Melinda French Gates Backs $100 Million Bet On Women’s Health Breakthroughs
Originally published by Moira Forbes for Forbes
“I want to see women step into equal power and influence at every level of society, from their homes to their workplaces to our government and economy. But there is no path to that future if women are having to fight unwinnable battles just to receive basic healthcare,” says Melinda French Gates, philanthropist and founder of Pivotal Ventures.
That conviction drives her latest effort, announced at today’s Forbes Power Women’s Summit: a $100 million partnership between Pivotal Ventures, the company she founded to accelerate social progress and expand women’s power, and Wellcome Leap, the breakthrough health organization led by Regina Dugan. Each is committing $50 million to women’s health research and development, a joint effort that will fund two new programs launching in 2026. These programs will target conditions such as cardiovascular disease, women’s mental health, and autoimmune disorders, areas that have long been underfunded despite their sweeping impact.
The need is stark. Only 1% of global health research beyond cancer focuses on conditions unique to women. Nearly 80% of those with autoimmune diseases are women, yet cures remain elusive. Menopause affects half the population, but fewer than 1% of studies on aging even consider it. The result is that women spend 25% more of their lives in poor health than men, with consequences that reverberate across families, workplaces, and economies.