Additional Coverage:
Philanthropist Melinda French Gates has announced a $100 million partnership to accelerate women’s health research. The funding, a joint effort between French Gates’ Pivotal Ventures and the non-profit Wellcome Leap, will target critical areas like autoimmune disease, mental health, and cardiovascular health – areas with high mortality rates for women.
Speaking at the 2025 Forbes Power Women’s Summit, French Gates emphasized the connection between a woman’s health and her overall trajectory in life. She highlighted the current inadequacy of investments in women’s health, stating, “We’re going to change that.” This initiative builds on French Gates’ significant commitment to women’s health, including a $1 billion pledge announced earlier this year to support organizations advancing the rights of women and other underrepresented groups.
Regina Dugan of Wellcome Leap pointed out the historical neglect of women’s specific health needs in research, citing the striking example of menopause being largely excluded from studies on aging. “For so long, the research community has treated women as if they’re small men,” Dugan remarked. “Women are not small men.”
Two new women’s health programs are slated to launch next year thanks to the $50 million contributions from both Pivotal and Wellcome Leap. French Gates expressed optimism about the potential for rapid progress, saying, “We really can do a lot more research in these areas – and I’m talking in years, not decades – to change women’s lives.” This latest initiative reinforces French Gates’ ongoing dedication to improving women’s health, a focus she has championed both independently and during her 25 years at the helm of the Gates Foundation alongside her ex-husband, Bill Gates.