NIH Supports Innovation in Women’s Midlife Health

Women in midlife face unique health challenges that have historically been under-researched, from menopause to increased risk of chronic disease. Supporting targeted studies in this area can help close the research gap and improve care options.

To incentivize interdisciplinary research collaborations, NIH’s Office of Research on Women’s Health is supporting one-year, proof-of-concept pilot awards on women’s midlife health. 

Applications were received from principal investigator teams representing 14 NIH Institute and Center (IC) intramural programs, with initial awards made to four teams at eight ICs.

The awarded proposals will:

• characterize the impacts of menopause stage, sex hormones and sex chromosomes on brain aging and disease
• study the impact of menopause and hormone therapy on the fecal microbiome in the Sister Study
• promote discovery of environmental factors that contribute to menopausal hot flashes 
• explore immune-adipose dysfunction in the menopause transition

For more information about these proposals, see: http://bit.ly/3T1SNRa.