The Institute aims to serve as a national research setting for the study of epidemiology and health policy, striving to influence health policy in Israel and assisting in its development.

The Gertner Institute was founded in 1991 by Prof. M. Shani in order to promote extensive epidemiological research on major chronic diseases and also, to assist in the formulation of national health policy.

The Gertner Institute is incorporated under the laws of the State of Israel as a "company  for the benefit of the public. Since 2010, Prof. Boleslaw (Bolek) Goldman serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Institute.

The Israel Center for Disease Control and the Israel National Institute for Health Policy and Health Services Research are both located in the Gertner building. Thereby, the Gertner Institute constitutes a focal point for researchers in the field of health policy research.

The Main Goals of the Institute:

• to conduct studies in accordance with the research objectives determined by the Ministry of Health.
• to plan research repositories, to develop and analyze them in collaboration with relevant sectors in the health system.
• to follow-up and evaluate dynamic processes of change and reform that are of national importance in health-related areas.
• to promote collaboration between research centers in Israel and abroad.