The Partnership for Women's Health Research Canada (PWHR) invites you to "Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice for Better Perinatal Outcomes," a free, hybrid event and part of the PWHR 2024-2025 Seminar Series.

Join researchers, thought leaders, and community collaborators to explore research that promotes equity and improves perinatal health.

You'll hear from leading experts, including Dr. Levinia Brown, Dr. Modupe Tunde-Byass, Mary Ann Forbes, Gabrielle Griffith, Dr. Patti Johnston, Dr. Isabelle Malhamé, Bhavya Reddy, and Dr. Saraswathi Vedam.

EVENT DETAILS: 

• Date: March 5, 2025
• Time: 9:00-11:00 AM PT | 10:00 AM-12:00 PM MT | 11:00 AM-1:00 PM CT | 12:00-2:00 PM ET | 1:00-3:00 PM AT
• Location: Virtual 

Are you – or someone you know – driving innovation in women’s health research? The PWHR Mid-Career Excellence in Women's Health Research Award is now open for applications! 

This national award honours mid-career researchers across Canada who are making significant contributions across the four Canadian Institutes of Health Research pillars: Clinical Research, Biomedical Research, Health Systems & Services Social and Cultural, Environmental & Population Health.

Awardees will be honoured at a special PWHR event, where they will have the opportunity to present their research and engage with leading experts and peers. Recipients will also be invited to showcase their work at their home research institute, further amplifying their contributions and impact.

Apply today or share this opportunity with an inspiring researcher!

As Heart Health Month comes to a close, our work is far from over.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women worldwide, yet research and care often fail to address women’s unique risks. During the PWHR Women’s Heart Health: Inclusion for Research and Practice Excellence seminar, experts highlighted key gaps – and how we can drive change.

KEY TAKEAWAYS: 

• Health Disparities: Women’s heart health is underfunded and under-researched, especially for 2SLGBTQI+ and gender-diverse individuals. Mental health struggles like anxiety and depression further increase cardiovascular risk, worsened by gendered social stressors.
• Barriers to Clinical Trials: Women’s involvement remains low due to caregiving responsibilities, restrictive eligibility, and lack of awareness. This requires adjusting research design to be more inclusive of and responsive to the realities of women’s everyday lives. What works: Videos sharing real-life experiences can help reduce hesitancy and boost participation.
• Early Menopause & Heart Health: Menopause timing matters. Early menopause accelerates hormonal changes, increasing heart disease risk – which is why more research is urgently needed.
• We must do better. Women’s symptoms, risk factors, and experiences must be central to heart health research and care. Evidence-based, women-focused care improved health and reduced health care costs – but isn't available for all women who need it.