Luminance Health is proud to announce that our CEO, Shayesteh Fürst-Ladani, has been elected President of POWHER – Female Entrepreneurs Basel, a dynamic community of volunteers dedicated to building networks, celebrating female entrepreneurship, and driving systemic change in the Basel region. POWHER, founded in 2022 with the support of the University of Basel’s Innovation Office, FEMtrepreneurs, Impact Hub Basel, Basel Area Business & Innovation, and Startup Academy Schweiz, is committed to creating public awareness and visibility for women entrepreneurs and advocates. The association’s flagship initiative, the POWHER Awards, shines a spotlight on innovative women-led startups and champions of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Despite progress, women remain significantly underrepresented in entrepreneurship, with only 15% of startups having a female co-/founder. Female CEOs also receive substantially less funding than their male peers under similar conditions. Through her new role, Shayesteh Fürst-Ladani will help amplify the visibility of women in business and empower the next generation of female leaders to shape the future of innovation. At Luminance Health, we believe in the power of representation and inclusive leadership. Shayesteh Fürst-Ladani’s dedication to advancing gender equity and her proven track record as a leader, entrepreneur, and advocate make her the perfect fit to lead this important mission. We look forward to supporting POWHER’s work in creating a more equitable entrepreneurial ecosystem in Basel and beyond.

Ilmac hosted a powerful panel discussion under the banner Women in Life Science, spotlighting the voices and vision of women shaping the future of healthcare. Among the distinguished speakers were Shayesteh Fürst-Ladani, CEO of Luminance Health, and Joanna Hanley, Head of Quality Assurance, whose contributions underscored the urgency of advancing gender equity in life sciences. Shayesteh Fürst-Ladani brought both passion and purpose to the conversation, addressing the systemic barriers that continue to hinder women’s progress, from the Gender Health Gap to the persistent underrepresentation in leadership roles. “These challenges don’t just affect careers,” she noted, “they impact innovation, research, and patient outcomes across the healthcare ecosystem.” At Luminance Health, diversity, equity, and inclusion are not optional, they are essential. Shayesteh’s participation in the panel reflected the company’s commitment to fostering meaningful change and creating space for actionable strategies that support women at every stage of their professional journey. Joanna Hanley joined fellow industry leaders to share insights on leadership and career development, drawing from her extensive experience in regulatory compliance and global quality systems. As Head of Quality Assurance and Responsible Person (RP) on Swiss establishment licences for everything from small molecules to ATMPs, Joanna highlighted the intersection of scientific rigour and operational excellence. “My journey from a PhD in molecular biology to inspection readiness and compliance strategy has taught me that leadership is as much about listening and learning as it is about guiding,” Joanna shared. The Ilmac panel served as a reminder that progress in life sciences depends on inclusive leadership and diverse perspectives.

Luminance Health was proud to sponsor the Medtech & Pharma Platform Association Annual Conference 2025, held at the Novartis Campus in Basel. This leading European event brought together experts from medtech, pharma, diagnostics, and digital health to shape the future of combined products, where medicines, devices, and digital technologies converge for a medical purpose. At Luminance Health, we believe that meaningful innovation happens at the intersection of disciplines. Our integrated services, spanning regulatory strategy, clinical development, patient engagement, and digital health, supported clients across the full lifecycle of combined product development. Our team was onsite in Basel, actively contributing to discussions, sharing insights, and connecting with partners across the life sciences ecosystem. Notably, our colleague Nathalie Schober-Ladani co-chaired the session on AI & Connectivity in Clinical Trials, which explored how real-world data and digital tools are transforming trial design and regulatory pathways. We were energised by the conversations that took place and look forward to continuing our work with innovators, regulators, and patient advocates to accelerate access to safe, effective, and patient-centric solutions.