Prof. Dana Wolf of Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical Center, has been awarded the prestigious 2025 Kadar–Sheba Prize for Excellence in Research, recognizing her outstanding contributions to clinical virology, particularly in the field of congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection.

The award was presented on October 29, 2026, during Sheba Medical Center's annual Research Day, celebrating groundbreaking achievements that bridge scientific discovery and clinical medicine.

Prof. Wolf is internationally recognized for her pioneering research into viral infections and immune responses at the maternal–fetal interface. Her work has advanced the understanding of congenital CMV infection, a major cause of hearing loss and neurological disabilities in newborns. By developing innovative experimental models that closely mimic human infection, and integrating them with clinical research, she has identified important mechanisms of viral transmission, immune protection, and disease severity, opening new avenues for improved diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.

Her contributions extend beyond CMV research. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Prof. Wolf developed a pooled SARS-CoV-2 testing strategy that was adopted throughout Israel. She subsequently applied similar approaches to universal newborn screening for congenital CMV, demonstrating the potential of innovative research to transform public health practice.

“Prof. Wolf’s work brings together the questions a physician encounters in the clinic and the tools a scientist develops to answer them,” said Prof. Eli Pikarsky, Dean of the Hebrew University’s Faculty of Medicine. “She has advanced our understanding of congenital CMV while pursuing practical ways to identify infection in newborns. This ability to move between fundamental research and clinical practice is what makes her contribution so valuable. We are very proud of her.”

The Kadar–Sheba Prize honors exceptional physician-scientists whose research combines scientific excellence with meaningful clinical impact. The selection committee, comprising distinguished Israeli scientists and medical leaders, recognized Prof. Wolf's exceptional achievements and sustained commitment to advancing translational medicine.

This prestigious recognition highlights Prof. Wolf's scientific leadership and the vital contribution of Hadassah Medical Center and the Hebrew University to internationally impactful biomedical research.