Women’s cardiovascular health research initiative
Championing global action to address women’s cardiovascular health disparities through collaborative research and knowledge sharing
Background
With a focus on global health equity, the GCRFF participating organisations work collaboratively to share knowledge and best practices, and to better align research agendas to address areas of unmet medical need with global relevance in cardiovascular health. The current focus is on women’s cardiovascular health and equity as a critical shared priority for GCRFF organisations.
In order to develop a roadmap to better understand and address the most urgent research needs for women’s cardiovascular health, the GCRFF issued a request for information inviting diverse stakeholders to identify priority research gaps related to women’s cardiovascular health from an international perspective. The GCRFF also conducted expert consultations with international leaders in women’s cardiovascular health to get further insights into key priority areas. This engagement and consultation informed two key projects within the Women’s Cardiovascular Health Research Initiative: the publication of position papers, and the GCRFFs first co-funded research grant competition.
Position Papers
As the leading cause of death among women globally, cardiovascular disease requires urgent, targeted research.
Shaping the future of women’s cardiovascular health
The GCRFF published a study identifying global research priorities for women’s cardiovascular health. This initiative brought together insights from 191 diverse respondents across 16 countries, spanning clinicians, academics, and individuals with lived experience. There are four key findings:
Women-specific risk factors and prevention strategies were identified as critical research areas.
Life course impacts, such as pregnancy and menopause, were highlighted as underexplored yet vital considerations.
Respondents also prioritized sex- and gender-specific diagnosis, treatments and outcomes for better-tailored interventions.
Solutions proposed to advance women’s cardiovascular health research included knowledge generation, increased funding, research networks, and knowledge mobilization.
International collaborative action to advance women’s cardiovascular health research
By combing our collective experience, the GCRFF partners have identified funding practices that can enhance the representation of women in cardiovascular health research.
Our key strategies include:
Allocating funds to tackle knowledge gaps in women’s cardiovascular health.
Embedding sex and gender considerations in study design, team diversity, and analysis and reporting.
Supporting inclusive participant recruitment to reflect diverse lived experiences.
By sharing these research funding practices with funders and stakeholders around the world, the GCRFF aims to improve the cardiovascular health of women globally and set a new standard for inclusive cardiovascular health research.
International Research Challenge on Women’s Cardiovascular Health
The Letter of Intent (LOI) submission window is now closed.
In support of its mission, in September 2024 the GCRFF launched the International Research Challenge (IRC) on Women’s Cardiovascular Health. This first of its kind $10 million USD network grant aims to fund the best science in the world and to support transformative research in women’s cardiovascular health, focusing on one or more areas that represent an unmet medical need of global relevance.
Resource HUB
For all the details and guidelines, please visit the International Research Challenge on Women’s Cardiovascular Health Resource HUB.
Get in touch
This GCRFF workstream is led by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. For more information on the Women’s Cardiovascular Health Research Initiative, please contact research@heartandstroke.ca
For any other queries regarding the GCRFF, please get in touch at jacksonz@bhf.org.uk