Riva Koschitzky Oncology Clinical Research Unit Dedicated

The Riva Koschitzky Oncology Clinical Research Unit was dedicated at Sheba in November, on the second anniversary of the passing of Riva. The center, which seeks to translate cutting-edge scientific research and early phase drug trials into pioneering clinical practice, was endowed by Riva's husband Joel and his sons Yedidia, Yekutiel and Amitai of Ramat Gan, Israel. The center is Israel's first and only Phase I and II clinical and translational research center for new cancer drugs and therapies. Operation of the center is backed by Merck Research Laboratories, which, after a grueling global competition, recently selected Sheba as one its 18 worldwide "Major Clinical Partners" for Phase I and II clinical trials. The unit is directed by Dr. Raanan Berger. Prior to her passing, Riva and her husband Joel endowed the Riva and Joel Koschitzky Solid Tumor Treatment Unit and a fund for breast cancer research, which were dedicated at Sheba in 2007.

Photo caption: At the dedication, from left: Amitai, Yekutiel, Yedidia and Joel Koschitzky, with Prof. Rotstein