The Azrieli Foundation Announces NIS 40 Million Donation for National Autism Research at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Soroka University Medical Center
Introducing the Azrieli National Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopment Research
BEER-SHEVA, Israel and TORONTO, Canada, November 1, 2021 – The Azrieli Foundation recently announced a donation in the amount of NIS 40 million to the National Autism Research Centre of Israel (NARCI),
a unique collaboration between scientists from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) and clinicians from Soroka University Medical Center (SUMC). The center, originally established by the Israeli Ministry of Science
and Technology, is dedicated to translational research that will revolutionize diagnosis techniques and interventions for autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions. In honour of this generous donation, the centre has proudly been renamed The Azrieli National Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopment Research.(See
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Ben-Gurion University President Prof. Daniel Chamovitz, "The Azrieli National Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopment Research is a quintessential BGU project. Innovative, cutting-edge and super-disciplinary, designed to make world-class
discoveries while providing critical support and hope to families. The Azrieli Foundation has been our partner on a number of innovative initiatives, and we are grateful that they recognize our unique vision."
Naomi Azrieli, Chair and CEO of the Azrieli Foundation, explains why the Foundation invested in the center. “Neurodevelopmental research and supporting people with neurodevelopmental disabilities is one of our core priorities. We
help people maximize their potential by connecting them to resources, expertise and education, and the Azrieli National Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopment Research will do exactly that – by building and nurturing networks which enable research
and innovative technology.”
Danna Azrieli, Chair of The Azrieli Group and the Azrieli Foundation Israel:" We are delighted to join forces with Ben-Gurion University, a top-rated global institution, which has developed groundbreaking research studies and innovative
technology. Ben-Gurion University and the City of Beer-Sheva are especially close to our heart, as it is our goal to further help develop the Negev and create more opportunities in the area. It is our biggest wish to see the Negev flourish by developing
its educational systems, academic facilities and its health services, all in the hope of creating an inclusive and equal society in Israel."
Prof. Ilan Dinstein, Director of The Azrieli National Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Research and a member of the Departments of Psychology and Cognitive & Brain Sciences explains how the donation from the Azrieli Foundation
will help to advance the invaluable work currently performed at the centre. “Our research has demonstrated that autism is actually a family of multiple disorders, with a variety of symptoms that are caused by different reasons. The big challenge is
to determine how many types of autism there are, how to best identify them early, and most importantly, what interventions work best for each type. To determine this, scientists have to partner with clinicians and study large numbers of children with
autism over extended periods of time. The Azrieli Foundation contribution will enable us to do this on a national scale, by building a system of national sites in leading clinical centers where autism is diagnosed and treated. This extensive data
collection effort will be matched by an extensive data sharing effort that will enable multiple labs in all academic centers across Israel to study the disorder and advance the discovery of new diagnosis techniques and interventions.”
The six-year plan will vastly expand the centre and its reach.
A dedicated facility inside SUMC will be constructed that will double the space for working with ASD children and performing cutting-edge research. It will house state-of-the-art genetics/bioinformatics, biomarker-detection, and neuroimaging labs,
which will process collected samples/data and provide services to autism researchers throughout the country.
Dr. Gal Meiri, Director of The Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department at SUMC and medical director of the centre described the great excitement regarding the development of the centre. “We truly believe that combining clinical
and scientific excellence will lead to critical breakthroughs in the way we currently diagnose and treat children with autism. We see this daily in the clinic where the use of research tools as part of the diagnosis and follow up procedures improves
the quality of clinical care that we are giving the children and their families. Today, we give families much more information about their child’s symptoms as well as their genetics. The Azrieli support will further enhance this effort and enable
us to create a national network of sites that will yield not only ground-breaking research, but also improve autism diagnostic services throughout the country.”
Existing data collection will be expanded to multiple autism clinics throughout Israel, where multiple types of clinical and behavioral data, biological samples (e.g., DNA and blood samples), and neuroimaging data will be collected. This data collection
will enable the rapid expansion of the National Autism Database, which will triple in size within five years. New faculty members, post-docs, and graduate students, as well as scientific, clinical, technical, and administrative support staff will
be recruited to manage this extensive data collection and sharing effort.
In addition to developing the extensive autism research infrastructure described above, the centre is also leading the development of a national autism research community by means of hosting an annual national autism research conference, periodic
workshops from leading autism researchers throughout the world, and by dispensing seed funding for research projects that utilize the centre's data and/or infrastructure.
“We are extremely fortunate and grateful to be on the receiving end of such a generous donation from a world-renowned organization like The Azrieli Foundation,” says Mark Mendelson, CEO of Canadian Associates of Ben-Gurion University.
“This donation will enable world class researchers at BGU to further explore the intricacies of Autism, allowing them to create and innovate new interventions, medications and solutions for people living with this disorder.”
About the Azrieli Foundation With a firm belief that everyone, from our most vulnerable to our most exceptional, has a contribution to make, the Azrieli Foundation has been opening doors, breaking ground and nurturing networks for over 30 years. As the largest non-corporate foundation
in Canada, we fund institutions and operate programs in Canada and Israel.
About Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) is the fastest growing research university in Israel. With 20,000 students, 6,000 staff and faculty members, and three campuses in Beer-Sheva, Sde
Boker and Eilat, BGU is an agent of change, fulfilling the vision of David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s legendary first prime minister, who envisaged the future of Israel emerging from the Negev.
The University is at the heart of Beer-Sheva's transformation into an innovation district, where leading multinational corporations and start-ups eagerly leverage BGU’s expertise to generate innovative R&D.
BGU effects change, locally, regionally and internationally. With faculties in Engineering Sciences; Health Sciences; Natural Sciences; Humanities and Social Sciences; Business and Management; and Desert Studies, the University is a recognized national
and global leader in many fields, actively encouraging multi-disciplinary collaborations with government and industry, and nurturing entrepreneurship and innovation in all its forms.
BGU is also a university with a conscience, active both on the frontiers of science and in the community. Over a third of our students participate in one of the world's most developed community action programs.
About Soroka University Medical Center Soroka Medical Center is the only hospital in the entire Negev region, the second largest in Israel with 1,170 beds, and one of the country’s most active. As a tertiary referral and trauma
center, we provide care to a population of more than one million people, including 400,000 children in a region that accounts for 60% of the country’s total land area. Soroka is a strategic asset for the State of Israel.
Soroka is known for its excellent clinical care and leads the country in many areas, including genetics, obstetrics, infection control and emergency care and preparedness. It is also nationally renowned as Israel’s “iron dome” for health in routine times
and during emergencies and the primary trauma center for IDF soldiers and civilians on the southern front, including the area adjacent to the Gaza Strip.
Soroka is at the forefront of science and technology, leading national and international cooperation in research and innovation, and is a key partner in the establishment of the first “innovation district” in Israel
Each year, excellent care is provided at approximately 600,000 visits to our outpatient clinics; 250,000 patients are treated at our Emergency Department, which is the busiest in the country; 84,000 inpatients are admitted; 30,000 patients undergo surgery;
and 17,000 babies are born.
About Canadian Associates of Ben-Gurion University Canadian Associates of Ben-Gurion University (CABGU) is the Canadian fundraising arm of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. As part of its mandate, CABGU showcases BGU’s academic excellence and cutting-edge research from the desert for the world.
Activities include educating individuals, foundations and media about the University’s ground-breaking research through a series of exciting, informative communications, educational programs and events, featuring BGU’s world-renowned faculty.
Photo Caption: An illustration of the future centre