Applying Big Data to Cancer Prevention

Initiated by Prof. Liron Barak (Exact Sciences) from the School of Physics and Astronomy, a diverse group of TAU faculty members began visiting injured soldiers in hospitals to introduce them to the groundbreaking research happening at the University. This initiative, which started at Sheba Medical Center and has since expanded to Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, not only raises the morale of wounded soldiers but also opens doors to new opportunities for them at TAU following their rehabilitation. During these visits, faculty members provide academic guidance, answer questions, and serve as personal contacts, helping soldiers navigate their potential future in higher education.

The Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine recently launched “B-SMART” – the Bruxism, Stress Management, and Anxiety Research and Treatment Clinic. This specialized clinic treats patients suffering from stress-related bruxism, a repetitive muscle activity that can cause severe clinical conditions. The horrific events of Oct. 7 and subsequent war led to prolonged periods of national stress and a substantial increase in bruxism. Acknowledging this, the Israel Science Foundation awarded a grant to Prof. Alona Emodi-Perlman and Prof. Ilana Eli (both of Medicine) to study the condition. Their research has yielded novel insights into how stress impacts oral health. As Israel’s first clinic of its kind, B-SMART integrates expert care with innovative therapies to enhance treatment outcomes.

Shortly after Oct. 7, the Buchmann Faculty of Law launched a major voluntary legal project for addressing critical privacy issues for hostages and victims. Aiming to respect the privacy of individuals, the project, founded and led by Prof. Michael Birnhack (Law), and involving attorneys and researchers from other institutions, developed a legal framework to guide hundreds of documentation projects in handling sensitive issues. In addition, the Faculty’s Privacy Clinic joined the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, advocated on its behalf in the Supreme Court, provided guidelines to the government, and instructed authorities on protecting the privacy of returning hostages. Both students and staff actively participated in these activities, and several academic articles resulted from the project.

The TAU Student Success Center has expanded its support for Israeli students of Ethiopian descent with enhanced scholarships, academic resources, and enrichment workshops, thanks to major funding from the Morris and Rosalind Goodman Family Foundation. Substantial scholarships now cover tuition and living costs, ensuring students can focus on their studies while fostering a sense of belonging and academic success. In response to the war, the Center has deepened its focus on community building through group meetings, cultural events, and professional development administered by a dedicated framework for this group of students – called Admas. With 25% of students drafted into IDF reserve duty, counselors offer academic accommodations and psychological support.

For over two decades, Israeli youth movement Krembo Wings has transformed the lives of children with and without disabilities. Since 2016, it has flourished under the leadership of its CEO, TAU Management MBA alumna Talia Harel Bejerano, growing to nearly 100 branches that bring together children from all backgrounds across Israel. Krembo Wings’ unique model integrates children with disabilities as equal, contributing members of the youth group. Since Oct. 7, the organization has also become a safe space and source of community for displaced children with disabilities. “Our youth are not afraid of differences. We are shaping leaders who champion empathy, resilience, and inclusion,” says Harel Bejarano.

The Student Success Center is committed to fostering an enriching campus environment to help students reach their full personal and academic potential. In response to the ongoing war, the Center introduced several initiatives for military reservists, evacuees, wounded individuals, Oct. 7 survivors, and bereaved families. These include group therapy; peer support for mental distress; targeted academic accommodations to ensure student retention; creative writing meetings to provide an emotional outlet; career workshops for reservists and a multi-sector forum for maintaining their relevance in the job market; and “Vitality Now,” a campaign promoting enjoyment and resilience. TAU also secured Ministry of Defense approval for a pre-academic support program for disabled veterans, ensuring full funding for their studies. In addition, a financial literacy program for students was launched in collaboration with the TAU Alumni Organization.

In the wake of the challenges educators face in maintaining effective learning environments following Oct. 7 and the Gaza War, Dr. Idit Adler (Social Sciences) and her team launched "One Tip per Day" – a game-changing initiative designed to support teachers in times of crisis. This program delivers daily, research-backed educational strategies in both Hebrew and Arabic, equipping educators with the tools they need to help students navigate trauma and uncertainty. Each tip is practical, actionable, and easy to implement, helping teachers to create more stable and nurturing learning spaces. By offering simple yet impactful adjustments to pedagogy, One Tip per Day has become an invaluable resource, lightening the burden for both students and educators alike.

A first-of-its-kind study is exploring the groundbreaking and influential activism of a growing cadre of critical Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) civic leaders in Israel. Prof. Michal Kravel (Social Sciences), in collaboration with Dr. Tanya Zion Waldoks of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, researches an emerging network of activists who are concerned by an escalating crisis they associate with ”Haredi autonomy” – the political configuration that shapes Haredi society as a secluded yet dependent sector. Perceiving this situation as unsustainable and morally indefensible, the activists engage in dialogue and actions that challenge the foundations of their community – with the aim of forging alternative, mutually beneficial relationships between Haredi society, the State and Israeli society at large.

Dugri (“straight to the point”) is an immersive three-day academic workshop designed for Jewish and Arab students across all disciplines and degree levels. Developed in response to the Oct. 7 attacks and the ongoing war, this course fosters honest dialogue, critical thinking, and mutual understanding through in-depth discussions, narrative exchange, and artistic expression. Taught by both Arab and Jewish instructors, Prof. Youssef Masharawi (Medicine) and Prof. Uriel Abulof (Social Sciences), Dugri provides a rare platform for direct, unfiltered conversations about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Students engage in thought-provoking activities, paired assignments and creative projects, which ultimately equip them with tools for empathy, active listening, and meaningful cross-cultural engagement. Profs. Masharawi and Abulof won the 2025 Rector’s Award for Excellence in Teaching for their unique course.

The Mandel Program for Humanistic Leadership in the Community, an initiative of the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Center for Public Humanities, cultivates ambassadors of the Humanities who lead social change. This pioneering certificate program brings together 25 participants, all holding at least one academic degree, from diverse backgrounds – Jews and Arabs, religious and secular individuals, community leaders, and entrepreneurs. Teachers, artists and public figures also participate in the program. Through training in social and cultural entrepreneurship, participants develop humanistic sensitivities in designing community initiatives. By the program’s end, they organize impactful events and joint commemorations in mixed communities – promoting dialogue, social responsibility, and inclusive leadership. The program strengthens the tangible and transformative impact of the Humanities on society.

Many initiatives aim to do good, but only a few achieve significant impact. Now, TAU’s Dean of Innovation in Teaching and Learning is launching a new online course called “Making a Difference,” designed to empower students to bring about meaningful global change. Available on edX and advised by Prof. Yechiel Barilan (Medicine), the course provides analytical tools for evaluating and prioritizing impactful opportunities, as well as evidence-based strategies to tackle urgent global challenges. The course also highlights promising fields where students can make a difference – such as global health, animal welfare, climate change and AI risks.

TAU’s Global Leadership Community, a joint venture of the University and the TAU Alumni Organization, focuses on cultivating a new generation of influential and active supporters, ages 30 to 55, to help secure TAU’s future success. Through a number of Working Groups and Impact Projects, alumni, young entrepreneurs, and second and third-generation TAU donors are bridging between TAU expertise and the Israeli public, particularly youth. Piloted projects include a mentorship program for 10th-graders from Israel’s social and geographic peripheries in the fields of programming and cybersecurity; and an academic leadership program in the social sciences for outstanding high school students that received support from the Bezeq Group. Two other working groups are devoted to entrepreneurship and Israel advocacy.