Moving into the Future: New dimensions and Strategies for Women's Health Research at the National Institutes of Health

Introduction

Ten years after the last women’s health research agenda was updated, the ORWH is again launching a series of four regional scientific workshops and public hearings to ensure that research on women’s health continues to be on the cutting edge of science, and based upon the most advanced techniques and methodologies.

The format of each of the regional scientific workshops is designed to promote an interactive discussion involving leading scientists from across the nation, women’s health advocates, public policy experts, healthcare providers and the general public. Individuals representing the full spectrum of academic institutions professional associations, advocacy organizations or health care facilities interested in biomedical and behavioral research on women’s health and sex/gender issues, or individuals wishing to present their personal opinions on these issues are encouraged to provide both written and public testimony at each of the regional meetings. Scientific panels and concurrent workshops will address a wide range of topics, from the interplay of research and health care to specific areas of research.

A final meeting to integrate the findings and recommendations from the four regional meetings, with additional input from the NIH research community, will be held at the NIH in March/April, 2010. The final document will represent the strategic research priorities for women’s health research for the coming decade and will be unveiled in September 2010 in time for the 20th anniversary of the ORWH at the NIH.

Brief History of the ORWH (45kb)

Publications

Journal of Dental Education: The 2010 NIH ORWH Research Agenda

Journal of Dental Education: Expanding the Evidence Base for Women's Health Across the Lifespan

Policy Implications of a New NIH Agenda for Women's Health Reseach, 2010 - 2020

Regional Scientific Workshops and Public Hearings

March 4-6, 2009 in St. Louis Missouri Washington University School of Medicine Center for Women’s Infectious Disease Research

Contact: Jennifer Stine Elam, Ph.D. Managing Director Center for Women’s Infectious Disease Research (cWIDR) 10260 McDonnell Pediatric Research Building Washington University School of Medicine 660 South Euclid Ave. Campus Box 8230 St. Louis, MO 63110 Tele: 314-747-0729 Fax: 314-362-3203 elam@wustl.edu

The conference is intended to generate ideas and energize new research on women’s health, including the role of sex and gender in health and disease. Six focused topical areas were addressed by concurrent working groups – genetics and microbial communities (metagenomics/microbiome); chronic pain syndromes; bladder and pelvic floor disorders; brain and psychiatric disorders; infectious diseases of the urinary and reproductive tracts; obesity and eating disorders. A seventh working group – women in biomedical careers -- will address strategies for ensuring that women researchers will have leading roles in biomedical research, policy and decision making.

Dr. Nancy H. Nielsen, President of the American Medical Association and a member of the ORWH Advisory Committee on Research on Women's Health (ACRWH) delivers the keynote address entitled: Women's Health Research Must Be Part of National Research Strategy. http://videocast.nih.gov/podcast/orwh/orwh.mov

May 27-29, 2009 in San Francisco, California University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences,

Contact: Jennifer Millis Executive Assistant to the Chair Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences University of California, San Francisco 505 Parnassus Avenue M-1496, Box 0132 San Francisco, CA 94143-0132 p. 415-502-2563 f. 415-476-1811 millisj@obgyn.ucsf.edu

The second regional scientific workshop and public hearing will address a broad range of topics relative to women’s health nationally and internationally and will address the interplay of research and health care. Specifically, five topical areas of research in women’s health will be highlighted, including: stem cell research -- biology, technology, translation and application of stem cell therapy to women’s disorders, differences in applications for men and women, biomaterials and capabilities for delivery of stem cells; HIV/AIDS and women; global health; information technology and health; and women’s health and the environment. A sixth area focused upon women in biomedical careers will explore the range of issues and strategies for creative opportunities to support the emergence and development of successful women researchers. Save the Date Flyer (41kb)

Additional Conference Information: Coming Soon

September 21-23, 2009 in Providence, Rhode Island Brown University Women and Infants Hospital

Contact: TBD

The third scientific workshop and public hearing will have a wide focus that will cover lifespan issues, from pre-conception to the frail elderly.

Additional Conference Information: Coming Soon

October 14-16, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois Northwestern University Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Molecular Medicine Feinberg School of Medicine

Wednesday, October 14 The Public Hearing will take place at the - Feinberg School of Medicine Robert H. Lurie Medical Research Center Room 1-129 303 E. Superior Chicago, IL 60611

Thursday & Friday, October 15-16 The Meetings will take place at – Northwestern University Thorne Auditorium, inside of the Arthur Rubloff Building 375 E. Chicago Avenue Chicago, IL 60611

CONTACT: Jody K. Hirsh, PhD Research Coordinator Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism & Molecular Medicine Tarry 15-757 Ph. 312/503-3659 FAX 312/908-9032 jkhirsh@northwestern.edu

Download PDF of event (56kb)