Centers and institutes

The Azrieli National Institute for Human Brain Imaging and Research funds studies in the physiology, biochemistry, and functioning of the human brain and on brain diseases, toward devising improved therapies and cures. The Azrieli Institute will work in concert with the new Israel National Center for Brain Imaging and Stimulation, a government-funded entity to be led the Weizmann Institute and in partnership with the Technion and Sourasky Medical Center.

The David Barton Center for Research on the Chemistry of Life was established to support basic research and innovative directions in biological chemistry with a focus on proteins as chemical catalysts or building blocks.

The Tom and Mary Beck Center for Advanced and Intelligent Materials supports groundbreaking research on innovative materials conducted with an eye towards possible applications in medicine, building materials, and alternative energy.

The Nella and Leon Benoziyo Center for Astrophysics promotes research in theoretical and experimental astrophysics, cosmology, and related topics including observational astronomy, computational astrophysics, and experimental particle astrophysics.

The Y. Leon Benoziyo Institute for Molecular Medicine supports biomedical research and utilizes high-throughput DNA sequencing and protein purification and identification of research relevant to translational medicine and facilitates ties between the laboratory and the medical clinic.

The Nella and Leon Benoziyo Center for Neurosciences supports research on the complex neuronal mechanisms underlying learning, memory, and sensory processing, as well as the relationship between brain and mind.

The Joseph H. and Belle R. Braun Center for Submicron Research explores the miniaturization of electronic devices. Scientists pursue the design, material growth, fabrication, and characterization of submicron semiconductors, which are essential for a new type of quantum electronics which is leading to the development of smaller and faster computer chips for tomorrow’s advanced electronics industry.

The Clore Center for Biological Physics supports research activities that use the methods of physics and physical chemistry to study biological systems. Under the center’s auspices, biologists, chemists, computer scientists, and physicists work together to explore a variety of fundamental issues in biology, and develop new approaches to address them.

The Crown Institute for Genomics provides next-generation gene sequencing services and data analysis to help scientists at the Weizmann Institute; and researchers from academia, hospitals, and industry; to conduct biomedical research in collaboration with the Nancy and Stephen Grand Israel National Center for Personalized Medicine.

The Crown Photonics Center promotes the study of light and its applications. The Weizmann Institute is a global leader in basic photonics research. Photonics has given rise to the discovery of gamma rays, ultraviolet light, infrared light, microwaves, and radio waves, with applications ranging from biomedicine to homeland security, and including computing, medical diagnostics, imaging, on-chip data communication, and laser defense.

The de Botton Center for Marine Science funds research on the oceans and, in particular, the Mediterranean Sea, toward an integrated understanding of the processes that govern the Sea’s interactions with the atmosphere and its biogeochemistry.

The André Deloro Research School of Physical Science is part of the charitable legacy of French builder and visionary, André Deloro and the Adelis Foundation he created. It provides enrichment and an extra level of support for graduate students in the physical sciences throughout their years at the Weizmann Institute’s Feinberg Graduate School.

The de Picciotto Cancer Cell Observatory in Memory of Wolfgang and Ruth Lesser offers Weizmann’s scientists services in the field of advanced optical imaging and image analysis, using the state-of-the art technologies in the field. It is a part of the Moross Integrated Cancer Center (MICC).

The Melvyn A. Dobrin Center for Nutrition and Plant Research focuses on increasing plant productivity and nutritional quality through improved understanding of plant genetics, biochemistry, and physiology.

The Solo Dwek and Maurizio Dwek Research School of Chemical Science works hand in hand with the Faculty of Chemistry at the Weizmann Institute to enhance the education of graduate students in chemistry. It was created by two brothers, Maurizio and Solo and their families in 2008.

The Carl and Micaela Einhorn-Dominic Institute for Brain Research supports research on human diseases at the molecular level including studies addressing biochemical mechanisms that underlie the major threats to human health, such as cardiovascular defects, cancer, and infectious diseases.

The EKARD Institute for Cancer Diagnosis Research, part of The Moross Integrated Cancer Center (MICC), provides a supportive framework for leading researchers working on novel ways to achieve early detection of cancer, which may help clinicians provide more accurate diagnoses and identify specific molecular signatures. Early detection and diagnosis of cancer can greatly improve the medical community's ability to control the outcome of therapy, offer the most effective treatment, and avoid useless and often harsh methods of combating the disease.

The Center for Experimental Physics fosters research in all areas of experimental physics, ranging from the most basic aspects of particle physics to experimental studies of basic material properties such as semiconductors and superconductors. Research also involves atomic, molecular, plasma and optical physics and interdisciplinary studies of the physics of biological systems.

This center provides a financial backbone required for transforming innovative projects that have strong translational potential from curiosity-driven basic science into more mature technologies, thereby increasing the likelihood of industry’s willingness to invest in their technology transfer and subsequent commercialization.

The Nancy and Stephen Grand Israel National Center for Personalized Medicine is based at and managed by the Weizmann Institute. It offers multi-disciplinary teams of scientists, clinicians, biomedical and pharmaceutical companies the ability to conduct research involving genomics, protein profiling, bioinformatics, and drug discovery. The insights arising from this research are applied to the clinic for the benefit of human health.

