The Zuckerman Israel Institute and Zuckerman Family Foundation have made a transformative donation to the Weizmann Institute of Science to establish the Zuckerman Center for Research on Learning, Memory, and Cognition. An additional gift has launched the Zuckerman Israel National Neuroscience Research Program, designed to cultivate collaboration between academic institutions in Israel and the United States.
The Zuckerman Center for Research on Learning, Memory, and Cognition is a pillar of Weizmann’s neuroscience initiative, the Azrieli Institute for Brain and Neural Sciences. Led by Prof. Nachum Ulanovsky from the Department of Brain Sciences, the Zuckerman Center supports research on the fundamental neuroscience of human cognition, leveraging technological advances to investigate learning, memory, and consciousness. These studies have crucial implications for addressing dementia, memory loss, neurodegenerative diseases, learning disabilities, and mental illness.
“This initiative furthers our commitment to establish Israel as a leader in neuroscience research,” said Eric J. Gertler, Trustee of the Zuckerman Israel Institute and Zuckerman Family Foundation, longtime Weizmann supporters. “By establishing this center, we hope to accelerate discoveries that could transform our understanding of one of science’s greatest frontiers—the complex human brain—and eventually provide new treatments to devastating neurological conditions.”
The Zuckerman Israel National Neuroscience Research Program will promote partnerships between Israeli and U.S. academic institutions by supporting joint projects led by paired Israeli and American principal investigators. Teams will be eligible for two rounds of funding during each cycle of the 10-year program.
“We are grateful for this visionary support from the Zuckerman Israel Institute and Zuckerman Family Foundation,” said Weizmann President Prof. Alon Chen. “Their generosity will serve to encourage groundbreaking research at the intersection of neuroscience and human cognition, foster collaborative studies, and establish Israel as a leader in the field.”
