2026 Daniel Shiran Prize Awarded to Dr. Noga Ron-Harel of the Technion Faculty of Biology

Dr. Noga Ron-Harel of the Technion Faculty of Biology has been awarded the 2026 Daniel Shiran Prize, presented annually to an outstanding Technion researcher in the field of biomedicine.

Dr. Ron-Harel earned her bachelor’s degree in molecular biochemistry from the Technion, graduating with the highest honors. She joined the Faculty of Biology in 2018 after completing a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School. Her research focuses on immune system aging and the metabolic mechanisms that influence the function of T cells throughout life.

Since joining the Technion, Dr. Ron-Harel has established an international reputation in the fields of immunology and immune aging. She has received numerous competitive research grants, including an ERC Starting Grant, and her work has been published in leading scientific journals. In one of her most recent studies, published in the prestigious journal Nature Aging, her research group demonstrated that the aging spleen creates an environment that impairs T-cell function and accelerates immune aging. The researchers also found that iron supplementation improved immune cell responses in aged mice, a discovery that could open new avenues for strengthening the immune system in older adults.

The Daniel Shiran Prize was established in memory of Master Sergeant Daniel Shiran z”l, a Golani Brigade soldier who was killed during the Second Lebanon War. The prize was initiated by his grandfather, Prof. Menahem Rebhun z”l of the Technion Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Daniel, who served as a machine gunner in the Golani Brigade, was killed on the night of August 4, 2006, while leading his unit during an encounter with terrorists. The prize reflects the Technion’s enduring commitment to scientific excellence and groundbreaking biomedical research, while honoring Daniel Shiran’s memory by supporting researchers dedicated to improving human health and quality of life.