Women's Health Research Foundation of Canada - WHRFC

08/03/2026

The menopausal transition brings classic symptoms such as hot flashes, but it also is associated with symptoms that are less known and less discussed. “They’re not necessarily ‘esoteric’ symptoms,” said Francesca Turner, DO, an ob/gyn at Broadlawns Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa. “Many are common but have received less attention.”

Part of the reason is that — unlike hot flashes — these lesser-known symptoms aren’t exclusively due to menopause, although menopause may affect them, said Turner, who is also adjunct assistant professor at The University of Iowa in Iowa City. To read more tap on the link: https://mdsc.pe/3RZOKrp

07/28/2026

Menopause is a natural stage of a woman's life when monthly menstruation, also known as periods, ends, marking the end of the reproductive years.

Symptoms associated with menopause can incl.:
🔥 Hot flushes & night sweats
🩸 Changes in regularity & flow of menstrual cycle
🥴 Vaginal dryness, pain during sexual in*******se, incontinence
🛏️ Difficulty sleeping/insomnia
😢 Changes in mood, depression & anxiety

07/23/2026

Congratulations to Quinton Murdock, recipient of the 2026 Women’s Health Research Foundation of Canada (WHRFC) Poster Award at the Manitoba Student Health Research Forum presented by the University of Manitoba!

Quinton’s research, “Multiplex Droplet Digital PCR for HPV Viral Load Quantification: Evaluating Viral Dynamics as a Biomarker for Cervical Cancer Risk Stratification,” under the supervision of Dr. Lyle McKinnon, represents the innovative work being done by the next generation of health researchers.

WHRFC is proud to support opportunities that recognize and encourage emerging researchers working to advance women’s health. Congratulations, Quinton, on this outstanding achievement!

07/17/2026

Medical research didn't always study women. And that created lasting gaps in women's health knowledge.

For many years, women were routinely excluded from medical research studies. Researchers often worried that hormonal changes related to menstrual cycles and pregnancy could affect study results, leading many clinical trials to focus primarily on men.

As a result, scientists had less information about how diseases develop in women and how medications and treatments affect them. These knowledge gaps made it more difficult to understand women's unique health needs and provide evidence-based care tailored to women.

Today, researchers continue working to close those gaps through studies that better represent women and address health issues that have historically been under-researched.

Learn more about the importance of women's health research and the discoveries helping improve care for women everywhere.

07/13/2026

Melinda French Gates just donated $215 million to combat systemic neglect in midlife healthcare for women, boosting her total women's health investments to over $600 million in the past two years alone.

Philanthropist Melinda French Gates is launching a 'menopause revolution' by committing $215 million to transform healthcare and clinical research for midlife women. Channelled through her organization Pivotal, this significant investment targets areas of medicine that have been historically under-researched, misunderstood, and dismissed.

The funding is designed to expand maternal and mental health services, secure contraceptive access, and drastically improve menopause care.

Crucially, a $10 million grant will go to the Menopause Society to improve training and education for healthcare professionals, addressing the critical shortage of providers who are properly trained to manage midlife health transitions.

This major pledge brings French Gates' total women's health investments to more than $600 million over the past two years. Globally, women's health has been severely underfunded, with less than one percent of aging research traditionally focusing on menopause despite its profound impact on half of the world's population.

By putting substantial capital toward retraining doctors and building support networks, this initiative aims to dismantle the systemic neglect that forces women to navigate debilitating symptoms in silence. It serves as a compelling model of how strategic, high-impact philanthropy can challenge established institutions and build an abundant, equitable future for all.

source: French Gates, M. (2026). Women, We Deserve Better Than This. The New York Times.

06/19/2026

06/14/2026

Only one-third of cardiovascular disease treatment trials include women.

Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death for women in Canada and yet the research that shapes how we diagnose and treat it has largely been built on male data.

That's not a small oversight. It means delayed diagnoses, ineffective treatments, and lives cut short.

Today is Equal Research Day, a moment to name what's at stake when women and gender diverse individuals are left out of the science that's supposed to save them. And to celebrate the researchers, advocates, and funders working to change that.

The future of women's health depends on research that equally includes everyone.

📄 whcc.ca/blueprintforaction

Source: Closing the Women's Health Gap in Canada: Blueprint for Action — Women's Health Collective Canada, knowledge partner McKinsey Health Institute, with support from Desjardins Group Insurance.



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Seulement le tiers des essais cliniques sur les traitements des maladies cardiovasculaires incluent des femmes.

Les maladies cardiovasculaires figurent parmi les principales causes de décès chez les femmes au Canada. Pourtant, la recherche qui oriente leur diagnostic et leur traitement repose encore largement sur des données provenant d’hommes.

