First lady Jill Biden shines a light on vast funding and research disparities on women’s health

First Lady Jill Biden is continuing to focus on women’s health, an area long overlooked in terms of funding and research, despite impacting half of the population. At a White House event on Wednesday, she highlighted the importance of advancing research in this space, emphasizing how conditions affecting women have historically been underfunded and under-researched.

The event featured Dr. Marlena Fejzo, a geneticist who shared her personal experience researching women’s health. Fejzo described how, despite the monumental achievements of space exploration, women still face serious health issues that go largely unaddressed, such as nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. This condition, known as hyperemesis gravidarum in its most severe form, affects 70% of pregnancies and leads to significant work absences, costing the U.S. economy about $2.2 billion annually. Fejzo, who had experienced severe nausea herself during pregnancy, recalled how her doctor initially dismissed her symptoms as exaggerated, and this led her to spend the next 20 years researching the cause. Her findings have linked a specific hormone, GDF15, to the condition, but there is still no cure or prevention strategy in place.

This event was historic, marking the first-ever White House conference focused on women’s health. It brought together public and private sector leaders, researchers like Fejzo, activists, and investors to discuss both the challenges and opportunities in advancing women’s health research. Advocate Maria Shriver described the moment as one of “seismic transformation” for women’s health. In her remarks, Biden declared, “Today, we are saying to women everywhere: We hear you, and we will get you the answers you need.”

The Biden administration has made significant strides in this area, committing $810 million in investments through various federal agencies. These funds have been used to support projects focused on developing at-home tests for HPV, a virus that causes cervical cancer, and researching preeclampsia, a dangerous pregnancy complication. Additionally, funding is directed toward exploring potential treatments to delay menopause and better understand how gender influences brain health. While some of this funding is guaranteed for ongoing projects, Biden acknowledged that with only 40 days remaining in his administration, there is uncertainty about whether future investments in these areas will continue under the incoming Trump administration.

In her remarks, Biden emphasized that women’s health impacts the entire nation’s well-being and prosperity. “The fact is: The health of our moms and grandmothers, sisters and daughters, friends and colleagues affects not just women’s well-being, but the prosperity of the entire nation,” she said, acknowledging the challenge of persuading the other side of the political spectrum.

Despite potential challenges, there is bipartisan support in Congress for initiatives like advancing menopause care and mid-life women’s health, driven by female senators. Private companies are also beginning to recognize the untapped market for treatments addressing conditions such as osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s disease, which affect many women. This growing recognition is seen as a positive sign that momentum for women’s health research will continue.

Several women at the forefront of these efforts spoke at the event, highlighting the ongoing obstacles in the field. Dr. Elizabeth Comen, a breast cancer oncologist, shared a heartbreaking story of a patient on her deathbed who apologized for sweating, illustrating the stigma around menopause symptoms. Peloton instructor Robin Arzon discussed the lack of data on the health of pregnant athletes, while Dr. Lisa Mosconi, director of the Weill Cornell Women’s Brain Initiative, stressed the need for more research into the effects of hormone therapy on brain health. Mosconi pointed out that while there is significant use of hormones like birth control among American women, there has been little research on how these therapies affect the brain. “We have never been able to directly measure the effect of these therapies in the brain. Never. This needs to change,” she said.

First Lady Jill Biden, who has championed these causes both at home and abroad, has committed to continuing her advocacy for women’s health research after leaving the White House. “My work doesn’t stop in January when Joe and I leave this house. I will keep building alliances like the ones that brought us here today, and I will keep pushing for funding for innovative research,” Biden stated, signaling that her commitment to women’s health will remain a cornerstone of her post-White House efforts.

As Biden’s tenure as First Lady nears its end, her continued focus on women’s health promises to leave a lasting impact, ensuring that critical health issues affecting women receive the attention and funding they deserve.

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