Uncovering Hidden Immunity with Prof. Yifat Merbl
On Monday 18 May 2026 we were delighted to host Uncovering Hidden Immunity with Prof. Yifat Merbl. It was a fascinating evening of science and a wonderful insight into a unique mind at work.
Yifat's research represents a major breakthrough in our understanding of the immune system. Her study of the role of degraded proteins within proteomics has led to the unexpected discovery of a previously unknown layer of 'innate immunity' within our bodies.
This extraordinary breakthrough has lifted the lid on an entirely new area of study, opening up avenues for developing new immunotherapy treatments in cancer and offering promising new approaches to some of the most pressing challenges in medicine, including the impending threat of antibiotic resistance. Read the BBC news story on Yifat's discovery.
Yifat is a gifted science communicator and it was so inspiring to hear her share the remarkable story behind her discovery and to understand why it is so consequential that Nature named her as one of the ten people who helped shape science in 2025. Her insights into her personal journey into science were no less extraordinary.
Hers is a powerful example of how the Weizmann Institute's curiosity driven approach can lead to unexpected discoveries with the potential to benefit us all. What started at the Weizmann Institute is now destined to be taken up by scientists for further exploration across the globe.
