It has been a guiding principle of ORWH research programs to encourage new organizational models for team science to advance understanding and provide novel insights from synergistic input, perhaps because many of the illnesses that are difficult to diagnose and treat affect more women than men. 

This month’s Spotlight highlights two programs relevant to the need for an all inclusive, systemic approach to particular chronic pain disorders. In addition, a link to an ORWH Seminar on Sex and Gender Research in the Urinary Tract will provide an example of how our team building approach has impacted treatments, thereby making a difference in the health of women and men. This Seminar featured presentations on the continuing contributions from the Specialized Centers of Research (SCORs) on Sex and Gender Research, launched in 2002 to take knowledge from the laboratory to the clinic and community. In each of these examples, you will note the importance of persistent, collaborative efforts by the NIH, other agencies and patient groups in understanding and treating these complex multisystemic disorders that characterize most chronic conditions.

The ORWH supports a diverse portfolio of co-funded research in collaboration with the NIH Institutes and Centers (IC). In addition to encouraging the study of sex and gender differences related to the perception, mechanisms, and treatment of pain, the ORWH serves as the focal point for NIH research on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) through its leadership of the Trans-NIH Working Group for Research on CFS that coordinates interdisciplinary research, educational, outreach and initiatives for the NIH.

Vulvodynia, a poorly understood, complex, chronic pain syndrome, is another condition for which the ORWH endeavors to increase knowledge and understanding by encouraging the study of the biological processes that lead to its development and long term sequelae. This initiative was established the Vulvodynia Awareness Campaign. in partnership with the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the NIH Pain Consortium, and other partners.

http://orwh.od.nih.gov/cfs.html for complete information and materials prepared for the Trans NIH Working Group for Research on CFS.
http://orwh.od.nih.gov/health/vulvodynia.html for complete information and materials prepared for the NIH Vulvodynia Initiative.
http://orwh.od.nih.gov/interdisciplinary/SCORs.html for detailed descriptions of all SCOR Centers and their research.
http://videocast.nih.gov/launch.asp?14708 for discussion among 3 SCOR programs on Sex and Gender Research in the Urinary Tract.