Skip to main content

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.

    Lynette Hamlin, PhD, RN, CNM, FACNM, FAAN

    Academia & Research Institutions

    Madeleine Livingston

    Head of Strategic Partnerships

    Startups & Innovators

    Maegan Ashworth Dirac

    Institute for Health Metrics & Evaluation

    Assistant Professor

    Academia & Research Institutions

    Maike Scharp

    Gates Foundation

    Deputy Director, Diagnostics

    Foundation/Philanthropy

    Maite Malet

    Asabys Partners

    Investment Principal

    Venture Capital (VC) & Private Equity

    María T. G. de Dávila, MD, PhD

    Fundación Garrahan

    President

    Foundation/Philanthropy

    Maria Teresa García de Dávila, MD, PhD

    Fundación de Pediatría Garrahan

    Foundation/Philanthropy

    Marissa K Fayer

    HERhealthEQ

    CEO

    NGOs & Nonprofits

    Marta Fernández Suárez

    Concept Foundation

    Executive Director

    NGOs & Nonprofits

    Mary Fleming

    Reede Scholars

    President, Physician

    NGOs & Nonprofits

    Maya Goldstein

    Impact Global Health

    Director of Strategy

    Academia & Research Institutions

    Melissa Laitner

    National Academy of Medicine

    Director of Strategic Initiatives & Special Assistant to the President

    Government & Public Sector

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
Name