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.
Dr. Mariam Hassan
University of Waterloo
Dr. Marta Fernández Suárez
Concept Foundation
Executive Director
Dr. Mavis Akuffobea-Essilfie
CSIR-Science and Technology Policy Research Institute
Senior Research Scientist
Dr. Mercedes Rumi
World Health Organization
Training and Research Specialist
Dr. Meseret Zelalem Tadesse
African Center for Early Childhood Development/ Gondar University Adjunct
Chief of Research and Programs
Dr. Milly Kaggwa
POPULATION SERVICES INTERNATIONAL
WOMEN'S HEALTH LEAD
Dr. Nkemdilim Chukwueme, MD, MPH, DrPH
Health Maxima
Managing Partner & CTO
Dr. Proscovia Naluyima Sekiziyivu
Makerere University Walter Reed Program
Dr. Reema Mukherjee
Indian Council of Medical Research
Program Officer Maternal Health
Dr. Rishma Dhillon Pai
IFFS
President Elect International Federation of Fertility Societies
Dr. Rishma Pai
President Elect International Federation of Fertility Societies , IFFS
Dr. Zainab Samad
Aga Khan University
Professor, Chair Department of Medicine, Consultant Cardiologist, Director Health Data Science Center
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.
