A National Call to Action The Bowers WBHI’s impact is gaining national recognition. In March 2023, Jacobs visited the White House to celebrate the launch of the first-ever White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research. “It felt like one of those moments I’ll tell my grandchildren about,” she recalled. “This is the moment where we, as a nation, decided to invest in women’s health and ensure that research supports all of society, not just half.”
IT FELT LIKE ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS I’LL TELL MY
GRANDCHILDREN ABOUT. THIS IS THE MOMENT WHERE WE, AS A NATION, DECIDED TO INVEST IN WOMEN’S HEALTH AND ENSURE THAT RESEARCH SUPPORTS ALL OF SOCIETY, NOT JUST HALF.
Leading the National Conversation Bowers WBHI has also been a driving force in discussions on women’s brain health, with widespread media coverage in Nature, National Geographic, The Washington Post, Scientific American, and The Wall Street Journal. Their studies on neuroanatomical changes during pregnancy, the cognitive effects of menopause, and menstrual cycle-driven brain shifts have not only gained public attention but have also shaped policy discussions at the highest levels. At the event, Jacobs contributed expertise to White House initiatives focused on the underrepresentation of women in neuroscience. “Less 0.5% of brain imaging articles have studied female specific experiences” she said. “It's a staggering statistic, and one we’re determined to change.”
Impact of UCNI Funding According to researchers, Bowers WBHI’s progress would not have been possible without UC Noyce support. In 2023-24, Bowers WBHI researchers authored or co-authored 21 peer-reviewed publications in Nature Neuroscience, Science Advances, Nature Communications, eLife, and Human Brain Mapping. This surge in research has established WBHI as a leader in women’s brain health. Beyond publications, UCNI funding has helped secure $2.5 million of dollars in new grants and philanthropic support. The NIH is reviewing over $15 million for proposals on perinatal depression and hormonal influences on brain aging. “We're thinking about how public-private partnerships and consortium science can drive innovation,” Jacobs said. “It’s not just about the money; it’s about bringing the right people together to tackle these complex challenges.”
Image courtesy of UCOP
34 Impact Report 2023 - 24 | UC NI
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