In Memoriam: Prof. Isaac (Itzik) Witz (1934-2026)

The Cancer Biology Research Center (CBRC) at Tel Aviv University and its 18 affiliated hospitals mourn the passing of Prof. Isaac (Itzik) Witz, former Dean of the Faculty of Life Sciences, Vice President for Research and Development, and a global pioneer in cancer research.

Prof. Witz was the founder of the Tel Aviv University Cancer Biology Research Center, established 45 years ago, and his vision continues to shape the Center’s scientific identity to this day. He was a rare kind of scientist - one who sees what others do not yet see, and who has the courage and rigor to prove it.

At a time when much of the scientific world focused almost exclusively on the cancer cell itself, Prof. Witz was among the first to demonstrate that cancer cannot be understood in isolation from its surrounding environment. He helped coin and advance foundational concepts in the study of the tumor microenvironment (TME), and his work fundamentally shifted how the field understands tumor progression, metastasis, and therapeutic strategies.

His groundbreaking research revealed the importance of bidirectional signaling between tumor cells and their microenvironment, establishing key principles that continue to guide cancer biology worldwide. In recognition of his extraordinary scientific contributions, he was awarded the Szent-Györgyi Prize for Progress in Cancer Research (2023) and received an Honorary Professorship from the Medical University of Vienna (2024).

Prof. Witz’s impact on Tel Aviv University was monumental. He was a co-founder of the Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, served as Dean of the Faculty of Life Sciences, and held the role of the University’s Vice President for Research and Development - leadership positions he filled with intellectual excellence, integrity, and dedication to building institutions that last.

Beyond his scientific legacy, Prof. Witz was an exceptional mentor. With over 220 publications and 11 books, he influenced the global scientific community and served as a visiting professor at leading institutions in the United States, Austria, and Sweden (including the Karolinska Institute). Here at home, he mentored generations of researchers, including Prof. Adit Ben-Baruch and Prof. Yona Keisari. Even as Professor Emeritus, he continued to lead an active research group well into his later years, inspiring young scientists with his sharp mind and unwavering passion for discovery.

At the CBRC, we feel fortunate to have celebrated his 90th birthday in November 2024 with a symposium in his honor. On behalf of the CBRC community, I extend our deepest condolences to the Witz family and to his many students, colleagues, and friends in Israel and around the world.

May his memory be a blessing. His legacy will continue to live through the science, the people, and the institutions he built.

Prof. Ronit Satchi-Fainaro, Director, Cancer Biology Research Center (CBRC), Tel Aviv
University and its 18 affiliated hospitals

CBRC Committee members: Prof. Itai Benhar, Prof. Uri Ben-David, Prof. Dinorah Friedmann-
Morvinski, Prof. Shai Izraeli, Dr. Raya Leibowitz, Dr. Lior Mayo, Prof. Vered Padler-Karavani,
Prof. Pia Raanani and Prof. Amir Sonneblick.