The vision of Dr. Teresa K. Woodruff, PhD Executive Director, Institute for Women's Health Research “We stand at the beginning of a century where enormous gains in women’s health scholarship and medical practice will be possible. We stand at a time when women’s healthcare needs extend beyond obstetrics and gynecology to all disciplines of medicine. We stand at a particularly critical, unifying and expectant time in the life of the Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Prentice  Women's Hospital and the Feinberg School of Medicine. These institutions recognize the unparalleled opportunity to be at the leading edge of research that impacts women’s health. These institutions have invested heavily in women’s healthcare infrastructure and programming. And these institutions recognize that there is a critical bond between the latest research and the treatment of women throughout their lifespan. Now is the time to capitalize on this relationship, catalyze women’s healthcare research and create the most comprehensive women’s healthcare program in the nation. We plan to make 21st century possibilities for a healthy life and prevention of disease in women a reality.”
Join the Illinois Women's Health Registry The Institute for Women's Health Research has launched its IRB (Institutional Review Board) approved Illinois Women's Health Registry.  We invite any female, Illinois resident over the age of 18 willing to complete a comprehensive health survey to enroll.  The purpose of the Registry is twofold.  The collective data will be analyzed longitudinally to track the health trends and status of Illinois women, which will help identify community health priorities.  Secondly, the database can be queried to identify women who match eligibility requirements of university-sponsored studies.  Women who match requirements may be invited to participate in specifically approved studies that advance women's health.
Register for the Symposium on Women and Cognitive Health October 24, 2008 - Prentice Women's Hospital, Chicago, IL This event will provide a forum for the presentation and discussion of scientific findings and ideas related to Women and Cognitive Health.  A panel of distinguished experts will present data from epidemiological, clinical, and experimental studies aimed at improving our understanding of cognitive function in women throughout the lifespan, the influence of hormones in cognition-related brain areas, the mechanisms of hormone action in neurons, and the identification of key issues for future research.  Please register at Women and Cognitive Health. Keynote Speaker:  Phyllis M Wise, PhD, University of Washington Faculty Speakers: Roberta Diaz Brinton, PhD, University of Southern California Daniel M Dorsa, PhD, Oregon Health and Science University Francine Grodstein, ScD, Harvard University Pauline Maki, PhD, University of Illinois, Chicago John H Harrison, PhD, Mount Sinai School of Medicine Teresa K Woodruff, PhD, Northwestern University Catherine S Woolley, PhD, Northwestern University This event is sponsored by the Institute for Women's Health Research, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Friends of Prentice, Northwestern University Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Department of Neurobiology and Physiology, and Northwestern University School of Continuing Studies.
Federal, state and local organizations focus identify a number of health issues every month to bring to national attention. The institute will focus on one of these topics.  Please go to Publications for archived health topics. September is Ovarian Cancer Month  Ovarian Cancer is a disease that causes uncontrolled ovarian cell growth, leading to malignant tumors on one or both ovaries.  Ovarian cancer is the 5th leading cause of cancer death in women, according to the American Cancer Society.  Please read this month's health topic on Ovarian Cancer.  Archived health topics can be found in Publications.
Institute Provides Research Grants to Study Sex Differences The Institute for Women's Health Research at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine provides seed grant funds, called Pioneer Awards, to spur the need to increase sex and gender-based studies throughout  the University. Teresa K. Woodruff, PhD, a Thomas J. Watkins Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and executive director of the Institute announced the recipients of the FY 2008 Pioneer Awards at a reception held in their honor on July 31, 2008 at Prentice Women's Hospital.  The recipients and their projects are: Jackie Gollan, PhD Women's Mental Health in Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period: Identifying Neuroendocrine and Behavioral  Predictors of Postpartum Depression Melissa Hogg, MD Women and the Vasculature: Sex Differences in Vascular Injury Aaron Laposky, PhD Sleep and Women's Health: An Animal Model to Investigate the Role of Sex and Aging on Sleep-Wake Regulation and Chronic Partial Sleep Loss Kimberly Scarsi, PharmD, MS, BCPS A Population-based Pharmacokinetic Model of Lopinavir/Ritonavir Concentrations in HIV-infected Women Catherine Woolley, PhD Cryo-immuno Electron Microscopy to Study Estrogen-sensitive Synaptic Vesicles "We are extremely impressed by the large number of applicants (60) this year and the quality of the research that is being conducted at this institution," noted Woodruff.  Two of the grants were supported by a gift from the Friends of Prentice at Northwestern Memorial Hospital to the Institute.  Each awardee received $25.000.