Barcelona & Madrid Health Hub’s Post

Yesterday, at the European Health Forum Gastein, our Senior Advocacy Officer, Ffion Storer Jones, joined the panel "Women's health 2030 - Closing the gender gap” moderated by Natasha Azzopardi Muscat (WHO Regional Office for Europe). The discussion opened with a question: why do we still need a session on women’s health, even with 2030 just around the corner? The answer, unfortunately, is simple: women remain #underrepresented, #underdiagnosed, and #undertreated in health systems across the world. Sirpa Pietikäinen, co-Chair of the European Parliament MEPs for Women's Health Interest Group, gave some important examples: "Female stem cells react differently from male stem cells; doctors still misdiagnose women, labeling symptoms as psychosomatic. The evidence we need to start from #research is overwhelming." Penilla Gunther, heart transplant survivor and President of European Patient Safety Foundation (EUPSF) told us how important it is to talk about symptoms: "I couldn’t predict that in my forties I’d face severe heart failure. I was working full-time, raising teenagers, and active in politics. I thought I just had the flu. Two and a half months later, I left the hospital with a new heart.  My doctor couldn’t believe that I couldn’t recognise the #symptoms." Lisa Lehner (Universität Wien | University of Vienna/AmberMed) spoke about intersectionality: "An intersectional analysis is the only thing that makes sense. Why not offer childcare at research trials so mothers can participate? Let’s invest not only in research but in its implementation." To that, Michael Zaiac (Daiichi Sankyo Europe GmbH) added: "Women often don’t join clinical trials because of care and family responsibilities. We need protocols that actually fit their lives." And then came Ffion's call to action: "We need to rethink what an intersectional approach really means in clinical trials, not just sex as a biological variable and gender as a social construct, but also age, income, and socioeconomic status. And we need to look beyond Europe. In fact, in many global majority countries, women are more present in trials. We should learn from the global health community, like the important work of the Medicines for Malaria Venture on inclusion of pregnant women in research. We need to better protect women through research, rather than from research. At a time when reproductive rights are constantly under threat, we need to be bold. The EU is one of the world’s biggest public funders of health research. It has the power to set a research agenda for women’s health. But words are only words without action (and money). Inclusive science is excellent science, and excellent science delivers for everyone."  ▶️ Watch the recordings of the session here: https://lnkd.in/dcT5rmyA 💡Read our recommendations on improving women’s health globally:  https://lnkd.in/dzt_qigM #WomensHealth #GenderHealthGap #EHFG2025

Too often, women’s health is reduced to “bikini medicine”—breasts, reproduction, and not much else. A powerful article from UNSW spotlights the longstanding blind spots in medicine that have left women misdiagnosed, underserved, and often unheard. From clinical trials that historically excluded women, to treatment protocols built on male-centric data, the gap isn’t just a gender issue, it’s a quality of care issue. As Professor Bronwyn Graham explains, women's health outcomes suffer because our medical systems were never designed with women in mind. Even CPR mannequins are modeled on male bodies. This isn’t just about reproductive care. It’s about understanding how heart disease, depression, pain, and medications uniquely affect women, and redesigning systems that reflect those differences. If we want evidence-based care to be effective, we must ensure that evidence reflects the full population. It’s time to stop retrofitting medicine for women and start building it with them at the center. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/eG2hsj9H #WomensHealth #HealthEquity #ClinicalResearch #MedicalBias #HealthcareInnovation

🚨 Women’s health is still being sidelined. In a time when we talk endlessly about healthcare equity in Canada, how is it possible that women are still left behind? 👉 In Canada, female-specific research funding has been frozen at just 7% since 2020. That means over half the population is being underserved, overlooked, and underfunded. It’s time to ask harder questions - and demand better answers. #WomensHealth #Research #Canada #HealthcareEquity 📖 Read more: https://lnkd.in/ggSyHbD5

