Weizmann Institute appeals for public support after devastating Iranian missile strike

Three research buildings were severely damaged in the attack, and many others sustained partial destruction. Among the worst-hit areas were laboratories dedicated to life sciences, including cancer research, and an environmental sciences center.

Now, the Institute is asking the public for help. “This is about more than recovery,” reads its newly launched appeal. “We’re restoring an ecosystem of bold research, fearless exploration, and global impact.” The campaign seeks donations to repair laboratories, replace damaged scientific equipment, and safeguard vital materials. “Every contribution helps bring our scientific ecosystem back to life,” the Institute says.

The damage extends far beyond bricks and mortar. Sensitive biological materials, rare experimental samples, and years’ worth of student and faculty research were lost, some of it foundational to ongoing work. “The damage to some laboratories is catastrophic,” said Professor Sarel Fleishman of the Faculty of Biochemistry. “Entire research wings have been destroyed. Some labs have lost all their materials, materials whose value lies in years of expertise and effort. This isn’t just infrastructure loss; it’s decades of student research and life-saving work that may be gone forever.”

Fleishman’s own lab suffered relatively minor damage, allowing him to host displaced colleagues. “Now we are scrambling to extract what we can and relocate as fast as possible,” he said.

Officials at Weizmann estimate that a basic, unfurnished laboratory building costs about $50 million to construct. Outfitted with standard scientific equipment, the cost can rise to $100 million. One senior figure noted that laboratory buildings are among the most expensive forms of infrastructure, on par with hospitals, costing roughly 25,000 shekels per square meter. That estimate does not include highly specialized devices, some of which individually cost millions of dollars.

The Institute’s appeal emphasizes that its rebuilding effort is not just about repairing facilities, but about restoring the unique scientific environment that powers discovery. “This is more than infrastructure,” it states. “This is the environment that helps Weizmann scientists change the world.”