Women's Health Access Matters

Emotion, Motion, and Commotion. The momentum is undeniable—we’re on the brink of transformative change in women’s health, and the WHAM Fall Forum at MIT Media Lab showed us just how powerful this movement can be.   We brought together trailblazing scientists, physicians, investors, and visionaries to explore innovations poised to reshape women’s health. Pioneering researchers from MIT and beyond captivated us with their groundbreaking work, showcasing advances on the horizon and emphasizing the critical funding needed to fuel these life-changing breakthroughs. Investment leaders highlighted an immense, untapped market in women’s health—a space where economic potential meets transformative societal impact.   WHAM is driving this momentum forward, bridging science and the marketplace to deliver better health outcomes for all. We’re on the edge of a healthcare transformation, where investing in women’s health will unlock new frontiers—transforming lives and reshaping the future of healthcare for everyone.   Join us on this edge and stay tuned for a major WHAM announcement later this week that promises to transform the landscape with data and vision for a sustainable future.   A special thank you to our incredible speakers: Kate Zernike, Dr. Sangeeta Bhatia, Dr. Angela Belcher, Dr. Paula Hammond Cunningham, Kim Slater (she/her), Dr. Dava Newman, Dr. Canan Dagdeviren, Dr. Erica Ollmann Saphire, Edwidge J Thomas, DNP, Dr. Angelika Fretzen, Dr. Rachel D. Field, Dr. Ketki Karanam, Cissy Young, PhD, Christina K. Isacson Ph.D., Dr. Misti Ushio   Don’t miss your chance to be part of this powerful new frontier—where innovation meets opportunity, and the impact is lasting. Sign up for more information here: https://lnkd.in/eagR5JJU Massachusetts Institute of Technology The New York Times La Jolla Institute for Immunology Northwell Holdings Wyss Institute at Harvard University Engine Ventures UPMC Enterprises Catalyst Advisors LP Lightstone Ventures Digitalis Ventures KPMG US KPMG Foundation Northwell Health Katz Institute for Women's Health Harvard Medical School Brigham and Women's Hospital Mary Horrigan Connors Center for Women's Health and Gender Biology Walgreens BrightFocus Foundation GO2 for Lung Cancer   #WomensHealth #InvestmentinHealth #HealthInnovation #WHAMNow #3Not30

NEW: Announcing the #SprintForWomensHealth awardees! ✨ These game-changers will address critical unmet challenges in women’s health, champion transformative innovations, and tackle health conditions that uniquely or disproportionately affect women. https://lnkd.in/eRpS4N7v

Kate Zernike Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter for The New York Times has an extraordinary talent for uncovering the untold stories of remarkable women breaking barriers in science and redefining what's possible in health. In her acclaimed book The Exceptions, she shines a spotlight on the trailblazing women who have reshaped these fields. By amplifying the stories of overlooked scientists doing groundbreaking work, Kate has opened doors for greater opportunities for women in STEM. We’re thrilled to welcome Kate to the WHAM Fall Forum tomorrow, October 24th, where her investigative expertise and storytelling will inspire crucial conversations about supporting cutting-edge research, accelerating innovation, and driving investment in women’s health. 🔗 Learn more about The Exceptions: https://lnkd.in/evtVcy6Q #WomensHealth #WomensHealthInvestment #FemaleEntrepreneurs #Biotech #WomensHealthResearch #InvestmentinHealth #WHAMNow #3Not30

