A $93.5-million commitment and 30-year collaboration is advancing research shaped by patients and improving care for families.
“The gap in women’s health is a national concern, but we can be the generation that closes it,” Rutherford says, sharing a striking statistic: Only seven per cent of health research in Canada is specific to women’s conditions and diseases. As a result, women are often left with more questions than answers about their health.
Sarah Chambers knows this feeling too well. After the Edmonton resident was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), her family doctor didn’t have much medical advice to share beyond what would be useful if she were trying to have a baby.
WCHRI researcher Donna Vine, however, has upended the misconception that PCOS is mainly a reproductive condition. After finding that women with PCOS are three times more likely to develop diabetes and cardiovascular disease, Vine is now operating clinical trials with patients from the Lois Hole Hospital for Women to establish methods of detecting and treating these diseases.
Chambers finally came to understand the steps she can take to manage her PCOS after enrolling in one of Vine’s clinical trials. Later, Vine consulted Chambers as she developed two resources: one guiding doctors in diagnosing and treating the condition, the other explaining the process to PCOS patients. Today, these resources are being used in more than 30 countries. Chambers says the experience helped her finally feel she had control over her body.
To read the full Folio Article: https://www.ualberta.ca/en/folio/2026/05/largest-gift-in-u-of-a-history-continues-historic-partnership.html
Learn more about how WCHRI is transforming lives to help women and children thrive