The Innovation Center exemplifies the strength of Shaare Zedek in all aspects related to accessing medical information, digitization, data collection, and analysis. Its collaborative framework extends broadly and involves startups and major companies, both Israeli and global. For instance, in a joint project with Google, the Innovation Center at Shaare Zedek is advancing the development of an AI-based algorithm to support physician decision-making in the fields of gastroenterology and surgery. Deeper collaborations are also underway with other large companies such as Cytotron, Medtronic, and more.
In 2022, Medait received a prestigious grant of 14 million NIS from the Innovation Authority for establishing infrastructure to enhance collaboration with the industry. The grant was received in partnership with Azrieli College and Saint Joseph Hospital and includes the establishment of a data mapping system, a rapid data retrieval query system, the installation of data accessibility for clinical trials, the creation of a contract management system, and more.
Data Science Unit
Anyone involved in medical data knows that data preparation takes more time and consideration than the actual analyses themselves. The Innovation Center provides a response even for "smart data" from complex and intertwined databases. This is achieved through the Data Science Unit and analysts who can manipulate data according to specific needs. Data is accessible through virtual research rooms, and in cases of necessity and justification, it can be fully shared, in accordance with the Ministry of Health regulations and under the oversight of the Institutional Review Board and the Data Committee of Shaare Zedek.
Sample Repository (BioBank)
The Innovation Center also houses sample repositories (BioBanks) that promote cutting-edge research for the purpose of creating future treatments. These repositories exist for genetics, inflammatory bowel diseases, neurology, surgery, plastic surgery, and more. Recently, Medait established a BioBank for routine blood test serum samples taken from hospitalized patients with a wide range of diseases.
Shaare Zedek's Coronavirus Sample Repository was the first established in the country as soon as the pandemic broke out. It contains thousands of COVID-19 samples from treated patients within the hospital and serves as a unique research infrastructure for safeguarding studies in this field. The sample repositories are managed by the Research and Development Authority and Medait.