With a donation of $3.5mn The Parasol Foundation Trust is funding vital research and creating a multidisciplinary center in Israel for the comprehensive treatment of women with breast cancer.

The Parasol Foundation Women’s Breast Cancer Center for diagnosis, research and treatment will operate within the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center. Expected to open in 2024 the center will be the most advanced in Israel, benefitting thousands of women every year.

The new Center will bring together a complete suite of medical and paramedical services and emotional support making sure the patient is accompanied from the moment the disease is detected through to and after her recovery. This one-stop structure, will include surgical and treatment services, a Breast Imaging Unit, oncology consultants, specialists in genetics, plastic surgery and research.

Our donation will also fund a series of groundbreaking research projects led by women physicians over a three-year period starting in January 2023.

We’re funding genetic research which aims to reveal pathways governing drug resistance and exploit this understanding to reveal new targets and develop novel strategies for patients. Researchers will analyze genomic alteration development upon time, treatment and disease progression in liquid biopsies of breast and ovarian cancer patients.

Parasol Foundation funded researchers will also explore the alterations in tumor environment and breast and ovarian cancer development. Led by Keren Marenbakh Lamin and Noa Keren, they are aiming to decipher different components composing the microenvironment of breast tumors, in order to delineate the interaction between tumor and non-tumor cells and the role these interactions play in resistance to treatments.

Over the next three years ten research grants will be awarded to women undertaking Masters, PHD and post-doctoral research into breast and ovarian cancer at the hospital. A further ten women physicians will be supported to conduct clinical or research fellowships outside of the hospital.

This new donation builds on our longstanding relationship with the TASMC and our support for the existing Parasol Center for Women's Cancer which has benefited from $3 million in funding since it was established in 2016.

Jerusalem Post - Press

No Camels News - Press

Israel Hayom - Press

The Parasol Foundation Women’s Breast Cancer Center at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center

 in March 2022, the Parasol Foundation Centre for Women’s Health and Cancer Research is based at Hammersmith and St Mary’s hospitals in north west London.

The research centre, created in partnership with Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and Imperial Health Charity, focuses on research to develop advanced treatments for women’s cancers, such as ovarian cancer, and explore the health impacts of pre-term birth.

Imperial College Healthcare provides exceptional care and treatment for the communities it serves, and is at the forefront of pioneering clinical research in a wide range of specialist fields.

The centre opens up a brand-new care pathway for women with gynaecological cancers underpinned by the latest research and treatments.

Our donation is enabling Imperial College Healthcare to purchase innovative surgical equipment and award three fellowships for women to lead research in the field. Three additional grants will also be awarded to help Imperial College Healthcare continue its world-leading research in the field of pre-term birth, exploring approaches to reduce the likelihood of premature labour and improve outcomes for women who may be at risk.

The scope of research was extended in January 2022 to explore the links between infectious diseases and pregnancy. Researchers will use thousands of blood samples provided by women as part of their maternity care to examine rates of immunity and infection during their pregnancy.

A similar study carried out in 2020 enabled experts to track the spread of Covid-19 – and they believe developing this approach could enhance our understanding of other infectious diseases like polio and rubella.

The research could even help scientists learn more about future pandemics by pinpointing when and where viruses spread.

The Parasol Foundation Centre for Women’s Health and Cancer Research underlines our long-term commitment to improving women’s health and creating opportunities for women to break down barriers and excel in the fields of science, medicine and research.

We’ve also initiated research investigating the impact of gender on career progression for female academics in science and healthcare. We’re planning for the findings to be widely shared to stimulate debate and change.

Press Release

Imperial Health Charity - Centre for women's health

Imperial Health Charity - New women's health research centre

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust - New research centre

Parasol Foundation Centre for Women’s Health and Cancer Research at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

Launched in September 2021, The Parasol Foundation Women in Photography Project at the V&A is a major new programme to support women in photography.  

We’re celebrating the achievement of women photographers, opening up empowering opportunities and aiming to inspire future generations of talented females.  One of our largest projects since the Trust was established, the £3mn donation included a personal donation from Ruth underscoring her commitment to promoting women behind and in front of the camera.  

Fiona Rogers became the inaugural Parasol Foundation Curator of Women in Photography in March and will take the lead on new acquisitions, research, education and public displays at the V&A helping the Foundation to celebrate the achievements of women, nurture contemporary artists and inspire the next generation of women photographers to fully express their creativity. 

With a strong focus on digital art and social media, we’re aiming to open up participation, encourage women photographers to achieve their potential and connect with the widest possible international audience.

