Women’s health has long been overlooked in medical research. Now, the Victorian Government is addressing this gap with the Women’s Health Research Catalyst Grants program, to advance the understanding of how diseases and other health issues uniquely affect women. This initiative reinforces Victoria’s reputation as a global leader in medical research and innovation.
The dedicated women’s medical research grants program is now open for applications, offering $1.5 million in funding to support the sector’s best and brightest.
Grants between $50,000 and $150,000 will be awarded for one-year research initiatives specifically focused on sex and gender comparisons, as well-as underfunded or under-researched conditions impacting women.
While all areas of health and medical research will be considered, some target areas have been identified as requiring greater understanding of the influence sex and gender have on these conditions – acknowledging that for women they can be experienced very differently to men.
These key areas include sexual and reproductive health, cardiovascular health, oncology, orthopaedics, and chronic pain, among others.
Eligible applicants will need to be from a Victorian Administering Institution and undertaking research in a health and medical field, including discovery, pre-clinical, clinical or lived experience.
The grants program is part of the Victorian Government’s landmark $153 million investment to improve women’s health outcomes and builds on current work to develop a business case for a Women’s Health Research Initiative.
This transformation to women’s health is also delivering 20 new women’s health clinics, expanding the state’s sexual and reproductive health hubs network, doubling the number of laparoscopies for endo and associated conditions and providing scholarships for more than 100 women's specialists.
Victoria has a proud track record of working to improve women's health outcomes – from establishing the state’s first clinic for women’s heart health to launching Victoria’s first ever sexual and reproductive health phone line.
Applications for the Women’s Health Research Catalyst Grants are now open.
For more information, please visit health.vic.gov.au/catalyst-grants-womens-health-research-priorities.
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