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Center for Women's Health Research

About

The Center for Women's Health Research (CWHR) is an interdisciplinary research center that facilitates collaborations across the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus in women’s health research. The CWHR coordinates multiple scholar awards, including an NIH-funded K12 Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health Program (BIRCWH). We host an annual Women’s Health Research Conference and Collaborations Lab to strengthen the University of Minnesota’s capacity and dedication to advancing women’s health research for Minnesota and beyond. 

Mission

We facilitate interdisciplinary collaborations and connections between women’s health and sex differences researchers at University of Minnesota. Additionally, through our BIRCWH, we place junior investigators focused on women's health and sex difference research on the path towards receiving competitive NIH independent K- or R- awards.

Vision

The goal of the Center for Women's Health Research (CWHR) at the University of Minnesota (UMN) is to improve the health of diverse women across the lifespan and, by extension, to improve the health of their families and communities in Minnesota, the nation, and the world. We work to:

  • Increase the number of interdisciplinary research leaders advancing scientific knowledge in women’s health across the lifespan and in sex/gender determinants of health.
  • Transform the academic environment by increasing the visibility of interdisciplinary women’s health and sex/gender determinants research within academia and the broader community.
  • Effect the timely applications of women’s health research findings to practice and policy.

History

The Center for Women’s Health Research has been in operation since 2007 and was formerly known as the Powell Center for Women’s Health, which was a National Centers of Excellence in Women's Health program. After the National Centers of Excellence program ceased in 2017, our center rebranded to better reflect the consortium of women’s health research-focused opportunities and programs we coordinate.