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About Us

The Innovation Equity Forum (IEF) was launched in 2023 through a partnership between the Gates Foundation and the NIH Office of Research on Women’s Health. It was created to confront a long-standing gap: the underinvestment and underrepresentation in women’s health research and development (R&D).

The IEF brings together a global community of over 250 stakeholders committed to advancing women’s health.

Our membership includes philanthropists, venture capitalists, biopharmaceutical companies, women’s health startups, regulators, researchers, and patient advocates. Together, this diverse group is committed to advancing a more equitable, coordinated, and innovation-driven ecosystem for women’s health R&D.

The IEF was established to

Convene

key global players and decision-makers in women’s health innovation

Mobilize

transformational efforts through a shared understanding of critical R&D priorities

Catalyze

cross-sector, multinational partnerships that overcome structural barriers and drive progress

In 2023, the IEF published the Opportunity Map, a foundational resource to identify gaps, align priorities, and build momentum for transformative action in women’s health R&D.

Since then, the Forum has met regularly to strengthen accountability and impact, launching a 2024 Progress Report to track advancements across the ecosystem and forming dedicated working groups to translate insights into impact. The Innovation Equity Forum is building a movement to elevate women’s health as a global innovation priority.

Our Members

Explore the organizations who are members of the Innovation Equity Forum below.

    Melissa Laitner, PhD, MPH

    National Academy of Medicine

    Director of Strategic Initiatives & Special Assistant to the President

    Government & Public Sector

    Michael Santos

    Foundation for the National Institutes of Health

    Senior Vice President, Science Partnerships

    NGOs & Nonprofits

    Michelle Korte

    Camber Collective

    Engagement Manager

    Consulting and Professional Organizations

    Misti Ushio

    Digitalis Ventures

    Managing Partner

    Venture Capital (VC) & Private Equity

    Mitzi Krockover, MD

    Woman Centered, LLC

    CEO

    Consulting and Professional Organizations

    Moushira El-Sahn

    Independent Advisor

    Founder, Research Director, Principal Investigator

    Consulting and Professional Organizations

    Ms. Mansharan Seth

    William J. Clinton Foundation

    Director, Reproductive Maternal and Neonatal Health

    NGOs & Nonprofits

    Nada O. Hanafi, MSC. MPH

    MedTech Strategy Advisors, LLC; Womens Health Advocates

    Founder & Manager

    Consulting and Professional Organizations

    NAKOUNE-YANDOKO Emmanuel

    Institut Pasteur in Bangui, Central African Republic

    Directeur General

    NGOs & Nonprofits

    Nazneen Damji

    UN Women

    Senior Policy Advisor, Gender Equality, Health, and HIV

    Government & Public Sector

    Nicole Ertl

    The University of Queensland

    Research Fellow

    Academia & Research Institutions

    Nigina Muntean

    United Nations Population Fund

    Chief, Innovation and Transformation Branch

    Multilateral

IEF membership is maintained at the individual level and members act as individuals, not as organizations. Representation on this list is illustrative of the kinds of organizations represented but does not necessarily imply official engagement.
Get Involved
We invite you to join us in this growing movement—to help shape the future of women’s health R&D, unlock new funding, strengthen advocacy, and accelerate the development of bold, equitable solutions.

The Women’s Health Opportunity Map is just the beginning. It serves as a launchpad for deeper collaboration, shared advocacy, and increased investment in women’s health innovation.

Whether you’re interested in becoming a Forum member or simply staying informed, we welcome your ideas, expertise, and energy. Let us know how you’d like to engage with the IEF.

Get Involved
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