New Women's Health, Sports & Performance Institute Launches with $50M+ Investment

The institute aims to advance research, education, and clinical care for female athletes.

Feb. 4, 2026 at 6:31am

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The Women's Health, Sports & Performance Institute (WHSP) has launched in Boston, backed by more than $50 million in investment from co-founders David and Jane Ott and Clara Wu Tsai. The institute is dedicated to female athlete health, combining research, education, and clinical care.

Why it matters

The launch of WHSP addresses a significant gap in sports science and sports medicine research, which has historically focused less than 10% of its efforts on women. This lack of research has contributed to higher injury rates and poorer health outcomes for female athletes compared to their male counterparts.

The details

WHSP was co-founded by Dr. Kathryn Ackerman, an internationally recognized researcher in female athlete health and founder of the international Female Athlete Conference. The institute is a member institution and research partner of the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance, a $220 million collaborative research alliance.

  • WHSP launched in February 2026.

The players

David Ott

A co-founder and Advisory Director of Viking Global Investors.

Jane Ott

A co-founder of WHSP.

Clara Wu Tsai

Vice Chair of BSE Global and co-owner of the New York Liberty, Brooklyn Nets, and Barclays Center.

Dr. Kathryn Ackerman

An internationally recognized researcher in female athlete health and founder of the international Female Athlete Conference.

Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance

A $220 million collaborative research alliance of which WHSP is a member institution and research partner.

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What they’re saying

“Female athlete health has been my focus for decades, and for decades, women athletes have been asked to perform without the benefit of research designed for them. As an athlete, I felt the gaps. As a physician and researcher, I've spent my career trying to close them. WHSP is the culmination of that experience and will help us make real progress.”

— Dr. Kathryn Ackerman, Co-founder, Women's Health, Sports & Performance Institute (femtechinsider.com)

What’s next

WHSP plans to expand its research, education, and clinical care offerings in the coming years to further support the health and performance of female athletes.

The takeaway

The launch of WHSP represents a significant step forward in addressing the longstanding gender gap in sports science and sports medicine research, which has contributed to poorer health outcomes for female athletes. The institute's focus on female-specific health and performance has the potential to drive meaningful improvements in the care and support available to women in sports.