Through innovative, globally recognized research, Soroka Medical Center is bringing cutting-edge treatments and discoveries to patients today, strengthening the health of the Negev while advancing care and medical innovation worldwide. If you are interested in supporting or learning more about a specific research program, please contact Noa Hazan at Noa@Soroka.org.
1. A Therapeutic Breakthrough: First CAR-T Cell Transplant for Lupus at Soroka
Physicians at Soroka Medical Center have reached a significant therapeutic milestone with the first CAR-T cell transplant performed at the medical center for a patient with Lupus. Administered as part of a clinical trial, the advanced immunological therapy has the potential to alter the course of severe autoimmune disease and may lead to remission.
CAR-T technology, pioneered at Soroka for oncology patients at the Legacy Heritage Oncology Center & Dr. Larry Norton Institute, is now being applied to autoimmune diseases as part of one of Israel’s first clinical implementations. The procedure was led by Dr. Uri Greenbaum, Head of the Cellular Therapy Service in the Hematology Department, in collaboration with Dr. Muhammad Abu Sbeit, Senior Rheumatologist, together with transplant coordination and Clinical Research Center teams.
This milestone reflects Soroka’s expanding role in translating advanced cellular therapies into new treatment pathways for patients across Israel’s southern region.
2. Advancing Maternal & Child Health Research
Researchers at Soroka Medical Center, in collaboration with Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Clalit Health Services, published a large population-based study demonstrating that influenza vaccination during pregnancy is not associated with an increased risk of autism spectrum disorder in children.
The study analyzed medical data from more than 153,000 births, tracking maternal vaccination records alongside long-term child developmental outcomes. After adjusting for demographic and clinical factors, researchers found no increased autism risk, providing strong scientific evidence supporting the safety and importance of prenatal vaccination.
These findings help address ongoing vaccine concerns while reinforcing Soroka’s role in translating large-scale clinical research into evidence that improves maternal and child health worldwide.
3. Global Leadership in Maternal–Fetal Medicine
Physicians and researchers from Soroka Medical Center presented 49 research studies at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Annual Conference in Las Vegas, one of the world’s most influential forums shaping clinical guidelines in maternal–fetal medicine.
The research addressed critical challenges including high-risk pregnancies, hypertension, diabetes in pregnancy, multiple gestations, and long-term birth outcomes, helping inform how obstetric care is practiced globally.
As noted by Prof. Eyal Sheiner, Chairman of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Division, this level of scientific contribution reflects Soroka’s notable role in generating evidence that directly improves outcomes for mothers and babies worldwide.
4. Soroka Strengthens Global Niemann-Pick Research
Soroka Medical Center is now the first Israeli site to join the International Niemann-Pick Disease Registry (INPDR), reinforcing international collaboration in understanding and treating Niemann-Pick Diseases (NPD).
Led by Dr. Orna Staretz-Chacham at The Cheryl & Haim Saban Children’s Hospital, Soroka will help advance research and care for NPD patients worldwide, providing Israeli patients access to cutting-edge initiatives while supporting the development of better diagnostics, therapies, and care strategies globally.
The partnership highlights Soroka’s leadership in rare disease research and its commitment to translating research into improved outcomes for children and families both locally and globally, reinforcing the power of collaboration in driving medical innovation.