Gates Foundation pledges $2.5 billion for women's health research through 2030
Why it matters: These projects, including several in the Boston area, aim to reduce the centuries-old gap in research to treat conditions that primarily affect women.
Driving the news: Boston-area hospitals, universities and startups are getting funding, many in the millions, to advance women's health research.
Tufts University will get funding to support maternal nutrition.
Fenway Health will use its funding for data and advocacy around STIs.
Several Harvard schools will use the funds to focus on maternal and vaginal microbiome, contraceptive technology and preeclampsia research.
Zoom in: Comanche, a Concord-based biopharma startup, previously received funding from the Gates Foundation to help develop an RNA-based medicine for pre-term preeclampsia.
Now the company is getting $3 million from the Gates Foundation to continue its research, says Rasa Izadnegahdar, the foundation's director of maternal, newborn, child nutrition & health.
The foundation will help Comanche fund its work and expand its research outside the U.S., says Scott Johnson, Comanche's CEO and co-founder.
Reality check: The Gates Foundation's funding may help get certain products to market faster or advance underrepresented areas of research, but much more support is needed to close the gender gap in medical research.
What they're saying: "I don't think it even starts to scratch the surface of that," Izadnegahdar, tells Axios.
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Cosmopolitan
25 minutes ago
- Cosmopolitan
7 Times Egg Freezing Is Worth the Investment
If you're curious about freezing your eggs, join the club. According to the most recent data, the number of egg freezing cycles in the U.S. rose nearly 39 percent between 2022 to 2023, per the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART). It's becoming increasingly common in the public eye, too, thanks to influencers and celebrities like Paige Desorbo, who's been candid about freezing her eggs on her podcast, Giggly Squad. And the reproductive technology industry is changing as quickly as it's growing. We published this guide to egg freezing in 2021, and some of the information is already outdated. Here's what's still true though: Freezing your eggs is pretty much the only proven way to preserve and extend your fertility, explains Marcia C. Inhorn, PhD, a professor of anthropology at Yale University and author of Motherhood on Ice: The Mating Gap and Why Women Freeze Their Eggs. Also still true: It's expensive. These days, one round of egg freezing typically costs between $10,000 and $15,000, says Natalie Crawford, MD, a reproductive endocrinologist and the co-founder of Fora Fertility. The procedure has gotten pricier in the last few years, but thanks to workplace benefits, it's also become more accessible. In 2024, 21% of companies with 500 or more employees offered benefits that covered egg freezing, up from 11% in 2020, according to a national survey. While wanting to freeze your eggs for future use is reason enough to go for it, we asked experts for the circumstances that make the treatment an even better investment. For some, this procedure takes the pressure off, ultimately making that sense of relief is worth the money, time, and emotional commitment. You probably already know: When you're younger, you have more eggs in your ovaries, and those eggs are typically more likely to result in a healthy pregnancy. Between the ages of 35 and 36, there's generally a big drop in both the number of eggs you have and the quality of those eggs, says Ellen Goldstein, MD, a reproductive endocrinologist and the co-founder of Beverly Hills Fertility. Before 35, patients are able to freeze an average of 15 eggs per cycle. Once they reach age 40 and above, that average declines to just 6 or 7 per cycle, according to data from Extend Fertility, a New York-based fertility center (this is not a nationally representative sample, JFYI). And because freezing your eggs is a numbers game—the more you have frozen, the more chances you have to get pregnant in the future—you want to freeze as many eggs per cycle as possible. You're also less likely to run into issues with egg quality before age 37, says Natalie Stentz, MD, an ob-gyn and fertility specialist. When experts talk about egg quality, they're referring to how likely the egg is to have genetic or cellular abnormalities, explains Dr. Stentz. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, once you reach your mid-to-late 30s, your eggs are more likely to have a condition where they have the wrong number of chromosomes. It can lead to miscarriage, developmental issues, and birth defects. Fertility research is pretty limited, but a 2016 study published in Fertility and Sterility found that people who froze their eggs before or at age 35 had a 50% chance of having a live birth, whereas people who froze their eggs after 35 only had a 22.9% chance of the same outcome. This is not to say that this whole process is pointless if you're at the tail end of your 30s or even in your early 40s. You just might have to go through more cycles or do more transfers in order to end up with a baby. Those who start earlier may have better odds, thus getting more bang for their buck. No matter how old you are, if you'd like to have a bigger family, freezing your eggs could improve your chances of making more babies. Say you have your first kid at 35. By the time you're ready for your next round of trying for a baby, you could be 37 or older. Obviously, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, but if you're worried about your odds of conceiving, freezing your eggs could make it easier. It might be helpful to know that not everyone will produce as many healthy, mature eggs in a single freezing cycle. If you're curious how many eggs you'd need to freeze at your current age based on your future family goals, Dr. Goldstein recommends checking out this calculator created by two reproductive endocrinologists. Though it's not a scientifically proven tool, it may estimate your chances of having a baby based on how many eggs you produce. After one cycle of egg freezing, your doctor might recommend additional rounds. That suggestion really depends on the number of eggs you end up with, the quality of those eggs, and how many children you'd like to have, explains Lora Shahine, MD, a reproductive endocrinologist at Pacific NW Fertility and host of the Brave & Curious podcast. 