Biotech Entrepreneur Funds New Science Lab at Emek HaMa'ayanot School

A renovated biology laboratory was inaugurated at the Gaon HaYarden Darka School in the Emek HaMa'ayanot region, funded by 35-year-old biotech entrepreneur Dr. Shakked Halperin. Halperin, a U.S.-born Israeli scientist who founded two companies acquired in deals totaling $385 million, established the Shakked Halperin Foundation to promote equal opportunities in science, education, and entrepreneurship in Israel's periphery.

Growing up in St. Louis, Missouri, Halperin initially struggled in school before discovering his passion for research. His father Yossi fostered his scientific curiosity with puzzles, while his mother Milan, an educator, served as a major inspiration. To honor her work, Halperin secretly contacted the Eitan Fried English Center in Ramla, where she teaches, learning about the Darka school network and deciding to fund the laboratory renovation. During the inauguration ceremony, his parents were surprised to unveil a plaque dedicated in their honor.

Halperin studied at the University of Cambridge and completed his Ph.D. in biomedical engineering at UC Berkeley in just three years. After moving to Israel, his commitment deepened following the events of October 7. Through his foundation, he aims to provide students in underserved regions with access to advanced scientific tools and mentorship. The investment has already yielded results, with enrollment in the school's biology track increasing significantly across grades 10 through 12, reflecting a growing enthusiasm for STEM education.