Poised for Progress: Making Strides Towards Equity in Women’s Health
Thanks to the community’s steadfast devotion and significant contributions to a more equitable future for women’s healthcare, the Alberta Women’s Health Foundation (AWHF) has been able to support crucial research into conditions that disproportionately affect women–and is poised to make even more progress.
Legacy Grant Committed
Women's Health Researchers Supported
Research Projects Funded
Trainee Projects Funded
Trainees Funded
Endowed Research Chairs Supported
The 2023-24 fiscal year was an historic year for the Alberta Women’s Health Foundation (AWHF) as well as women all across Alberta.
In July 2023, the creation of a one-time $10 million Alberta Women’s Health Foundation Legacy Grant was declared in a mandate letter from Premier Danielle Smith to Minister of Health Adriana LaGrange.
In early 2024, the Government of Alberta held a press conference to share more detailed plans surrounding the goals of this grant.
Representatives outlined how the funds will go toward supporting research on many of the most common women’s health conditions, such as improving care for conditions like cervical cancer, heart disease, and other conditions that disproportionately affect women.
The grant will also support the foundation’s efforts to attract top researchers to Alberta to assist in the discovery of medical breakthroughs, foster awareness, prioritize preventative measures, and empower individuals to make informed choices about their health and seek timely care when needed–which strongly reflects the AWHF’s goals and vision regarding women’s health.
"The $10 million dollar legacy grant from the Alberta Government will serve as premium fuel for progress, igniting innovation and refining outcomes for all. Because when we solve for women, we solve for society.”
The ongoing solidification of such a tremendous commitment stands as a testament to the community’s devotion for what the AWHF aims to represent–a future of equitable healthcare for women.
Earning a seat at the table of change, the AWHF was honoured to have participated in the 80th anniversary conference of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Canada (SOGC) hosted in Edmonton, as well as the fifth edition of the Effervescence Conference, held in Montreal.
As another brief highlight, since 2012, the Alberta Women’s Health Foundation has now funded 19 projects in menopause research through the Women and Children’s Health Research Institute (WCHRI), and since 2018, over 650 women participated in research and/or were recruited as research participants through the Dale Sheard Centre for Solutions in Women’s Health.
The AWHF is proud and honoured to support women’s health research and the health of women, and it is through the passion and generosity of donors and supporters that the AWHF is able to support over 160 women’s health researchers through WCHRI, four endowed Research Chairs making breakthroughs in areas such as women’s mental health to ovarian cancer, continue to create thought leadership reports tailored to the province of Alberta such as Finding the Fractures and Surveying the Silence, and amplify voices and raise awareness about key women’s health topics.
Thank you for your support of the AWHF and women’s health. Together we are making great strides and closing gaps, with more progress on the horizon.
