The Society for Women’s Health Research is a founding member and permanent Executive Committee member of the Friends of the Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH), a coalition of more than 50 organizations representing researchers, clinicians, patients, and policy advocates that are committed to prioritizing research gaps and unmet needs to advance women’s health.
At the heart of Friends of ORWH’s mission is a shared goal: supporting and elevating the vital work of the ORWH within the National Institutes of Health (NIH). As part of these efforts, the Friends have been championing the ORWH during the fiscal year (FY) 2026 appropriations process. Specifically, coalition members this April met with appropriators from the House and Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittees to make the following requests:
- Provide at least $51.303 billion in total funding for the NIH; and
- Provide at least $83.363 million in base funding for the ORWH.
Advocates did this by sharing powerful personal and professional stories about how ORWH’s research and programs are making a real difference in lives and communities.
ORWH’s Role in the Federal Research Enterprise
ORWH plays a central role in ensuring that women’s health and sex-based differences are front and center in the NIH’s research agenda. It coordinates, collaborates, and prioritizes women’s health research across NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs), working to fill longstanding research gaps and break down silos that have historically limited progress.
Through programs and initiatives like its Specialized Centers of Research Excellence (SCORE) and Implementing a Maternal Health and PRegnancy Outcomes Vision for Everyone (IMPROVE), ORWH is driving forward research that leads to more efficient, reliable science and impactful health outcomes – not just for women, but for men, too. The Office plays a leadership role to ensure that research reflects the reality that research into biological sex differences is not a peripheral concern; its work is essential to good science.
Ensuring Continued Support for ORWH Through FY26 and Beyond
In today’s uncertain and highly competitive funding landscape, advocating for sustained support for the ORWH is more critical than ever. Without sustained, robust investment into ORWH, women’s health could lose important ground it has gained over the past three decades – whether in cultivating the next generation of women’s health researchers, losing momentum in its core programs, or stalling scientific discoveries and progress that benefits everyone. The Friends of ORWH remain steadfast advocates, actively working to ensure women’s health research stays at the forefront of national priorities.
In addition to participating in Hill meetings, the Friends also submitted FY 2026 Outside Witness Testimony to the House Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee, coordinated a sign-on letter to appropriations leadership, and is actively submitting appropriations requests to reinforce the importance of sustained investment in ORWH.
These efforts come at a pivotal moment. A recent Research!America survey from January 2025 found that 92% of Americans believe Congress and the Administration should do more to prioritize medical research. The Friends’ advocacy ensures that women’s health and the science of sex differences isn’t left behind in that conversation.
We’re now watching closely to see what the coming months bring. While the president’s “skinny” budget for FY 2026 was released in early May, the ORWH wasn’t mentioned specifically. The Friends will look toward the full budget for greater clarity regarding the administration’s plans.
If you have a women’s health research success story or are an NIH-funded researcher whose work on biological sex differences research has been impacted, we’d love to hear your story. Reach out to policy@swhr.org.
To learn more about the Office of Research on Women’s Health, click here. To explore how FORWH is making an impact and how your organization can get involved, visit here.