THE WYSS INSTITUTE AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY
201 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA 02215
The Women’s Health Catalyst at the Wyss Institute offers a unique opportunity to explore cutting-edge research and innovations addressing critical gaps in therapeutics, diagnostics, and medical devices for women’s healthcare. Through the Women’s Health Catalyst, the Wyss Institute is committed to disrupting the status quo by channeling its ambitious community of innovators to work with WHAM’s 3Not30 Initiative to find solutions for unmet clinical needs to improve women’s health outcomes globally.
This exclusive convening brings together world-renowned researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders to explore the transformative potential of women’s health innovation. With discussions ranging from translational medicine to high-impact investment opportunities, this Forum aims to accelerate groundbreaking advancements that will shape the future of healthcare.
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
WYSS COLLABORATORY TOURS — Innovation at Work: Meet the Minds Transforming Healthcare
INNOVATION AT WORK: MEET THE MINDS TRANSFORMING HEALTHCARE
Tour the Wyss Institute’s advanced research hubs and engage directly with scientists, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders at the forefront of women’s health breakthoughs.
Check out the featured tour stops here.
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
REGISTRATION & LIGHT BITES
Kick off the day with refreshments and networking. Connect with like-minded visionaries ready to change the game in healthcare innovation.
1:00 PM – 1:10 PM
OPENING REMARKS: Driving Innovation, Creating Impact
Setting the tone for a day of actionable ideas and forward-thinking strategies.
Angelika Fretzen, PhD, MBA, Technology Translation Director & Chief Operating Officer, Wyss Institute, Harvard University
Carolee Lee, CEO and Founder, WHAM
1:10 PM – 1:15 PM
WELCOME: Pushing Boundaries
Inspiring words into the urgency of accelerating sex-based differences research to drive breakthroughs in healthcare.
Sandra Fenwick, CEO Emerita, Boston Children’s Hospital; Wyss Institute Board
1:15 PM – 1:55 PM
PANEL: RETHINKING THE FUTURE OF BRAIN HEALTH — Pipeline to Breakthroughs: A Case Study in Innovating Alzheimer’s Care
What does it look like to build a more complete pipeline to understand sex differences and create solutions for women? Learn more about how essential research, cutting-edge diagnostics, and early-stage drug delivery come together through the lens of neurodegenerative disease and Alzheimer’s. Nearly 2/3 of Americans with Alzheimer’s are women, how can we change these numbers?
Intro and Moderator: Meryl Comer, Co-Founder, UsAgainstAlzheimer’s; Vice Chair, WHAM
Panelists:
- Don Ingber, MD, PhD, Founding Director and Core Faculty, Wyss Institute at Harvard University; Judah Folkman Professor of Vascular Biology, Harvard Medical School and Boston Children’s Hospital
- Haiyan Peng, PhD, Director, Research, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals
- David Walt, PhD, Professor of Pathology, Harvard Medical School; Core Faculty, Wyss Institute at Harvard University
1:55 PM – 2:35 PM
PANEL: THE HEART OF INNOVATION — Revolutionizing Cardiovascular Health: Precision Approaches for Women
Explore how revolutionary approaches are addressing the unique cardiovascular challenges women face. Discuss how sex-based research is leading to more accurate diagnostics, better interventions, and smarter wearables for heart health.
Intro and Moderator: Jill Kalman, MD, Executive Vice President, Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Physician-in-Chief, Northwell Health
- Chris Chen, MD, PhD, Core Faculty, Wyss Institute at Harvard University; William Fairfield Warren Distinguished Professor, Biomedical Engineering & Director, Biological Design Center, Boston University
- Alyson McGregor, MD, Professor of Emergency Medicine & Associate Dean, Faculty Affairs and Development, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville
- Kathryn Rexrode, MD, MPH, Chief, Division of Women’s Health and Professor, Harvard Medical School
2:35 PM – 3:00 PM
FIRESIDE CHAT: REDEFINING THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE — Funding & Regulations: Where Do We Go From Here?
Explore how federal policy and regulatory shifts can accelerate — or stall — innovation in women’s health. This timely conversation examines what’s needed to move from intention to implementation at scale.
Intro and Moderator: Janet Foutty, Senior Advisor, WHAM; Former Chair and Consulting CEO, Deloitte
Panelists:
- Marsha Henderson, Associate Commissioner for Women’s Health, FDA (retired); Board Member, WHAM
3:00 PM – 3:15 PM
BREAK
3:15 PM – 3:30 PM
KEYNOTE: BREAKING OUT OF THE LAB — How AI is Rewriting the Rules of Drug Discovery
Unravel Biosciences is accelerating therapeutic development through a new model combining AI systems biology with rapid in vivo screening. Learn how this approach can be applied to women’s health to unlock faster, smarter cures.
Richard Novak, PhD, Co-founder and CEO, Unravel Biosciences; Advisor, Wyss DxA Industrial Participant Program
3:30 PM – 4:10 PM
PANEL: INVESTING WITH IMPACT — Financing the Future: Sex-Based Innovations on the Rise
How strategic investments are not just advancing women’s health but also shaping the broader healthcare landscape. Explore high-impact strategies for aligning innovation with investment.
Intro and Moderator: Katherine Anderson, Head of Life Science and Healthcare, HSBC Innovation Banking
Panelists:
- Elizabeth Bailey, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Foreground Capital
- Paulina Hill, PhD, Partner, Sanofi Ventures
- Laura Tadvalkar, PhD, Managing Director, RA Capital
4:10 PM – 4:50 PM
PANEL: THE POWER OF INNOVATION — Success Stories in Women’s Health: Transformative Technologies and Breakthrough Business Models
Meet the innovators who are translating scientific discoveries into market-changing solutions. Learn from their journeys and the tangible impact of their work.
Intro and Moderator: Angelika Fretzen, PhD (Moderator), Technology Translation Director & Chief Operating Officer, Wyss Institute, Harvard University
- Priyanka Jain, Co-Founder and CEO, Evvy
- Piraye Yurttas Beim, PhD Founder and CEO, Celmatix
- Oriana Papin-Zoghbi, CEO and Co-Founder, AOA Dx
4:50 PM – 5:00 PM
CLOSING REMARKS — The Future Starts Now: Call to Action
Reflecting on the day’s insights and inspiring next steps toward investing in a healthcare revolution.
Angelika Fretzen, PhD, MBA, Technology Translation Director & Chief Operating Officer, Wyss Institute, Harvard University
Carolee Lee, CEO and Founder, WHAM
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
COCKTAIL RECEPTION
A networking opportunity for attendees and speakers to connect and continue conversations sparked throughout the day.