Author: Bonnie Lee, PhD, CAMH | Editors: Romina Garcia de leon, Janielle Richards (Blog Coordinators) | Reviewers: Jena Roy, Manager, Philanthropic Gifts, Research (womenmind) CAMH; Amanda Namchuk, PhD Student, University of Toronto, CAMH
Published: July 4th, 2025
On June 1, 2025, the Women’s Health Research Cluster (WHRC) proudly sponsored the Organization for the Study of Sex Differences (OSSD) Conference Pre-Meeting Satellite Event, titled “Beyond Sex Differences: A Spotlight on Women’s Health Research”, hosted in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This satellite event was hosted in partnership with the Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR), womenmind™ at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), and Elsevier, and has been an integral part of the OSSD annual meeting since 2022. The goal of this satellite event was to spotlight multidisciplinary women’s health research to inspire more inclusive and nuanced approaches to research and in healthcare that consider the unique factors and experiences of women and gender-diverse individuals.
This year’s satellite event brought together international experts from a wide range of disciplines to share their latest research on women’s health topics, including cognition and brain health, hormone cycles and hormonal contraceptives, perinatal mental health, menopause, obesity, and metabolism. We are pleased to share key highlights from the satellite event, made possible through financial and in-kind contributions from WHRC and partners.
Keynote: Leveraging mouse and human (epi)genomics to improve women’s mental health
In females, hormone fluctuations can lead to changes in the brain and influence the risk of developing mental health conditions like anxiety or depression. There is a lack of research to understand how these changes affect the brain at a molecular level, which is needed to develop more effective, sex-specific treatments for mental health disorders. Dr. Marija Kundakovic and her team are working on this, and through her keynote talk, she demonstrated how examining ovarian hormone fluctuations may be key to understanding risk for certain psychiatric disorders. Dr. Kundakovic’s research found extensive changes in the way brain cells were organized across the mouse estrous cycle (analogous to the menstrual cycle in humans). These organizational changes affect how certain genes related to brain function and behaviour are turned on or off and were linked to differences in anxiety-like behaviours and brain structure. Dr. Kundakovic’s talk highlighted the remarkable dynamism of the female brain and underscored the need to investigate these fluctuations to better understand women’s mental health.
Session 1: Hormones and Brain Health from Adolescence to Midlife
The first session explored the influence of hormonal changes across transitional stages throughout the lifespan and their implications for brain health and cognitive function in women and females.
Together, the talks in this session demonstrated the importance of considering hormonal influences across the lifespan and within the context of individual experiences to better understand sex-specific trajectories of brain and mental health.
Session 2: Science that Speaks – Advancing Research Priorities in Women’s Obesity Care
Led by Dr. Irene Aninye and Syreen Goulmamine from SWHR, this session spotlighted how persistent disparities in funding priorities and research hinder progress in women’s health and impede the ability to achieve precision medicine.
Aligned with a core pillar of SHWR and WHRC, a key takeaway from this session was the critical role that science communication plays in advancing health equity. By translating complex findings into accessible formats, such as plain-language abstracts, visual summaries, or policy roundtable discussions, researchers can shift the narrative and drive meaningful progress to advance women’s health.
To showcase the importance of clarity in science communications, attendees participated in an interactive workshop to assess a grant abstract from the perspective of either a reviewer, funder, or policy maker. This exercise emphasized a critical insight: “We don’t all hear the same message in the same way.” For example, when communicating science to funders or policy makers, it’s crucial to highlight the economic and health impacts, link findings to specific strategic priorities, and connect the message to broader policy goals. Thoughtful, targeted storytelling in science can bridge gaps between research, funding, and policy, and ultimately advance women’s health.
Session 3: Reproduction, Metabolic Function and Mental Health in Pregnancy and Beyond
The final session delved into the complex interplay between reproductive health, metabolic function, and mental health during and after pregnancy, highlighting emerging research across maternal and offspring outcomes.
These presenters emphasized the need for an integrated understanding of reproductive and metabolic health, particularly in the context of pregnancy, to inform more personalized and effective approaches to maternal and offspring well-being.
The Women’s Health Research Satellite Event was truly inspiring and energizing, setting the tone for the rest of the OSSD conference. By spotlighting the latest research from a diverse line-up of speakers and fostering meaningful discussions, this event emphasized the importance of learning across disciplines and embracing the heterogeneity of factors and experiences of women to advance health outcomes. This satellite event highlighted the importance of integrating factors related to and within sex and gender at every level of research, policy, and practice – not as an afterthought, but as a key part of building the foundation for more effective, inclusive, and personalized healthcare. It was an honour to be a part of this event and the WHRC looks forward to continuing these conversations through our upcoming events. Become a member to stay up to date on all our initiatives!
