A new TAU study finds that while the government's flagship cost-of-living program lowered prices on selected products, it was accompanied by price increases across dozens of other categories.
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Research
Jul 5th, 2026
Did Israel's "Basket" Initiative Lower Grocery Bills?
- Management
Researchers from the Coller School of Management at Tel Aviv University examined the Ministry of Economy's flagship "Israel's Basket" initiative and found that although it substantially reduced the prices of the 100 products included in the program, these reductions were accompanied by price increases across many other product categories. According to the researchers, the overall impact on consumers' grocery bills may therefore have been considerably smaller than expected.
Looking Beyond the 100 Products
The study was conducted by Prof. Itai Ater and Adi Omer of the Coller School of Management at Tel Aviv University, together with Dr. Or Avishay-Rizhi of Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona. Based on daily price data collected by the Pricez platform from approximately 70 supermarket chains and more than 2,000 stores across Israel, the researchers examined the program's effects during its first seven weeks.
As part of the initiative, Carrefour committed to selling a basket of 100 products for a total price of NIS 1,098, compared with an average price of approximately NIS 1,700 before the program was launched. In return, the Israeli government allocated NIS 50 million to support a nationwide advertising campaign. The initiative operates in 50 Carrefour branches and on the company's online shopping platform for a period of six months.
Analysis of more than 2,000 stores and Pricez data showed that prices of the designated basket products fell by approximately 35% in participating Carrefour branches. Prices also declined by approximately 6% in Carrefour branches that were not participating in the initiative, suggesting that some of the price reductions spilled over to other parts of the chain. On Carrefour's online platform, basket products recorded an average price reduction of approximately 37%.
Carrefour in Israel
Lower Prices on Basket Products, Higher Prices Elsewhere
The researchers also examined price changes across product categories that were not included in the government's basket.
Among participating Carrefour stores, prices increased in 46 of the 76 product categories examined, with 23 categories showing statistically significant increases. Notable examples included:
- Laundry detergent and laundry gel – approximately 9%
- Pudding, jelly, and whipped cream products – approximately 7%
- Adult shampoo and conditioner – approximately 7%
- Pasta, spaghetti, and lasagna – approximately 6%
- Butter and flavored cookies – approximately 6%
The pattern was even more pronounced online, where prices increased in 55 product categories. Among the largest increases were:
- Adult shampoo and conditioner – approximately 14%
- Tea biscuits and crackers – approximately 9%
- Laundry detergent and laundry gel – approximately 8%
- Pasta, spaghetti, and lasagna – approximately 8%
- Savory snacks – approximately 7%
The researchers also found price increases of approximately 1.5% to 2% for a range of other popular products that were not included in the government basket.
How Did Competing Supermarkets Respond?
Outside Carrefour, the program's impact was considerably more limited. When the researchers examined physical stores across Israel's supermarket chains, they found no statistically significant reduction in the prices of the designated basket products. Focusing specifically on the country's major discount chains, they identified an average price reduction of approximately 3%.
Among the retailers:
- Mahsanei HaShuk recorded the largest average reduction, at approximately 10%.
- Half Hinam reduced basket prices by approximately 5%.
- Yohananof lowered prices by approximately 4%.
- Victory reduced prices by approximately 3%.
- Rami Levy also lowered prices by approximately 3%.
By contrast, the researchers found no statistically significant price reductions at Shufersal Deal, Osher Ad, or Universe.
The online market showed a similar pattern. Competing retailers reduced the prices of basket products by an average of only 2.3%, with substantial differences between chains:
- Rami Levy Online reduced basket prices by approximately 9%.
- Half Hinam Online lowered prices by approximately 4%.
No significant price reductions were observed at Shufersal Online, the largest online grocery retailer in Israel, or at Mahsanei HaShuk Online.
Does Shopping Near a Carrefour Store Make a Difference?
National Pricing Rather Than Local Competition
The researchers also examined whether competing supermarket chains responded differently in areas where Carrefour stores participating in the initiative were located.