The Murray H. and Meyer Grodetsky Center for Research of Higher Brain Functions advances understanding of the link between cognitive processes such as perception, action, memory and emotional regulation, and the multiple scales of spatio-temporal patterns of brain activity.

The Fritz Haber Center supports scientific activities in the fields of Physical Chemistry, Chemical Physics and Biological Physics. The support of the Center is given directly to research groups to help initiate new endeavors, and in support of ongoing activities. The support is usually dedicated to the purchase of new scientific equipment, the upgrade of operating laboratories, the extension of existing experimental systems, or repairs of specialized instrumentation.

The Manya Igel Centre for Biomedical Engineering and Signal Processing concentrates on merging computer science with advanced techniques used in life sciences for neuroscience, brain studies, cancer research, and other fields where signals and data are being collected in great quantities and need to be interpreted.

The Morris Kahn Institute for Human Immunology is dedicated to understanding acquired immunity, i.e. how the immune system protects the body from invading pathogens. The center focuses on investigating cellular and molecular interactions that underlie the antibody mediated immune response against infectious pathogens, in response to vaccination and during intestinal immune response. In addition, our scientists harness the emerging new findings for the design of immunotherapeutic strategies. By elucidating the cellular and molecular components involved in successful immune responses, we aim to pave the way for new approaches for manipulating the immune system and direct it against tumors.

The Ilse Katz Institute for Material Sciences and Magnetic Resonance Research advances research utilizing magnetic resonance (MR) and advancing MR technology. Institute scientists have made major inroads advancing theoretical work on the basic quantum mechanical principles underlying MR, devising a wide variety of new materials, research techniques and medical applications.

The Aharon Katzir-Katchalsky Center was established in 1972, following the tragic death of Aharon Katzir-Katchalski at the hands of terrorists, as a living memorial. The Center promotes activities in physical biology and macromolecular science and in such other areas of science that fall within the wide-ranging interests of Aharon Katzir-Katchalski, especially the impact of scientific and technological advances on human society.

The Helen and Martin Kimmel Center for Archaeological Science trains students at the MSc and PhD level in both the natural sciences and archaeology, enabling them to implement the most sophisticated analytical tools and methods in studies of ancient cultures based on their material remains.

The Helen and Martin Kimmel Center for Molecular Design supports scientific activities (including international conferences) focused on molecular design. In particular, the Center provides seed funding for research projects encompassing diverse aspects of molecular design, with particular emphasis on interdisciplinary collaborations. Research supported by the Center includes, but is not limited to, development of functional materials based on metal–ligand coordination (van der Boom group), fluorescent molecular sensors for protein detection (Margulies group), polyoxometalate-based catalysts (Neumann group), stimuli-responsive molecules and materials (Klajn group), chemical reaction networks (with implications for synthetic biology and origins of life) (Semenov group), new sensors for magnetic resonance imaging (Bar-Shir group), pincer-type organometallic catalysts (Milstein group), sustainable materials self-assembled from small-molecule building blocks (Rybtchinski group), as well as development of new methods in computational quantum chemistry (Martin group), uncovering the molecular mechanisms underlying the function of retinal proteins (Sheves group), and computational design of biologically active small-molecule compounds (London group).

The Helen Kimmel Center for Planetary Science nurtures novel collaborations in planetary surface geology and geophysics, planetary geochemistry and exobiology, planetary atmospheres and climate, and extrasolar planets. It enables a graduate studies program in planetary sciences, and enables the Weizmann Institute to take a leading role in national and international space research initiatives.

The Helen and Milton A. Kimmelman Center for Biomolecular Structure & Assembly advances research on the assembly of biological macromolecules into functionally active intracellular units and organelles. It supports research projects in nucleic acids and protein expression and purification, crystallization, and crystallographic data collection, the area in which Prof. Yonath’s research won her the Nobel Prize.

The Knell Family Center for Microbiology aims to promote the understanding of microorganisms and to harness this knowledge for the benefit of creating new tools to improve human health and our environment.

The Henry Chanoch Krenter Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Genomics enables the convergence of high-resolution bioimaging and genomics techniques toward a coherent picture of cancer’s ability to function, grow, evade treatment, and respond to treatment.

The Lorry I. Lokey Research School of Biochemical Science was established by Lorry Lokey of San Francisco, in 2007 for the benefit of graduate students working in biochemistry. It was the first of the five Research Schools created to support and enhance graduate education at the Weizmann Institute’s Feinberg Graduate School.

The M. Judith Ruth Institute for Preclinical Brain Research is paving the way towards groundbreaking discoveries in mental health and illness, as well as brain development and degeneration, by supporting preclinical core facilities and advanced disease modeling platforms for innovative comparative medicine research.

The Mantoux Institute for Bioinformatics uses innovative computational tools to help scientists efficiently and accurately analyze the reams of intricate information that modern, large-scale basic, preclinical, and clinical studies generates. This merger of biology and computing has become a major driving force in biological investigation worldwide.

