Zara Malik, Head of Regulatory Affairs at LFH Regulatory had the privilege of attending the Innovation in Women’s Health webinar hosted by the Association of British HealthTech Industries (ABHI), and chaired by Women’s Health Ambassador, Dr Henrietta Hughes.
The session brought together a vibrant group of #STEMinists — professionals united by a shared mission to elevate women’s health both within our sector and globally.
Making Women’s Health a Priority
As a woman working in health and life sciences, I found the discussion both inspiring and challenging. Many of the insights shared struck a personal chord — particularly around the persistent gaps in research, the underrepresentation in clinical data, and the experience of navigating systems that were never designed with women in mind.
Key themes from the webinar included:
- Recognising sex- and race-based differences in healthcare
- Ensuring AI tools are inclusive by reflecting diverse and representative data
- Driving innovation in areas like menstrual health, ageing, cardiovascular disease, mental health, and cancer — all of which affect women differently
- Encouraging genuine cross-sector collaboration to create holistic, patient-focused solutions
One standout question posed to the panel was “What are the pressing issues in access to healthcare for women?” The answers were powerful and revealing:
- The system wasn’t designed for women
- There’s a disconnect between what women need and what’s available
- Women have historically been underrepresented in clinical research
- And perhaps most importantly — innovation is not just about new technology. It’s about redesigning care so that it actually works for everyone.
What’s the Opportunity?
The conversation highlighted a number of exciting opportunities to reimagine women’s healthcare:
- Greater investment in R&D for conditions like endometriosis
- More effective patient engagement that empowers women in their care
- Better education to help women recognise what’s normal and what’s not
- Use of AI and digital health tools — not as buzzwords, but as transformative assets
Driving Innovation Through Regulation
At LFH Regulatory, we believe regulation should never be a barrier to innovation — it should be an enabler. That’s why we’re asking – How can we use regulatory strategy to accelerate innovation in women’s healthcare?
Here are a few key ideas:
- Require sex- and gender-specific data in clinical trials to ensure meaningful outcomes
Incentivise R&D focused on underserved women’s health conditions - Co-create with women: Involve female patients in regulatory decision-making and ensure transparent communication of risks and benefits
- Encourage cross-sector collaboration: Develop regulatory hubs and innovation sandboxes aligned with global standards
- Leverage real-world evidence: Use robust, sex-disaggregated datasets to inform AI development and post-market surveillance
How LFH Regulatory Can Help
As a female-founded business, women’s health is close to our hearts. We’re passionate about partnering with companies innovating in this space — helping them navigate complex regulatory pathways, from early development through to global market entry
If you’re working on a breakthrough in women’s health, let’s talk. We’d love to support you in bringing it to life — and into the hands of those who need it.
Contact the team today – info@lfhregulatory.co.uk
