As ERA4TB draws to a close, we take a moment to celebrate some of the remarkable women who have shaped this consortium and asked them to reflect on what it has meant to be part of it.
This International Women’s Day, we asked colleagues to reflect on this year’s theme: Give to Gain. What did they bring to ERA4TB, and what did the consortium give back? Their answers speak to the heart of what has made this project so special.
“I gave ERA4TB my hands, my curiosity, and the willingness to take on responsibility as I grew from a first-year PhD student to a postdoc. In return, it gave me confidence, trust, and a voice within this extraordinary collaborative family we’ve become.”
Greta Segafreddo, UNIPD
“Besides the obvious — microbiology expertise and hard work — I gave tons of positive energy and good vibes. What did I gain? A sense of belonging. Being part of ERA4TB fills my heart with pride.”
Jordana Galizia, UNIZAR
“Being part of ERA4TB has reminded me how many brilliant women are working and collaborating in this space. Science is inspiring and women in science, lifting each other up, is something else entirely.”
Omnia Bilal, NICE
ERA4TB Work Package 2 Lead Santiago-Ramon Garcia captured what is at stake as the project winds down:
“ERA4TB has built a wide community of highly skilled investigators in drug development, united by a deep collaborative spirit and a shared mission to advance novel treatment options for TB. Jordana and Greta are just two examples of the committed junior and senior researchers who have made this scientific family what it is.”
He added a timely call to action: ensuring that the expertise and capacity built through ERA4TB – made possible with the support of the Innovative Health Initiative (IHI) – is not lost when the project closes.
To every woman who brought her expertise, energy, and heart to this work -thank you.
To women all around the world – Happy International Women’s Day.