Their findings showed no meaningful differences between cities with participating Carrefour branches and those without them. According to the researchers, this suggests that Israel's major supermarket chains set prices primarily at the national level, rather than competing store by store.
In other words, the presence of a nearby Carrefour branch offering discounted basket products did not lead competing supermarkets in the same city to lower their prices.
"There Are No Free Gifts in Economics"
Prof. Itai Ater concludes:
"There is no doubt that the program succeeded in lowering the prices of the designated basket products in the relevant Carrefour branches and also led to some price reductions among certain competitors. But in economics, there are no miracles and there are no free gifts.
"When you look beyond the 100 products at the center of the campaign, you see that these price reductions were accompanied by increases across dozens of other product categories. As a result, consumers who saved money on the basket products paid more for other items.
"The real test is not the price of a single product, but the total amount consumers pay at the checkout. From that perspective, it is possible that the effort to reduce the cost of the shopping basket ultimately produced the opposite result."
Prof. Itai Ater (Photo: Oded Antman)
Prof. Itai Ater of the Coller School of Management is a leading researcher in the fields of competition policy, industrial organization, and public policy. His research examines the economic mechanisms that shape markets and influence consumers' everyday spending.
Research
Jul 2nd, 2026
How Cancer Turns the Immune System Against Itself
New TAU study reveals how tumors reprogram immune cells to support their own growth, opening the door to new treatment strategies.
- Medicine
Researchers at Tel Aviv University’s Gray Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences have uncovered how a natural and essential immune system process can be hijacked to promote cancer progression. In a new study, the research team developed an advanced technology that enabled them to track macrophages, immune system cells, in real time and reveal how they alter their behavior within a cancerous tumor after consuming dead cancer cells. Their findings may pave the way for the development of new treatments targeting the specific macrophages identified in the study, restoring the immune system’s ability to fight the tumor instead of helping it.
The study was led by Dr. Merav Cohen and doctoral students Roi Balaban and Ori Moskowitz of the Gray Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at Tel Aviv University. It was published in the prestigious journal Science Immunology.
When the Immune System Changes Sides
At the heart of the study are macrophages, immune cells whose role is to clear the body of damaged and dead cells. This process is essential for maintaining tissue health and preventing inflammation. However, the researchers discovered that within the environment of a cancerous tumor, this same mechanism can take an unexpected turn: instead of helping the body, it causes immune cells to adopt characteristics that actively support tumor growth.
To understand how this occurs, the researchers developed an innovative method called Effero-seq, which enables the tracking of changes that occur in immune cells after they engulf dead cells. Using this technology, the team found that as the process progresses, the immune cells undergo "reprogramming" and begin activating genes that promote tumor development.
Tracking Tumor-Supporting Immune Cells
Using a melanoma model, the researchers found that macrophages that had consumed dead cancer cells stimulated the formation of new blood vessels within the tumor. These blood vessels supply the tumor with oxygen and nutrients, enabling it to grow more rapidly. At the same time, these macrophages lost some of their ability to respond to signals that trigger anti-cancer immune activity.
The researchers also analyzed data from patients with uveal melanoma, a form of eye cancer. They found that patients whose tumors contained higher expression of immune cells bearing the genetic signature identified in the study tended to have lower survival rates.
According to Dr. Cohen, the findings provide a new perspective on how cancerous tumors manipulate their surroundings and harness the immune system for their own needs. “The better we understand these mechanisms, the better equipped we will be to develop treatments that block them and restore the immune system’s ability to fight cancer,” she says. “This research points to a new and promising therapeutic target, one that focuses not only on the cancer cells themselves, but also on the processes that enable them to thrive.”
Research
Jun 29th, 2026
Newly Identified Mechanism Could Help Restore Hearing
Tel Aviv University researchers identified a rare group of cells with the potential to regenerate sensory hair cells in the inner ear.
