Dr. Zelig Eshhar, A Founding Father of CAR-T cell Immunotherapy passed away on 7/4/2025
Reporter: Aviva Lev-Ari, PhD, RN
Professor Zelig Eshhar
The Marshall and Renette Ezralow Professor of Chemical and Cellular Immunology
We, the Weizmann Institute of Science community, deeply mourn the passing of Prof. Zelig Eshhar of the Department of Immunology and Regenerative Biology. Prof. Eshhar was a trailblazing scientist in the field of cancer immunotherapy, a recipient of the Israel Prize in Life Science, and an acclaimed researcher who dedicated his life to life-saving research. May he rest in peace.
SOURCE
https://x.com/WeizmannScience/status/1941025021343797452
A Tribute to Dr. Zelig Eshhar: A Founding Father of CAR T and a Pioneer of Medical Independence
This Fourth of July weekend, a time when freedom and new beginnings are celebrated, we mourn the loss of one of science’s great liberators, Dr. Zelig Eshhar. His passing is deeply personal to me and profoundly impactful for the field of cancer immunotherapy.
Zelig was more than a scientist. He was a visionary who redefined what was possible in cancer treatment. As the “father” of CAR T therapy, he broke the bounds of conventional oncology and empowered the immune system to do what it was always meant to do: fight cancer. His pioneering work on chimeric antigen receptors, which began at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel and continued at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) at the The National Institutes of Health under another cancer legend, Dr. Steve Rosenberg, M.D., Ph.D., sparked a revolution that now brings hope to thousands of patients worldwide.
In December 2013, Kite Pharma licensed the groundbreaking CAR constructs Zelig had pioneered, forming the scientific backbone of our mission. His trust in our team was instrumental in building Kite, and he served on our Scientific Advisory Board with the humility and wisdom of a true giant. I will never forget when Zelig signed his agreement with Kite and inscribed a 50-shekel note in front of Ran Nussbaum, a fellow board member, and I, to mark “a new beginning” for CAR T therapy. Though small in size, that note carries monumental symbolic value – a belief in a better future.
One of my most cherished photographs is from 2013, standing with Dr. Zelig Eshhar and Dr. Rosenberg, two visionaries who helped launch a new chapter in medicine. That image captures more than a historic moment; it marks the start of a true paradigm shift. I knew I was among giants, but I didn’t yet grasp how life-changing that moment would be. It was Zelig who first showed us how to combine the precision of antibodies with the power of T cells, creating a therapeutic approach that would redefine what’s possible, not just in oncology, but across the spectrum of disease.
The Fourth of July celebrates independence. How fitting that we remember Zelig on this day, a man who gave medicine its own independence from the limitations of traditional cancer therapies. His legacy is not just in the patents he held or the publications he authored, but in every patient who now lives longer, stronger, and freer because of CAR T cell therapy.
To me, Zelig Eshhar will always be remembered not only as a pioneering scientist but also as a quiet hero, a generous mentor, and a dear friend. We honor him not just with words, but with action, by continuing to build, to innovate, and to carry forward the mission he began.
Zelig, your vision endures in every cell, every cure, and every life saved.
Arie Belldegrun, M.D.
SOURCE – Text & pictures
Prof. Selig Ashchar – one of the fathers of immunotherapy research in Israel – has passed away
Israel Prize laureate Prof. Zelig Ashchar, who was head of immunology research at Ichilov, has died at the age of 84. “My real prize is saving lives,” Ashchar said before receiving the Israel Prize 10 years ago. Ichilov Hospital paid tribute: “Beyond his unprecedented scientific achievements, Prof. Ashchar was a guide, mentor and an extraordinary human being – dedicated to his students, his colleagues and to science.”
