Oregon BIRCWH: Scholars in Women's Health Research Across the Lifespan

This application is for competing renewal of the “Oregon BIRCWH: Scholars in Women’s Health Research Across the Lifespan” program. The overarching goal of our program is to recruit earlystage research faculty from different backgrounds and disciplines and develop them into scientific leaders who advance interdisciplinary research in women's health and sex differences research across the lifespan. The Oregon BIRCWH has successfully trained 36 scholars who have received over $268 million in research funding, published over 1,440 peer-reviewed papers, and received endowed chairs and leadership roles in academics, industry and federal agencies. The unifying theme of our program centers on the lifespan. Scientifically, Oregon BIRCWH Scholars and mentors lead innovative, cutting-edge research across the entire lifespan from in utero and childhood to reproductive age and late adulthood. Professionally, we recognize that networks and mentoring are critical supports for BIRCWH Scholars throughout their careers. Scholars are selected through a highly competitive process. The Oregon BIRCWH provides: 1) a robust mentored research and training infrastructure that promotes interdisciplinary women’s health and sex differences research; 2) a welcoming, strong and enduring culture of collaboration and mentorship that promotes team science; and 3) a proven process to recruit, train, and support faculty from different backgrounds and disciplines who become national research leaders and expand the footprint of women’s health and sex differences research. The Oregon BIRCWH prioritizes the goal of professional development, leverages our distinguished programs and unique position as an institution-wide K12 career development program specifically dedicated to women’s health and sex differences research to advance the NIH ORWH strategic plan for women’s health research at institutional, regional, and national levels. Innovative expansions proposed in this renewal include: 1) enhancing our campus-wide approach to recruitment and expansion of the BIRCWH infrastructure to attract, support, and nurture scholars of different backgrounds and disciplines; 2) drawing upon the program’s legacy and success to introduce a core curriculum specifically tailored to BIRCWH Scholars, called “BIRCWH Essentials by BIRCWH Alumni”; 3) leading inter-institutional conferences and events to promote innovative thinking, networking, and collaboration; and 4) developing “BIRCWH Connect”, a social media platform to support an actively engaged BIRCWH community across the country. The broad institutional support, interdisciplinary environment and committed leadership position the Oregon BIRCWH to drive the future of women’s health and sex differences research for years to come.