RFP Overview
D³—short for Drivers, Diagnostics and Drug Development in Endometriosis—is a bold new effort to change the way we understand and treat endometriosis. Our goal is simple but powerful: accelerate breakthrough science that leads to earlier diagnoses, more effective treatments and better lives for millions living with this painful and often overlooked condition.
By investing in cutting-edge research, we aim to uncover the root causes of endometriosis and use that knowledge to develop non-invasive tests and new kinds of treatments—not just hormonal therapies, but real solutions that address the underlying disease.
Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects over 190 million people worldwide. It’s far more than “bad cramps”—it can cause ongoing pain, infertility and a wide range of health problems that interfere with daily life. And yet, diagnosis often takes 7–10 years, and most treatments rely on hormones that do not work for everyone and come with serious side effects.
Worse still, research funding for endometriosis is shockingly low, despite how common and devastating it is. In the U.S., federal spending on endometriosis research amounts to less than $1 per patient per year.
D³ seeks to advance our understanding of endometriosis so women no longer have to live with the suffering it causes. We’re focused on:
- Understanding root causes: Studying how things like immune system imbalances, changes in gut bacteria and abnormal tissue remodeling drive the disease.
- Developing better diagnostics: Creating accurate, non-invasive tools that can spot endometriosis early and distinguish it from other causes of pelvic pain.
- Finding new treatments: Moving beyond hormones to create precision-driven therapies that target the actual biology of the disease.
Earlier diagnoses with simple, non-invasive tests that detect endometriosis quickly and accurately.
Personalized treatment based on biomarkers that reveal what kind of endometriosis a person has—and how best to treat it.
More treatment options including non-hormonal drugs that target the specific pathways fueling the disease.
Applying for research funding
D³ is here to spark that change. By funding innovative scientific research, we are working to bring real hope—and real progress—to everyone affected by endometriosis.
NWH also funds early to growth stage companies working to accelerate women’s health. If your company is building translational solutions with validated science, clear clinical pathways and bold impact potential, we would love to hear from you.