Women's Health Research Cluster

We look forward to continuing to engage alongside partners across sectors to ensure women’s health research informs what comes next - Senator Danièle Henkel, @whcwomenshealth.bsky.social, and other organizations across Canada!

#WomensHealth #BillS243 #HealthPolicy #ResearchMatters

As the Women's Health Research Cluster, our lens is clear: improving women's health requires evidence. When women’s health is not prioritized in funding and study design, women remain underrepresented in the data that shapes policy and care.

A national framework is an opportunity to change that.

Last week, we were in Ottawa for Women’s Health Days on Parliament Hill in support of Bill S-243 - legislation to establish a National Framework for Women’s Health in Canada.

Investing in women’s health is not niche - it is economic strategy, innovation policy, and health system reform.

🚨 Deadline this Friday!
We’re accepting abstracts for our Trainee Research Presentation on #MenstrualHealth.
Undergrad, grad, and postdoc researchers welcome.

🗓 Abstracts due Feb 27
📅 Presentation: April 24, 2026

Submit yours today: ow.ly/GWFZ50YkiCT

#WomensHealth

Check out the Women's Health Interrupted Podcast to hear more from the Honourable Dr. Kirsty Duncan!

On #IDWGS, we honour Dr. Kirsty Duncan, a scientist, leader, and lifelong advocate for fairness and representation in research.
Her work helped create lasting change in Canadian science, opening doors for women and underrepresented scholars. Her impact continues.

We’re accepting submissions for our next Trainee Research Presentation and invite undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral trainees whose work focuses on menstruation to apply.

🗓 Deadline: Feb 27
📅 April 24, 2026 | 1:00 PM EDT

Apply today: ow.ly/mLjF50Y9W3J

Help shape the future of birth control research in Canada.
If you’re 18+ and live in Canada, take our confidential 15–20 min survey on hormonal contraception—whether you use it, used it, or never have.
ow.ly/7Fo350XVC3C

Developing equitable and culturally safe menopause care for Indigenous women will require addressing the racism and stigma rooted in healthcare, and the financial barriers to alternative methods of care.

Thank you Dr. Bingham for a wonderful talk!

IMPACT partnered with Stó:lō Womxn (stolowomen.com) to conduct a workshop and sharing circle.

The conversations reflect that menopause represents a spiritual shift and a time of renewal, and that discussing menopausal experiences was important for intergenerational learning.

There is a lack of services and #equitable care for menopause. Beyond this, gender inequity, Indigenous-specific racism, colonial health systems, and data exclusion have created a profound gap in menopause care for Indigenous women.

Dr. Bingham's IMPACT research program aims to address this gap!

Access to menopause care is a social determinant of health. For Indigenous women, menopause also represents a cultural transition into Matriarchal and Elder roles in their communities.

Dr. Bingham begins by mentioning the Indigenous Gender-Based Analysis+ framework, which guides how her team conducts research on Indigenous women's menopause care.

Among those who identify as Indigenous, the HER-BC study found increased systemic inequities affecting menopause care.

Follow along as we share highlights from Dr. Bingham's #WHSS talk today on a research program called IMPACT, focusing on #Indigenous experiences of #menopause ✨

Join us for our next Women’s Health Seminar featuring Dr. Brittany Bingham on IMPACT, an Indigenous-led program advancing equitable, culturally safe menopause care by centring Indigenous women’s knowledge and lived experience.

🔗 Register today: ow.ly/lhtc50Y7znb

We’re proud to support a National Framework for Women’s Health through Bill S-243 by partnering with @whcwomenshealth.bsky.social, organizations across Canada and Senator Henkel. The time for change is now 💪

Learn more and take action: thewhc.ca/whframework
womenshealthresearchcluster.com/advocacy

Our next Women’s Health Seminar is coming up on Feb 9!

Featuring Dr. Brittany Bingham, this talk introduces IMPACT, an Indigenous-led project advancing culturally safe, equitable #menopause care by centring #Indigenous voices and knowledge.

🔗 Register: ow.ly/jPr450Y3Sfu

We were devastated to hear of the passing of the Honourable Dr. Kirsty Duncan.
A giant in science and public service, she was also kind and deeply caring, fighting tirelessly for equity for women and girls in science.
We honour her legacy and extend our deepest condolences.

Did you know that 11% of women in the general population have undiagnosed endometriosis?
But science is catching up!

Read our newest blog to learn more about endometriosis, and the new research into alternative methods of diagnosis: ow.ly/OSue50Y1jJZ

Missed our January Women’s Health Seminar?
Dr. Colleen Norris on why understanding the reproductive transition is critical for women’s health.

🎥 Watch now on YouTube: ow.ly/MtHq50Y04YN

A framework is just the beginning. Follow along as we track what Bill S-243 could mean for women’s health research, care, and equity across the lifespan — and how evidence can help shape what comes next.

Thank you Senator Henkel for leading the change!

Bill S-243 was recently introduced in Canada. What does it mean for women’s health? 🤔 For decades, women’s health has been under-prioritized. This bill recognizes the need for coordinated, national action. 💡

Read the Bill here: www.parl.ca/DocumentView...

Click here to register for the 2025-2026 Women's Health Seminar Series - Women's Health Research Cluster 30 April 2026 @ All Day - Our Women’s Health Seminar Series offers you the opportunity to expand your breadth of knowledge about women’s health by attending monthly seminars that bring you the latest ...

Individualized, evidence-based discussions are key!

For those who missed today's talk, we will be posting the recording on our YouTube channel: youtube.com/playlist?lis...

Click here to register for the other #WHSS talks lined up for this year: womenshealthresearchcluster.com/events/regis...

Historically, ovaries have been managed to control #fertility - but they should also be managed to support lifelong health. Dr. Norris emphasizes that "the belief that #estrogens universally causes breast cancer and heart disease is not supported by current evidence."

I love this take home message. We need to rethink what is “normal” for women.. don’t assume things with bounce back after pregnancy or amenorrhea with exercise or during peri/menopause to support our health. Not sleeping is NOT normal. Dr Colleen Norris

Norris: ER are on many tissues -400 sites. And influence heart, bone and brain health. So why aren’t we focused on this time of life. Estrogens are one thing but so is progesterone.

Follow along as we share highlights from today's #WHSS talk by Dr. Colleen Norris on how the #ovaries are the "architect of women's health" 🤩

Mice and rats can’t tell the whole story.

Our latest blog explores how novel rodent models like naked mole-rats and degus are advancing women’s health research, from puberty to aging to Alzheimer’s disease.

Read more ⬇️
ow.ly/6tWa50XTZ9u

Join us in one week to hear from Dr. Colleen Norris as she explores the reproductive transition, cardiovascular risk, and what’s too often dismissed as “normal.”
Register today: ow.ly/Aefn50XVBhL

Mice and rats can’t tell the whole story.

Our latest blog explores how novel rodent models like naked mole-rats and degus are advancing women’s health research, from puberty to aging to Alzheimer’s disease.

Read more ⬇️
ow.ly/6tWa50XTZ9u