Sheba Medical Center Hosts Healthcare Conference in Tel Aviv

ARC Summit 2024 took place on September 12 at the David Intercontinental Hotel in Tel Aviv, hosted by the ARC (Accelerate, Redesign, Collaborate) Innovation Center at Sheba Medical Center. Held amidst the ongoing conflict, this year’s summit focused on how Israel’s resilient health tech ecosystem continues to innovate. The summit also featured discussions on AI-based healthcare solutions, showcasing how these technologies are transforming patient care and operational efficiency.

A major announcement at the summit was the launch of embARC Ventures, a new accelerator for medtech startups. Backed by ARC and Ilex Medical, the program provides $250,000 in guaranteed funding to each selected company, as well as mentoring and access to Sheba’s international network.

“We’re introducing a new and unique model to help bold entrepreneurs get to market faster and more efficiently,” said Dan Shwarzman, CEO of embARC. The accelerator will host three-month cycles for five to 10 startups, and participants will attend a U.S. roadshow to connect with global partners.

Sheba Medical Center also announced a partnership with Paradigm Health Inc. to create a global clinical trials network designed to improve access to advanced care and optimize research delivery.

“The partnership with Paradigm allows us to leverage cutting-edge technologies to create a unified global network that standardizes and optimizes clinical trials,” Prof. Eyal Zimlichman, Chief Innovation Officer at Sheba, told The Media Line.

Prof. Eyal Zimlichman, CEO of ARC and Chief Innovation and Transformation Officer at Sheba, speaking at ARC Summit 2024. (Source: Courtesy of Sheba Medical Center)

Despite the ongoing war, the ARC Summit is an example of the strength and resilience of Israel’s healthcare system. It continues to thrive with cutting-edge research, new clinical trials and groundbreaking technologies, demonstrating the country’s commitment to medical innovation.

Avner Halperin, CEO of Sheba Impact, an entrepreneurship and innovation firm owned by Sheba Medical Center, told The Media Line that the Israeli healthcare sector remains resilient and continues to drive innovation.

“The healthcare industry in general, and certainly in Israel, is very resilient. As mentioned in some of the conversations, a crisis is an opportunity, as Churchill said, ‘Never let a crisis go to waste.’ We see that crises like COVID and the current war actually accelerate innovation. We’ve had dozens of new inventions and we’re building startups around them. So while there’s the pain of the crisis, there’s also the excitement and hope because the innovations born during this time are literally saving lives,” he said.

Halperin emphasized the importance of continuing events like the ARC Summit, even in difficult times: “Some have questioned whether we should hold this conference, but the answer is clear. It is crucial to bring people together and connect Israeli innovation with global efforts.”

Mati Gill, CEO of AION Labs, addressed the challenges of maintaining continuity in the healthcare and biotech industry during a time of war. “We are a resilient country and a resilient people,” he told The Media Line. “On October 8, we gathered our team and set three priorities: personal and family safety, continuing to build and support the startups we already have, and ensuring a growth pipeline for the next year. Anything outside of those priorities, we stopped.”

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Gill noted that Israel has adapted quickly during the conflict. “Unlike Ukraine, where clinical trials stopped during the war, Israel has continued. Regulatory agencies here have provided flexible guidance, and technology has allowed us to maintain operations without a physical presence.”

He highlighted the shift from traditional biotechnology to “tech-bio,” where AI and machine learning are transforming drug discovery. “The future of biopharma lies in AI and computational models. These technologies are transforming the way we discover, develop and commercialize medicines,” he said.

While Israel has struggled with the challenges of large-scale drug production, Gill emphasized its strength in tech-bio. “We see startups using AI to streamline clinical trials and drug discovery. Israeli entrepreneurship is great at solving complex problems, like reducing the 90% dropout rate from clinical trials.”

Prof. Zimlichman spoke about the need to transform the healthcare system: “Healthcare faces many challenges, and wars only increase those challenges. This is completely unsustainable. If we don’t see change, healthcare in the future may actually provide less value to patients.”

He explained that the ARC Innovation Center, led by Sheba Medical Center, is focused on driving this transformation, particularly through the use of new technologies and change management strategies. One key area of focus, according to Zimlichman, is artificial intelligence.

“We’re using AI to improve decision-making, like recognizing stroke much faster in the emergency room. AI is helping us transform diagnosis and expand access to sophisticated testing in the patient’s home,” he said.

Halperin turned his attention to AI and personalized healthcare, pointing to innovations like Liv, an AI tool that addresses the mental health crisis. “There is a shortage of mental health clinicians in the world, and in Israel, the shortage is ten times greater due to war and trauma. AI like Liv can help solve this global problem, not just a local one.”

Telemedicine and remote care, already key during the conflict, have also made progress. “The war in Israel has helped accelerate advances in remote care as people want to stay home for a variety of reasons. We’ve made great progress in turning the home into a smart environment for chronic disease management and aging in place,” Zimlichman added.

In addition to AI, Halperin highlighted advances in personalized healthcare and genetically based treatments. “We see personalized healthcare as the next big thing, and genetically based care and treatments are leading the way.”

On the economic issues, Zimlichman said: “The natural response to financial challenges is to cut spending rather than invest in new technology, but without these changes, the healthcare system will face even greater financial challenges. There is a growing gap between resources and what is needed, fueled by an aging population and the rising cost of technology.” He said AI offers a solution: “Artificial intelligence is ultimately not very expensive. It is computer algorithms that can help us break the cycle of rising costs.”

What will the future bring?

Looking ahead, Gill believes Israel will be a leader in biotech innovation. “The future of healthcare will include more technological opportunities, and Israel is one of the few places with the expertise to be a leading player in this space.”

Despite the challenges of war and economic pressures, Zimlichman remains optimistic about innovation in health care. “We need to break away from traditional ways of thinking and embrace these new technologies to provide better, more affordable care for the next generation.”

Halperin’s vision includes two key goals: “First, we want to change global healthcare and how it’s delivered. We know we have to do that. Second, we want to be an engine of economic growth for Israel and the region. We’ve already created billions worth of startups and thousands of jobs. Now we want to help rebuild after the war, both in the Sheba region and in the Negev, and be a real engine of growth there,” he shared.