A ground-breaking initiative between members of the philanthropic Ainsworth family and UNSW Sydney is set to move the dial on endometriosis scientific research with the focus of research outcomes being delivered to the clinicians, and to patients with endometriosis around the world. This will position Australia as a global leader in women’s health.
Three generations of the Ainsworth family, led by Noble Ambition clients Anna and Lily Ainsworth, have together committed $50 million over 10 years to establish the
Ainsworth Endometriosis Research Institute (AERI) at UNSW. This is the largest known philanthropic contribution by a family to women’s health in Australia to date and the largest dedicated gift to endometriosis globally.
It is estimated one in seven Australian women will have endometriosis by age 49, impacting their health, fertility, careers, and daily lives. In 2025, the World Economic
Forum named endometriosis one of the nine diseases most affecting the lives of women, their communities and the world economy. AERI will adopt a global consortia-based approach to research, bringing together top scientists, clinicians, and philanthropists from around the world to unlock a continuous pipeline of scientific
discoveries.
The contribution from the Ainsworth’s is record-breaking - the largest known philanthropic contribution by a family to women’s health in Australia to date. AERI has been made possible by three branches of the Ainsworth family who have been impacted by and care deeply about those with endometriosis: Lily, Greg, Anna and Simon Ainsworth, Paul and Valeria Ainsworth, and Len Ainsworth.
Lily Ainsworth, who has lived with endometriosis since she was a teenager, and her mother, Anna Ainsworth, have experienced firsthand the chronic pain and uncertainty
that comes with the disease. The family is determined to improve the outcomes of endometriosis for millions of people worldwide.
UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs highlighted the transformative nature of the contribution and its significant societal impact. “I would like to thank both the Ainsworth family for their generosity and the positive societal impact it will enable,” Prof. Brungs said. “The Ainsworth Endometriosis Research Institute represents an historic moment in women’s health. This unprecedented collaboration will not only form the future of endometriosis research but also accelerate our ability to provide real, tangible solutions that quite literally change the lives of each of the hundreds of millions of people globally impacted by this condition.”
Read more about Lily and Anna Ainsworth, and what motivates their giving, in their interview for our
She Gives campaign here.
