A New Way Forward for Women's Health Research at the National Institutes of Health

Despite efforts to address inequities, research on women's health conditions (defined as those that uniquely or differently affect women and female individuals) remain significantly understudied. As directed by Congress, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Research on Women's Health requested the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (National Academies) to conduct an assessment of the state of women's health research at the NIH. The findings of the National Academies committee include: 1) a significant funding inequity, with less than 8% of the total NIH grant budget for fiscal year 2023 allocated to women's health research; 2) a need for improved strategic NIH-wide priority setting, oversight, and adherence to existing policies to support women's health research; 3) a need for a specific institute for research on conditions specific to women's health; and 4) a need for sufficient training and additional funding to grow and retain the women's health research workforce. The National Academies committee recommends restructuring women's health research at the NIH by creating a new Women's Health Research Institute and cross-disciplinary Women's Health Research Fund, including greater accountability and an infusion of new funds to support both research and career development in women's health. The combination of the new institute, greater prioritization and accountability, and new funding would lead to more rapid innovations and advancements, with the ultimate goal of improving women's health and well-being, which, in turn, improves the well-being of families and communities and bolsters a vibrant, healthier society.