London, UK — February 10, 2026 — The Metaverse Institute participated in an exclusive roundtable today hosted by the Milken Institute Women’s Health Network, led by Dr. Jill Biden, Chair of the Network and Former First Lady. Alongside 50 high-level global leaders, the discussion focused on a critical economic and humanitarian imperative: closing the gender health gap.
The Case for Investment
Data presented at the summit highlighted a stark reality. While women represent 50% of the global population, their health needs currently receive only 6% of private investment. This neglect has profound consequences:
- Economic Impact: Closing the gender health gap could inject $1 trillion annually into the global economy by 2040.
- The “Health Gap”: Women spend 25% more of their lives in poor health compared to men.
- Dementia & Breast Cancer: In 2026, 71 million people are living with dementia, 65% of whom are women. Furthermore, breast cancer remains the #1 diagnosed cancer for women in 157 countries, with 2.5 million new cases annually.
Bold Ideas: The “10-Point Plan” and “Financial Rails”
During the roundtable, the Metaverse Institute proposed a transformative vision to support Dr. Biden’s mission of raising $1 billion for women’s health research and innovation. The proposal focused on two “bold ideas”:
- The 10-Point Ecosystem Plan: A strategic roadmap designed to empower global champions and create a unified infrastructure for women’s health advocacy.
- Systemic De-risking: Building the “financial rails” necessary for institutional investors—including sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, and family offices—to deploy capital into women’s health at scale.
The proposal sparked a “palpable shift in energy” in the room, receiving immediate applause from fellow investors who characterized the model as the “bold bridge” required to move capital into this underserved sector.
Following the session, Dr Christina Yan Zhang, CEO of The Metaverse Institute held a private, 15-minute one-to-one meeting with Dr. Jill Biden to discuss the implementation of these digital and financial frameworks.
A Full-Circle Journey
For the Metaverse Institute’s leadership, this meeting represented a significant milestone in a decades-long relationship with U.S. institutions. From serving as the International Students Officer for the National Union of Students UK and working with the Fulbright Commission (2008-12), to being recommended as a Fulbright Visiting Scholar at MIT in 2023 to teach AI, this collaboration marks a new chapter in strengthening UK-US ties through innovation.
Looking Ahead: The $150 Trillion Question
The meeting concluded with a call to action for the global financial community. With $150 trillion in global assets currently under management, the challenge remains: how do we create the safe, high-impact pathways needed for this capital to reach 4.05 billion women?
The Metaverse Institute extends its deepest gratitude to the Milken Institute leadership team—including Esther Krofah, Richard Ditizio, and Jenica Patterson—and to Bryan Stirewalt (former CEO of the Dubai Financial Services Authority, Co-chair for Basal Consultative Group, Bank for International Settlement) for his invaluable strategic guidance.
Together, we are committed to making women’s health the world’s most impactful investment for the next century.