 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, will focus 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. We’re proud to be funding this new London centre with a donation of £2.25mn.

The centre will open 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 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.

As well as the awards programme for women, we’re initiating a research project 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

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

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.

The Project is an integral part of the Parasol Foundation’s wider programme of empowering initiatives aimed at supporting women to succeed.

A new curatorial post, acquisitions, research, education and public displays at the V&A will celebrate the achievements of women, nurture contemporary artists and help 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 audience.

A dedicated Instagram account to highlight works by women artists, will launch in early 2022 and Gallery 97 at the V&A will be renamed The Parasol Foundation Gallery.

The long-term project is made possible by a combined donation of £3 million from Ms. Ruth Monicka Parasol and the Parasol Foundation. The donation builds on earlier support for the V&A as a leading international cultural institution.

V&A Press Release

V&A Blog

FAD Magazine

Instagram

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

The Parasol Center for Women's Cancer Research brings together physicians and scientists to focus on how cancer impacts women. This includes both gender-specific cancers (such as breast and ovarian), and other cancers that may affect women differently than men (such as thyroid and lung cancers).

The Center aims to develop a variety of research protocols and clinical trials to develop new approaches to early detection, prevention and individualized treatments that will improve cancer survival for women. 

Integral to the project is an awards programme supporting outstanding women physicians to hold leading clinical positions and carry out independent pioneering clinical research.

The Parasol Center for Women's Cancer is one of the Foundation’s most significant long-term projects. We have donated over $3 million in funding support since it was established in 2016 and continue to support it.

The project builds on our longstanding relationship with the Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center.

Parasol Women's Cancer Research Center (tasmc.org.il)

The Parasol Center for Women’s Cancer Research at Sourasky Medical Center

 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 £35mn to a series of ambitious projects and collaborations since it was established in 2004.

We’re creating opportunities for women to pursue their dreams and inspiring the next generation to follow in their footsteps.

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

Parasol Foundation

Principal Benefactress

Our Principal Benefactress, Ms. Ruth Monicka Parasol.

Ms. Ruth Monicka Parasol was born in 1967 and is one of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs and businesswomen. 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

Women in Science

Women in Art

Women in Health

Future Generations

Gibraltar

United Kingdom

Israel

India

Other

The Parasol Foundation, together with SpaceIL, has launched an exciting Space and Astro science program to create new opportunities and empower women in the space industry. The Parasol Foundation Women in SpaceIL program will dedicate scholarships to female engineering students and graduates with a donation of $500,000.

In addition, we’re contributing $1,530,000 and joining the distinguished group of donors to the Beresheet2 2024 moon mission. The new mission will build on SpaceIL’s Beresheet1 2019 launch which was the first private entity to reach the moon and secured Israel’s position as the seventh country to reach the moon.

Established in 2011, SpaceIL passionately believes in inspiration through action. With their ground-breaking projects in deep space, they seek to inspire Israel’s future generation and encourage teenagers to think in the direction of science, engineering, and entrepreneurship.

SpaceIL’s goal is to introduce the younger generation to the exciting opportunities that arise from the courage to dream and the determination to make that dream a reality. 

Detailed information for female engineers and scientists on the Parasol Women in SpaceIL fellowships is available on the 

To create a lasting legacy, we’re also initiating a study project analysing the gender gap in space research and engineering in Israel. The findings of the study will be published widely to encourage international progress.

This pioneering STEM project is an integral part of Ruth Parasol and the Parasol Foundation’s wider effort of empowering next generation females to study STEM and choose careers in space, along with other fields of science, technology, and health.

Announcement - Parasol - SpaceIL

SpaceIL Program

CTECH - Program to boost women in space industry

Parasol Foundation Women in SpaceIL

The Parasol Foundation Trust has been a long-term partner of Laniado Hospital in Israel and has supported a number of the hospital’s projects since 2008.

Laniado Hospital was founded 30 years ago by a Holocaust survivor on the principle that everyone deserves to be treated, no matter their faith or race. It is a non-profit community hospital and treats over 50,000 patients every year.

Our projects have included support to purchase state-of-the-art equipment for the Maternity Department and the IVF Department, new delivery beds for the Maternity Department and new ultrasound machines, including a 3D machine.

PFT at Laniado

Laniado Hospital Netanya

The Parasol Foundation Trust has collaborated with Cambridge University on a broad range of projects since 2009.

Our support enabled research on Darwin and gender as part of the internationally renowned Darwin Correspondence Project at Cambridge University Library.

The Foundation supported the library in its acquisition of the Lewis-Gibson Genizah Collection and supported a dedicated Genizah Research Associate to investigate the role and place of women in the medieval world of the Cairo Genizah.

Donations have also been made to the work of the Cambridge Trust which provides crucial support for outstanding students.

More recently the Foundation has been a significant benefactor to the Cambridge University Women’s Boat Club (CUWBC), contributing to the development of the first ever joint boathouse for all Cambridge University boat clubs at Ely.

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

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