First lady Jill Biden shines a light on vast funding and research disparities on women’s health

CNN — First lady Jill Biden is looking to a post-White House future building on work she began while in office to shine a light on women’s health, a chronically underfunded and under-researched space – and one impacting half the population. At a White House event Wednesday, geneticist Dr. Marlena Fejzo shared her own experience researching women’s health, saying, “We have been able to walk on the moon for decades. Wednesday’s event marked the White House’s first-ever conference on the subject, bringing together public and private sector leaders, researchers like Fejzo, activists, and investors to discuss the challenges, progress, and business opportunities of women’s health research during what advocate Maria Shriver described as a moment of “seismic transformation.” “Today, we are saying to women everywhere: We hear you, and we will get you the answers you need,” Biden said as she addressed attendees. Officials point to bipartisan support driven by female senators on Capitol Hill for legislation on advancing menopause care and mid-life women’s health – as well as a recognition in the private sector that there is a significant untapped market for treatments for conditions like osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s disease – as evidence that momentum will continue at pace.