- Medicine
A groundbreaking study by a team of researchers from the Gray Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at Tel Aviv University offers new hope to millions of people suffering from irreversible hearing loss. The researchers have identified a unique biological mechanism that could, in the future, enable the regeneration of sensory hair cells in the inner ear - a process previously thought to be impossible in humans.
The study was conducted under the leadership of Prof. Karen Avraham, Dean of the Gray Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences Drs Sarah and Felix Dumont Chair for Research of Hearing Disorders incumbent. It was spearheaded by Lama Khalaily, a Tel Aviv University doctoral student, in collaboration with Prof. David Sprinzak of TAU’s Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Shahar Kasirer from Prof. Sprinzak’s laboratory, Dr. Litao Tao of Creighton University in Omaha, and additional researchers. The findings were published in the journal Science Advances.
Why Hearing Loss Is Permanent
Hearing loss is often caused by damage to hair cells in the cochlea - cells responsible for detecting sound and converting it into electrical signals transmitted to the brain. Unlike many other species, mammals, including humans, are unable to regenerate these cells once they are damaged, making the loss permanent.
Discovering Cells That Can Regenerate
Using live tissue imaging and single-cell multi-omics methods, the researchers focused on supporting cells - cells adjacent to the hair cells that, under normal conditions, cannot regenerate or transform into hair cells. To explore whether and how this limitation could be overcome, the research team inhibited the Notch signaling pathway, a key communication mechanism between cells that is responsible for hair cell differentiation during embryonic development. The team uncovered a rare subset of supporting cells with an unexpected regenerative potential. Rather than responding uniformly, only a distinct group of cells entered a transitional state and began converting into hair cells.
These cells, termed transdifferentiating Deiters’ cells (tDCs), are capable of making the transition from supporting cells to hair cells - a step that is essential for hair cell regeneration. The researchers found that these cells exhibit unique genetic and epigenetic characteristics, enabling them to respond to stimulation and initiate the regeneration process.
Live imaging of the cochlear sensory epithelium: Supporting cells are shown in green and hair cells in red.
The researchers note that a deeper understanding of the mechanisms that allow certain cells to regenerate may pave the way for the development of innovative treatments that activate this regenerative ability in additional cells. Future approaches may involve a combination of genetic and epigenetic interventions designed to bypass existing biological barriers. According to the research team, this represents a significant step toward the development of regenerative treatments for hearing loss - a field in which no restorative medical solutions currently exist, only assistive measures such as hearing aids and cochlear implants and limited gene therapy.
"A First but Significant Step"
Prof. Karen Avraham concludes: “Our study shows that even in tissues long considered incapable of regeneration, such as the cochlea of the inner ear, there is in fact a hidden regenerative capacity, though it is very limited and appears only in a rare subpopulation of cells. The major challenge now is to understand how this ability can be expanded and activated in additional cells. If we succeed in doing this, we may lay the foundation for the development of innovative biological treatments that restore hearing, rather than merely compensate for its loss. This is a first but significant step toward a deeper understanding of regeneration in the auditory system and in neural systems in general.”
The study was supported by a Breakthrough Research grant from the Israel Science Foundation, the Ernest and Bonnie Beutler Research Program of Excellence in Genomic Medicine, and the Sagol Center for Regenerative Medicine at Tel Aviv University.
Research
Jun 25th, 2026
Toward Needle-Free Blood Tests
Researchers from Tel Aviv University and Sheba Medical Center developed an AI system that detects anemia and estimates key blood markers using a short eye scan.
- Medicine
A new collaborative study by Tel Aviv University and Sheba Medical Center marks a significant advance toward non-invasive blood testing, one of the most significant unmet needs in the market.
Researchers have developed an artificial intelligence-based system capable of assessing hemoglobin levels and red blood cell counts using a short video recording of the blood vessels in the eye’s conjunctiva, the transparent membrane covering the white part of the eye, without the need for a needle prick or blood draw.
