In honor of hashtag#EndometriosisAwarenessMonth, we kicked off the week at the Connecticut State Capitol in Hartford with a legislative breakfast alongside members of the endometriosis work group, followed by a press conference.



The breakfast brought together the people who make progress possible, patients who have donated tissues and biospecimens to the CT Endometriosis Data & Biorepository, researchers (Caroline Haney PhD Kathy Potts, PhD) leveraging these resources to accelerate discovery, our first distribution partner Metri Bio (Kathy Potts, PhD) EndoRISE co-directors (Danielle Luciano Elise Courtois) patient advocate Shantana Hazel and Iris Nira Smith (Cleveland Clinic), who is eager to explore replicating the EndoRISE model in her state.



While there was a lot to celebrate, the message was clear: we still have a long way to go. Endometriosis impacts millions, yet remains underdiagnosed, underfunded, and too often dismissed. We need sustained investment in research, better clinical pathways, earlier diagnosis, and stronger support for patients and families.



Grateful to everyone who showed up, spoke up, and continues pushing this work forward-because awareness is important, but action is essential.