Eulogy: Prof. Isaac Witz

The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research honors the memory of Prof. Isaac Witz, a towering figure in the George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences at Tel Aviv University-one whose influence has been woven into the Faculty from its earliest days and continues to shape it to this day.

Over the course of his distinguished career, Prof. Witz served the University with exceptional dedication and vision. He was Dean of the Faculty, founded the then-called Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and later served as Vice President for Research and Development at Tel Aviv University. In each of these roles, he combined academic excellence with institutional leadership, leaving a lasting imprint on the University’s scientific and educational mission.

Prof. Witz was also a scientific pioneer. He helped lay the conceptual foundations of what is now recognized as the tumor microenvironment, a perspective that profoundly changed how the scientific community understands tumor development, metastasis, and approaches to cancer therapy. He established the Cancer Biology Research Center at Tel Aviv University, received numerous prestigious awards, and published more than 230 papers in leading journals.

Equally enduring is Prof. Witz’s legacy as a mentor and colleague. He trained and inspired generations of students and scientists with his curiosity, creativity, and imagination; with broad knowledge that crossed disciplines; and with a rare combination of intellectual rigor and warmth. His wit and sense of humor, alongside his unwavering passion for science, earned him deep respect and genuine affection from all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Prof. Witz will be profoundly missed by the scientific community, his many friends, and all whose lives he touched. We extend our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.