His name is Liran Shamriz, 39, and her name is Yiyin Wang, 34.

He is from Ashkelon, Israel; she is from Haining, Zhejiang, China. They have been together for 12 years, in 2018 they set up Ladon Health, which since 2020 started to work on something immense -establishing Zhejiang Canaan Cancer Hospital. This grand project aims to start an international standard cancer hospital with top Israeli doctors and medical equipment in Haining (about 60 km east of Hangzhou).

"A young international couple initiating a cancer hospital?" you might ask in surprise. Yes, a 200-bed private hospital with a floor area of 48,615 square meters, and an investment of 240 million yuan, which is expected to be finished this year.

"The story started by meeting my wife at a lecture during our bachelor's at Tel Aviv University (Yiyin was an exchange student from Shanghai International Studies University, majoring in Hebrew Language and Literature). We were still students when we implemented our first project together. We organized an official delegation of Israeli students to Chinese universities in Shanghai and Hangzhou. That was the first time I came to China", said Liran.

They were inspired to explore the world and try out new things, but they were not yet thinking of becoming entrepreneurs.

"We were graduating from our master programs. I was supposed to continue my life to do the Ph.D. and then become whatever lecturer professor at a university. But when I came back home Liran said, 'You know what? Maybe we can hit that cafe because we have a meeting with a guy who sells fleece?' And then he found a project to sell wild carp from the Mississippi River…，" Yiyin said with humour and precision, expressing how surprised she felt with mimics, intonation and pauses.

"He always has the hunch of where we should make the turning point of a life. And then my job is to make that choice less crazy and stupid", Yiyin continued in her playful manner. More than a decade later, it seems nothing has changed much, they are as young, fun, and vigorous. Both of them run 5 kms in less than 30 minutes on a treadmill.

It was Liran who in 2013 suggested starting Ladon Consulting, their first company, which was helping Israeli companies enter the Chinese market and vice versa. Since then, they have been involved in all kinds of projects from working with a Chinese investor selling carp steak from the USA to Israel, to building a production line for an Israeli entrepreneur in Yiwu.

The turning point was when they got acquainted with a group of Israeli doctors by consulting one medical start-up. Israel's strong reputation in scientific and medical research, particularly in oncology, made them realize the considerable potential of leveraging Israeli medical achievements to meet the needs of accessible advanced cancer treatment in China.

"In China, they build an excellent medical system. There are specific hospitals in China with amazing oncology doctors, and everyone just flocks over there," Liran proceeded, "What if people from small cities, instead of flying to Shanghai or Beijing to see a doctor for 20 minutes, will do an online consultation with Israeli doctors and receive treatment in near-home hospitals, using social insurance?"

In 2018, they established Ladon Health, which at the beginning was providing patients at Chinse hospitals with online consultations with top Israeli oncologists. The foreign doctors also gave strategic and practical lectures to the staff of the hospitals, among which was a hospital in Haining, where Yiyin's father works as a surgeon. The practice had assuring results.

Their first patient was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and was initially expected to live for only 2 months. His goal was just to celebrate the upcoming Spring Festival with his family. Eventually, he witnessed not only that Spring Festival but also four more thereafter. He was treated at the hospital close to his home and family by Israeli and Chinese doctors. Ladon Health also had cases where the patients were cured, which reassured Liran and Yiyin that this approach has the potential to save numerous lives from cancer, an illness that once also affected Yiyin's family.

From scratch, they began the development of the Zhejiang Canaan Cancer Hospital project with an ASSA Oncology doctor's group led by Professor Salomon M Stemmer, an internationally acclaimed specialist in Oncology Radiotherapy and Palliative Care Medicine. The team, comprising more than 20 ASSA Oncology doctors and Chinese medical professionals, aims to offer accessible and high-quality treatment options for residents of Haining and small cities nearby.

Professor Stemmer expressed his thoughts on the collaboration with Liran and Yiyin, saying, "For the last few years, after knowing Yiyin and Liran I have been more and more impressed with their knowledge, vision and mission, trying to accomplish all the goals and more for Canaan Hospital. I am sure that Yiyin and Liran will be able to move forward with this great project." Stemmer also mentioned that "Canaan should bring state-of-the-art cancer care, innovation, novel therapies, and research for the patients and the community."

Their goal is also to make the hospital budget-friendly for patients. According to Liran, establishing a direct connection with excellent doctors can reduce administrative overhead, increase transparency, and enhance the efficiency of healthcare services, resulting in more affordable and patient-focused care.

"When Ladon Health was launched, our son was a month or less old. We'd work at the kitchen table with the baby lying on Liran's chest", shared Yiyin. Liran added with confidence, "The work is always there and you miss out on your family time and the rest. It's the price we are willing to pay for doing what truly matters."