ORWH, in partnership with the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), is committed to advancing women’s health research and women’s health equity by expanding research in IDeA States. IDeA States include U.S. states and territories that are eligible to receive funding from the Institutional Development Award (IDeA) Program. The IDeA Program’s primary goal is to increase research capacity in states with historically low levels of NIH funding by offering them various funding mechanisms to jump-start or bolster basic, clinical, and translational research. Ultimately, the IDeA Program aims to equip institutions that conduct research to address the needs of their local communities, particularly those that are medically underserved and experience high rates of health disparities.  

In June 2024, ORWH and NIGMS hosted the first “NIH Symposium on Women’s Health Research in the IDeA States.” The event brought together field experts to discuss a variety of women’s health research–related topics, such as maternal health and lifestyle during pregnancy, the impact of mental stress on the female heart and cardiac system, and the success of nanoparticle therapies on maternal health outcomes. Explore these topics and much more in the newly released IDeA States Symposium Program Booklet.