TAU Cancer Research Gets an Upgrade

The new Rosalie and Harold Rae Brown Core Cancer Research Facility at Tel Aviv University’s Britannia Building of Life Sciences was inaugurated last week with a warm ceremony. The Facility is the generous first gift of the Rosalie & Harold Brown Foundation, a charitable organization created by the late business magnate Harold Brown Jr. Trustee Leon Janks initiated the gift on behalf of the Foundation; he and his wife Sharon were given a personal tour of the Facility and attended the ceremony along with several professors, Dean of Life Sciences Life Sciences Prof. Abdussalam Azem, and TAU President Prof. Ariel Porat. Said Prof. Azem: “With such strong support, we are able to do our best work. We are truly grateful.”

The Rosalie and Harold Rae Brown Core Cancer Research Facility ensures TAU cancer researchers have access to the most state-of-the-art equipment, a necessity for modern scientific research. In addition to making possible incredible cancer research breakthroughs, this equipment will play a role in boosting Israeli academia through bringing in top researchers and new collaborations with industry and medicine. Said Pres. Porat: “One mission of the University right now is to keep Israeli researchers here in Israel and to incentivize top Israeli postdocs who are abroad to return for faculty positions. I want to express my thanks to the trustees Ron, Tim and Leon for understanding the importance of creating the best facilities in achieving that goal. And with the support of the Brown Foundation, we will be able to advance cancer research even further.”

The new Facility will serve as a hub for research and brainstorming between all cancer researchers on campus and will organize a regular Cancer Researchers Forum, which will be open to all cancer researchers across the campus.  

Said Dr. Yariv Wise, a researcher at the Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, “This facility stands as a vibrant center for new ideas, promising to attract leading researchers, emerging talents, and passionate innovators eager to contribute to and benefit from its resources. None of this would be possible without the support of the Brown Foundation, whose belief in the transformative power of science has played a pivotal role in making this Center a reality and inspiring a new era of discovery.”

The Brown Foundation was founded in 1997 by construction businessman Harold Brown Jr., who has since passed away. Named for his parents, the Foundation supports cancer research, efforts to equalize health disparities, and diversity and inclusion efforts within academia. Mr. Brown founded and chaired HAR-BRO, Inc., a leading general contractor which specialized in restoring properties damaged by natural disasters. His friend and Foundation trustee Leon Janks is a longtime admirer of TAU’s scientists and is involved with the American Friends of TAU.

Said Mr. Janks: “It’s been a privilege for me to help bring support to the work you do here at Tel Aviv University. Harold was not Jewish, but he visited Israel and had a very meaningful experience here. He would be very pleased to see this facility and how TAU has advanced cancer research.”