RFP Overview
Odessa is a scientific initiative focused on understanding how the ovary ages—and why that matters far beyond fertility. At its heart, Odessa aims to discover how changes in ovarian biology impact women’s systemic health, especially in midlife and beyond.
By unlocking the biology behind ovarian aging, we aim to shift the paradigm and highlight its central role in regulating female aging. Understanding how ovarian aging drives disease will give us the insight to improve longevity, reduce suffering and enhance the quality of life for millions of women.
Women tend to live longer than men, but they also spend more of those later years living with chronic disease, pain and disability–up to 25% more time is spent in poor health. Many of these problems emerge during midlife, coinciding with the menopausal transition.
This is not just about hot flashes or mood swings. The loss of ovarian hormones—especially estrogen—triggers a wave of biological changes that increase the risk for serious health problems:
- Heart disease: Risk doubles within 5–10 years after menopause
- Osteoporosis: Women can lose up to 20% of their bone mass
- Brain health: Increased risk for Alzheimer’s and cognitive decline
To address these issues requires a different perspective: ovarian aging is not an abrupt biological event but a decades long process. Without the clinical research and data to define ovarian aging more precisely, many opportunities to optimize health for women before midlife are missed.
Odessa aims to rewrite this story by bringing a systems biology approach to ovarian aging. Instead of viewing menopause as only the end of fertility, we see it as a whole-body shift—one that affects the brain, heart, bones, metabolism and immune system.
We’re focused on:
- Early detection: Using molecular tools to identify women at risk for age-related health decline—even in their 30s and 40s, well before traditional menopause diagnosis.
- New definitions: Redefining midlife symptoms through biology, not just checklists—so they can be taken seriously and treated effectively.
- Better treatments: Developing next-generation therapies that go beyond traditional hormone replacement to support the body’s beneficial hormones while blocking harmful effects of ovarian aging.
Health in midlife is proactively protected with personalized risk assessments and tools for early intervention.
Symptoms are understood and treated. No more vague labels—just real answers backed by science.
Women age with strength and vitality because interventions based on ovarian biology will help prevent disease, preserve function and support lifelong health.
Apply for research funding
Odessa is here to spark that change. By funding innovative science, we are working to bring real hope—and real progress—to ease the aging process for all women.
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.