Gynaecological Cancer Charity, The Eve Appeal, Becomes First Winner of Patient Partnership Index (PPI)
Ask Eve Assist, The Eve Appeal’s AI tool to tackle the gynaecological health backlog, is the first winner of the Patient Partnership Index (PPI)
The PPI is OVID Health’s global initiative to evaluate and celebrate partnerships between patient groups and the health industry
Entries from around the world were evaluated by an independent panel, of which Ask Eve Assist was the overall winner and five were designated “Gold”
(LONDON, 27 April 2026) – OVID Health has announced the first winner of the Patient Partnership Index (PPI), a proprietary initiative evaluating collaborations between industry and patient groups across the world. Now in its sixth year, the PPI celebrates initiatives across communications, advocacy, government affairs, medical affairs, marketing, R&D, clinical trials and market access. This year, the independent panel designated Ask Eve Assist as the first winning entry, followed by five GOLD, twelve SILVER and seven BRONZE entries.
Ask Eve Assist is an AI health information assistant built through partnership between The Eve Appeal and Digital Wonderlab AI (formally Level AI), funded by Hologic and MSD, for people seeking trusted information about gynaecological cancers. Created in response to a surge in helpline demand following the closure of a major UK cervical cancer trust, the tool is being co‑designed and tested by people with lived experience, clinicians and researchers. The system will provide 24/7 access to PIF TICK‑accredited information, with clear pathways to human support when needed. Ask Eve Assist will offer people the opportunity to access quality assured health information when they need it, empower people to make more informed decisions about their gynae health and enable nurses to spend more time on complex queries.
Athena Lamnisos, CEO of The Eve Appeal, said: “We are thrilled that our Ask Eve Assist project has been chosen as the winner for the Patient Partnership Index. The people affected by the gynaecological cancers are at the heart of everything we do. This project has been a real team effort and we are so grateful to all of the women affected by gynae cancers, doctors, researchers and other professionals who have been part of the scoping and testing of Ask Eve Assist as a new development of our Ask Eve Nurse information service. All their hard work and insights have made a huge difference in ensuring that the Ask Eve Assist chatbot will provide accurate, accessible and inclusive information to people with questions about the five gynae cancers. We can’t wait to launch the new tool and see the impact it has for everyone who needs accurate information.”
Professor Lara Bloom, President and CEO of the Ehlers Danlos Society and PPI judge, said: “Ask Eve Assist stands out as a powerful example of what meaningful patient partnership looks like in practice, bringing together lived experience, clinical expertise, and innovative technology to deliver something that is not only highly effective, but genuinely safe, inclusive, and responsive to real patient needs. It’s a model for how co-creation can drive both quality and impact at scale.”
Alongside the WINNER, five entries were awarded GOLD standard, setting the global benchmark for patient partnerships across five domains: engagement, co-creation, empowerment, transparency, innovation and impact. GOLD standard entries were:
- Revealing the Secrets of aHUS: Co-created an engaging, child-friendly educational resource to support understanding, reduce anxiety and empower families living with atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome (aHUS) (Alexion and Kidney Care UK)
- RADIAN: Long‑term, community‑embedded partnership focused on improving outcomes for people affected by HIV across diverse regions (Gilead Sciences and Elton John AIDS Foundation)
- Women & HIV: Patient‑centred awareness and empowerment initiative designed to amplify the voices of women living with HIV (Gilead Sciences and Sophia Forum)
- Non-Communicable Diseases Care Bundles in Zanzibar: Improving access to care, treatment adherence and long‑term disease management in low‑resource settings (Sanofi Global Health Unit, PharmAccess, Zanzibar Ministry of Health)
- Compassionate Coverage (Karuna Moe): Improving access to care and support for underserved populations in Myanmar affected by chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension (Sanofi and Common Health Myanmar)
Brian Duggan, Strategic Partnership Policy Director at the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry and PPI judge, said: “Partnerships between health charities and pharmaceutical companies bring huge value in helping support patient communities and in improving health outcomes. It was a pleasure to see so many vibrant and engaging examples in the Patient Partnership Index from right across the world and from across a wide range of therapeutic areas, all improving patient care and health outcomes.”
Jenny Ousbey, Founder and CEO of OVID Health and PPI judge, said: “Over the years, we have witnessed remarkable partnerships that have significantly impacted patient care and outcomes, and this year exceeded expectations. The fact that we received more entries to this year’s Patient Partnership Index than at any point in the past six years is a testament to an industry committed to raising the bar of its patient collaborations. By ensuring collaboration is at the heart of an impactful programme, our industry is truly living the patient engagement principle of ‘nothing about us, without us’.”
About the Patient Partnership Index (PPI)
The Patient Partnership Index (PPI) is OVID Health’s international initiative that recognizes, rewards and benchmarks the reputations of pharmaceutical companies in patient engagement and centricity. The 2026 judging panel consisted of: Jenny Ousbey, Founder and CEO of OVID Health; Brian Duggan, Strategic Partnership Policy Director at the ABPI; Professor Lara Bloom, President and CEO of the Ehlers Danlos Society; Merel Hennink, General Board Member at Lung Cancer Europe; Jessica Riviere, Head of Patient Advocacy and Engagement at GSK; Oana Scarlatescu, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Healthcare Systems at EFPIA.
About OVID Health
OVID Health is an independent healthcare communications agency headquartered in London, working with pharmaceutical, biotech and life sciences organizations to drive meaningful health and societal change. The agency was built on the belief that healthcare organizations achieve greater impact when corporate communications, public affairs and patient advocacy are brought together in a truly integrated way.
About The Eve Appeal
The Eve Appeal is the UK’s leading gynaecological cancer charity, with a focus on prevention and early detection of womb, ovarian, cervical, vulval and vaginal cancers. Since 2002, the Eve Appeal has educated thousands of people about gynae health, including anatomy, what’s normal and what’s not, and when to seek help.
