WHRC Publication Alert

A paper was published today in Nature Communications that found only 5% of articles published across 6 neuroscience and psychiatry journals in 2019 reported analyzing sex as a discoverable variable. This, among the authors other findings, suggests that the inclusion of both sexes in research alone is not enough to drive important sex difference discoveries. Read more about this research, which was conducted by Cluster members Rebecca Rechlin, Tallinn Splinter, Dr. Travis Hodges & Dr. Liisa Galea alongside Dr. Arianne Albert.

Tell us What You Think

We strive to keep you updated on women’s health events, research, funding opportunities, resources and more through this newsletter. Let us know what you’ve been enjoying and what changes you’d like to see through this survey (< 5 min).

Should Domperidone Be Reconsidered as a Treatment for Low Breastmilk Supply?

“Domperidone has not been approved for any use in the United States and the distribution or importation of domperidone-containing products into the US violates the law. Domperidone has not been used to treat LMS anywhere in the world.” Read more.

“My hope with projects like this is to show that there can be ways to access and deliver services that aren't being used right now. I want people to know that these things can actually fill in the gaps and create a bridge so that people can access the treatments that they need.” Read more.

“Menopause and aging women’s needs are often ignored or rarely discussed in mainstream healthcare product and service innovations. This makes it a hidden reality that not only impacts women’s preparedness for this journey, but it also influences how they can participate and contribute to society.” Read more.

Apr 25 Walking for Brain Health: The Role of Biological Sex and Reproductive Experience on Exercise Efficacy

For our last seminar in this year’s Women’s Health Seminar Series, Dr. Cindy Barha will discuss her research on how sex differences and reproductive experience alter the effect of exercise on brain health in older adults. 

12-1 pm PST | Register here

May 2-5 Study of Sex Differences 2022 Annual Meeting

Join the Organization for the Study of Sex Differences (OSSD) at their 2022 Annual Meeting on May 2-5 in Marina del Rey, CA. The meeting will host an exciting and diverse scientific program that will provide an opportunity for you to stay informed about the most recent advances in research and policy regarding sex differences in health and disease Read more.

May 11 Engaging Patients Before and After Childbirth From all Walks of Life in Health Research

Cluster member Dr.. Marianne Vidler, will lead a discussion about the best ways to identify and engage diverse patient representatives in pregnancy and postpartum in order to improve our understanding of their health and health concerns. Participants will have the opportunity to provide input on the proposed strategy. Read more.

12-1 pm PST | Register here.

May 23-24 Interdisciplinary Ambitions: Women's Mental Health from History to Neurobiology

This interdisciplinary symposium will bring together scientists from neuroscience, psychology, psychiatry, sociology, humanities and neuroendocrinology to highlight major advances and challenges in the field of women’s mental health and suggest future avenues for research. Read more. Register by April 29

Funding

Mobilizing Principles for Equitable Global Health

Funded projects will support the identification and implementation of effective knowledge mobilization strategies for integrating what are known collectively as ‘Principles for Global Health Research’ into action across the Canadian global health research (GHR) ecosystem. 600K across 3 year projects. Deadline May 13th. Read more.  

    
Gender in Research Fellowships

ZonMw Gender and Health will provide Gender in Research Fellowships for (inter)national PhD-students and post-doctoral researchers to attend the Gender and Health course and participate in the Gender in Research workshops at the Erasmus Summer Programme from 22-26 August. 20 fellowships valued at €3,000. Read more. Apply by April 25th.

Student Awards

Conference Award

The Conference Award offers $250 prizes for students who are attending a sex/gender differences or women's health conference or presenting sex/gender differences or women's health research at any conference. These funds can be used to cover conference registration or travel costs. Deadline April 24. Read more. Apply now.

Job Market

PhD Candidate

A 3-year full-time position as a PhD candidate is available at Diakonhjemmet Hospital (Norway), in close collaboration with the Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research. The candidate will investigate relationships between naturally occurring sex hormone dynamics across the lifespan, focusing on adolescence and menopause, and brain and mental health in males and females. Read more. Apply by May 1

      
Postdoctoral Fellow

BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre and Women’s Health Research Institute are seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow (PDF) in the Complex Chronic Diseases Program (CCP) led by Dr. Luis Nacul for a 1-year term with a possibility of extension subject to funding. This role will help inform the future creation of the first Canadian data registry of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis /Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and more. Read more. Apply by May 1.

Call for Papers

Special Issue: Gender, Work Burden and Mental Health
This special issue invites the submission of theoretically informed research papers that examine gender and work (paid and unpaid) as determinants of mental health inequities, as well as mechanisms that lead to those inequities. Deadline June 30th. Read more.

Research

An analysis of neuroscience and psychiatry papers published from 2009 and 2019 outlines opportunities for increasing discovery of sex differences (Rechlin, Splinter, Hodges, Albert & Galea, 2022)

Inflammatory blockade prevents injury to the developing pulmonary gas exchange surface in preterm primates (Toth, et al., 022)

News

National menstrual equity pilot project included in federal budget (Global News)

Sex redefined: The idea of 2 sexes is overly simplistic (Scientific American)

The UBC Sexual Health Research lab is recruiting for the JUNIPER Study. If you experience sexual arousal/desire difficulties and are interested in participating in one of our in-person studies, contact the study coordinator at sageubc@queensu.ca.

The BC Children’s Hospital BioBank is a valuable resource to local and international researchers, as it collects and stores biological samples and matching clinical data for future ethically approved studies. In addition to children’s samples, they have maternal samples such as blood, umbilical cord blood, and placenta from both premature and full term deliveries. They are CTRNet certified and have experience providing biobanking services for basic and clinical research projects. Read more.

We’d like to formally welcome the following new members to our cluster. We’re happy to have you working alongside us to advance women’s health!

• Laura Hallam, PhD student, The George Institute for Global Health (Australia)

• Rhien Hare, Undergraduate student, The University of the Fraser Valley (Canada)

• Emma Tempest, Masters student, Victoria University of Wellington (New Zealand)

• Felicia Danesi, Masters student, University of British Columbia (Canada)

• Livia Cosentino, PDF, Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health (Italy)

• Charlie Waugh, Research Associate, University of British Columbia (Canada)

• Abera Kenay Tura, PhD, Haramaya University (Ethiopia)

• Chelsey Perry, Masters student,  University of British Columbia (Canada)

• Erin Fitzpatrick, Masters student, University of British Columbia (Canada)

• Francine Burke, Masters student, Memorial University of Newfoundland (Canada)

• Marta Kolbuszewska, Masters student, University of British Columbia (Canada)

• Jessica Ruffolo, Masters student, University of Guelph (Canada)

• Alana Brown, PhD candidate, University of Toronto (Canada)

• Meejin Park, Masters student, McMaster University (Canada) 

• Heather Hollman, PhD candidate, University of Victoria (Canada)

• Marina White, PhD candidate, Carleton University (Canada)

If you feel passionate about the work we are doing, consider making a one-time or monthly donation. 100% of proceeds will be used to promote women’s health research across public, government and academic domains, develop the capacity of women's health researchers and foster new multidisciplinary projects.