'A thorough consultation with a reproductive endocrinologist is key to understanding both the benefits and limitations of egg freezing based on [your] individual health and goals,' she says. Regardless of how old you are or how many kids you want to have, if your company pays for egg freezing, it could be worth doing. As I mentioned above, last year 21 percent of companies with 500 or more employees offered egg freezing as part of their fertility benefits. But that coverage can look different, depending on your company's plan. Before you book any appointments, ask your HR rep or the fertility benefit provider for a full summary of what's covered. Read up on whether consults, testing, medication, and storage are part of the package or not, says Lucky Sekhon, MD, a reproductive endocrinologist and the author of The Lucky Egg: Understanding Your Fertility and How to Get Pregnant Now. You should also find out if the plan requires you to use certain clinics, and whether you'll need to pay up front before getting reimbursed, or if they bill your company directly, she adds. From the first consultation to the eggs entering the freezer, you can expect to spend at least four to six weeks in this process, says Dr. Goldstein. In between all of that, there are lots of appointments to make, prescriptions to fill and take, and shots to give yourself. That's why freezing your eggs is most worth it when you can dedicate the time to doing it right. Here's what the whole ordeal looks like: Before you freeze your eggs, you'll need to do an initial consultation and fertility evaluation, including bloodwork and an ultrasound to check out your ovaries. If your doctor agrees you're a good candidate, you'll start the 10-to-14-day process of ovarian stimulation, says Dr. Shahine, aka the part where you inject yourself with hormones that help eggs to mature. During this phase, you'll have more bloodwork and ultrasounds every two to three days to monitor how those eggs are developing, explains Dr. Crawford. Once the eggs are mature, it's time for the egg retrieval. At this point, you're put under anesthesia so that your eggs can be removed from your ovaries using a thin needle and then frozen in the lab. The procedure itself only takes 15 to 30 minutes. You'll just need someone to drive you home afterward, thanks to the sedation. How quickly you can start the hormonal injections and schedule your retrieval depends on a few factors, though. Some fertility clinics require you to start the shots at the beginning of your menstrual cycle, while others might have a different protocol. Your birth control can also influence the timeline, says Dr. Goldstein. For example, if you're on the pill, you'll also need to stop using it and give your body time to readjust before starting the egg freezing protocol. That could make the whole process longer, says Dr. Goldstein. If you want to increase your chances of having a successful pregnancy, it could be worth turning those eggs into embryos before they enter the freezer. Especially if you're certain that you want your current partner to be your future co-parent (and said partner can produce sperm). Freezing embryos is more expensive because it requires additional steps to fertilize the eggs, but if you go this route, you'll have a clearer picture of what your options look like down the road. If you freeze embryos and genetically test them for abnormalities, you'll know how many healthy embryos you're working with. That said, there's not enough data to say for certain whether your chances of having a healthy baby are higher when you freeze an embryo versus freezing an egg. For example, this study from 2017 found no significant difference in live birth rates from frozen embryos vs. frozen eggs: "In our study, live birth rates and perinatal outcomes were not significantly different in patients after oocyte and embryo cryopreservation." Just a heads up, if you end up not wanting or needing to use your frozen embryos, things could get messy. In 2024, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are considered children under its state law. And in Louisiana, it's illegal to destroy frozen embryos even if you've decided you don't want to use them. Other states like Arizona and New Jersey have laws that impact what happens to embryos after divorce, and whether they count as property. There are certainly workarounds (like storing your embryos in another state that allows disposal), but if you want to avoid potential legal hurdles, freezing your eggs may be a better option. There aren't currently any laws that prohibit you from destroying frozen eggs. Aside from your age, your genes and some medical diagnoses can make egg freezing worth the investment. If you have a condition like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or endometriosis, you might have a hard time getting pregnant the old-fashioned way. Because you might need fertility treatment later on to help you conceive, freezing your eggs now could give you better odds of a healthy pregnancy whenever you're ready to start a family. It's a good idea to talk to a reproductive endocrinologist to decide whether this makes sense for you, says Dr. Goldstein. The same goes for if you have a family history of early menopause—particularly in your mom or a sibling. It's not always genetic, but if a close family member stopped getting their period before the age of 40, you'll also want to talk to a reproductive endocrinologist to figure out whether you're at risk and if you need to think about fertility preservation, she explains. If you're about to start chemotherapy, your state (like Illinois and Utah) might even legally require your insurance company to cover egg freezing and in vitro fertilization. To find out when your health insurance covers egg freezing (and when they don't), reach out to your provider and ask for an explanation of benefits (EOB). That will help you understand what's covered and any necessary pre-approval steps, says Dr. Sekhon. If you're willing to pay for the initial consult, your fertility doc's administrative staff should also be able to help you figure out the ins and outs of your insurance coverage, adds Dr. Goldstein. As you think about your budget for egg freezing, you'll need to factor in the storage costs too. On average, keeping your eggs frozen costs between $500 to $1,000 per year, says Dr. Stentz. For some, that's no different than the annual fee on a fancy credit card. But if you're worried about the price of this procedure, and you'll be waiting five or 10 years to have a kiddo, it's something to think about.
