Friends of ORWH

Supporting the NIH Office of Research on Women's Health

Friends of ORWH

The Friends of ORWH (FORWH) is a coalition of organizations that support the important work of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH).

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About ORWH

The NIH Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH) was established in September 1990 in response to congressional, scientific, and advocacy concerns that a lack of systemic and consistent inclusion of women in NIH-supported clinical research could result in clinical decisions being made about health care for women based solely on findings from studies of men — without any evidence that they were applicable to women. ORWH is part of the Office of the Director of NIH, and works in partnership with the 27 NIH Institutes and Centers to ensure that women’s health research is part of the scientific framework at the NIH — and throughout the scientific community.

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ORWH’s Mandate

  1. Advise the NIH Director and staff on matters relating to research on women’s health
  2. Strengthen and enhance research related to diseases, disorders, and conditions that affect women
  3. Ensure that research conducted and supported by NIH adequately addresses issues regarding women’s health
  4. Ensure that women are appropriately represented in biomedical and bio-behavioral research studies supported by the NIH
  5. Develop opportunities and support for recruitment, retention, reentry, and advancement of women in biomedical careers
  6. Support and advance rigorous research that is relevant to the health of women
  7. Ensure NIH-funded research accounts for sex as a biological variable (SABV)