The Unfinished Revolution: Why Women’s Health Still Gets Less Research Funding

Being a woman in science is not always easy. Like many other women, I have stories of how systemic biases shaped my own research path. Early on, my first study on winter swimmers included only male participants — not by choice, but because it was the only way to get the experiment approved and funded at the time. I remember questioning it but didn’t challenge it; as a young researcher with "no stars on my shoulders," pushing back felt impossible. I did the study, but I promised myself the next trial would include both men and women — and I made that happen, even though it took three more years and a lot of patience to secure the funding. Including women in science should be the norm, not the exception. We need more science on women and by women. So, I’ve pulled together the numbers below to show where we stand.

Despite making up half the population, women’s unique health needs remain chronically underfunded and under-researched. Here’s how we got here — and what it means for the future of science and medicine.

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