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.
Constance Viehbeck
London School of Economics and Political Science
PhD Candidate
Cosima Lenz
CEPS
Researcher
Cristiani Vieira Machado
Oswaldo Cruz Foundation - Fiocruz
Researcher
Daniela Schardinger
CEO & Founder
Deborah Duran, Ph.D.
NIMHD
Sr. Advisor Data Science, Analytics and Systems
Dikabo Mogopodi, PhD Chemistry
University of Botswana
Senior Lecturer
Divpreet Sacha
HHEI.org.uk
Founder & CEO
Djoukouo Félicité
Association des Acteurs de Développement (ADEV)
Executive Director
Dr Bianca Schor
Amsterdam UMC
AI researcher in women's health
Dr Eleanor Nwadinobi
Medical Women's International Association
Immediate Past President
Dr Judie Mbogua
Science for Africa Foundation
Senior Program Officer
Dr Sumera Haque
An-Nisa Foundation
Founder & CEO
Contribute to quarterly meetings, connect with others across the field, propose ideas for action and collaborate with others across the ecosystem to move them forward, and share work that is advancing progress.
