Technion Trailblazers: Ushering in a Year of Hope with Mark Gaines

While 2024 has challenged the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Israel, and the global Jewish community, I have started to notice a more prominent feeling of hope and excitement for the future. In discussing what this new year holds for Israeli innovation with Technion President Uri Sivan and brilliant professors, it is clear that supporting scientific exploration has never been more urgent to usher in a year of rebuilding and economic progress for Israel. 

I spoke with American Technion Society president Mark Gaines about the research that we’re excited to follow this year and how the Technion will be crucial for Israel’s resilience now, and for decades to come. 

Michael: It is impossible to look to the year ahead without acknowledging the incredible bravery and sacrifice of Israel’s reservists who have served over the past year – especially those who were called to the front lines while pursuing their studies. 

Mark: Indeed. What these students have gone through while balancing their academic work is a reality that many of us cannot even imagine. The Technion has tirelessly ensured that all students have what they need to be successful in and out of the classroom, but we cannot ignore the challenges that are inevitable during a time of war. While we know that Israel – and the Technion – will likely have to grapple with this new reality for some time, they are clearly well poised to face it with confidence. 

Michael: One consistent theme in 2024 that I know will continue to grow in 2025 is the tireless motivation to continue research and innovation in the lab at the Technion. President Sivan has expressed a priority for interdisciplinary work as the next frontier for the study of science and technology, and I’m eager to see how this approach will continue to unfold. 

Mark: The Technion has always been a unique player in the Israeli innovation landscape because of its understanding that the world’s toughest challenges require collaboration across all sectors of research. As it continues to double down on this perspective in the new year, I look forward to hearing more from Professor Shai Shen-Orr. He has such an optimistic outlook on the power of interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly to improve the experience of aging. Faculty from across the Technion are working together at his Center for Healthy Aging, also called iTechAge, to understand aging from the molecular level all the way up to mobility aid devices and understanding the importance of social activity as we get older. 

Michael: iTechAge is also a great example of how vital investing in fundamental science is for the long-term resilience of Israel and for advancing scientific progress everywhere. How could we invent treatments for dementia or transform the elder care system without understanding the mechanisms behind why we age in the first place? 

Mark: Healthy aging is just one area where we need more focus on fundamental science. Every sector of Technion research builds on the continued exploration of fundamental research. While nothing excites me more than watching a new Technion-developed cancer treatment hit the market, fundamental research years prior is what enables such fascinating discoveries to come to life. The ability of the Technion to connect complex, technical findings in the lab to a product or solution that impacts people worldwide is one of its most important strengths as a global powerhouse of innovation. There are few places where scientists can form a hypothesis, pursue it in a lab, create a solution, and then commercialize it all under the same roof. 

Michael: It’s also inspiring to know that our support of fundamental research yields scientific solutions that will long outlast our own lifetimes. Findings in the lab are what will fuel the innovations that sustain Israel, and the world around us, for generations to come.  

Mark: Investing in this kind of scientific exploration is certainly one way to establish an impactful legacy. Especially as Israel starts to rebuild and imagine its future after this war, focusing on its impact in the science and technology sectors will be imperative. The technology industry accounts for 20% of Israel’s entire GDP, and every Technion graduate creates several more jobs in the Israeli market. I have read that at least 50% of Israeli tech companies were either established or led by Technion graduates. We cannot lose sight of how essential advancing fundamental research and the Technion’s focus on educating its graduates to use a multidisciplinary approach to solve real life problems are for Israel’s most brilliant minds to accelerate innovation moving forward. 

Michael: I could not have said it better myself. However, watching several years of in-depth research and exploration culminate in the form of a consumer-facing product still remains one of the great joys of supporting the Technion’s mission. Professor Moran Bercovici of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, for example, is in the process of developing a system that instantly creates custom prescription lenses anywhere in the world, using similar technology from his work with NASA to impact lives here on earth – yet another great manifestation of interdisciplinary research. I’m eagerly awaiting the day that his project is ready to serve under resourced regions around the world. Are there any projects you’re particularly excited about this year? 

Mark: The creativity of Technion faculty never ceases to amaze me. One project from Professor Assaf Zinger in the Faculty of Chemical Engineering surrounding the use of breast milk as a delivery mechanism for vaccines and other vital medications for newborns, older children, and adults has also captured my attention. It’s no secret that we will only continue to battle more resilient viruses and diseases in the future, and this new process could transform how we protect humanity. I can’t wait to see how this project evolves. 

Michael: There is no shortage of amazing work in progress at the Technion, where faculty and students uncover a new discovery every day. Their remarkable work over the past year, as well as their motivation to accelerate innovation in 2025 despite the challenging and tragic conditions, is a testament to the resilience of the Technion community and the support of the Jewish community worldwide. We cannot wait to see what this new year will bring. Happy New Year!