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U.S.-Israel Health Innovation Partnership

Full Title:
BIRD Health Act of 2025

Summary#

This bill would create a new U.S.–Israel health research and innovation program, called the BIRD Health Program. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) would partner with Israel and the Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation to fund joint projects. The goal is to speed up new health technologies and improve how care is delivered, including digital health and vaccine work.

Key changes:

  • HHS must set up a cooperative program with Israel to fund and coordinate joint health projects.
  • The BIRD Foundation would run the program, with HHS and Israel’s Ministry of Health deciding focus areas and choosing projects.
  • Funding can support joint research, early clinical trials, startups, innovation hubs, telemedicine and data sharing, infectious disease work, and biologics manufacturing (including joint facilities in the United States).
  • Projects will be picked based on technical merit, commercial potential, fit with shared health priorities, strength of the U.S.–Israel team, and ability to meet unmet medical needs.
  • HHS must report to Congress every year and do a full program review every three years.
  • Timing: a framework progress report is due within 180 days; the program must start taking proposals within a year after the framework is set.

What it means for you#

  • Health technology companies and startups

    • Could apply for grants if partnering with an Israeli company or institution.
    • Support may cover devices, diagnostics (including AI), digital health, drugs and biologics, and early-stage clinical trials.
    • Help for tech transfer, joint ventures, market acceptance, and participation in innovation hubs.
    • Selection will weigh innovation, market potential, and fit with U.S. and Israeli health priorities.

  • Universities and research institutions

    • Possible funding for joint research with Israeli partners, including epidemiology, vaccine development, and early clinical studies.
    • The program will work toward a framework to share health data for research with Israel’s Ministry of Health, subject to applicable U.S. laws and privacy protections. Exact rules are not specified.

  • Biologics manufacturers and suppliers

    • Potential funding to improve processes and advanced manufacturing.
    • The program aims to support joint biologics manufacturing facilities in the United States.
    • Work on supply chain resilience and contingency plans for disruptions.

  • Hospitals and health systems

    • Possible support for telemedicine infrastructure and for making systems work together (“interoperability”) across U.S. and Israeli partners.
    • Sharing of best practices in clinical care and health management.

  • Patients

    • No direct new benefits or rights.
    • Over time, this could lead to new treatments, tools, or telehealth options if projects succeed.

  • General public

    • This program mainly affects research, industry, and government. Day-to-day impact on the public would come later, if funded projects lead to products or services.

  • What is unclear

    • The bill does not say who is eligible in detail, how large grants will be, whether cost-sharing or matching funds are required, or how intellectual property and data rights will be handled.

Expenses#

Estimated public cost: up to $10 million per year from fiscal years 2026 through 2032 (up to $70 million total if fully funded).

  • Funds would be provided to HHS and administered through the BIRD Foundation, with oversight by HHS and the Department of Commerce.
  • HHS must produce annual reports and three-year reviews; related administrative costs would come from the authorized funds.
  • No new fees or fines are created.
  • The bill does not specify whether grantees must provide matching funds or repay awards.
  • Participants may face costs to meet data privacy, cybersecurity, and interoperability expectations, but the bill does not detail these requirements.

Proponents' View#

  • The bill appears intended to speed up health innovation by combining U.S. and Israeli strengths in research, startups, and advanced manufacturing.
  • It could help move ideas from labs to real-world use by funding commercialization and market acceptance.
  • Focus on telemedicine and interoperability could make remote care stronger and help systems work together.
  • Joint work on infectious diseases, vaccines, and data sharing could improve preparedness and response.
  • Support for U.S.-based biologics manufacturing and supply chain planning could reduce shortages and improve access during crises.
  • It builds on a long-running binational model (the BIRD Foundation) that has supported many projects, including in health-related fields.

Opponents' View#

  • One concern is using U.S. funds for international partnerships; some benefits could flow outside the United States.
  • The bill does not explain how intellectual property, data ownership, and patient privacy will be handled in detail, which may raise legal and ethical questions.
  • It may overlap with existing federal programs (for example, other HHS research or preparedness efforts), creating duplication or confusion.
  • Requiring an Israeli partner could disadvantage U.S. groups without such ties, even if their work is strong.
  • Governance shared with Israel’s Ministry of Health may raise questions about how U.S. public interests are weighed in project selection.
  • It is unclear how “interoperability” between U.S. and Israeli systems would work in practice, given different laws and health IT systems.