Fresh Fund Launched to Advance Women’s Health Research and Care
A new fundraising campaign has been initiated to bolster research and clinical care focused specifically on women’s health in the Estrie region. The initiative, called “Agissons pour elles” (Let’s take action for her/them), aims to raise $3 million for projects addressing health issues unique to women, according to the Fondation du CHUS.
The fund, officially launching in the coming weeks, will support both clinical and research projects related to a range of gynecological and hormonal issues. This comes as a response to historical disparities in medical research, where men have often been considered the default patient, and women’s specific health needs have been underrepresented. Addressing these gaps in research is crucial for improving healthcare outcomes for women.
Dr. Sophie Désindes, Head of Gynecology-Obstetrics at CIUSSS de l’Estrie-CHUS, spearheaded the creation of the fund. She emphasized the need to broaden the scope of women’s health beyond pregnancy. “The health of a woman should not be limited to pregnancy,” Dr. Désindes explained. “It must be addressed in a much broader way, considering the different stages from puberty to the end of life, both in terms of physical health and psychosocial dimensions.”
The department currently includes 22 physicians with expertise in areas such as puberty, contraception, vulvar diseases, urinary incontinence, and pelvic pain. The Fondation du CHUS notes that the fund will also aim to improve training for healthcare workers in women’s health and provide clinicians and researchers with the necessary tools to address these issues.
Concerns have been raised about the underfunding of research into conditions that disproportionately affect women. According to data highlighted by Radio-Canada, research funding for endometriosis receives approximately $4 per patient, compared to $31 for diabetes and $130 for inflammatory bowel diseases.
Researchers also point to a lack of progress in treating certain cancers affecting women. Professor Maryline Labrie, Chair of Research on Ovarian Cancer, noted that there has been “practically no change” in the treatment of ovarian cancer since the 1980s, stating, “It is time to mobilize and work on this to improve the fate of women.”
The campaign was officially launched on March 9, 2026, at the Fleurimont Hospital, with ambassadors including spokesperson Chantal Lacroix, Sherbrooke city councillor Annie Faucher, author Sarah Rodrigue, and patient Ginette Varin. The Sherbrooke Record reports that representatives from various organizations and businesses also participated in the launch event.
