Program & Speakers
About the Conference
This conference brings together researchers, academic leaders, policymakers, and members of the global scientific community for a day of thought-provoking discussions, scientific exchange, and strategic dialogue. Through keynote lectures, research presentations, and networking opportunities, the event aims to strengthen connections between academia, innovation, and the future of research in Israel and beyond.
Conference Program & Speakers
A timeline featuring keynotes, research sessions, and networking opportunities
8:00-8:45
Registration & Networking Breakfast
Participants are invited to arrive, complete registration, and enjoy a light breakfast before the opening of the conference.
08:45-9:15
Opening Ceremony
Dana Berenson, Director of Communities, ScienceAbroad
Ella Saban, Manager, Aliya Division, Ministry of Aliya and Integration
Lina Deshilton, Executive Director, Zuckerman Israel Institute and Zuckerman Family Foundation, Israel
Nadav Douani, CEO, ScienceAbroad
The conference will open with welcoming remarks from senior representatives of ScienceAbroad and the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, setting the stage for a day dedicated to scientific excellence, academic collaboration, and innovation.
9:15-9:40
TED-Style Session | Prof. Itai Yanai, NYU Grossman School of Medicine
Why Are Discoveries So Difficult to Make? An Introduction to the “Night Science” Creative Process
Prof. Itai Yanai will introduce the concept of the Night Science creative process, an approach that highlights creativity, intuition, and exploration as essential drivers of scientific discovery alongside rigorous methodology. As one of today’s leading voices in systems biology, Prof. Yanai has helped shape our understanding of development, cancer, and gene regulation.
9:40-10:25
09:40AM-10:25AM | Research Talks (4)
A series of short research presentations showcasing innovative work from selected participants across diverse scientific fields.
- Dr. Tamar Berger – Fanconi Anemia Pathway Deficiency Drives Premalignant Clonal Fields in Oral Mucosa
- Dr. Pe’era Pash – Making Sense of Genomic Repeats with Machine Learning
- Prof. Gil Zussman – The COSMOS Testbed – A Platform for Advanced Wireless, Optical, Edge Cloud, and Smart Streetscapes Experimentation
- Dr. Shahar Gvirtzman – Nucleation of Frictional Ruptures and Earthquakes
10:25-11:00
Coffee Break and Networking
A networking break for informal conversations and professional exchange.
11:00-11:30
Featured Talk
Prof. Ami Moyal, Chair of the Planning and Budgeting Committee, Israeli Council for Higher Education
Data, Challenges, and Goals of Israel’s Higher Education System
This session will offer an inside look at the current state of Israeli academia—its achievements, present realities, and preparedness for future challenges. Prof. Moyal will address the strategic steps needed to position Israel as a destination of choice for outstanding researchers and to strengthen research infrastructure on a globally competitive scale.
11:30-12:15
Research Talks (4)
A second session of research presentations featuring additional selected speakers and emerging scientific perspectives.
- Dr. Idit Goldfracht – Engineered human cardiac tissue model of ischemia-reperfusion injury reveals contributions of vascular and immune cells
- Dr. Neufeld Lena – From 3D-Bioprinted Brain Cancer Modeling to Delineating Human Intestinal Function and Inflammation Ex Vivo
- Prof. Etai Mizrav – Reframing the Teacher Shortage in Israel: A Components Approach to Diagnosis and Policy
- Dr. Meital Peleg Mizrachi – Rethinking Secondhand: Evidence of Rebound Effects in Sustainable Fashion Consumption
12:15-14:00
Networking Lunch + Poster Sessions
A dedicated lunch break designed to encourage meaningful connections among researchers, speakers, academic leaders, and guests.
12:15-12:50
Poster Session 1, Poster #1-55
The first poster session will provide participants with the opportunity to engage directly with presenters and explore current research projects.
Disciplines:
1. Molecular Biology, Genetics & Genomics
2. Cell Biology, Cancer & Immunology
3. Neuroscience, Behavior & Mental Health
12:50-13:00
Switching Posters
13:00-13:50
Poster Session 2, Poster # 56-112
The second poster session will continue the exchange of ideas and highlight additional
innovative research initiatives.
Disciplines:
4. Clinical Medicine, Public Health & Epidemiology
5. Engineering, Physics, Computing & Materials Science
6. Social Sciences, Education, Humanities & Sustainability
14:00-14:20
Prof. Irit Sagi | How Abstract Ideas Become Real Solutions
Department of Immunology & Regenerative Biology
Incumbent of the Maurizio Pontecorvo Professorial Chair
Department of Immunology & Regenerative Biology
The Weizmann Institute of Science
In her talk, Prof. Irit Sagi will discuss how abstract ideas and fundamental scientific discoveries can evolve into practical solutions with meaningful real-world impact.
Drawing on her extensive experience in innovation, technology transfer, and translational research at the Weizmann Institute of Science, and as a founder of two startup companies built on her research in tissue remodeling in health and disease, she will share insights into the connection between basic science, strategic partnerships, and the process of translating scientific breakthroughs into application.
14:20-15:05
Research Talks (4)
The final round of research talks will spotlight further outstanding work from participating researchers.
- Dr. Noga Larry – Altering the Relative Timing of Inter-Cortical Interactions with a Brain-Computer Interface
- Dr. Sapir Gershov – From Trauma Narratives to PTSD Diagnosis: LLM-Based Phenotyping for Cross-sectional Inference and Longitudinal Prediction
- Dr. Sigal Shafran Tikva – From Research to Bedside: How Nurse.AI Uses Machine Learning to Prevent Bedsores and Transform Patient Safety
- Shachar Shalit- Precision Neonatal Nutrition: Leveraging Machine Learning to Decipher Macronutrient Variability in Preterm Human Milk
15:05-15:30
Coffee Break and Networking
15:30-15:40
Featured Talk
Prof. Daniel A. Chamovitz
President of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Chairperson of Association of Israeli University Heads – VERA
Israeli Academia at a Crossroads: Independence, Resilience, and Global Engagement
Prof. Daniel A. Chamovitz will discuss the central challenges facing Israeli academia today, with a focus on academic independence, institutional resilience, and international collaboration. Drawing on his leadership role as Chair of VERA, he will examine how Israel’s universities can safeguard academic excellence while strengthening their global standing in a rapidly changing environment.
15:40-15:50
Greetings
Sender Cohen
Nevo Labs
15:50-16:00
Greetings
Tal Shuster
IAC CO-Chairperson of the Board
16:00-16:40
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Roei Tzezana, Blavatnik Center, Tel Aviv University
AI: The Future Ahead – Innovation, Disruption, and the New R&D Landscape
From autonomous research agents to AI-driven experimentation and automated pipelines, this keynote will provide practical insights into how artificial intelligence is expected to reshape scientific discovery, shorten R&D cycles, and redefine team capabilities. The session will also address the strategic, ethical, and governance-related questions that leaders must consider.
16:40-17:00
Closing Remarks & Excellence Awards
Prof. Emerit. Rivka Carmi, MD, CBE, Chairwoman of the Board, ScienceAbroad
The conference will conclude with closing remarks and the presentation of excellence awards, celebrating outstanding contributions and marking the end of a day of knowledge-sharing, collaboration, and inspiration.
* Schedule is preliminary and subject to change
Keynote Speakers & Session Chairs
What to Expect
The program will feature a dynamic mix of formats designed to maximize learning and networking.
Keynote Presentations
Inspiring talks from leading Israeli and American scientists
Oral Presentations
Selected abstracts presented by researchers to an elite audience
Poster Sessions
Interactive showcase and deep-dive discussions with senior PIs