Women’s Health Access Matters (WHAM) has opened nominations for its 2025 Edge Awards, providing $25,000 grants to early-career investigators studying sex-based differences in health outcomes.
The awards target research in autoimmune diseases, brain health, cancer and heart health, conditions that often affect women differently than men. For the first time, WHAM is also accepting proposals on healthspan, bone and muscle health, and novel treatments for endometriosis, menopause and polycystic ovary syndrome. Applications can incorporate AI and secondary data analysis.
Nominations come from WHAM’s Research Collaborative, a network of more than 100 scientists and physicians from leading institutions. The Scientific Advisory Board, including experts from Harvard Medical School, Yale and Northwestern University, will select recipients. Notifications are set for Oct. 29, with a virtual forum and awards presentation on Nov. 18.
The program, started in 2022, addresses a funding gap for junior researchers who lack preliminary data required by many federal grants. “Too many promising research ideas go unfunded simply because they are too early-stage for traditional grantmaking… early investment in bold ideas—and in the brilliant minds behind them—is how we drive progress in women’s health,” said Dr. Anula Jayasuriya, WHAM’s chief scientific officer.
This comes amid a wave of 2025 funding initiatives for women’s health. ARPA-H’s Sprint for Women’s Health has awarded about $110–$113M to ~24 teams. The EQT Foundation’s Breakthrough Science Grants offer €25k–€100k for women’s-health projects. The Foundation for Women’s Health prioritized autoimmune disease and uterine cancer in its 2025 RFA.
Such efforts highlight growing recognition of underinvestment in sex-specific research. Diseases like heart disease and Alzheimer’s strike women harder, yet studies historically default to male subjects. WHAM’s analysis shows that $350 million in women’s health research could yield $14 billion in economic returns through better outcomes and lower costs.
WHAM, a nonprofit founded by Carolee Lee, convenes leaders to advance women’s health from lab to policy. Its Investigator’s Fund drives private investment in these areas.
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