November 3, 2006

Celebrating the diversity of women's health research

"We've made lots of progress in advancing women's health research, but there are many scientific challenges remaining," said Vivian Pinn, MD (left), director of the Office of Research on Women's Health at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), at the Oct. 4 celebration of women's health research. The annual event "Improving the Health of Women through Research at Massachusetts General Hospital" is now in its third year.

In her introduction to Pinn's talk, Anne Klibanski, MD, director of the MGH Neuroendocrine Unit and chair of the MGH Women's Health Research Committee, noted the broad range of projects represented by the posters displayed throughout the hospital during the week. Their diversity embodies how the the concept of women's health has expanded beyond reproductive concerns, she said, and how the MGH is "looking forward to the future of women's health research." For more information about the award-winning research, access www.massgeneral.org/pubaffairs/Issues2006/110306womenshealthawards.com.

Pinn described how her office has grown since it was established in 1990 with an initial goal of ensuring that treatment decisions for women be based on studies of women, not just the assumption that research in male patients would apply. The office collaborates with the 27 NIH institutes and centers, which fund and review its studies. In addition to investigations into how diseases and medical treatments may affect women and men differently, the office also sponsors educational initiatives and efforts to promote the advancement of women's careers in medical research.

In discussing barriers to women's careers in science, Pinn stressed the need to help both women and men deal with family responsibilities that may conflict with traditional career paths and ease re-entry for those who choose to take time off. "Talking about these issues," she said, "will benefit everyone in science."