WHAM is driving transformative change in healthcare by convening world-class researchers and investors to explore the future of women’s health innovation. This week, we’re bringing together leading experts at MIT Media Lab to highlight breakthrough conversations on the economic benefits and societal impact of investing in the health of women. Through collaboration and innovation, we're pushing boundaries and creating a pathway to sustainable change in healthcare. Together, we will foster dynamic discussions, featuring: 🔹 Visionary Leadership: Shaping the Future of Healthcare with Susan Blumenthal MD, MPA, Former U.S. Assistant Surgeon General 🔹 Breaking Barriers: Cutting-Edge Research and Translational Medicine in Women’s Health with Kate Zernike, Dr. Sangeeta Bhatia, Dr. Angela Belcher, and Dr. Paula Hammond Cunningham 🔹 Redefining Women’s Health: Visionary Leaders from MIT Media Lab and Beyond with Kim Azzarelli, Dr. Dava Newman, Dr. Canan Dagdeviren, and Dr. Erica Ollmann Saphire 🔹 Transformative Innovations: From Lab to Marketplace with Edwidge J Thomas, DNP, Dr. Angelika Fretzen, Dr. Rachel D. Field, and Dr. Ketki Karanam 🔹 Innovate and Invest: High-Impact Opportunities with Cissy Young, PhD, Jessica J. Federer, Christina K. Isacson Ph.D., Vanessa Kirsch, and Dr. Misti Ushio By presenting a data-driven business case for investing in the health of women, WHAM is advancing innovative solutions and fostering sustainable change across the healthcare ecosystem. We look forward to sharing the roadmap of clear, actionable ideas that emerge from this impactful day to improve health for all. #WomensHealth #InvestmentinHealth #WomensHealthInvestment #HealthInnovation #WomensHealthResearch #VC #VentureCapital #WHAMNow #3Not30 Massachusetts Institute of Technology The New York Times Seneca Women La Jolla Institute for Immunology Northwell Holdings Wyss Institute at Harvard University Engine Ventures UPMC Enterprises Catalyst Advisors LP Lightstone Ventures New Profit Digitalis Ventures KPMG US KPMG Foundation Northwell Health Katz Institute for Women's Health Harvard Medical School Brigham and Women's Hospital Mary Horrigan Connors Center for Women's Health and Gender Biology Walgreens BrightFocus Foundation GO2 for Lung Cancer

WHAM is positioned to lead the charge in advancing women’s health investment and innovation, reshaping the healthcare landscape, stimulating economic growth, fostering collaboration and transforming lives. I had the pleasure of joining the Innovate & Elevate podcast hosted by Sharon Kedar, CFA for the season one finale, to discuss the women’s health gap and the tremendous economic and societal benefits of investing in the health of women. Currently, less than 1% of global research funding is directed toward women’s health, and a mere 2% of venture capital goes to women-founded startups, with an even smaller fraction focused on women's health companies. Harnessing collective power is essential to driving sustainable change. WHAM is committed to accelerating investments and fostering groundbreaking innovations that will enhance both the economy and the healthcare ecosystem for all. Thank you, Sharon, for shining a light on this untapped market with so much potential to improve lives! 🔗 Watch the full podcast episode: https://lnkd.in/gaUa2psy #WomensHealth #InvestmentinHealth #WomensHealthInvestment #FemaleEntrepreneurs #WomensHealthResearch #InvestmentinHealth #WHAMNow #3Not30

Did you know that twice as many women have Alzheimer’s disease than men? RetiSpec has developed revolutionary AI technology to determine a patient’s risk for Alzheimer’s Disease up to 20 years prior to symptoms. This tech could have enormous positive impacts on the health of women. Catherine Bornbaum, PhD, MBA, Chief Business Officer of RetiSpec, explains that these retinal scans ‘the gold standard of diagnosis’ for Alzheimer’s. Dr. Bornbaum will be joining the discussion at the WHAM Virtual Roundtable on November 19th to explore the latest innovations in women’s brain health and Alzheimer’s disease. WHAM applauds Retispec for their outstanding work in Alzheimer’s disease. Research and innovation into diseases primarily affecting women is crucial! 🔗Register for WHAM’s Virtual Roundtable on Women’s Brain Health: https://lnkd.in/e83RY7Nk #WomensHealth #BrainHealth #WomensHealthInvestment #WomensBrainHealth #Brain #WomensHealthResearch #InvestmentinHealth #WHAMNow #3Not30