Don’t miss this important session today at #FIGO2025 in Cape Town: "Advocating for Increased Global Investment in R&I for Sexual & Reproductive Health Technologies", hosted by Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevoelkerung (DSW) Stiftung Weltbevölkerung (DSW) and chaired by Prof. Marleen Temmerman. Ffion Storer Jones (DSW) will be presenting Impact Global Health’s analysis of the current SRH R&D funding landscape: 📉 While overall funding has grown since 2018, critical areas remain drastically underfunded: - Maternal and gynaecological health continue to be sidelined: they received less than 20% of global funding for SRH R&D - Female-specific health needs are still not met with proportionate investment - Contraceptive and MPT funding is in sharp decline, with unsustainable reliance on very few donors - STI R&D, though seeing a rise in private investment, often overlooks LMIC needs and AMR risks, with funding for diagnostics actually declining What this tells us is clear: the level and coordination of funding are still far from what’s needed to drive meaningful innovation. We are not yet investing at the scale required to deliver urgently needed tools like non-invasive diagnostics and treatments for endometriosis, male contraceptives, or next-generation multipurpose prevention technologies that work in low-resource settings. The session includes a panel discussion with brilliant voices: Susan (Chia-San) Lin Lin (PATH), Heather Vahdat (Male Contraceptive Initiative), Mercy Kampuira (Population Council) The discussion will explore how to shift this trajectory through: 💸 Broader, more equitable funding models 🌍 Political and regulatory action at global and regional levels 🚀 Gender-responsive, context-driven innovation priorities The message is simple: if we want SRH innovation to deliver on its life-saving promise, we must fund it like we mean it. That means coordinated investments, a more diverse funder base, and deliberate prioritization of neglected needs. #FIGO2025 #SRHR #GlobalHealth #InnovationForWomen #MaternalHealth #Contraception #GynHealth #HealthEquity #R&D #Funding #DSW #SRHRInnovation

Global leaders in women’s health are gathering at #FIGO2025, not only to advance science, but to stand together for women’s health and rights. Prof. Paul Fogarty, FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) Chair of the Congress Organizing Committee, puts it simply: “FIGO 2025 is not only about advancing clinical knowledge, it’s about reinforcing our shared responsibility to protect and promote the health and rights of women and girls everywhere.” 🔗 Read the full interview 👉 : https://lnkd.in/eHnGgTre #WomensHealth #HealthEquity #FIGOsocialambassador #GlobalHealth #mjbewafigo

Still buzzing from last week’s NXGN x Numan Women’s Health Panel 🙌 Here are the 3 big takeaways I left with from our discussion on the future of women’s health 👭: 1️⃣ Be visible. Share what you’re building, your wins, and your progress. A great example: Dr. James Somauroo and Jessica Somauroo of SomX announcing their angel investment in BoobyBiome. I met Lydia Mapstone, PhD at WEALTH: Women in Health the night before our NXGN event and already knew so much about the company because of their visibility in sharing their great work ✨ 2️⃣ Personalisation is the future. With big datasets and AI, women will (rightly) expect more insights, tailored diagnostics, and personalised treatment options. It is important to balance regulatory requirements here ⚠️ 3️⃣ Holistic care is essential. Women’s health is not just reproductive health or gynaecology. It’s everything that impacts a woman, and future care must be integrated, breaking silos across specialties, digital solutions and care providers 🍃 Overall? It’s clear the momentum in women’s health is building fast, and the opportunities to drive change have never been bigger. 💡 What do you think will define the next decade of women’s health? Grace Hatton, MD Tosin Sotubo-Ajayi Elena Rueda Ursula Sela Jas Schembri-Stothart (Yacoubian) Darlene Lucion Dr David Rassam Dr Jonathan Oldershaw Tamara S. Charlene Tang Harry Salt Dr Claudia Pastides Dr Puja Mehta Dr. Zahra Khan Monalisa Kapinga

🔗 New Publication Alert - Endometriosis I'm pleased to share our latest publication in Women's Reproductive Health: "Building Bridges: Enhancing Diagnosis and Care for Endometriosis Across the Primary-Secondary Care Continuum" The Inequality Gap: We discuss disparities in endometriosis care: - Black women are 50% less likely to receive a diagnosis than White women (US data) - Deprived communities face lower referral rates and lower subsequent specialist diagnosis - Geographic variations create additional barriers to specialist centres - Private healthcare access creates a two-tiered system within the NHS The Solution - Building Bridges: Rather than viewing diagnosis as an endpoint, we advocate for: - Collaborative, cohesive approaches between primary and secondary care - Recognition that primary care providers are crucial advocates for unreferred and undiagnosed individuals -Holistic, life-course approaches addressing physical, mental, and social well-being -Breaking down silos between healthcare settings Why This Matters: The persistent focus on secondary care research drives inequalities, leaving unreferred and undiagnosed women unaccounted for. Primary care has a pivotal role in reducing inequity and acting as advocates throughout the entire care journey. The Call to Action: We need systems that help patients navigate smooth passages between primary and secondary care—not just for diagnosis, but for ongoing support throughout the life course. Thanks to my co-authors Babu Karavadra, Sharon Dixon, Ulrik Bak Kirk, and Andrew Horne for this important collaborative work. Read the full open-access article: [DOI: 10.1080/23293691.2025.2540344] #Endometriosis #PrimaryCare #HealthEquity #WomensHealth #Healthcare #Research #MedicalResearch #PublicHealth Faculty of Health | University of Sheffield NIHR Community Royal College of General Practitioners Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists | RCOG

