There are moments that shift the course of history, not with fanfare or spectacle, but with clarity, conviction, and the sheer will to rewrite what has for too long been ignored. The announcement of the Ainsworth Endometriosis Research Institute (AERI) at UNSW Sydney is one of those moments. A bold $50 million philanthropic commitment led by three generations of the Ainsworth family is not just an act of generosity. It is an act of rebellion against decades of silence and scientific neglect in women’s health.
Endometriosis, long dismissed and underdiagnosed, is finally being recognised for what it is: a chronic, often debilitating condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the womb. This can cause severe pelvic pain, fatigue, inflammation, organ dysfunction, and infertility. Diagnosis remains complex, with no single test currently capable of confirming the disease. Typically, diagnosis is based on clinical symptoms, pelvic examination, imaging such as ultrasound or MRI, and, ultimately, laparoscopic surgery, which is still considered the gold standard for confirmation.
The disease doesn’t just manifest in the body. It entangles itself into every corner of life: fertility, careers, relationships, mental health. It steals time. It steals clarity. And until now, it has stolen far too much attention away from research that could have changed lives.
That changes now.
The AERI, made possible by Anna and Lily Ainsworth alongside other branches of their family, is the largest known private donation to women’s health in Australian history. But this is not just about numbers. This is personal. Lily Ainsworth has lived with the pain of endometriosis since she was 15. Her mother, Anna, has borne witness to her daughter’s suffering and understands all too well the systemic failure that has left women navigating a medical mystery in the dark.
“I’ve had endo pain since I was 15 years old,” Lily says. “It’s affected my education, my career, my relationships, every part of my day-to-day. This reality is shared by millions. But we believe this can change.”
That belief now has a name and a home.
The Ainsworth Endometriosis Research Institute is designed to be a global powerhouse. It brings together the world’s best scientists, clinicians, and innovators from across Canada, the UK, India, Denmark, and the United States. It will house biorepositories, genomic research, and a precision medicine approach that goes beyond trial-and-error treatments. The goal is to fast-track diagnosis, uncover the biological complexities of the disease, and pioneer personalised therapies.
Right now, people with endometriosis wait an average of six to eight years for a diagnosis, often dismissed or misdiagnosed along the way. Compare that to where breast cancer research was in the 1970s and you begin to understand the scale of what has been missing, and what is now possible.
In 2025, the World Economic Forum listed endometriosis as one of the nine most urgent diseases affecting women, their communities, and the global economy. They are not wrong. The economic burden in Australia alone is estimated at nearly $10 billion annually. But beyond economics, endometriosis has been stealing women’s lives in ways no metric can fully capture.
This is not just a story about funding. It is a story about legacy. About women like Lily and Anna who are saying “enough” and using their power to demand a better future, not only for themselves but for generations to come. It is about calling out the glaring disparities in medical research funding and representation, and then doing something about it.
With the launch of AERI, Australia steps onto the global stage not just as a participant in the conversation around women’s health, but as a leader. And with this, the era of shrugging off pain as “just part of being a woman” may finally be over.
Because this is what real power looks like. Putting your money, your voice, and your name behind the parts of womanhood that society has preferred to leave in the shadows.
And in that light, something extraordinary begins.
For information on endometriosis:
- Jean Hailes for Women’s Health – Endometriosis
(A trusted Australian health site providing practical, evidence-based information.) - Endometriosis Australia
(A national not-for-profit dedicated to increasing awareness, education, and funding.) - Australian Government Department of Health – Endometriosis
(Details on the national action plan and policy resources.) - World Endometriosis Society
(Global research updates and professional resources.)
