President Biden took a significant step on Monday to prioritize women’s health research by announcing executive actions aimed at expanding the federal government’s focus on conditions that disproportionately affect women. This includes midlife conditions like menopause, arthritis, and heart disease, as well as issues specifically impacting women in the military.
Described by the White House as the “most comprehensive” action by a president on women’s health research, Mr. Biden signed an executive order directing federal agencies to ensure that they are using federal funds to research health conditions and diseases that have been historically understudied in women. This initiative comes after Mr. Biden appointed Dr. Carolyn M. Mazure, a psychologist and professor at the Yale School of Medicine, to lead the White House initiative on Women’s Health Research.
Dr. Mazure emphasized the importance of addressing the underfunding and lack of study in women’s health research, stating that there is still much to learn about preventing, diagnosing, and treating various health conditions in women. Conditions such as heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and fibroids are among those that will be a focus of the research efforts.
The Biden administration’s push for increased investment in women’s health research comes at a critical time, with recent legal decisions threatening women’s reproductive rights and access to fertility treatments. The President has called on Congress to pass a plan to invest $12 billion in creating a new fund for women’s health research at the National Institutes of Health, while also directing the N.I.H. to immediately allocate $200 million towards women’s health research.
Additionally, the executive order signed by Mr. Biden will require agencies to report annually on their investments in women’s health research and explore the use of artificial intelligence to advance such research. The N.I.H. will increase investments in small businesses focused on women’s health by 50%, and the Defense Department will invest $10 million to study cancers and mental health issues affecting women in the military.
Overall, President Biden’s actions signal a significant commitment to addressing the gaps in women’s health research and ensuring that the unique health needs of women are prioritized in federal research efforts.
