Our research

Since 1964, we have invested more than £65 million in the highest-quality research across all areas of women’s reproductive health.

Many of the treatments we take for granted today started with research that we funded including use of ultrasound scanning in pregnancy, the importance of taking folic acid in pregnancy and early research that linked HPV to cervical cancer – resulting in the first preventative school-wide vaccination programme.

Figures adjusted for inflation.

Our ambition

Our ambition is to find cures and develop new tests and treatments that will save and change the lives of women, girls and babies.

We aim to achieve this by investing in high-quality, innovative research addressing areas of unmet need, as well as developing promising researchers to become academic leaders in women's health.

Our peer-review process

The Research Advisory Committee

Our research is selected, monitored and evaluated by our eminent Research Advisory Committee (RAC), a team of established and expert clinicians and researchers.

Expert review

Our rigorous selection procedure and independent peer review process guarantees that we fund only the highest quality research. This ensures that our funds are invested strategically to achieve the greatest impact on improving healthcare for women, girls and babies.

Working in collaboration

We are accredited by the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) and we work collaboratively with key partners including the government and the royal colleges such as the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) and the Royal College of Physicians (RCP).

Download our research strategy

Current research projects

See all our research projects

Pregnancy and birth

How can maternity services empower pregnant women affected by trauma?

Wellbeing of Women (WoW), in partnership with the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), has awarded £254,034 for a NIHR-WoW Doctoral Fellowship to midwife Joanne Cull. She will investigate what information and support can be given to help pregnant women who have been negatively affected by trauma

Pregnancy and birth

How can we identify health risks in babies too small or too large during pregnancy?

Wellbeing of Women has invested £129,549 in Dr Matina Iliodromiti's research on establishing clear thresholds for too small and large babies to improve care and outcomes

Pregnancy and birth

Can melatonin protect the newborn brain after infection and lack of oxygen?

Wellbeing of Women has invested £255,325 into Professor Nikki Robertson’s research on whether a naturally occurring hormone can protect a baby’s brain that is at risk for life-long injury

Independent chair

Professor David Williams

Professor of Obstetric Medicine, University College London

Researchers and clinicians

Professor Mohamed Abdel-Fattah

Clinical Chair in Gynaecology, University of Aberdeen

Professor Pierre Martin-Hirsch

Consultant Gynaecological Oncologist, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Professor Ahmed Ahmed

Professor of Gynaecological Oncology, University of Oxford

Professor Linda McGowan

Leadership Chair-Applied Health Research, University of Leeds

Professor Dilly Anumba

Chair of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Sheffield

Dr David McLernon

Senior Research Fellow in Medical Statistics, University of Aberdeen

Professor Katie Morris

Professor of Obstetrics and Maternal Fetal Medicine, University of Birmingham

Dr Kirstie Coxon

Associate Professor (Research) Midwifery, Kingston University London

Professor Julia Sanders

Professor of Clinical Nursing and Midwifery, Cardiff University

Professor Pauline Slade

Professor in Clinical Psychology, University of Liverpool

Professor Dharani Hapangama

Professor of Gynaecology, University of Liverpool

Professor Rachel Tribe

Professor of Maternal and Perinatal Sciences, King’s College London

Dr Stamatina Iliodromiti

Reader in Women’s Health and Reproductive Medicine at Queen Mary University of London

Professor Raheela Khan

Professor of Cellular Physiology, University of Nottingham

Professor Krina Zondervan

Professor of Reproductive and Genomic Epidemiology, University of Oxford

Dr Sarah Martin

Reader in Cancer Cell Biology, Queen Mary University of London

Professor Hilary Critchley

Professor of Reproductive Medicine, University of Edinburgh

Midwifery Subcommittee

We are also supported by our Midwifery Subcommittee – three expert members in the field of midwifery research who sit on behalf of Wellbeing of Women and the Royal College of Midwives.

Dr Annette Briley

Consultant Midwife and Clinical Trials Manager, King’s College London

Professor Jayne Marshall

Foundation Professor of Midwifery, University of Leicester

Professor Vanora Hundley

Professor of Midwifery and Deputy Dean for Research and Professional Practice, University of Bournemouth