Women across Wales will benefit from pioneering research designed to eliminate long‑standing health inequalities with the launch of the nation’s first Women’s Health Research Centre.
To mark the first anniversary of the Women’s Health Plan for Wales, First Minister Eluned Morgan and Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing Sarah Murphy visited the £3 million centre to meet staff, researchers and community groups shaping its work.
Led by Women’s Health Research Wales, the new centre will significantly strengthen investment in women’s health research, including improving female representation in clinical trials, where women have historically been under‑represented. Its work will span prevention, early‑onset conditions, rare diseases, and research focused on under‑served communities.
A wide range of innovative projects are already underway. These include developing symptom‑reporting tools for conditions such as diabetes, heart failure, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease — areas where research into women‑specific symptoms and disease patterns has often been lacking.
Researchers are also investigating:
- The health impact of chemicals in menstrual products
- Ways to help young people stay active during their periods
- How to prevent women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) from developing related conditions like heart disease and diabetes later in life
Other studies focus on fertility, including a new decision‑making tool for women with kidney disease who are considering pregnancy. Another project is examining why some women develop PTSD during fertility treatment, with the aim of producing national guidance for trauma‑informed fertility care.
Welsh Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Sarah Murphy, said:
“I'm thrilled the investment we’ve made in this research centre is resulting in projects in such important and under-researched areas of women’s health.
“The pioneering work I've heard about today in areas such as the impact of infertility on women's mental health is exactly what we want the Women’s Health Plan to influence and deliver.
“All this has been achieved in the first 12 months, I look forward to seeing what we can do in the next year.”
The Women’s Health Plan for Wales, published in December 2024, outlines a 10‑year mission to improve health outcomes for women and ensure they are listened to, understood, and treated fairly across the healthcare system. The new Research Centre is a key pillar of this mission — providing the evidence, insight and innovation needed to drive lasting change in services, research, and clinical practice.
Speaking at the anniversary visit, Ministers highlighted the importance of finally addressing gender health inequalities that women have faced for decades, emphasising that Wales is committed to becoming a global leader in women’s health research and care.
Image credit: iStock
