Women's Health Research Cluster

✨ NEW BLOG POST! ✨

🩸 Menstrual blood isn’t “waste” — it’s one of medicine’s most overlooked research tools.
Every month, 1.8 billion people produce a biological sample rich with immune cells, hormones, and hundreds of unique proteins not found in regular blood.

🔬 Researchers are finally paying attention — and the possibilities are huge.
From inflammation markers to early clues for conditions like , may help unlock faster, less invasive diagnosis.

💡 Innovators are even developing wearable pads that analyze biomarkers in real time, turning an everyday experience into a powerful window into health.

Menstruation is more than a cycle.
It’s .
It’s .
It’s .
It’s .

📲 Check out the blog post using our link in bio!

The Women’s Health Research Cluster is excited to launch our annual Women’s Health Seminar Series!

Starting September 2026, we’ll host FREE virtual seminar led by one of nine multidisciplinary experts sharing cutting‑edge research on the biological, psychological, behavioural, economic, and social factors shaping

✨ Topics include:
– Alcohol Advertising as a Women’s and LGBTQ+ Health Issue
– Impacts of GLP‑1
– Oral
– Weight Across Women’s Lives
– Women’s Mental Health
– Reproductive Aging &
– Headache in &
– Black Women’s Health

Don’t miss out! Join us for one, or all nine seminars — register now via the link in bio.

Check out our latest Blog Post: Behind the Science 🔬
Testosterone & Women’s Health: What the Evidence Shows

This week’s blog breaks down the research so you can get clear, evidence‑based answers on;
📈 What’s the trajectory of testosterone across the lifespan?
🧬 What role does it play during the reproductive years?
🌙 Does testosterone decrease during menopause?

Link in Bio!

Forgot to keep up with women’s health research in June? Our latest blog breaks down how gender equality shapes mental health outcomes for gender‑nonconforming people 🌈🧠 — plus what emerging LGBTQ+ research is revealing 🔍📊.

The World Cup is an exciting time for fans across the world, but for some, this is a period of great stress and fear.

Major sporting events have been correlated to increases in reports of intimate partner violence (IPV). While sports are not directly to blame, social and behavioural factors are at play. Sporting tournaments can end up amplifying existing patterns of abuse.

Want to learn more? Check out these resources by the Women’s Health Research Cluster:

Blog 👉 https://ow.ly/M0e550Zo9NI

Seminar with Dr. Nisha Malhotra 👉 https://ow.ly/3rqe50Zo9NG

Seminar with Dr. Paul van Donkelaar and Karen Mason 👉 https://ow.ly/7L8y50Zo9NF

📌 If you or someone you know is experiencing intimate partner violence, support is available. Click here to find local and confidential resources: https://ow.ly/VS8V50Zo9NE

📢 Publication feature: HPV vaccines save lives!

We're excited to showcase robust new evidence from Drs. Sasieni and Falcaro that high HPV vaccination coverage is associated with a substantial reduction in cervical cancer deaths.

In the UK, the public vaccination program prevented nearly 200 cervical cancer deaths in 2024 alone🎗️

🔑 Key Takeaways 🔑

HPV is the most common STI (affecting ~80% of sexually active people). While most cases resolve on their own, high-risk types can cause cervical cancer.

Between 2020 and 2024, there were ZERO cervical cancer deaths among women aged 20–24 who received the vaccine at ages 12–13 (with 88–90% coverage).

This success story brings us closer to the WHO’s goal of eliminating cervical cancer as a public health problem 💡

Swipe through to see how immunization is transforming cancer prevention and why continued vaccine access matters for women’s health worldwide!

Click here to read the full article ➡️ https://ow.ly/QOqO50ZnYU3

How does the history of medicine shape Black women's experiences in maternity care today?

Our latest blog, "Tracing Black Women’s Pain and the Impacts on Black Maternal Health Today," explores how harmful, historical myths like “obstetric hardiness” continue to fuel the dismissal of Black women’s pain in modern clinical settings.

Understanding these roots is essential to building truly equitable, safe, and judgment-free healthcare.

Read more: https://ow.ly/gvtc50Zm5c6

What does a year of progress look like for the Women's Health Research Cluster?

It looks like more accessible knowledge, empowered researchers, and stronger advocacy for the funding women’s health deserves. Take a look at our 2025/2026 report on our website to see the details of our collective impact:https://womenshealthresearchcluster.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/WHRC-Report-2025-2026.pdf

Congratulations to Dr. Pia Campagna on her Elizabeth Young New Investigator Award from OSSD!

Her award winning project looks at many layers of biological data to explore how menopause timing is related to molecular changes in the aging female brain! Learn more here: https://ow.ly/OO2Q50ZlFVg

We've all seen the alarming statistic: Only 7% of funded research is dedicated to women’s health. But where does this data originate?

Our team at the Women’s Health Research Cluster is proud to have provided this foundational insight to clarify the landscape of women's health research in Canada. We track these trends to advocate for real, systemic change.

Click through ➡️ to:
- See the evidence we published in Biology of S*x Differences
- Find the correct citation to use in your own advocacy.
- Get a preview of our upcoming paper, "What Gets Funded Shapes What We Know," which breaks down funding distribution further.

Stay connected! Follow us to be the first to know when our new paper is released, and become a member of the Cluster for free via the link in our bio.