A groundbreaking international research project that combines artificial intelligence with pandemic forecasting and management has been awarded approximately €8 million in funding by Horizon Europe, the European Union’s flagship research and innovation program. The project brings together leading global health, research, and industry organizations, including Clalit Health Services, the World Health Organization (WHO), the University of Oxford, and other prominent partners from Europe and beyond.
At a time when concerns are growing in Israel about potential reductions in scientific collaboration with Israeli institutions, Israel’s largest health organization Clalit Health Services has achieved a significant international milestone. Horizon Europe selected Clalit, which provides medical services to approximately five million Israelis (over 50% of Israel’s population), as a key partner in the initiative.
The project, known as PANDAI (European Pandemics AI Observatory), will establish Europe’s first AI based platform for the early detection, prediction, and management of pandemics. The international consortium includes the University of Oxford, the WHO, Clalit, and leading research and industry organizations from the United Kingdom, Denmark, Spain, Luxembourg, and Bangladesh.
Clalit’s selection represents an exceptional achievement for Israel’s healthcare system, particularly during a period when concerns have been raised about the exclusion of Israeli organizations from international research frameworks. It highlights Clalit’s standing as a global leader in community healthcare, medical research, and the use of Real-World Data to advance public health.
According to Prof. Eytan Wirtheim, CEO of Clalit Health Services:
“Being selected to participate in this groundbreaking international initiative alongside the World Health Organization, the University of Oxford, and other leading partners is an extraordinary vote of confidence in the scientific, medical, and technological capabilities that have been built here over many years. In the post COVID era, we must be prepared for the possibility of another major global health event. At a time when international collaboration faces increasing challenges, this achievement demonstrates that the knowledge, research, and innovation developed by Clalit and the Israeli healthcare system continue to play an important role in the global effort to shape the future of medicine. We are proud to contribute to the development of tools that will not only help respond to health crises, but also identify them in advance and save lives on a global scale.”
Prof. Doron Netzer, Head of Medicine at Clalit’s Community Division, said:
“This is both a great honor and a major responsibility. One of the world’s leading research frameworks has recognized Clalit’s research capabilities, expertise, and experience in operating a healthcare system during periods of uncertainty and global pandemics. The COVID 19 pandemic demonstrated that Israel’s community healthcare system, with Clalit at its forefront, serves as a critical first line of defense against emerging health threats. The combination of operational experience, groundbreaking research, and artificial intelligence is exactly what is needed to better prepare for future healthcare challenges, and we are proud to be at the center of this European effort.”
Clalit was selected due to its unique position as an integrated healthcare provider operating both community clinics and hospitals while insuring approximately five million citizens. In addition, Clalit maintains comprehensive and highly structured electronic medical records spanning decades. Its expertise, data resources, and operational experience will contribute to the development of one of the world’s most comprehensive and continuous healthcare data infrastructures, encompassing longitudinal medical information from millions of patients.
The platform developed through PANDAI will be connected to healthcare systems across Europe, enabling epidemiologists, policymakers, and public health authorities to identify early warning signs of outbreaks and respond more rapidly and effectively.
Prof. Netzer was one of the central figures in Israel’s response to the COVID 19 pandemic, helping lead the national vaccination campaign, patient monitoring efforts, and community based medical management during the crisis. This model received international recognition and played a key role in preventing the collapse of Israel’s hospital system.
Prof. Ronen Arbel, one of the three principal investigators leading the grant, who is responsible for the scientific partnership within the project and serves as a health outcomes researcher at Clalit’s Community Division and at Sapir College, added:
“This award recognizes that Clalit’s community healthcare model and the research generated from it are not only a national asset but also a global one. Especially during this complex period, the decision to place Clalit and Israeli researchers in a central role within a strategic European project reflects international confidence in the scientific and medical capabilities of Clalit’s researchers.”
Over the past several years, research conducted by Clalit using Real World Data has influenced health and vaccination policies adopted by the WHO, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other leading health authorities worldwide.
Clalit’s studies on the effectiveness and safety of COVID 19 vaccines were among the first large-scale real-world analyses published globally. During the pandemic and subsequent public health events, these studies contributed to international policy changes regarding vaccination strategies and antiviral treatments.
In addition, Clalit was the first organization worldwide to publish research on the effectiveness of the Mpox vaccine and among the first to publish research demonstrating the effectiveness of high dose influenza vaccines in preventing hospitalizations. These findings have since been incorporated into health policies in the United States, the United Kingdom, Israel, and the European Union.
Alongside its research leadership, Clalit will also contribute unique operational expertise gained during emergency situations and public health crises.
About the Project
PANDAI – European Pandemics AI Observatory is a 36-month project funded under the HORIZON-HLTH-2025-01 call of the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme.
The consortium is led by the University of Oxford and includes the World Health Organization (WHO), Clalit Health Services, and additional partners from the United Kingdom, Denmark, Spain, Luxembourg, and Bangladesh. The project’s total budget is approximately $8 million.