American women are expected to control nearly $30 trillion in financial assets by the year 2030. This is more than double the $11 trillion they control today. As the primary drivers of the economy, women are responsible for 85% of consumer spending, controlling 60% of wealth and making up over half of the population. This massive transfer of wealth offers startups a rare chance to transform how women invest, spend and build their financial power. WHAM is launching several strategic initiatives to continue driving this wealth into advancing the health of women and unlocking significant economic benefits along the way. Through the WHAM Investment Collaborative, launching this fall, and the latest upcoming WHAM Report, The Business Case for Investing in Women’s Health, we are highlighting the vast economic impact and untapped market potential that comes from accelerating funding for women’s health. These initiatives will drive innovation and demonstrate why investing in the health of women is not just necessary—it’s a powerful economic opportunity. 🔗Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/e8vk6E-Z #WomensHealth #InvestmentinHealth #WomensHealthInvestment #WomeninBusiness #Wealth #WomensHealthResearch #InvestmentinHealth #WHAMNow #3Not30

A new neuroimaging study suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns had a greater effect on teenage girls' brain maturation compared to boys. Girls experienced faster cortical thinning—a brain rewiring process that occurs as it matures and accelerates under stress—during the first year of the pandemic. Scientists attribute this difference to social deprivation, as girls may rely more on social interaction to relieve stress, causing accelerated brain aging during isolation. This research underscores an important point: women are not just tiny men! WHAM is driving change by advancing research and innovations focused on sex differences. By understanding how men and women are impacted differently, we can unlock improved healthcare for everyone, fostering both societal and economic growth. 🔗Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eTFhX3EV #WomensHealth #WomensHealthResearch #GenderDifferences #BrainHealth #ResearchMatters #WHAM #WomensBrains #InvestmentInHealth #HealthEquity #3Not30

As the leaders of the HBS Women's Health Interest Group, Christina Vosbikian and I are proud to have helped grow a community of hundreds of students passionate about women's health innovation across the Harvard/MIT ecosystem. Building on this amazing momentum, we’ve partnered with the Health Care Club at Harvard Business School, HBS Health Care Initiative, and Pillar VC to host the first-ever HBS Women's Health Summit, which will take place on Friday, November 1st, 2024, at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Science and Engineering Complex (SEC)! This full-day event will provide a forum for connecting our amazing community of students with industry experts, key opinion leaders, researchers, investors, and founders from the local Boston area and beyond. Keynote speakers and panel participants include senior executives and Harvard alumni working in a great diversity of roles within women’s health, each representing unique perspectives on how people (men included!) can get involved in the space and make an impact as investments in #womenshealth / #femtech grow exponentially. The event will also conclude with a student pitch competition that will award prizes to promising student ventures selected by a panel of experts. We hope you’ll join us! Tickets and registration are available here: https://lu.ma/uj3q8gyi None of this would be possible without the overwhelming support we’ve received from our generous sponsors, as well as the incredible advocacy and engagement of our keynote speakers and panelists. Huge thanks to Carolee Lee (Women's Health Access Matters), Lesley Solomon, Primavera Alessandra Spagnolo (Brigham and Women's Hospital), Victor Lanio (Flare Capital Partners), Shannon Wilz (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts), Angelika Fretzen & Adama Marie Sesay (Wyss Institute at Harvard University), Liz Powell (G2G - Innovative Government Affairs Consulting), Lexi Henkel (Maverick Ventures), Rachel Blank (Allara), Jannine Versi (Elektra Health), Laura Mackay (Planned Parenthood Direct, Inc.), Adrianne Nickerson (Oula), Neel Shah (Maven Clinic), Leslie Schrock, Eva Luo (Pomelo Care), Robert Huckman & Casey Otis, Madelyn Heart & Thomas de Vlaam (Pillar VC), and so many more!