Five-year strategy charters the next phase of mature women’s health research

Although women spend nearly half of their lives after menopause, mature women continue to be underrepresented in health research. As a result, many conditions that affect women differently or disproportionately remain under-studied, limiting the evidence available to inform clinical care. As Canada’s population ages, addressing this gap is becoming increasingly important. 

“Our aim is to create a world where mature women are considered in all health research,” said Dr. Paula Rochon, Director of Research, Weston and O’Born Centre for Mature Women’s Health. “For too long, the unique health needs of women – menopause and beyond – have been underrepresented. That has real consequences for the evidence we generate, and the care they receive.”  

The Strategic Research Action Plan builds on Sinai Health’s leadership in this area and outlines how the Centre will advance inclusive, patient-centred research, strengthen collaboration across disciplines and translate new discoveries into improved care. 

“It outlines a clear, mission-driven roadmap that leverages Sinai Health’s strengths while expanding research impact to improve care and equity for women as they age,” said Dr. Rochon. 

From discovery to better care 

Developed with input from researchers, clinicians, health-care leaders and partners across Sinai Health, The Strategic Research Action Plan is directly aligned with Sinai Health Research’s commitment to embedding research into every aspect of care, education and system transformation. 

It also reflects the Centre’s role in bringing together researchers and clinicians across disciplines to advance research that informs clinical care. 

The Centre’s Plan is built around three priorities that will guide its work over the next five years: 

• Advance inclusive research by embedding sex-, age- and gender-based analysis across health research and supporting interdisciplinary studies that address the unique health needs of mature women.
• Build capacity for collaboration by fostering partnerships across disciplines, supporting mentorship and training opportunities, and creating opportunities to grow research talent in mature women’s health. 
• Translate knowledge into impact by ensuring research findings inform clinical care, support evidence-informed policy and reach the patients, providers and communities who can benefit.

“Mount Sinai Hospital has supported women’s health for more than a century,” said Dr. Gary Newton, President and CEO of Sinai Health. “With the Weston and O’Born Centre for Mature Women’s Health Strategic Research Action Plan, we will shape women’s health care for centuries to come.”

Putting the strategy into action 

Researchers at the Centre are exploring some of the most pressing questions in mature women’s health, including menopause, brain fog and migraine, vasomotor symptoms in women living with multiple sclerosis, and the use of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medications in older adults.

Over the next five years, The Strategic Research Action Plan will guide the Centre’s research agenda - supporting research that will inform care for women in midlife and beyond, while building on Sinai Health’s leadership in mature women’s health research. 

“Together, we have an opportunity to close critical gaps and improve care for women today and in the future”, said Dr. Rochon. “We are excited to move this work forward.” 

Read the Centre's full research plan and learn more about the Weston and O’Born Centre for Mature Women’s Health.