Ce n’est pas un simple oubli. Cela entraîne des diagnostics plus tardifs, des traitements moins efficaces et des vies écourtées.

Aujourd’hui, à l’occasion de la Journée pour l’égalité en recherche, nous soulignons ce qui est en jeu lorsque les femmes et les personnes de la diversité de genre sont exclues de la science censée les protéger. Nous célébrons également les chercheurs et chercheuses, les personnes engagées dans la défense des droits et les bailleurs de fonds qui travaillent à changer cette réalité.

L’avenir de la santé des femmes dépend d’une recherche qui inclut véritablement tout le monde.

📄 https://whcc.ca/fr/plandaction/

06/12/2026

A landmark study of over 1 million women reveals that endometriosis is a systemic whole-body condition linked to inflammation, cholesterol, and the microbiome.

For generations, endometriosis has been treated as an isolated pelvic issue, leaving millions of women struggling with chronic pain without systemic answers. Now, a groundbreaking multi-ancestry study of more than one million women has completely rewritten our understanding of the disease. Researchers identified over 300 genes associated with endometriosis, exposing deep-seated genetic connections to systemic inflammation, altered microbiomes, and lipid metabolism. Crucially, the study also uncovered genetic risk factors unique to women of African ancestry, offering a vital step forward in addressing historic diagnostic disparities and proving that the condition reaches far beyond the pelvis.

These discoveries open the door to radically new treatment methods that target the body's inflammatory and cellular pathways rather than relying solely on hormonal suppression or invasive surgeries. By shifting the clinical perspective from a purely gynecological focus to a systemic approach, doctors can begin designing personalized therapies that address the root metabolic and immune triggers. For patients who historically endure years of debilitating symptoms before receiving a diagnosis, this genetic blueprint offers a roadmap to faster, non-invasive screening and therapeutic hope.

source: Guare, L. A., Das, J., Caruth, L., Rajagopalan, A., Akerele, A. T., Brumpton, B. M., ... & Setia-Verma, S. (2025). Expanding the genetic landscape of endometriosis: Integrative -omics analyses implicate key genes and pathways in a multi-ancestry study of over one million women. medRxiv.

06/05/2026

We're looking for a Fundraising Event Coordinator board member to join our team! If you or someone you know would be a great fit, see the position summary and contact details below ⬇️

Position Summary

The Fundraising Event Coordinator is a member of the board responsible for planning, organizing, and leading fundraising events that support the organization’s financial goals and mission. This role collaborates with board members, volunteers, sponsors, donors, and community partners to create successful fundraising initiatives and engaging events.

Key Responsibilities

- Plan and coordinate fundraising events such as our annual gala; and potentially new areas of opportunities such as community events, campaigns, or donor appreciation activities
- Develop event plans, timelines, budgets, and fundraising targets - - Lead event volunteers
- Secure sponsorships, donations, prizes, and community partnerships
- Work with the Treasurer to monitor event income and expenses
- Coordinate venue bookings, vendors, permits, catering, entertainment, and logistics
- Promote fundraising events through social media, email campaigns, and community outreach
- Assist in donor stewardship and maintaining positive relationships with sponsors and supporters
- Track event performance, fundraising outcomes, and prepare reports for the board
- Ensure events align with the organization’s mission, policies, and ethical fundraising practices
- Attend board meetings and provide updates on fundraising activities and upcoming events

Qualifications

- Strong organizational and project management skills
- Experience in fundraising, event planning, or community engagement preferred
- Excellent communication and relationship-building abilities
- Ability to work collaboratively with volunteers, donors, sponsors, and board members
- Basic budgeting and financial tracking skills
- Creative problem-solving and attention to detail
- Commitment to the organization’s mission and goals

Time Commitment

- Attend regular board meetings – approximately 10 meetings per year (2 hours each)
- Participate in fundraising planning meetings and event activities
- Additional time commitment required during event preparation and ex*****on

Term Length

A minimum 2-year board term

Goals of the Role

- Increase fundraising revenue
- Strengthen community engagement and donor relationships
- Support the long-term sustainability of the organization through successful events

How to apply

Email resume and cover letter to📧[email protected] before June 26

06/05/2026

June is Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month.

Did you know that women are disproportionately affected by Alzheimer's disease? Women account for nearly two-thirds of people living with Alzheimer's, and research continues to explore how factors such as hormones, longevity, and sex-specific biology may influence brain health.

At the Women's Health Research Foundation of Canada, we recognize the importance of advancing research that considers women's unique health experiences. Understanding the connections between women's health and brain health is essential to improving prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care.