continue its tradition.
Stavit A. Shalev M.D.
Clin. Professor of Human Genetics, Bernice and Joseph Tanenbaum Chair in Preventive Medicine Director, Rappaport Family Institute for Research in the Medical Sciences