$110 million gift from Holocaust survivors Miriam and Aaron Gutwirth helps launch new medical school with advanced research in genomics, immunotherapy, regenerative medicine, computational biology, and AI-driven drug development

The Weizmann Institute of Science has announced the opening of Israel’s newest medical school, the Miriam and Aaron Gutwirth Medical School, set to welcome its first class in October 2025.

The school aims to train a new generation of physician-scientists who will lead breakthroughs in medicine and research.

Named after Holocaust survivors and philanthropists Miriam and Aaron Gutwirth, the school honors their legacy of social responsibility and deep commitment to Zionist ideals.

The Gutwirths, who rebuilt their lives in Belgium, believed in using business as a force for community empowerment and change.

Their values now live on through the Miriam and Aaron Gutwirth Foundation, which has provided a major gift to fund the school—the Foundation’s most ambitious project to date.

Unlike traditional medical schools, the Gutwirth Medical School will offer an integrated MD-PhD program, combining medical training with advanced research in fields such as genomics, immunotherapy, regenerative medicine, computational biology, and AI-driven drug development.

Students will benefit from a rigorous interdisciplinary curriculum that includes life sciences, physics, chemistry, mathematics, and computer science.

They will also gain hands-on experience through collaborations with top Israeli hospitals and access to the cutting-edge research platforms of the Weizmann Institute.

“Our mission is to train doctors who are not only exceptional clinicians but also innovators in biomedical science,” said program heads Prof. Ayelet Erez and Prof. Liran Shlush.

Prof. Alon Chen, President of the Weizmann Institute, emphasized the broader vision: “This school represents a national investment in science, health, and the future of Israel.”

Since 2005, the Gutwirth Foundation—under the leadership of Prof. Itzhak Swary—has supported more than 15,000 academic scholarships and funded major initiatives across Israel.

The new medical school is seen as a capstone to that legacy.

A Foundation spokesperson said, “Miriam and Aaron Gutwirth believed in the power of science to heal, connect, and transform. This school is a living tribute to that belief.”

Registration is now open for the 2025 inaugural class.

Inset photo: Aaron Gutwirth