JERUSALEM (JTA) — Renowned sleep medicine expert Peretz Lavie became president of the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology.
Lavie assumed the office Thursday, succeeding Yitzhak Apeloig.
"This is the most important mission of my academic life," Lavie said. "We need to re-educate the Israeli public and our government about the value of higher education, and clearly show that Israel’s future is tied to world-class education in science and technology."
Lavie spent seven years as Technion vice president for resource development and external relations.
He joined the Technion in 1975 as a lecturer, and in 1979 developed the Technion Sleep Research Laboratory and Sleep Medicine Center, playing a major role in the development of sleep medicine that is now the subject of study for thousands of scientists around the world. The center has branches throughout Israel and also is a part of the Harvard School of Medicine.
The editor in chief of the Journal of Sleep Research, a leading publication in the field, Lavie has authored several influential books, including "The Enchanted World of Sleep." The best-seller has been translated into 15 languages.
