New York, NY – January 28, 2026. HITLAB announced today the appointment of Divya Verma, Vice President of Business Development at Accord Healthcare, as the new Chair of its Women’s Health Tech Initiative (WHTI)—a major step forward in accelerating innovation for one of the most underfunded and underserved sectors of global healthcare.

Verma’s appointment reflects HITLAB’s commitment to transforming women’s health through rigorous evidence generation, cross-sector collaboration, and the responsible adoption of breakthrough technologies. As a long-standing and influential member of the HITLAB Breakthrough Alliance (BTA) Board, she has consistently championed solutions that close clinical gaps, enhance access, and drive measurable impact for women across diverse communities.

At Accord Healthcare, Verma supports business development and portfolio-related activities, collaborating cross-functionally on product and commercialization initiatives in the U.S. market.

The Women’s Health Tech Initiative represents one of global health’s most mission-critical focus areas, at a time when women’s health continues to be disproportionately affected by delayed diagnoses, fragmented care pathways, and structural inequities. As Chair, Verma will lead the next phase of this initiative’s growth, including:

• Defining a bold, evidence-based vision for women’s health innovation
• Convening global leaders from academia, life sciences, clinical practice, and technology
• Advancing digital and data-driven solutions that meaningfully improve access, outcomes, and quality of care
• Driving investment, partnership development, and high-impact pilot programs
• Expanding the visibility and influence of women’s health innovation worldwide

“I am deeply honored to serve as Chair of HITLAB’s Women’s Health Tech Initiative,” said Verma. “Women’s health has long been underserved—both clinically and in innovation investment. This is a pivotal moment to harness technology, data, and global collaboration to deliver solutions that directly and measurably improve the lives of women everywhere.”

“Divya brings the leadership, expertise, and conviction that women’s health innovation demands,” said Dr. Stan Kachnowski, Chair of HITLAB. “Her experience at the intersection of life sciences, technology, and strategic partnership development will be catalytic. Under her guidance, WHTI will set a new standard for advancing evidence-based, equitable solutions for women’s health.”