Four members of UBC’s Faculty of Medicine have been awarded the Women’s Health Clinical Mentorship grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) – Institute of Gender and Health.
The grant will enable faculty members to advance clinical research in women’s health, while building capacity in the next generation of women’s health clinician-researchers.
The four researchers will be investigating traditionally under-researched areas, including sexual arousal disorder, endometriosis and menopause, as well as cardiovascular disease in women. Each researcher will also mentor a trainee throughout the duration of the one-year research project.
Dr. Lori Brotto, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Trainee: Faith Jabs
Research project: Improving treatment for Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder in women through the application of the Approach-Avoidance Motivation Model.
Dr. Brotto’s research will focus on understanding women’s sexual health by providing a structured mentorship plan for health care providers. The findings from this project will be translated to gynaecologists offering clinical care to women to ensure that the treatments they offer are supported by science.
Dr. Paul Young, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Trainee: Natasha Orr
Research Project: Preventing unnecessary surgeries for endometriosis with the Central Sensitization Inventory
Dr. Young’s research will determine how the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI) – a patient-reported questionnaire – can be used by clinicians and patients in their shared decision making about whether to proceed with surgery, with the goal of reducing unnecessary repeat surgeries for endometriosis in women.
Dr. Melanie Murray, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases
Trainee: Elizabeth King
Research project: Women Living with HIV – Severity and Treatment of Menopausal Symptoms
Dr. Murray’s research will focus on understanding the menopausal experience in women living with HIV. Her findings will clarify differences in the menopause experience in women living with HIV, from its progression and hormonal basis to treatment implications.
Dr. Gavin Stuart, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Trainee: Alexandra Lukey
Research project: Cardiac Outcomes of Menopausal Women Prescribed Concurrent Hormonal and Statin Combination Regimens in British Columbia
Dr. Stuart’s research will focus on the interaction between hormonal therapy and statins, a cholesterol-lowering drug, in treating women with heart disease. His research has the potential to significantly impact the outcomes of heart disease in women, as well as contribute to what is known about sex specificity of heart disease.