2025 Sex Differences & Women’s Health Research Conference

Conference This proposal requests support for a travel award program, daycare assistance, and recognition awards for Early Career Investigators attending the American Physiological Society (APS) Conference, "Sex Differences & Women’s Health Research," scheduled for October 23-25, 2025, at Tulane University in New Orleans. The study of sex differences is critical for improving health outcomes for men and women. Although research has revealed significant sex-specific differences in disease mechanisms, diagnostic criteria - treatment guidelines often fail to account for these findings. This gap stems from insufficient data and limited knowledge of sex differences within the medical and scientific community. Additionally, there is limited research on physiological states such as menarche, menopause, and pregnancy, as well as conditions like endometriosis, uterine fibroids, polycystic ovary syndrome, and pregnancy complications. This knowledge gap leads to inequitable and biased healthcare for all of us.The 2025 "Sex Differences & Women’s Health Research" conference aims to bridge this gap by gathering experts, trainees, and clinicians from diverse fields to share insights, foster collaboration, and advance understanding of sex differences. Attendees will explore cutting-edge research and emerging technologies that address sex differences. This event is hosted as a part of the APS’ Women’s Health Research Initiative, program spotlighting women’s health research through research education, advocacy, and pedagogical training. This conference marks the APS’s eighth conference focusing on sex differences, reflecting a history of excellence, strong attendee engagement, and growing interest in the field. The primary objectives are to convene experts in foundational and translational research on sex differences and women’s health, focusing on cardiovascular, renal, and pulmonary health and provide a platform to discuss the roles of sex hormones, and sex chromosomes, in physiological and pathophysiological conditions. The conference will significantly focus on inspiring the next generation of scientists in women’s health and sex differences research. Early career professional development activities include trainee sessions, poster and oral presentations, and workshops. This multi-faceted approach ensures the conference substantively contributes to scientific knowledge in sex differences research, improving healthcare outcomes for all of us.