The new Trans-NIH Strategic Plan for Women's Health Research is composed of five strategic goals. The strategic goals are:

Goal 1: Advancing Rigorous Research that is Relevant to the Health of Women

• Advancing Science for the Health of Women aims to advance rigorous research that is relevant to the health of women. This goal encourages research that will foster innovation, expand emerging areas of science, and address issues of public health importance. Research is necessary to improve the fundamental understanding of how sex and gender, among other critical factors, influence health and disease, and to extend this knowledge to translational and clinical studies. Adherence to high standards of scientific rigor is critical for generating reproducible results. Research that is rigorously designed, including consideration of the influences of sex and gender, will contribute to the NIH agenda for women’s health research and improve the health of women.

Goal 2: Developing Methods and Leveraging Data Sources Relevant to the Health of Women

• Advancing Science for the Health of Women requires methods that consider the influences of sex and gender, leverage relevant data sources, and include underrepresented women. Research to improve the health of women depends on creative and rigorous approaches to study design, participant recruitment and retention, measurements, and analytic techniques that identify findings of relevance to women. Intentional application of such methodologies along with enhanced data sharing and harmonization will increase the speed with which research can inform health care for women.

Goal 3: Enhancing Dissemination and Implementation of Research Evidence 

• Advancing Science for the Health of Women depends on rigorous and efficient dissemination and implementation of evidence to improve women’s health. Implementation science has an important role in translating research into effective practices, interventions, and policies  to eliminate disparities in care for women so they receive individualized, sex- and gender-appropriate, evidence-based health care. Partnerships with researchers, educators, providers, advocates, and the community are essential to communicate evidence-based health information effectively and to understand existing real-world challenges. and to understand existing real-world challenges.

Goal 4: Developing a Well-Trained, Diverse, and Robust Workforce

• Advancing Science for the Health of Women requires a well-trained, diverse, and robust workforce, which is the engine of scientific progress. Building interdisciplinary research careers in women’s health and training scientists, clinicians, and other health professionals on sex and gender influences in health and disease will accelerate the translation of knowledge into improved health care for women. The development and effective implementation of innovative programs that attract, retain, and advance women in biomedical science careers will increase the representation of women in biomedical research at all career levels, and coordinated efforts are needed to increase representation of women at the senior faculty and leadership levels.

Goal 5: Improving Evaluation of Research that is Relevant to the Health of Women

• Advancing Science for the Health of Women depends on identifying gaps in knowledge about women’s health and delineating opportunities for scientific advancement. Employing innovative strategies to address these gaps and opportunities makes research more relevant to the health of women.