Pioneering the Future of Women’s Health: The 2025 WHAM Edge Awards

A Bold Initiative for Women's Health

In an era where the intricacies of women's health are becoming increasingly recognized yet remain underfunded, Women’s Health Access Matters (WHAM) emerges as a beacon of hope and progress. The announcement of the 2025 WHAM Edge Awards marks a significant milestone in the pursuit of bridging gaps within this critical domain. These awards, an initiative of the WHAM Investigator’s Fund, are designed to provide essential support to early-career researchers dedicated to exploring the nuanced ways in which biological sex influences health outcomes.

Why This Matters Now

Dr. Anula Jayasuriya, Chief Scientific Officer of WHAM and Chair of the WHAM Scientific Advisory Board, succinctly captures the essence of this initiative: "Too many promising research ideas go unfunded simply because they are too early-stage for traditional grantmaking." The WHAM Edge Awards aim to change this narrative by investing early in bold ideas and the brilliant minds behind them, thereby driving progress in women’s health research at a pivotal moment.

Unveiling the 2025 WHAM Edge Awards

With an eye on both current and emerging high-interest areas in women’s health, the awards welcome proposals across a spectrum of critical health areas, including autoimmune disease, brain health, cancer, heart health, and more. By doing so, WHAM is not just funding research; it is actively working to change the system and place women's health research at the center of scientific inquiry.

Awardees, selected by a panel of esteemed experts from WHAM’s Scientific Advisory Board, will each receive $25,000 in unrestricted funding to pursue their research. This gesture underscores WHAM’s commitment to overcoming systemic hurdles that early-career researchers often face, especially when it comes to accessing grants.

The Far-Reaching Impact of Investing in Women’s Health

Carolee Lee, Founder & CEO of WHAM, emphasizes the profound implications of this initiative, "By accelerating research into sex and biological differences, we can not only improve outcomes but also reduce healthcare costs and boost the economy." Indeed, WHAM’s research underscores the economic wisdom of investing in women’s health research, revealing that a $350 million investment can generate a staggering $14 billion return to the U.S. economy.

This initiative serves as a clarion call to action, highlighting the urgency and the necessity of advancing women’s health research. It beckons us to recognize the personal stakes involved—it’s about our lives, our families, our communities, and the future of our healthcare system and economy.

About WHAM

Founded by Carolee Lee, WHAM stands as a non-profit 501c3 organization at the vanguard of advancing healthcare innovations and reshaping the women’s health landscape. Through its various initiatives, WHAM has established itself as a neutral convener, connecting leaders across sectors to accelerate the development and adoption of groundbreaking healthcare solutions. The WHAM Investment Collaborative, along with its Research Collaborative and the soon-to-launch Life Sciences Collaborative, is focused on creating sustainable impact and improving health outcomes for all.

For those interested in learning more about WHAM and its transformative initiatives, or wish to register for the November 18th WHAM Fall Forum & Edge Awards Virtual Presentation, I encourage you to visit www.whamnow.org and www.thewhamreport.org. Let us stand together in support of this pivotal movement towards a healthier, more equitable future for women’s health.