The Ben May Center for Chemical Theory and Computation brings together theoretical and computational scientists to study the fundamental properties of materials and physical systems, using advanced theoretical and computational tools and spanning a broad range of scales.

The Belle S. and Irving E. Meller Center for the Biology of Aging advances research on the pathology of aging, including the immune system, the vascular system, connective tissues, and more.

The Minerva Foundation, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Weizmann Institute of Science established the Avron-Minerva center for Photosynthesis in 1995. The center promotes research in the chemical, physical, technological and regulatory aspects of photosynthesis from the molecular to the global level.

The Albert Einstein Minerva Center for Theoretical Physics fosters research on theoretical physics with an emphasis on collaborations between Weizmann Institute scientists and German scientists. Research ranges from the most abstract aspects of string theory, through astrophysics, to down-to-earth problems in optics and statistical and condensed-matter physics.

The Minerva Center for Decision-Making Strategies in Microorganisms – was established in 2015 and is dedicated to research in probabilistic decision making in bacteria and budding yeast.

The Minerva Center on Live Emulation of Evolution in the Lab was formed in 2014 to conductscientific research in the fields of evolution, genomics and systems biology. The modelorganisms studied in particular are microbial species, worms and humans.

Monroy-Marks Integrative Center for Brain Disorder Research brings together neuroscientists to investigate multiple levels of brain injury and neurodegenerative diseases. Its goal is to develop new approaches to address the complexity and challenges of diseases such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, Huntington's, and ALS, in addition to psychiatric and developmental disorders such as depression and autism.

Moross Research School of Mathematics and Computer Science was created by in 2009 by Manfred Moross and his family to help with the needs of graduate students in these key areas of science and mathematics.

The Israel National Nano Technology Initiative Center is part of the Israel National Nanotechnology Initiative run jointly by the Ministry of Economy and TELEM. It supports nanoscience and nanotechnology activities, mainly through the purchase of new shared equipment.

The Jeanne and Joseph Nissim Foundation for Life Sciences Research enables scientists in the Institute to advance cutting-edge biomedical research with the hope that such investigations will lead to real medical applications. The center recruits exceptional new scientists and funds the purchase of biomedical research equipment, and supports leading scientific research.

The Max Planck Society - Weizmann Institute of Science Research Center (MPS-WIS) for Integrative Archaeology/Anthropology advances research on archaeology through the integrated use of laboratory methods.

The Dr. Karl and Leila Ribstein Center for Information Technology supports and enhances the integrated, campus-wide computing and communications networks of the Weizmann Institute, in recognition of the essential role of sophisticated computer infrastructure in all aspects of modern science and administration.

The Sagol Institute for Longevity Research promotes the interdisciplinary investigation of phenomena associated with human aging and longevity. Institute activities include studies related to neurobiology, metabolism, nutrition, and cardiovascular diseases.

The Vera and John Schwartz Family Center for Metabolic Biology supports the research of the Metabolic Profiling Unit (MPU), which works to identify and monitor metabolites. Its goal is to advance diagnostic, treatment, and new strategies for disease prevention.

The Schwartz/Reisman Institute for Theoretical Physics (SRitp) creates an informal intellectual framework for physicists by hosting extended, loosely structured international workshops in theoretical physics.

The David and Fela Shapell Family Center for Genetic Disorders Research supports research on Down's syndrome and other genetic disorders. The center utilizes transgenic technologies toward elucidating the molecular mechanisms by which genetic mutations affect cell characteristics.

The Dr. Barry Sherman Institute for Medicinal Chemistry funds innovative research on compounds that hold promise for becoming therapies for a range of human diseases and disorders, including autoimmune diseases, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and infectious diseases.

The Sussman Family Center for the Study of Environmental Sciences funds investigations involving complex inter-relationships among the major Earth systems and toward the discovery of novel, non-polluting energy sources.

The Swiss Society Institute for Cancer Prevention Research sponsors initiatives for a non-conventional approach to fighting cancer, by focusing on finding innovative and groundbreaking research methods and tools and by building an interactive community of scientists.

The Weizmann-Brazil Center for Research on Neurodegeneration supports research on basic mechanisms compromised in neurodegeneration, on the causes and trajectories of neurodegenerative diseases, the earliest hallmarks we can identify, and the means for preventing, delaying, or even curing these diseases.

The Wertheimer Center for Computational Biology facilitates the historical transition of the biological sciences toward Big Data-driven research and information-centered integration of experiments and theory. Serving as analysts, educators, and mediators between the departments in which they work and the Nancy and Stephen Grand Israel National Center for Personalized Medicine, the Center’s computational biology experts advance the Weizmann Institute’s leadership in the new era of information-centric biology and its numerous applications in precision medicine.

The Willner Family Center for Vascular Biology focuses on the regulation of vascular processes in healthy and diseased states, including in cancer. Since dysregulation of vascular processes causes many human diseases such as heart failure, stroke, and cancer, research findings are leading to the development of early diagnosis tools and therapies.

The Women's Health Research Center bridges the gap between basic research and clinical studies in women’s and gender health-related issues. The center primarily supports research projects pertinent to ovarian function and infertility, gender-specific malignancies, and bone structure and development as related to osteoporosis.