Jacksonville University and partners launch Women's Health Innovation Network to improve community and women's health by leveraging technology

Community healthcare, technology and higher education partners, including Mayor Donna Deegan, Delores Barr Weaver Legacy Funds, GuideWell/Florida Blue, Jacksonville University, the Mayo Clinic in Florida and the University of North Florida on Tuesday joined 300 community leaders to celebrate the creation of the Women's Health Innovation Network (WHIN), a community network focused on leveraging technology and innovation to improve women's health outcomes.

WHIN is launching a first-of-its-kind "collaboratory" - a collaborative laboratory - that will include an incubator and accelerator for innovators creating products and services to help solve health issues that affect women solely, differently or disproportionately. These innovators will be guided by mentors in early-stage startup formation, and by experts in technology, medicine, health sciences and education in a dedicated, state-of-the-art space on the GuideWell/Florida Blue Deerwood campus.

"Research tells us that 93% of the most underfunded health conditions affect mainly women, and that closing the women's health gap could add $1 trillion to the global economy each year," said Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan. "Here in Jacksonville, we are fortunate to have some of the best healthcare institutions in the country with the talent and resources to create and grow startups. WHIN will foster the cutting-edge research discoveries, products, and services that improve the health of our community and contribute to our local economy at the same time."

"At GuideWell and Florida Blue, we believe innovation and collaboration are key to improving the health and well-being of our communities," said Pat Geraghty, president and CEO of GuideWell and Florida Blue. "As a health solutions company, we're committed to harnessing the power of innovation to drive meaningful change. The Women's Health Innovation Network represents a powerful opportunity to bring together diverse talents and expertise to tackle pressing health challenges facing women. We're proud to be a part of this initiative and look forward to seeing its transformative impact."

WHIN will guide cohorts of talented individuals from a cross-sector of the community through the phases of innovation, including ideation, problem-solving, entrepreneurial training, partnership development, startup funding and commercialization of products and services. The initiative is led by two experts in their fields: Jane Muir, who launched the University of Florida's innovation hub, which has generated thousands of jobs and attracted millions of dollars in private investment; and Dr. Christine Sapienza, a longtime Jacksonville University healthcare sciences educator, researcher, and co-inventor of the globally used Expiratory Muscle Strength Trainer for patient care.

"Innovation happens when you bring together people with a diverse set of talents, who each look at challenges from a different perspective and bring their expertise to bear to address those challenges in ways not previously considered. There exists an unprecedented opportunity to apply today's technological advancements - such as 3D printing for organ transplant, robotics for assistive surgeries, artificial intelligence to quickly analyze datasets and correlate them for personalized medicine - to conditions that impact the health and well-being of women everywhere," said Jane Muir, founding Executive Director of WHIN. "We have a tremendous opportunity to help build companies that will employ local talent in the industries of the future, translate research discoveries into new products and services, attract millions of dollars in federal funding and private investment and generate substantial revenues that will help Northeast Florida become the small business capital of the southeast."

As a collaborative network, WHIN is leveraging the expertise, talent development, research and support of the region's premier private university, Jacksonville University, and its public research university, the University of North Florida.

"The nexus of talent, our region's medical and higher education ecosystems, and technology and healthcare expertise make Northeast Florida the ideal place to launch a collaborative like WHIN," said Jacksonville University President Tim Cost '81. "Building on our own investments in healthcare education, STEM and entrepreneurship, Jacksonville University is proud to support WHIN alongside critical partners whose knowledge and passion will benefit the health and economic prosperity of our region."

"As a leader in bringing together research, medicine and innovation, the University of North Florida is proud to be part of the Women's Health Innovation Network," said UNF President Moez Limayem. "Together, we will help create environments where women can prioritize their health, allowing them to flourish in every aspect of life."

In August, WHIN partnered with the Mayo Clinic in Florida and numerous other entities to submit a grant proposal to the National Science Foundation. If awarded, the grant would catalyze groundbreaking research and innovation, using a research model that incorporates space medicine and the power of microgravity as a tool to study accelerated cell growth, such as in cancer and aging. Incorporating sex as a biological variable in this research - taking into account the specific differences in women's bodies - will help drive transformative and equitable advancements in healthcare that will shape the future of all patient care.

"This collaboration is a critical component of bringing more needed federal resources to our communities, which is something that really inspires us at the Mayo Clinic in Florida," said Dr. Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa, Director of Research for the Mayo Clinic in Florida. "We are so excited about our future and our partnership with WHIN - our community is primed to change the world."

In the coming months, WHIN will welcome its first aspiring innovators to its Deerwood campus:
● WHIN Huddles on November 7th and 14th will be dynamic, two-day sessions that leverage design-centered thinking to explore challenges and solutions in regenerative health;
● The collaboratory space on the GuideWell/Florida Blue Deerwood campus, building 300, will open in January 2025;
● The inaugural WHIN Startup Primer in February will be an intensive 12-week program designed to guide aspiring entrepreneurs through the process of turning an idea into a successful business; and
● The Inaugural WHIN Accelerator Program cohort in April will be a 16-week program that connects early-stage women's health technology startups with the resources they need to succeed. Through specialized mentoring and business development, participants will refine their business models, optimize their operations and gain access to networks that can accelerate growth. Whether it's navigating the regulatory landscape or preparing for investment, the program is designed to help startups succeed faster and more effectively.

For more information about WHIN, to become a network member or supporter, or to apply to join the inaugural cohorts, please visit whin.live.

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