Kadar Family Award for Outstanding Research — Spotlight on Prof. Neta Erez

At the 2024 ceremony, Prof. Neta Erez, Vice Dean of the Tel Aviv University Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, was honored for her groundbreaking research on the early stages of cancer metastasis. Her lab is developing immunotherapies that help protective T-cells prevent breast cancer from spreading to the bones by strengthening their functionality and blocking anti-T-cell actors in the tumor microenvironment. Prof. Erez’s work exemplifies the translational vision at the heart of the Kadar Family Award—science that moves seamlessly from discovery to healing.

She was joined by Prof. Dafna Langgut (Archaeobotany), Prof. Ran Spiegler (Economics), and Prof. Gili Bisker (Biomedical Engineering), each of whom embodies the award’s cross-disciplinary commitment to advancing knowledge that enriches both Israeli and global society. Together, the 2024 honorees reflect the Kadar family’s belief in research that expands understanding and improves lives.

In presenting the awards, Maya Kadar Kovalsky said:

“Now more than ever, we need the creativity and innovative spirit of Tel Aviv University’s brightest minds. And today, we celebrate not only the remarkable achievements of the Kadar Award recipients, but also their unwavering dedication to excellence. Their work serves as a beacon of light, reminding us of the boundless potential within each of us. Even in dark times—perhaps especially in dark times—the inspired thinking and actions of a few can truly change the world for the better.”