September 3, 2025 — Chicago, IL — Friends of Prentice (FOP), a Chicago-based non-profit that partners with Northwestern Medicine Prentice Women’s Hospital to advance women’s health, has announced its 2025 grant recipients. The organization is awarding $200,000 to fund three new research projects while also celebrating the culmination of a $250,000 five-year grant to the Maternal Fetal Medicine Units (MFMU) Network. This combined investment underscores FOP’s dual focus: fueling fresh, innovative research while sustaining long-term initiatives that continue to shape care for women and families nationwide.
“In a climate of funding cuts across the board, Friends of Prentice is steadfast in our support — meeting this moment with unwavering dedication to advancing women’s health research,” said Kristen Field, Executive Director, Friends of Prentice. “By backing three new groundbreaking projects in addition to the continued impact of our long-term commitment to the MFMU Network, we are proving that innovation and perseverance can thrive together. Our work is possible because of the incredible generosity of our donors and the commitment of our board — together, we are creating the kind of lasting change that women deserve.”
Friends of Prentice works in partnership with Northwestern Medicine Prentice Women’s Hospital to invest in women-centric research that addresses underfunded and underserved areas of care. This year’s grant recipients will be working on the following projects:
- PROTAC: Next-Generation Targeted Protein Degradation to Improve Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Outcomes
This innovative study explores a groundbreaking approach using next-generation targeted protein degradation (PROTAC) to temporarily lower levels of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) to improve IVF outcomes for women with low ovarian reserves and those of advanced reproductive age. The principal investigator is Ecem Esencan, MD, with co-investigator Mazhar Adli, PhD.
- Deprescribing Anticholinergic Bladder Medications in Older Women with Overactive Bladder: The “STOP-ACH” Intervention
This pilot project will develop and test an intervention to help providers safely transition older women with overactive bladder from anticholinergic drugs, which are linked to an increased risk of dementia, to safer alternatives. The principal investigator is Oluwateniola (Teni) Brown, MD.
- A Time, a Place, a Space for Contraception Care: Assessing Desires, Accessibility & Barriers to Contraceptive Access Post-Abortion
Using a mixed-methods approach, this research will illuminate patient desires and obstacles related to obtaining contraception after an abortion, with a focus on differences between in-state and out-of-state populations. The principal investigator is Ashley Turner, MD, MS.
A Lasting Legacy: MFMU Network
In addition to these new grants, Friends of Prentice is proud to celebrate the culmination of its five-year pledge to Northwestern’s Maternal Fetal Medicine Units (MFMU) Network Study Center — a $250,000 investment that has fueled groundbreaking maternal-fetal research with national impact. Since 2001, Northwestern has been part of the prestigious MFMU Network sponsored by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, a collaborative dedicated to advancing large-scale, multicenter clinical trials that directly shape the standard of care in the United States.
Under the leadership of Principal Investigator Lynn Yee, MD, MPH, and Alternate Principal Investigator Michelle Kominiarek, MD, the Northwestern MFMU Study Center has conducted pivotal studies addressing some of the most pressing challenges in obstetrics, including reducing maternal mortality, improving outcomes for high-risk pregnancies, and ensuring evidence-based interventions reach all patients. Friends of Prentice’s sustained support has provided the stability needed for long-term projects to reinforce the organization’s commitment to not just funding research, but changing the trajectory of care for mothers and babies.
About Friends of Prentice
Since 1985, Friends of Prentice has raised more than $25 million to fund leading-edge research, education, and clinical care initiatives spanning the full spectrum of a woman’s life. Areas supported include gynecologic oncology, reproductive aging, fertility preservation, menopause, mental health, disparities in access to care, and more. Each project funded moves the mission forward: to close the women’s health gap and ensure better care for generations to come.
For more information about Friends of Prentice or to support its mission, please visit www.friendsofprentice.org.
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