Grand Family Donates $25 Million to Technion for Healthy Aging Research

The family of the late Scott Grand and Nancy Grand, significant donors to Israeli academia, has pledged $25 million to establish a new research center at the Technion focused on healthy aging. Nancy Grand stated, "We can live to 95, but if the brain starts to deteriorate in our 70s, what's the point? The center will focus on maximizing the remaining years and will be at the forefront of research to benefit humanity."

The Nancy and Steven Grand Center for Healthy Aging, founded in 2024 by Professor Shi Shen-Or of the Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, will unite researchers from medicine, engineering, data science, and other fields. It aims to advance multidisciplinary research in seven key areas: cellular and systemic aging mechanisms, cognitive and motor function, personalized medicine and aging biomarkers, tailored nutritional and drug interventions, assistive technologies for independent living, and community and environment. Each area will be led by senior Technion faculty in collaboration with physician-researchers, bridging laboratory work, hospitals, and the community.

Professor Shen-Or explained that aging is influenced by diverse factors, from DNA to neighborhood characteristics and daily diet, all shaping later life experiences. He expressed gratitude to the Grand family for their support, which enables research to make these years as pleasant and fulfilling as possible.

The donation will fund, among other initiatives, a Lifespan Cohort study involving 1,000 adults undergoing periodic examinations over years. These tests will assess stress levels, mobility, cognitive function, and social and dietary habits to understand their role in the aging process. The center will also launch a new graduate program dedicated to aging research, aiming to train the next generation of scientists.

Steven Grand, a deceased American Jewish real estate mogul, and his wife Nancy, a former math teacher, were long-time benefactors of Israeli institutions, including the Weizmann Institute and the Technion. Nancy Grand continues their philanthropic work from California. The family's past contributions to the Technion include institutes for water and energy research and buildings for the aerospace engineering faculty. Technion President Professor Uri Sivan highlighted the donation's significance for both healthy aging research and Israel's role in global innovation.