The study was conducted by Tamir Denis, a master's graduate of Tel Aviv University, in collaboration with the research groups of Prof. Haim Suchowski of the School of Physics and Astronomy and Prof. Lior Wolf of the Blavatnik School of Computer Science and AI, together with researchers from Sheba Medical Center: Prof. Ygal Rotenstreich, Head of the Electrophysiology Clinic and Retinal Research Laboratory, and Dr. Ifat Sher-Rosenthal, Research Director, and Head of the Restorative Retinal Lab. The findings were published in the scientific journal npj Digital Medicine, part of the Nature portfolio of journals.
Blood tests are among the most commonly performed medical procedures worldwide, yet they still rely on invasive blood sampling and complex laboratory processing. Previous attempts focused on anatomical sites failed to demonstrate significant correlation. The researchers note that this new technology could eventually enable faster and more accessible testing, particularly in regions where access to healthcare services is limited. The study highlights that anemia is one of the most prevalent medical conditions in the world, affecting approximately 30% of the global population.
Turning Eye Videos into Blood Data
The study presents a technology called Video-to-Vessels, which converts high-magnification video recordings of the tiny blood vessels in the eye’s conjunctiva into a compact digital representation of vascular structure and blood-flow dynamics. This information is then fed into an artificial intelligence system trained to identify correlations between blood-flow characteristics and key blood markers, such as hemoglobin (Hb) levels and red blood cell (RBC) counts.
The study included 224 participants who underwent both standard blood tests and imaging of the conjunctiva using a 50x magnification RGB camera. Ten-second video recordings were collected from both eyes of each participant.
The study’s principal finding was that the system achieved a relatively high accuracy rate of 82.8% in detecting anemia. In addition, a strong correlation was found between the system’s predictions and laboratory results for both hemoglobin levels and red blood cell counts.
Why Tiny Blood Vessels Matter
According to the researchers, one of the most notable examples of the system’s capabilities was its ability to detect subtle differences among extremely thin blood vessels. The study found that these vessels provided the most accurate information for predicting hemoglobin levels. The researchers explain that in very narrow vessels, blood cells move in single file, making it easier to identify blood-flow patterns and changes associated with hemoglobin concentration. Models trained exclusively on these small vessels achieved significantly better results than those based on larger vessels.
Another key finding was the importance of video processing. The researchers demonstrated that stabilizing eye movements and removing digital noise significantly improved the system’s performance. When these steps were omitted from the process, the predictive correlation declined by 38% for hemoglobin and by 19% for red blood cell counts.
From Proof of Concept to Future Applications
The researchers emphasize that this remains a proof-of-concept study, and that broader, more diverse studies will be needed before the technology can be implemented in clinical practice. Nevertheless, they believe that it could eventually be developed into a compact handheld device to serve as a first-line screening tool in clinics, community healthcare settings, and even at home.
"A New Source of Physiological Information"
Tamir Denis explains: “One of the things that fascinated us most is the fact that in this region of the eye, not only can you see the blood vessels, but in some cases, you can actually observe the blood flow itself. This makes the conjunctiva a unique and highly compelling area for research. For us, this represents a new source of physiological information that, when combined with image processing and artificial intelligence, could entirely transform both the testing experience and access to it in the future. Our study is a first step in that direction. What excited me about this research from the very beginning was the sense that it has the potential to make a real difference in people’s lives, especially in places where access to medical infrastructure is limited.”
Prof. Ygal Rotenstreich concludes:
“We view this study as a significant step toward the development of a new generation of non-invasive medical tests.
The ability to extract information about a person’s blood profile using only a short video of blood vessels in the eye demonstrates the enormous potential of combining physics, optics, and artificial intelligence in medicine. Although this is still an early-stage study, the results are very encouraging and point to the future possibility of performing faster, simpler, and more accessible screening tests, even outside the hospital setting. We believe that technologies of this kind could eventually improve access to medical diagnosis and ease the burden on patients around the world.”
The research was supported in part by Israel’s Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology.