Yaron Druckman , Oren Reis, Or Hadar |04.07.25 | 02:08
Israel Prize laureate, Prof. Selig Ashchar of the Weizmann Institute of Science, who was head of immunological research at Ichilov Hospital and a pioneer in immunotherapy research for cancer treatment, passed away at the age of 84. He is survived by three children and grandchildren
Ichilov Hospital paid tribute to him: “It is with deep sadness that we at Ichilov Hospital say goodbye to the late Prof. Selig Ashchar – a groundbreaking scientist, Israel Prize laureate, and the one who served as the head of immunological research at Ichilov. Prof. Ashchar was one of the fathers of CAR-T therapy, a real revolution in the field of cancer research, which gave new hope and life to countless patients around the world. Thanks to him, Israel became a world leader in the field of immunotherapy, and patients who had no hope – were given a new chance.”
Prof. Zelig Ashchar upon receiving the Israel Prize in 2015
( Photo: Gil Yohanan )
Ichilov also said that “Beyond his unprecedented scientific achievements, Prof. Ashhar was a guide, mentor, and an extraordinary human being – dedicated to his students, his colleagues, and to science. His spirit and legacy will continue to inspire generations of researchers and therapists. We send our deepest condolences to his family, his loved ones, and all his partners in scientific and clinical endeavors. May his memory be blessed – and a light for the path of those who seek to change the world through science and medicine.”
Dr. Anat Gloverson Levin, principal investigator of the Laboratory for Immunology and Advanced Cellular Therapy using CAR-T at Ichilov, began her doctorate at the Weizmann Institute in 2006 under the supervision of Prof. Ashchar. In a post on the social network LinkedIn, she wrote: “I share with you my deep sorrow at the death of my legendary mentor, Prof. Selig Ashchar. Selig was not only a groundbreaking scientist whose invention saved many lives, but also an extraordinary, caring, generous, and endlessly inspiring human being.”
“I had the privilege of learning from him, witnessing his passion for discovery, and being guided by his wisdom and creativity. His ideas were always ahead of their time, and his dedication to science and his students was unparalleled. I have so many wonderful memories of our time together,” she added.
Prof. Zelig Ashhar was Professor Emeritus in the Department of Immunology at the Weizmann Institute of Science, and a recipient of the 2015 Israel Prize in Life Sciences. Ashhar was an expert in the genetic engineering of T cells, and was among those who laid the foundations for the clinical application of CAR-T technology that works against cancer cells. In 2021, he also won the Dan David Prize for his groundbreaking research that led to the development of dozens of medical treatments based on the revolution he led in editing T cells to attack cancerous tumors, and for laying the foundations, together with Dr. Steven Rosenberg, for the clinical application of this technology to fight cancer.
SOURCE – Text & picture
We, @PharmaceuticalIntelligence.com published several articles involving Dr. Zelig Eshhar research:
- Economic Potential of a Drug Invention (Prof. Zelig Eshhar, Weitzman Institute, registered the patent) versus a Cancer Drug in Clinical Trials: CAR-T as a Case in Point, developed by Kite Pharma, under Arie Belldegrun, CEO, acquired by Gilead for $11.9 billion, 8/2017.
Curator: Aviva Lev-Ari, PhD, RN
- Biomolecular Condensates: A new approach to biology originated @MIT – Drug Discovery at DewPoint Therapeutics, Cambridge, MA gets new leaders, Ameet Nathwani, MD (ex-Sanofi, ex-Novartis) as Chief Executive Officer and Arie Belldegrun, PhD (ex-Kite Therapeutics) on R&D
Curator & Reporter: Aviva Lev-Ari, PhD, RN
- Pioneers of Cancer Cell Therapy: Turbocharging the Immune System to Battle Cancer Cells — Success in Hematological Cancers vs. Solid Tumors
Curator: Aviva Lev-Ari, PhD, RN
- Steroids, Inflammation, and CAR-T Therapy
Reporter: Stephen J. Williams, Ph.D.
Updated: 08/31/2020 (CRISPR edited CAR-T clinical trials)
https://pharmaceuticalintelligence.com/2015/09/14/steroids-inflammation-and-car-t-therapy/
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