Securing Engagement with the Gates Foundation & NIH Innovation Equity Forum for OCON

ELAFY supported the strategic positioning of OCON Therapeutics within the Innovation Equity Forum (IEF) — a joint initiative of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) — resulting in representation on the Steering Committee and participation in global discussions shaping the future of women’s health.

This engagement reflects a broader effort to elevate uterine health as a critical and historically underrepresented areawithin global health priorities. At the time, the conversation around women’s health was largely centered on fertility, maternal care, and early life stages.

Through strategic positioning and advocacy, ELAFY supported the introduction of a more holistic perspective on women’s health, expanding the focus to include conditions such as uterine bleeding, fibroids, and endometriosis — areas affecting millions of women worldwide but often overlooked in research, funding, and policy.

Participation in the Innovation Equity Forum provided a platform to engage directly with global health leaders, policymakers, and innovation stakeholders, contributing to the identification of unmet needs and shaping discussions around future investment and research priorities.

This work highlights the role of strategic advisory in connecting companies with global health initiatives, enabling them to contribute to policy-level conversations and influence broader healthcare agendas.

The initiative was further amplified through a feature published in FemTech World, increasing visibility across the global women’s health and innovation ecosystem.

In addition to securing this engagement, ELAFY supported the strategic narrative, media positioning, and visibility of the initiative, ensuring alignment with broader global conversations around women’s health innovation.