Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, Hebrew University

Created in 2009, the Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences (ELSC) has established its reputation as a world-leading brain science center, integrating Hebrew University’s deep experience in theoretical neuroscience with cognitive, biological, and computational neuroscience. With the Foundation’s support, ELSC has hired 14 new faculty members; expanded its highly competitive PhD program; and forged collaborations with leading neuroscience centers at University College London, Columbia University (New York) and the Max Planck Institute (Germany), among others.

In 2019, ELSC moved into its new home, a magnificent building designed by British architect Norman Foster. The 15,700 square meter facility comprises two parallel wings that frame a central courtyard covered by a retractable roof. Twenty-eight labs, a 200-seat auditorium, classrooms, cutting-edge equipment, an art gallery, and numerous social hubs promote ELSC’s interdisciplinary ethos.