A joint venture of Soroka Medical Center and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
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The Vision
The new Soroka Medical Center - Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Joint Research Institute will achieve significant diagnostic and therapeutic breakthroughs by combining excellent scientific research with bedside experience and insights that will have substantial positive impact on local and international health and wellbeing. The Institute will attract top physicians and medical researchers to the Negev, ensuring Soroka and Ben-Gurion University’s places among the leading medical research institutions in the world.
The Mission
- To create an extensive, up-to-date, leading research platform based on the proven scientific capabilities of Ben-Gurion University (BGU) researchers and Soroka clinicians
- To enable research during residency in various medical professions and thereby encourage outstanding MD graduates of BGU’s Goldman Medical School to remain in the Negev
- To serve as a magnet for physician-researchers from outside the Negev
- To encourage excellent clinicians, physician-researchers, and leading researchers to remain in the Negev
What Has Already Been Achieved
In 2009, Soroka established the Clinical Research Center to create an infrastructure for clinicians performing clinical research and to foster collaboration with academia and industry. Since its opening, the Clinical Research Center has been involved in over 300 research projects with the participation of more than 120 clinicians and BGU staff, resulting in more than 250 scientific publications. The Center works in three main areas:
- Actively supporting clinical and translational research, allowing access to state-of-the-art trial planning and management
- Conducting educational activities specifically tailored to enabling practicing physicians to achieve a level of knowledge adequate for conducting clinical research
- Establishing an infrastructure for the transfer of clinical/scientific findings into day-to-day medical practice
Looking Toward the Future
In designing the future Joint Research Institute, we have emphasized the creation of an infrastructure that will support the major types of research in which our clinicians and researchers can collaborate at Soroka and BGU in a way not currently possible. The availability of a world-class research institute will radically change the decision-making process of potential recruits to Soroka and BGU for combined clinical and research leadership positions and thus has the potential to transform healthcare in the region.
The Partners
The Gav-Yam Negev Advanced Technologies Park (ATP) was recently inaugurated and is rapidly expanding in the immediate vicinity of Soroka and BGU. It is currently being populated with leading hi-tech and biotechnology companies from Israel and abroad. This unique project creates additional venues for innovative research involving Soroka and BGU researchers as well as biotechnology and biopharmaceutical companies, from start-ups that stem from translational research performed at Soroka and BGU to existing companies that will bring additional expertise and capabilities to the area.

Donor Opportunities Please Contact:
Rachel Heisler Sheinfeld | Executive Director
American Friends of Soroka Medical Center
Office: 914-725-9070 | Mobile: 914-582-6750