Biden Administration's Transformative Initiative to Empower Women’s Health
By Aalaya Gurram, Federal Advocacy Intern, American Heart Association and John Laughner, Government Relations Manager, American Heart Association
The historical underrepresentation of women in health research, compounded by various gaps within the medical research sector, has led to inadequate attention on women’s health. This exclusion of women in medical research prevents them from being sufficiently studied and gaining proper access to health care. In response, President Joseph and First Lady Jill Biden launched the White House Initiative on Women's Health Research in November of 2023, with one clear goal in mind: to fundamentally change how our country approaches and funds research on women’s health.[1]
In his 2024 State of the Union speech President Biden pointed out that, “women are more than half of our population, yet research on women’s health has always been underfunded and understudied.” To address this dilemma the White House Initiative seeks to invest $12 billion in women’s health research in programs spread across the federal government. The initiative plans to promote collaboration between federal agencies, the private sector, and philanthropic organizations to prioritize women’s health research, spur innovation, and close existing research gaps.
Key areas in which women are significantly understudied or underrepresented in medical research range from menopause to Alzheimer’s to heart disease. All these conditions either disproportionately impact women or affect women differently than men. For example, more than 60 million U.S. women are living with some form of heart disease.[2] Despite the significant population of women struggling with heart health, they represent only one-third of the study population in cardiovascular trials.[3] Through transformative investments, the initiative will address such disparities by prioritizing research on diseases affecting women.
We have already witnessed promising results by focusing on women in medical research. An example was presented at the American Heart Association’s Epidemiology, Prevention, Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health conference last year. The study found that women who experience adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) such as hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, preterm delivery, gestational diabetes, small-for-gestational-age delivery, placental abruption, and pregnancy loss have an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease later in life. Thankfully, the study also found that all women, not just those at higher risk, who live a heart healthy lifestyle after pregnancy, significantly lower their risk for future cardiovascular disease.[4] Based on this research, targeted efforts and services that promote heart healthy behaviors including managing blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose levels, can help level the playing field for women; especially those at high-risk of cardiovascular issues.
Through the White House Initiative’s first project, the Sprint for Women’s Health funded by the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), opportunities are provided to foster transformative research and solutions in areas ranging from advancing women’s brain health via lymphatic targeting and ovarian health through mid-life to prevent disease. [5] This $100 million commitment will directly support transformative research and development in women’s health at ARPA-H and will help ensure that women’s health innovations are not confined to the lab but rather applied in the real world to address the health challenges women are experiencing. It not only will accelerate progress in women’s health but also underscore the commitment to addressing the health challenges faced by women.
The President’s FY 2025 budget also prioritizes investing in new research and treatments beneficial to women. It recommends $54 million for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health, which coordinates women's health efforts across HHS and addresses critical women's health issues like maternal health. Moreover, the administration proposes a shift in how the government allocates funds for women's health research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which involves boosting interdisciplinary studies and establishing a nationwide network of centers focusing on excellence and innovation in women’s health. Additionally, the budget aims to double the current funding for the Office of Research on Women’s Health at the NIH, with the goal of enhancing outcomes related to women’s health.
By focusing on impactful applications and solutions, the White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research aims to bridge the gap between research and practical implementation, ensuring that women have access to effective and innovative healthcare interventions. This approach is crucial for addressing the longstanding disparities and challenges in women’s health research and health care delivery. It aims to empower women to take control of their health and reduce their risk of future complications, leading to healthier outcomes for all women.
[1] “White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research.” The White House, The United States Government, 8 Mar. 2024, www.whitehouse.gov/white-house-initiative-on-womens-health-research/
[2] Tsao CW, Aday AW, Almarzooq ZI, et al. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics-2023 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001123
[3] “SWHR Policy Agenda: Improving Women’s Heart Health Outcomes Across the Lifespan.” Society for Women’s Health Research,Feb. 2024, https://swhr.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/SWHR-Heart-Health-Policy-Agenda_Feb-24.pdf
[4] American Heart Association News. “Women with Pregnancy Complications May Be Able to Lower Future Cardiovascular Risk.” AHA, 21 Mar. 2024, www.heart.org/en/news/2024/03/21/women-with-pregnancy-complications-may-be-able-to-lower-future-cardiovascular-risk
[5] “Sprint for Women’s Health.” ARPA-H, https://arpa-h.gov/engage-and-transition/sprint