A new, dedicated Instagram account has been launched by Fiona and the V&A to highlight works by women artists and is already showcasing extraordinary new talent as well as highlighting the role women have played through the history of photography.

You can enjoy on the Parasol Foundation Women in Photography Project on Instagram by following 

 Gallery 97 at the V&A – part of the V&A Photography Centre Phase Two development – will be named The Parasol Foundation Gallery and we hope to see you there once it is ready to welcome visitors.

V&A Press Release

V&A Blog

FAD Magazine

Instagram

The Parasol Foundation Women in Photography Project at The V&A, London

 is passionate about widening opportunities, supporting women’s health and helping women to achieve their potential in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Medicine.

The Parasol Foundation Trust has awarded over £40mn to a series of ambitious projects and collaborations since it was established in 2004.

Creating opportunities for women to pursue their dreams and inspiring the next generation to follow in their footsteps.

Parasol Foundation

Women in Science

Women in Art

Women in Health

Future Generations

Principal Benefactress

Our Principal Benefactress, Ms. Ruth Monicka Parasol.

Ms. Ruth Monicka Parasol, born 1967, is one of the world’s most successful female entrepreneurs and an astute investor. With a self-made portfolio of over $1b, she, and her international team excel in Real Estate, Asset Management and Private Equity.

"Lifting up special students and research ideas, preserving a piece of history, contributing to a park, helping make a dream come true, this is what we are about."

Our Team

Gibraltar

United Kingdom

Israel

India

Other

We're funding new research examining the links between infectious diseases and pregnancy with an award of £430,000

Researchers at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust will use thousands of blood samples provided by women as part of their maternity care to examine rates of immunity and infection during their pregnancy.

A similar study carried out in 2020 enabled experts to track the spread of Covid-19 – and they believe developing this approach could enhance understanding of other infectious diseases like polio and rubella.

The research could even help scientists learn more about future pandemics by
pinpointing when and where viruses spread.

This new Parasol Foundation project also creates exciting career opportunities for women in science. Led by research midwife Alison Perry, with support from a wider team of expert scientists at Imperial College Healthcare, the research will aid understanding of where infections are occurring and what sort of people they are likely to affect, with the goal of improving care and treatment.

The research is an extension of our existing relationship with Imperial Health Charity and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and is being delivered by the Parasol Foundation Centre for Women’s Health and Cancer Research.

New award for research exploring the links between infectious diseases and pregnancy

Together with the V&A we’re launching an exciting new international photography prize for women.

 for Women in Photography reinforces our commitment to creating new opportunities for women in art.  The prize, which showcases the outstanding talent of women photographers, will run for three years and is open to all women across the globe.

 celebrates the place photography holds in documenting, celebrating and effecting change.

The new initiative will highlight the work of innovative artists in the field of contemporary photography and is core to the Parasol Foundation Women in Photography Project launched in 2021 with the V&A to support and champion women in photography.

Photographers can learn more about the prize and apply on the 

Have their work displayed at Peckham 24 – south London’s vibrant three-day contemporary photography festival in May 2023.

Attend a networking dinner with industry experts,

Secure a spotlight on the V&A blog and the V&A Parasol Foundation Women in Photography Project’s Instagram account.

Winners will be selected by a panel of selectors co-chaired by Fiona Rogers, Parasol Foundation Curator of Women in Photography at the V&A and Vivienne Gamble, co-founder of Peckham 24 and Director of Seen Fifteen gallery, London.

Applications for the prize close on 22 January 2023

New Parasol Foundation International Photography Prize for Women

The Parasol Foundation Trust is donating $3.5mn to fund vital research and create a multidisciplinary center in Israel for the comprehensive treatment of women with breast cancer.

The Parasol Foundation Women’s Breast Cancer Center

 for diagnosis, research and treatment based within the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (TASMC) will benefit thousands of women every year.

Opening to patients in 2024 the center will be the most advanced in Israel. It will bring together a complete suite of medical and paramedical services along with emotional support.  This one-stop structure, will include surgical and treatment services, a Breast Imaging Unit, oncology consultants, specialists in genetics, plastic surgery and research.

We’re also funding a series of ground breaking research projects led by women physicians over a three-year period starting in January 2023.

We’re supporting genetic research to reveal pathways governing drug resistance and this understanding will be exploited to reveal new targets and develop novel strategies for patients. Leading female researchers funded by the Parasol Foundation will also explore the alterations in tumour environment and breast and ovarian cancer development.

Alongside these projects, twenty women physicians will receive Parasol Foundation research grants to conduct research into breast and ovarian cancer over the next three years.