Exciting News! President Joe Biden signed a groundbreaking Executive Order on March 18, 2024, expanding the White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research. This initiative marks a significant step towards addressing women’s health issues through enhanced funding, research, and collaboration. Notably, a $12 billion investment proposal for the NIH has been introduced to establish a Women’s Health Research Fund.
The EO targets five key areas of advancement:
- Prioritize and Increase Investments in Women’s Health Research: NIH pledges $200 million to close research gaps in women’s health, focusing on perimenopause and menopause impacts on heart, brain, and bone health. Collaboration with multiple institutes ensures comprehensive efforts.
- Foster Innovation and Discovery in Women’s Health: ARPA-H launches a $100 million Sprint for Women’s Health, driving transformative R&D. NIH boosts investment in private-sector innovators by 50%, focusing on biomarker research. NSF leverages engineering to enhance women’s health.
- Expand and Leverage Data Collection and Analysis Related to Women’s Health: NIH launches effort for common data elements in women’s health. CDC expands quality measures for women’s health analysis.
- Strengthen Coordination, Infrastructure, and Training to Support Women’s Health Research: DoD and VA launch joint effort for Service members’ health. EPA creates the Women’s Health Community of Practice for environmental research.
- Improve Women’s Health Across the Lifespan: NIH launches P2P series on menopause treatment gaps. Indian Health Service promotes Native women’s health, and understanding of tribal beliefs. Initiatives also aim to promote the health of American Indian and Alaska Native Women and address menopause research gaps.
Link to the Statements and Releases: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/03/18/fact-sheet-president-biden-issues-executive-order-and-announces-new-actions-to-advance-womens-health-research-and-innovation/