Dr Jill Biden visits Imperial to explore antimicrobial resistance and women’s health innovation

Former First Lady of the United States, Dr Jill Biden, visited Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and Imperial College London to explore work on women’s health and antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

The visit was hosted by Professor the Lord Darzi of Denham, who chairs the Fleming Initiative and directs Imperial’s Institute of Global Health Innovation.

Dr Biden, Chair of the Milken Institute’s Women’s Health Network, used the occasion to speak of the catalytic impact scientists, clinicians, innovators and investors can have to improve women’s healthcare. 

Caitlin MacLean, Dr Biden, Esther Krofah, Lord Darzi (Image credit: Imperial / Andy Pritchard )

Dr Biden emphasised the importance – and opportunity – of “collaboration, prevention and education” in improving women’s health around the world.

Professor Darzi hosted Dr Biden on a tour of the Fleming Laboratory Museum, reflecting on Sir Alexander Fleming’s discovery of penicillin at St Mary’s Hospital and its global legacy. This was followed by a roundtable discussion with clinical academics and innovators focused on women’s health research, innovation and investment.

Fleming Laboratory Museum

Dr Biden was welcomed to the Fleming Laboratory Museum by Dr Emily Scott-Dearing (Public Engagement and Behaviour Change Lead, Fleming Initiative), who led a tour of the historic laboratory where penicillin was discovered.

Dr Biden and Esther Krofah (Executive Vice-President of Health at the Milken Institute) heard about the global significance of the discovery, as well as the often-overlooked contribution of women who, during wartime Britain, grew penicillin in bedpans to support early experimentation.

The discussion also reflected on how large-scale production of penicillin ultimately took place in the United States, driven by advances in fermentation science and investment from organisations such as the Rockefeller Foundation. This exemplifies how scientific discovery alone is insufficient without international collaboration, industrial capability, and sustained investment – principles that underpin the Fleming Initiative’s approach to tackling AMR today.

The visit also explored how AMR is a key women’s health issue, with women disproportionately impacted by AMR particularly in low- and middle-income countries – but also in high-income settings where women are more likely than men to be prescribed antibiotics.

Dr Biden was also shown an architectural model of the Fleming Centre in Paddington, which will bring together research, policy, and public engagement to address AMR across the world.

Women’s Health Roundtable

The second part of the visit brought together Imperial clinicians, researchers, and innovators for a roundtable discussion on key women’s health issues, including improving diagnosis, equity in maternity care and support for menopause.

Participants highlighted wide variation in the quality of care for conditions affecting women, and called for more equitable access to services and the ‘postcode lottery’ to be addressed as a priority. Professor Tom Bourne (Consultant Gynaecologist and Chair in Gynaecology at Imperial’s Department Metabolism, Digestion & Reproduction) described how AI will be part of the solution, providing greater diagnostic accuracy for conditions such as endometriosis.

Equality emerged as a key issue throughout the discussion. Professor Alison Holmes (Professor of Infectious Diseases, Imperial College London, and Director, Fleming Initiative) highlighted persistent gaps in the representation of women in clinical trials, including antibiotic studies, which limits the ability to optimise care and effective treatments for women.

Dr Christine Ekechi (Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust) drew on national maternity investigations to highlight the importance of valid data, meaningful engagement with affected communities, and rebuilding trust.

Menopause and midlife health also emerged as growing priorities for clinical research. Professor Waljit Dhillo (Consultant Endocrinologist and Professor of Endocrinology & Metabolism in Imperial’s Department Metabolism, Digestion & Reproduction) described a new treatment for hot flushes, including for women unable to take hormone replacement therapy, such as those with a history of breast cancer, that demonstrate the value of aligning clinical need, basic science, and industry. 

Innovation and Translation

The discussion then moved to innovation and translation into health systems. Innovators at the roundtable shared exciting opportunities of how data and technology are being used to address long-standing gaps in women’s health, but highlighted challenges in accessing funding to grow and scale.

Dr Helen O’Neill and Dr Deidre O’Neill (Co-Founders of Hertility Health) described how they have developed predictive algorithms using self-reported data to diagnose gynaecological conditions at scale. Embedded into clinical workflows, the technology has the potential to reduce waiting times, identify conditions earlier, and therefore improve outcomes. They highlighted how “we have cures for the rarest genetic conditions but don’t even have the answers to common women’s health issues”.

Dr Lydia Mapstone, Dr Tara O’Driscoll and Dr Sioned Jones (Co-Founders of BoobyBiome) outlined their work creating innovative products that harness the beneficial bacteria found in breast milk to support infant health. By isolating and characterising key microbial strains, BoobyBiome has created synbiotics that will ensure these benefits are accessible to all babies.

Throughout the discussion, speakers highlighted the importance of addressing unwarranted variation in care quality and outcomes for women, the importance of prevention and education, and the need to address power and equity in women’s health.

Professor Lord Ara Darzi said: “It was a privilege to welcome Dr Biden and the Milken Institute to Imperial to meet some of the outstanding researchers, clinicians and innovators advancing women's health.

"Imperial's unique combination of clinical excellence and world-leading research positions us at the forefront of tackling the biggest health challenges facing society and the UK's ambition for innovation demands nothing less.

"For too long, the health needs of women and girls across their life course have not received the attention they deserve. By working together across borders and disciplines, we can transform equitable access to care, accelerate the detection and treatment of disease, and ultimately improve health outcomes for millions of women in the UK and around the world.”