Tel Aviv University has announced the establishment of the Center for Combating Pandemics, a first of its kind multidisciplinary epidemic research center, at an investment of tens of millions of shekels. Mr. Frank Lowy, an Australian businessman and philanthropist made a significant initial gift to the center. Meanwhile, many other philanthropic foundations have expressed interest in joining the initiative. The Center will bring together top experts from TAU’s diverse fields of knowledge: medicine, biology, mathematics, physics, economics, engineering, education, psychology and more. These researchers will work with counterparts at leading hospitals and academic institutions in Israel and around the world to advance research in the field with the ultimate aim of assisting the State of Israel in coping with future epidemics. Alongside its research activity, the Center will submit policy recommendations and papers to international policy makers, take part in international conferences, help draft informative material for public consumption and will provide scholarship and research grants to outstanding students and scholars. TAU President Prof. Ariel Porat: “For the first time, the innovative research center will allow researchers to join forces, pool their resources and examine the implications of the pandemic from different perspectives. The collaborative efforts will enable researchers to produce a bird’s eye view that will offer insight into the best ways to deal with future crises of this kind.”