Advancing women’s leadership in global health research: news, resources and funding

Diverse perspectives are essential to advancing science, especially in global health. Women in particular face additional, unique barriers in the field of global health research, and must have equal opportunities to highlight their expertise, voice their opinions, influence the direction of research, and hold leadership positions.

NIH supports and encourages equitable roles for women in scientific research worldwide. The NIH Working Group on Women in Biomedical Careers helps bolster women in scientific research. Monica Bertagnolli, MD, is the second woman to hold the position of NIH Director. Women now lead 10 of the 27 Institutes and Centers across NIH, a number that will climb to 11 with the selection of Kathleen M. Neuzil, MD, as first female director of the Fogarty International Center. NIH is committed to balanced gender representation at scientific meetings and high-level conferences, including ending the tradition of all-male speaking panels. Fogarty leadership and staff enthusiastically support this effort.

Providing work environments free of harassment is critical to making sure women can fully contribute to and participate in biomedical research. NIH is committed to taking action to change the culture of science to end sexual harassment. The Advisory Committee to the NIH Director (ACD) Working Group on Changing the Culture to End Sexual Harassment is holding NIH accountable for demonstrating progress. NIH has outlined harassment and discrimination protections in NIH training applications for the extramural research community, and has released guidelines for organizations receiving NIH funding.

Other organizations are leading the effort to advance gender equity in health leadership. The annual Women Leaders in Global Health Conference brings together established and emerging leaders from across sectors and cultures. Women in Global Health works with other global health organizations to help them achieve gender equality in their spaces of influence. 

Profiles of Women Scientists from Fogarty's Global Health Matters newsletter

• In her own words: Jody Olsen (former director of the Peace Corps)
  
• Joan Matji works to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission in South Africa
• Edith Kamaru Kwobah measures the prevalence of mental disorders in western Kenya
• Roxanna Garcia addresses gaps in neurosurgical care in Peru
• Christine Sekaggya-Wiltshire studies TB drug interactions among people living with HIV in Uganda
  
• Roxana Garcia works to expand medical literature access in Peru

Women in Leadership at NIH

• From bush to academic lab … to Fogarty Q&A with Dr. Flora Katz
  Global Health Matters, November/December 2024
• Dr. Flora Katz’s impact on DITR… and Fogarty
  Global Health Matters, November/December 2024
• Welcoming Dr. Kathleen Neuzil as 13th director of the Fogarty International Center
  Fogarty news, May 6, 2024
• NIH selects Dr. Kathleen Neuzil as director of the Fogarty International Center
  NIH news, March 28, 2024
  
• W. Kimryn Rathmell, M.D., Ph.D., begins work as 17th director of the National Cancer Institute
  NIH news, December 18, 2023
  
• Monica Bertagnolli, M.D., takes the helm at NIH
  NIH news, November 9, 2023
• Marrazzo Named NIAID Director
  NIH Record, September 1, 2023
  
• Simoni Named Associate Director for Behavioral, Social Sciences Research
  NIH Record, July 21, 2023
  

NIH News and Resources

• NIH Working Group on Women in Biomedical Careers
  
• NIH Woman Scientist Advisors (WSA) from the NIH Office of Intramural Research
• NIH Anti-Sexual Harassment
• For NIH awardee organizations and those who work there
• Notice of Clarification Regarding Harassment and Discrimination Protections in NIH Training Applications (NOT-OD-19-056), released January 2019
• Advisory Committee to the NIH Director (ACD) Working Group on Changing the Culture to End Sexual Harassment

Other Online Resources

• Women Leaders in Global Health (WLGH) Conference
  
• WomenLift Health
  
• Women in Global Health
  
• Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD)
• PhD Fellowships for Women Scientists from Science and Technology Lagging Countries

• Early Career Fellowships for Women Scientists from Science and Technology Lagging Countries

Other organizations and events:

• Women in Medicine from the American College of Physicians
• Women Physicians from the American Medical Association
• Women in Medicine Summit
• Women in Medicine
• Committee on Women in Science, Engineering and Medicine from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine
• Value gender and equity in the global health workforce from WHO 
  

Updated April 30, 2025