A first-of-its-kind international workshop in translational regenerative medicine took place this month at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles. It brought together top researchers, physician-scientists, and innovation leaders from Israel and the United States to build scientific ties and speed up translational research.

The event was organized jointly by the Sagol Center for Regenerative Medicine and the Gray Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at Tel Aviv University, the ARC Innovation Center at Sheba Medical Center, and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

The scientific program was directed by Prof. Benjamin Dekel, head of the Sagol Center for Regenerative Medicine and holder of the Pearl and Dr. Yechezkiel Klayman Chair of Nephro-Urology at Tel Aviv University, as well as chief of Pediatric Nephrology at Sheba Medical Center, alongside Prof. Clive Svendsen, executive director of the Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute at Cedars-Sinai.

Over two days the participants reviewed recent progress in regenerative medicine in fields such as cardiology, nephrology, gastroenterology, neuroscience, orthopedics, and oral and maxillofacial medicine. Additional sessions covered translational medicine, biomanufacturing, artificial intelligence applications in medicine and education, and clinical innovation.

In addition to the presentations, attendees discussed plans for joint research projects, shared grant proposals, exchange programs for researchers and students, and future efforts in translation and commercialization.

The Tel Aviv University group featured Prof. Karen Avraham, dean of the Gray Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences; Prof. Noam Shomron, Dr. Naomi Pode-Shakked, and Dr. Tomer Itkin of the Gray Faculty; Prof. Lihi Adler-Abramovich of the Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine; Prof. Tal Dvir of the Sagol Center for Regenerative Biotechnology; Dr. Sharon Fleischer of the Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research; and Dr. Dekel Rosenfeld of the Fleischman Faculty of Engineering.

Prof. Benjamin Dekel noted that beyond the strong scientific exchanges the workshop created a notable atmosphere of openness, cooperation, and trust. These talks have already sparked new partnerships between Israeli and American research teams. He described the event as the start of a sustained strategic collaboration and confirmed that planning is underway for the next meeting, scheduled for Israel in 2027.

The organizers thanked Prof. Helen Goodridge of Cedars-Sinai, Oshrat Hodara-Goldberg of the ARC Innovation Center at Sheba Medical Center, and Dr. Keren Shternhall-Ron of the Sagol Center for Regenerative Medicine at Tel Aviv University for their roles in planning and running the workshop, along with all members of both delegations.