We are happy to report that in 2025, despite the difficult situation in Israel, there were established 3 (three) grant support programs for aging and longevity research in Israel and in cooperation with Israel, with open calls for research proposals on aging and longevity published: by the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology; the Ministry of Health; and the British Council in Israel.
We are proud that these grant support programs and calls for research proposals were established in a large measure thanks to the promotional and educational efforts, also by Vetek (Seniority) Association – the Movement for Longevity and Quality of Life, that encouraged and helped formulate these support programs and calls for proposals.
Altogether the support should be about 5 million USD (or about 15 million NIS) subject to budget availability. The exact figures of support will be known later on.
Hopefully, there will be established more funding sources for the vital field of healthy aging and longevity research, in Israel and internationally. Hopefully also, these successfully established programs, in a large measure resulting thanks to longevity advocacy, will encourage additional advocacy efforts and resulting support program in Israel and Internationally. In the name of Vetek Association, we will continue to work to promote the establishment of such funding sources and their dissemination.
Below are some initial details on the grant support programs and calls for research proposals. More details can be found in the corresponding links below.
1. Grant support program by the Israel Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology
On January 1, 2025, the Israel Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology published the National Call for Research Proposals, including the subject of “Healthy Aging”.
In this call, the total budget is up to NIS 45 million, with the maximum budget for each proposal in all areas being up to NIS 500,000 [~155,000 USD] for a period of three years.
The deadline for pre-proposals was by February 12, 2025.
In the call for proposals, in the “Healthy Aging” category, emphasis is placed on medical devices, algorithms and calculation and measurement techniques, and sensors. This call does not include basic research and research into mechanisms or initial identification of diseases.
This is a continuation of a series of grant support programs for aging research by the Ministry of Science, in previous years, that were also partly encouraged and formulated with the assistance of Vetek Association.
Calls for Research Proposals on Aging by the Israel Ministry of Science
2. Grant support program by the Israel Ministry of Health, Office of the Chief Scientist
On September 17, the Israel Ministry of Health (Office of the Chief Scientist) published the Call for Research Proposals on the Subject of Increasing Healthy Life Expectancy, Including Prevention, Delay, and Treatment of Diseases of Old Age
Within the framework of this call, proposals are accepted for funding up to three translational and clinical studies in the amount of up to 470,000 NIS [~145,000 USD] spread over three years in one or more of the following areas:
1 – Diagnosis, early detection and prediction of aging damage and aging-related diseases
2 – Prevention, Delay and Treatment
Applications of pre-proposals were submitted by 19.11.2025.
Call for research proposals on aging by the Israel Ministry of Health
3. Grant Support Program by the British Council in Israel, with the support of the UK and Israeli governments and private foundations
On November 13, the British Council in Israel published the Call for Proposals of the Britain-Israel Research and Academic Exchange Partnership on Healthy Ageing (BIRAX Healthy Ageing)
BIRAX is an initiative investing in world-leading research jointly undertaken by scientists in the UK and Israel. In the first 2 calls for proposals, 13 projects were funded, totaling £5.2 million (~7 million USD – £2.8 million in the first call and £2.4 million in the second call) that were granted to projects focusing on ageing and its impact on human health.
In the present 3rd call, grants will be awarded for a period of three years, with a maximum value of £400,000 (~500,000 USD) per project.
Deadline for applications: Sunday, 1 March 2026 at 21:59 (UK Time) / 23:59 (Israel Time).
Particularly welcome are proposals that explore: 1) Biological mechanisms of ageing, including disease susceptibility, prevention, and mitigation; 2) Precision medicine, including prediction of risk and early intervention at the individual level; 3) Wellbeing interventions including nutrition, mobility preservation and social participation.
https://www.longevityisrael.org/birax-healthy-ageing-call-for-research-proposals-2025/
Hopefully, further necessary support will be granted to the critical research enabling healthy and productive longevity for all. We will continue our efforts to contribute toward this purpose.
