President Joe Biden is set to announce an executive order aimed at advancing women’s health research in the United States. The order will allocate $200 million for research initiatives, focusing on understanding sexual and reproductive conditions.
Additionally, the administration will be tasked with reporting progress in closing gender gaps in research and exploring the potential of artificial intelligence in improving women’s health studies.
The White House emphasizes the importance of integrating and prioritizing women’s health across federal research portfolios and budgets. This initiative aims to stimulate new research on various topics, including women’s midlife health.
Despite women living longer on average than men, they spend more of their lives in poor health. Moreover, they are underrepresented in clinical trials, with conditions specific to women receiving less research attention than those affecting men.
President Biden has proposed $12 billion in new funding for women’s health research, but securing additional financial commitments in a politically divided legislature during an election year poses challenges.
The $200 million investment, slated for the 2025 fiscal year, reflects a commitment to addressing critical gaps in women’s health research.
As Biden seeks re-election in November, women’s health remains a prominent issue. With women comprising over half of the electorate, Democrats believe that highlighting women’s healthcare concerns could mobilize voters, especially in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court‘s decision to overturn abortion rights in 2022.
The executive order underscores the administration’s commitment to prioritizing women’s health and addressing disparities in research funding and attention.
By investing in research initiatives and leveraging technological advancements like artificial intelligence, the Biden administration aims to improve health outcomes for women across the country.