Good morning everyone,
Chairman of Lirot, Ohad Laav,
Members of the Board,
Dear physicians and researchers,
Our partners and supporters,
Friends and distinguished guests,
Welcome.
Today is a very special day for me.
We are celebrating 20 years of Lirot – 20 years of dedication, commitment and impact.
And I stand here today, after 18 years in which I have had the privilege of leading the organization as CEO, feeling above all deep gratitude.
Gratitude for the privilege of being part of such meaningful work.
Gratitude for the extraordinary people I have met along the way.
And gratitude for the opportunity to be part of something much bigger than any one individual.
When I began this journey 18 years ago, I could not have known where it would take me.
I did not know how many people I would meet.
I did not know how many stories I would hear.
I did not know how many times I would have to fight for the importance of research, for resources, and for the opportunity to give researchers the support they need to develop their ideas.
But I knew one thing:
If we can prevent blindness, improve eye health and preserve vision – we must never give up.
That has been my compass throughout all these years.
Along the way, I learned that behind every research project there is a person.
Behind every laboratory there is a researcher who believes that an answer can be found.
Behind every new technology there is a physician who wants to provide better care for their patients.
And behind every scientific achievement there may be a person and an entire family whose lives can be changed.
That is what makes our work so important.
Over the years, Lirot has invested approximately NIS 9 million in advancing eye research.
When I look at that number, I don’t see only 9 million shekels.
I see hundreds and thousands of hours of research.
I see ideas that became research projects.
I see collaborations.
I see young researchers who were given an opportunity.
And I see hope.
And today, when I look at the program of this conference, I feel that this journey continues to grow and evolve.
Today we are talking about innovation in ophthalmology, blindness prevention, stem cells, genetic diseases, artificial intelligence, new molecular and cellular approaches, community-based screening, and the connection between science and the community.
These are not just big words.
They are the tools with which we will build the future.
And therefore, alongside the pride we feel for the 20 years behind us, I also feel a great responsibility for the next 20 years.
I want us to dare to dream.
To invest in research for which we do not yet have the answers.
To make room for new ideas.
To connect researchers, physicians, technology, industry and the community.
And above all – never to forget whom we are doing all this for.
We are doing it for the person who wants to continue seeing their children and grandchildren.
For the person who wants to continue reading, driving, working, traveling and living an independent life.
For the person who may not yet know that the research we support could one day change their life.
And to me, that is the true meaning of Lirot.
I would like to extend a special thank-you to everyone who has been with us throughout this journey.
To the members of our Board, our donors, our partners, the companies that have supported us, and of course – to the physicians and researchers who have believed in this mission and devoted themselves to advancing ophthalmology.
And a very special thank-you to all the people who have worked alongside me over the years.
Because no achievement of an organization is the achievement of one person.
It is the result of people who believe in the same goal and work together to make it happen.
Today, we will also present the “20 Years of Lirot Award” to people who have made a significant contribution and left their mark on the field.
This is an opportunity for all of us to pause for a moment, to recognize and celebrate the work that has been done – and then to move forward.
Because if there is one thing I have learned during these 18 years, it is that a vision is only the beginning.
To turn a vision into reality, you need people.
You need perseverance.
You need courage.
You need belief.
And you need a great deal of hard work.
And I believe we have all of these.
So today I want to say:
I am proud of the journey we have made.
I am grateful for the people who have been part of it.
And I am excited about the journey that still lies ahead.
My hope is that 20 years from now, we will stand here again and be able to say that we succeeded in changing the face of ophthalmology in Israel even further; that we helped prevent blindness; that we brought innovation to the community; and that we helped more people simply… see.
Thank you all for coming and for being here with us on this very special day.
I wish all of us an inspiring, meaningful and fascinating conference.
And may we continue to look far ahead – and act today for a better tomorrow.
Thank you very much.