Women's Health Updates — January 2024

This newsletter features information about flu vaccines, maternal health, and more!



Read about recent developments in women's health as well as SWHR's activities that promote the study of sex and gender influences on health and serve our mission to improve women's health through science, policy, and education.

SWHR CELEBRATES WOMEN'S HEALTH CHAMPIONS

Thank you to everyone who came to SWHR's Winter Social in December and helped us honor our 2023 Women's Health Champions, Juana Mata with Looms4Lupus (left) and Marianna Raia with Expecting Health (middle). Check out highlights from the evening here!

JOIN THE “IMPACT OF MENOPAUSE ON THE WORKPLACE” FOCUS GROUP

Do you live in the DC-Baltimore metro area?

SWHR is conducting a study to better understand the impact of menopause on the workplace. To participate, you must be age 18 and older. You do not have to experience menopause to participate in the focus group. We are collecting insights from all individuals, regardless of sex, gender, race, ethnicity, or employment status. Apply before January 26 to be considered for the focus group!

SWHR IN THE NEWS

Check out the latest news articles and podcasts featuring SWHR!

FemTech Focus Podcast: "Closing the Gap: Addressing Unmet Needs and Research Gaps with the Society for Women’s Health Research" features an interview with SWHR CEO Katie Schubert.

Medill on The Hill: "White House Launches Initiative To Improve Women’s Health Research" includes commentary from SWHR about the new White House Women's Health Research Initiative.

HEALTH AWARENESS IN JANUARY

CERVICAL HEALTH AND CERVICAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

Each year in the United States, about 11,500 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed. Watch the webinar "How Vaccines and Screening Can Prevent Cervical Cancer" to learn your cancer risks and screening options today!

GLAUCOMA AWARENESS MONTH MONTH

Did you know that 67% of individuals with glaucoma in the United States are women? Understand your care options for preventing glaucoma by reading the SWHR Eye Health Toolkit.

JAN 23: MATERNAL HEALTH AWARENESS DAY

Access to maternal health care has increasingly become unobtainable for many U.S. families. This month, SWHR joins ACOG to raise awareness about the importance of access to maternal health care. Learn more at ACOG.com.

JAN 25: WOMEN'S HEALTH RESEARCH DAY

January 25 marks the anniversary of the implementation of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Policy on Sex as a Biological Variable (SABV) in 2016. Women’s Health Research Day serves as an opportunity to reflect on how far women’s health research has come – and how far we have to go. 

Where you do you hope women's health research goes this year? In the next five years? Reply to this email and tell us, or tag @SWHR on social media.

SWHR EVENT: Celebrate Women's Health Research Day early on January 22 by tuning into "Opportunities in Women’s Health: A Fireside Chat Congressional Briefing with ORWH Director Clayton" to hear from Dr. Janine Clayton, Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH) about the current challenges and opportunities within women’s health.

LATEST RESOURCE

SWHR Works to Fight Flu

While influenza (commonly called flu) is underestimated by many, it can result in severe illness to some individuals, including to pregnant individuals. The flu vaccine is an important tool to help protect mothers and their baby.

The Flu Vaccines & Pregnancy Fact Sheet explains how the flu vaccine protects pregnant individuals and what types of vaccines are appropriate to receive during pregnancy. Find a site to receive your flu vaccine near you!

Join the flu vaccine conversation online!

Follow the hashtag #SWHRtalksVaccines and us the Flu Vaccine & Pregnancy Social Media Toolkit to easily share information about the flu vaccine.

Watch the recording of "Clearing the Air About Lung Cancer in Women" to learn steps you can take to prevent and screen for lung cancer.

Follow the conversation on social media at the hashtag #SWHRtalksCancer.

Do you have a lung or other cancer story? Share your story with SWHR by visiting swhr.org/shareyourstory and you could help inform future resources.

Your bone health deserves your attention from an early age. Watch the congressional briefing "The Role of Federal Agencies in Supporting Women’s Bone Health Early and Often" to learn how federal agencies are working to improve access to bone healthy resources.

Join the conversation on social media at the hashtag #SWHRtalksBoneHealth.

Do you have a bone health story? Share with SWHR by visiting swhr.org/shareyourstory.

UPCOMING EVENT! During "Opportunities in Women’s Health: A Fireside Chat Congressional Briefing with ORWH Director Clayton" on January 22, hear from Dr. Janine Clayton, Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH) about the current challenges and opportunities within women’s health – and gear up for Women’s Health Research Day, happening on January 25. Register and save your spot now!

SWHR Updates

• Letter: SWHR Calls Attention to Women’s Health Research Opportunities in Letter to White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research
• Senate Resolution: Cardiovascular disease is a major public health concern. SWHR thanks Sens. Cindy Hyde-Smith and Gary Peters for taking action as sponsors of S. Res. 496 to designate September as National Cholesterol Education Month and September 30 as LDL-C Awareness Day.
• Event Recording: Watch "The Role of Federal Agencies in Supporting Women’s Bone Health Early and Often" to learn about federal agencies' roles in promoting bone health.
• Event Recording: Watch "Efforts to Advance Menopause in the UK: A Conversation with the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee" to hear how the UK Parliament is improving menopause wellness for all.

Coalition to Advance Maternal Therapeutics (CAMT) Updates

• Blog: CAMT All-Member Meeting Sheds Light on Industry’s Work to Supporting Pregnant and Lactating Populations in Research
• Have you faced questions about whether taking a medication is safe during pregnancy or breastfeeding? The Coalition to Advance Maternal Therapeutics wants to hear your story. Share your story at safemeds4moms.org.

Industry Updates

• Report: NIH's Report of the Advisory Committee on Research on Women’s Health: Fiscal Years 2021–2022 details the NIH-wide programs and accomplishments carried out in fulfillment of ORWH’s core mission and includes a summary of ORWH activities during FY 2021-2022
• Meeting Recording: NASEM's Assessment of NIH Research on Women's Health: Meeting 1 (Part 3) aims to fill gaps in our understanding of women's health research across all NIH Institutes and Centers. This event is one of several within this project. Find details about the upcoming events here.

Learn more about SWHR's policy work here.

Transform Our World Through Research: The 2024 Magee Prize, Now Accepting Letters of Intent

Magee-Womens Research Institute announced a call for proposals for its $1 million Magee Prize, which will support a collaborative team whose groundbreaking research in reproductive sciences and women’s health could improve lives globally. Letters of Intent are due February 15, 2024. The prize will be awarded in November 2024 at our Magee-Womens Summit. Find specific information about the Magee prize here.

Do you have a health story to share? SWHR is always seeking stories about diagnoses, seeking or providing care, and living with narcolepsy, menopause, autoimmune diseases, heart disease, or other conditions or life stages. Visit swhr.org/shareyourstory or click the button to share.