2024 Year in Review

January 2025

“As we welcome the new year at the Women’s Brain Foundation, we reflect on the remarkable journey we’ve undertaken since our founding in 2017. The year 2024 has truly been one of our most productive and transformative years yet. Notably, it marked our transition to becoming a fully recognized Foundation in March, a milestone that reinforces our commitment to advancing research, advocacy, and innovation in women’s brain health.

This transformation is a testament to the collective efforts of our team, partners, and supporters who share our vision of reshaping science and medicine with sex and gender precision at the forefront. As we move forward, we carry the momentum of 2024 into 2025 with renewed energy and determination, continuing to drive change in science, policy, and healthcare systems.

We are delighted to announce that the Women’s Brain Foundation will be participating in the World Economic Forum in Davos. We look forward to the opportunity to connect with you there and explore exciting avenues for collaboration.

This year get ready to dive into the groundbreaking concept of the Female Brain Capital—a transformative approach to reshaping how we understand brain health and its impact on societal wealth and welfare. Discover the critical role of sex and gender differences in neuroscience, from the Alzheimer’s patient journey and advancements in CSF biomarkers to cutting-edge research in Lewy Body Dementia and innovative biomarkers for Depression.

Together, we have the power to catalyze transformative progress in brain health, paving the way for a healthier and more equitable future.” ~ Dr. Antonella Santuccione-Chadha, CEO

 

From Association to Foundation
When we started, the Women’s Brain Foundation was just an association—a group of passionate individuals united by the mission to address the gaps in research and policy around sex and gender differences in brain health. But as our vision expanded, so too did our need for a stronger framework. In 2024, we completed our transition to a foundation, enabling us to act as a fully independent research institute in Switzerland, secure public funding, and embark on larger, more ambitious projects. This transformation safeguards our mission and ensures that it can thrive beyond any one individual.

 

Expanding Our Reach
We also expanded our global presence. Partnerships with institutions like Weill Cornell Medicine (of Cornell University), the University of Chicago, University of Melbourne, Barcelona Beta, Barcelona Supercomputing Center and more, have propelled us to the forefront of international research. By integrating global expertise, we are advancing the concept of female brain capital as an indispensable component of precision medicine.

 

Key Achievements of 2024
Scientific Contributions: We published 14 peer-reviewed articles highlighting the importance of sex and gender precision medicine in diseases like Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s and beyond.
Community and Advocacy: Our growing network now includes over 60 experts worldwide, spanning medical doctors, scientists, communicators, marketing leaders, students, and, most importantly, patients.
Global Alliances: We joined the Global Alliance for Women’s Health at the World Economic Forum, amplifying our ability to transform women’s health on a global scale.
Awareness Campaigns: The launch of our multi-lingual Women’s Quota campaign brought attention to diseases that disproportionately affect women, such as Alzheimer’s, migraine, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, and depression, as well as the economic and emotional toll of caregiving.
Strategic Support: We are proud to provide strategic and scientific advice to startups such as EQUAL CARE, Bottneuro AG, Hirncoach AG, Kompanion Care, Orbit Health and more and biotech companies focused on women’s and brain health, further strengthening our scientific pipeline and commitment to female brain capital.
Media Presence: Our message reached new audiences through TV appearances on several documentaries and educational programs, spreading awareness about the importance of sex and gender precision medicine.

 

Gratitude to our Affiliated Professionals
Our biggest thank you goes to the women and men who are relentlessly supporting our work and helping us grow above all donors for our independent research. Thank you also to all the scientific advisors and journalists who have made our science and voice heard and read. A heartfelt thank you also to our affiliated scientists and the Women’s Brain Foundation team. In the end, it is about the people who stand behind a mission to make a real difference. We cannot list you all here as you are a battalion, but you can find them on our website www.womensbrainproject.com and in each possible trace of our published and shared work on the web.

 

Gratitude to our Partners
None of this progress would have been possible without the unwavering support of our partners and collaborators in the entire ecosystem of women’s health and brain health. To name just a few: Medscape Education, bit.bio, Alzheimer Europe, Alzheimer’s Disease International, Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative, Lundbeck Italia, Lundbeck, Roche, McKinsey & Company, World Economic Forum, Ogilvy, Iaculis GmbH, and BCW Global, FatzerImbach AG, Charles River Associates, TEDxZurich, Swiss Ladies Drive GmbH, Bristol Myers Squibb, WOMEN IN BUSINESS COMMUNITY, and many more. Your contributions have been instrumental in driving meaningful advancements, fostering innovation, and amplifying awareness in this vital field. We are profoundly grateful for your commitment to improving the lives of women worldwide through your continued support and collaboration.

 

Looking Ahead to 2025
If 2025 mirrors the momentum of 2024, we will once again find ourselves traveling thousands of miles, attending pivotal conferences, and dedicating countless hours to advancing their mission. We will continue spreading our message with passion and purpose, engaging with diverse audiences and inspiring action. Along the way, we will actively recruit like-minded researchers, policymakers, and advocates to join our cause—transforming healthcare systems to prioritize equity by addressing the unique needs of both women and men. Through these efforts, we aim to foster a more inclusive and effective approach to health and well-being, ultimately driving systemic change on a global scale.

A special thank you to Sarah Whitfield for donating her time and expertise in producing this infographic.