The Femtech Positioning Problem, by Carolyn Rush Crouse, Strategy Director at Koto: “In 2016, the term ‘femtech’ was mostly synonymous with tracking your cycle. Fast forward almost a decade and it’s now set to become a $100B market in the next five years, covering everything from menopause and mental health to hormone testing and longevity. But, for all the momentum, the sector’s positioning hasn’t quite kept pace. That’s because there’s a paradox at the heart of femtech. On one hand, the opportunity is huge. Over 80% of women experience a reproductive health issue in their lifetime and obstetrical complications affect more than 33% of women worldwide. Yet femtech companies attract just 2% of total venture capital, and less than 5% of health tech startups focus on women’s health. Even within clinical research, obstetrics accounts for less than 2% of trials in the US, which is a stunning disparity given the scale of unmet need. Before becoming a strategist at Koto, I was the Head of Brand at Robyn, the first marketplace for integrative maternal wellness providers supporting people through fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum. As one of the early employees, I helped build the MVP product, shape go-to-market strategy, and navigate the fundraising process. Alongside that work, I trained and continue to practise as a birth and postpartum doula, which has deeply informed my view on how support systems for women’s health are designed, both digitally and in real life. As someone who has worked both inside femtech startups and alongside them in agency settings, I’ve seen the ripple effects of this imbalance firsthand. The result is a sector that’s often underfunded, under-researched, and underestimated – and whose brands are fighting not just for consumer awareness, but for legitimacy.” Read more 👉 https://lnkd.in/eiR9PUsK #WomenInSTEM #GirlsInSTEM #STEMGems #GiveGirlsRoleModels

EVE Health Group Eve Health Group Limited. (ASX: EVE) has appointed Dr Fiona Cousins as the inaugural member of its newly established Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). Dr Cousins is a Senior Research Scientist at the Hudson Institute, specialising in endometrial biology and endometriosis. Her appointment provides Eve Health with internationally recognised expertise to help shape its R&D pipeline, with particular relevance to dysmenorrhoea (painful menstruation) and endometriosis - two of the most prevalent and under-addressed women's health conditions. "We are delighted to welcome Dr Fiona Cousins to our Scientific Advisory Board," said Dr Stuart Gunzburg, Eve Health's Executive Director and Chief Scientific Officer. "Fiona's internationally recognised expertise in endometrial biology and endometriosis will be invaluable as we take Dyspro through commercial launch and advance our pipeline of women's health products." Dr Cousins said: "I am pleased to join Eve's Scientific Advisory Board as its inaugural member. The SAB has an important role in providing independent scientific advice to support Eve's development programs. I look forward to contributing my expertise in women's reproductive health to help shape the Company's broader research and development efforts."}#EndometrialBiology, #endometriosis, #dysmenorrhoea, #womenSHealth, #reproductiveHealth

✨ Advancing women’s health in Manila, #Philippines 🇵🇭 I had the pleasure of visiting @Unilab our exclusive partner for #Fertibiome in the Philippines, and meeting the dedicated team at #Fervida #Women’s Health. Special thanks to Jane Villablanca, DPA . Shine Basilio , @Winston Pacholo, and April — and a true pleasure to finally meet you in person, Mr. Joey Ochave It was also a privilege to engage with leading reproductive clinics and connect with distinguished fertility KOLs: 👩⚕️ Dr. @Richie Mendiola, Medical Director at Kato Repro Biotech Center 👩⚕️ Dr. @Gia Pastorfide, Medical Director at Victory ART We discussed the science and clinical potential of Fertoibiome Fertility & Probiotic — an innovation designed to modulate the microbiome and support women’s reproductive health 🌱. Encounters like these highlight how scientific collaboration, clinical expertise, and innovation are shaping the future of fertility care — driving forward solutions that can truly make a difference for patients. 🌍 Excited to continue this journey and to soon be lecturing at PSRM. #IVF #FertilityCare #WomensHealth #Innovation #Microbiome #Fervida #Philippines