The Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH) is pleased to commemorate National Women’s Health Week (NWHW), recognized from May 14-20, 2023. This year’s theme is titled, “Women’s Health, Whole Health: Prevention, Care and Wellbeing.” For more information, visit: www.womenshealth.gov/

In recognition of NWHW, ORWH will host the 7^th Annual Vivian W. Pinn Symposium on Tuesday, May 16 from 10 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. EDT. The title of this year’s symposium is “Menopause and Optimizing Midlife Health of Women.” The symposium will discuss menopausal transition, accumulation of morbidity after menopause, menopause in special populations, social determinants of health, menopausal hormonal therapy, and interventions to promote healthy aging. Register at http://bit.ly/3ILCPoA. Follow live tweeting at #7thAnnualVPS.

ORWH’S NEW OFFICE OF AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE RESEARCH

On April 12, 2023, Dr. Clayton announced the establishment of the NIH Office of Autoimmune Disease Research (OADR-ORWH), which will provide greater coordination across NIH regarding autoimmune disease efforts. Read more about OADR-ORWH and some related funding opportunities, including:

• NOSI: EXposome in Autoimmune Disease Collaborating Teams PLANning Awards (EXACT-PLAN) (Clinical Trials Not Allowed) (NOT-OD-23-112) Application due date: June 16, 2023

SEX, GENDER, & INTERSECTIONALITY  

NIH is still seeking applicants for the following opportunity:

• Galvanizing Health Equity Through Novel and Diverse Educational Resources (GENDER) Research Education R25 (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (RFA-OD-22-015) Application due date: June 27, 2023

MATERNAL MORBIDITY & MORTALITY (MMM)

Many pregnant women feel overwhelmed, anxious, or sad during or after pregnancy. This Maternal Mental Health Month, share the Health Resources & Services Administration’s National Maternal Mental Health Hotline, which provides free, confidential support for those who are struggling. Learn more. See more MMM resources:

• Translational Research in Maternal and Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) (PAR-23-130) Earliest submission date: May 5, 2023; Final application due date: June 5, 2023
• Multisite Clinical Research: Leveraging Network Infrastructure to Advance Research for Women, Children, Pregnant and Lactating Individuals, and Persons with Disabilities (U01 Clinical Trial Optional) (PAR-23-037) Earliest submission date: May 5, 2023; Final application due date: June 5, 2023
• Translational Research in Maternal and Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) (PAR-23-131) Earliest submission date: May 16, 2023; Final application due date: June 16, 2023
• NOSI: Research to Improve Pre-Pregnancy Care and Enhance Healthy Birth Intervals

(NOT-HD-23-003) Earliest submission date: June 5, 2023; Subsequent receipt dates through May 8, 2024

• Maternal Health Research Collaborative for Minority-Serving Institutions (MH-RC-MSI) Research Centers (RCs) (HRSA-23-112; Sort by “Opportunity Status: Posted”) Application due date: June 12, 2023  

CAREERS

• Advancing Gender Inclusive Excellence (AGIE) – Coordinating Center (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (RFA-OD-23-004) Letter of intent due date: April 28, 2023; Earliest submission date: May 1, 2023; Final application due date: May 31, 2023
• RFI: Improving NRSA Fellowship Review: The request is a part of NIH’s continual efforts to improve the peer review process. Learn more and comment through June 23, 2023.
• #FaceOfScience Campaign: Check out the NIH-funded #FaceOfScience Campaign, which celebrates the scientific research community.   

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY RESOURCES

Learn about NIH’s new campaign “FOA or NOFO - It’s all about Funding.” ORWH invites you to read the May 5 issue of Funding Friday. To receive the bimonthly email, sign up for ORWH email updates and select ‘funding opportunities. Some opportunities with upcoming deadlines include:

• The Research With Activities Related to Diversity (ReWARD) (R01 Clinical Trial Optional): Submissions due by June 5, 2023

• Understanding Chronic Conditions Understudied Among Women (R01 Clinical Trial Optional -Research Project Grant) and (R21 Clinical Trial Optional): Submissions due by June 20, 2023

• Maternal Health Research Collaborative for Minority-Serving Institutions (MH-RC-MSI) Coordinating Center (CC) (HRSA-23-113; Sort by “Opportunity Status: Posted”)

Application due date: June 12, 2023  

SAVE THE DATE

• Diverse Voices: Intersectional Approaches to Substance Use and Misuse 

July 27, 2023, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM EDT 

ICYMI

• April Joint Blog – ORWH/NICHD/NINR: Addressing Inequities to IMPROVE Maternal Health for All 
• NIH IMPROVE Innovative Approaches to Improve Maternal Health Workshop
• 58th Meeting of the NIH Advisory Committee on Research on Women's Health

ADDITIONAL OBSERVANCES

ORWH is recognizing a few additional health observances, including: 

• Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Month – In commemoration NIH’s theme for this year, “Reclaiming My Identity,” is inspired by the uniqueness and diversity that encompasses AA and NHPI communities which complements the national theme, “Visible Together”
• Clinical Trials Day (May 20) - For information on clinical trials and to see NIH policies on inclusion, visit https://bit.ly/3mNLRKK
• Older Americans Month – Celebrate the 60^th anniversary of the observance, with the theme Aging Unbound. For resources visit: https://bit.ly/3NNhZsS
• Mental Health Month - Visit ORWH’s new web page on sex and gender in health in disease to learn more about how sex and gender influence mental health and view our March Diverse Voices: Intersectional Stigma and Mental Health video. Check out the National Institute of Mental Health’s digital toolkit and funding opportunity.
• Healthy Vision Month - See the National Eye Institute’s new Healthy Vision Month Spanish-language resources for families. Plus, watch this video with ORWH Director Janine A. Clayton, M.D., FARVO and Prevent Blindness President and CEO Jeff Todd as they discuss women’s eye health and safety, sex and gender differences in eye health, and more.