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Former X CEO Linda Yaccarino lands new gig at digital health firm focused on weight loss drugs
Former X CEO Linda Yaccarino landed a new gig to head a digital health startup on Tuesday – just weeks after she abruptly stepped down from the helm of Elon Musk's social media site. Yaccarino, 61, will take over as CEO of Miami-based eMed Population Health, which provides support and resources for patients on Ozempic and other popular GLP-1 drugs used to treat obesity and diabetes, the company announced. EMed cited the advertising veteran's 'undeniable ability to negotiate new partnerships' as a key factor as it looks to secure more deals with employers and government agencies. Advertisement 3 Linda Yaccarino is the new CEO of eMed. AFP via Getty Images 'The healthcare industry has been disrupted by technology, but not yet completely transformed by it,' Yaccarino said in a statement. 'There is an opportunity to combine technology, lifestyle, and data in a new powerful way through the digital channels that impact consumers directly in ways that have never been done before,' she added. Yaccarino resigned from X last month after two chaotic years working alongside Musk, who faced intense scrutiny over his work with President Trump's Department of Government Efficiency. Advertisement Her exit was announced just one day after a glitch caused X's Grok chatbot to spew antisemitic views, including referred to itself as 'MechaHitler.' 3 Linda Yaccarino stepped down as CEO of X last month. AP However, a source close to the situation told The Post at the time that Yaccarino's departure was already in the works and was unrelated to that incident. Advertisement 'She got advertisers back and made it profitable again,' the source said. '(She) felt it was time to move on.' 3 Linda Yaccarino was a former ad executive at NBCUniversal. REUTERS The former NBCUniversial advertising executive joined X in 2023, shortly after Musk bought the site formerly known as Twitter, and was tasked with mending fences with major corporate advertisers stemming from the mogul's overhaul of the platform. Under Yaccarino's leadership, X filed a federal antitrust lawsuit targeting the World Federation of Advertisers and a shadowy ad cabal known as the 'Global Alliance for Responsible Media initiative,' or GARM, as part of a broader push for holding 'brand safety' firms accountable for alleged censorship. Advertisement She will now take her talents to eMed, which was founded in 2020. The Miami-based company touts a range of services on its website, including 'at-home diagnostics, proctor-led screenings, physician-guided prescribing,' according to a press release. It also claims it can help reduce the cost of a weight-loss program by up to 50% for patients.
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Baby Milk Recalled in 9 States, FDA Sets Risk Warning
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A recent recall of human donor milk distributed across nine states has been classified as the second-highest risk level—of three—by food inspectors. The milk was voluntarily recalled by Columbus-based nonprofit Ohio Health Mother Milk Bank on July 14 after an inaccurate temperature reading from a thermometer on one pasteurization machine. The recall affects a total of 5,735 bottles of milk distributed in Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Vermont and West Virginia, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said. FDA inspectors issued a Class II status on August 4, indicating a possibility of temporary or reversible health issues, or a remote chance of serious consequences. Newsweek contacted Ohio Health's media team via email on Tuesday. Stock photo shows a bottle of milk displayed in front of a sleeping baby. Stock photo shows a bottle of milk displayed in front of a sleeping baby. Getty Images Why It Matters The recall highlights recurring public health concerns surrounding safety and labeling of vital products intended for infants and medically vulnerable populations. FDA recall classifications are directly linked to the potential health consequences, with a Class II status indicating a possibility of temporary or medically reversible health issues, or only a remote chance of serious consequences, should consumers use the implicated product. What To Know Many mothers rely on donated or purchased human donor milk when not producing enough milk or when parents have adopted. It is also often given to premature or low birth weight infants. The recall affects: 4,006 units of OH MMB Human Donor Milk, 20.00 Cal/oz., 1.00 g/dl. Protein, packaged in 3 oz. plastic bottles And 1,729 units of OH MMB Human Donor Milk, 20.00 Cal/oz., 0.80 g/dl. Protein, packaged in 6 oz. plastic bottles The FDA said in its August 4 classification update that exact concentration of protein can vary. Affected customers in the nine states are advised to check any recently received milk bank products for recall status and contact the Ohio Health Mother Milk Bank or their state health department for further instruction. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has three risk categories for food recalls. They are described on the agency's website as follows: "Class I—a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death. "Class II—a situation in which use of, or exposure to, a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote. "Class III—a situation in which use of, or exposure to, a violative product is not likely to cause adverse health consequences." What Happens Next The donor milk recall remains active and listed as ongoing by the FDA as of August 5. Subsequently, consumers in the affected states are urged not to use the recalled products and to consult with relevant health providers regarding possible exposure. If you are interested in donating your breast milk to Ohio Health, call (614) 566-0630 or email MilkBank@ to begin the donor screening process.
