Key Takeaways
- Western Sydney University secured a Gates Foundation grant for a project aimed at improving menstrual health management.
- The initiative focuses on developing absorbency standards and digital tools to enhance understanding of heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB).
- Led by Professor Robert Gorkin, the project targets improved health outcomes and equity for women, particularly in underserved populations.
Grant for Menstrual Health Management
Western Sydney University has been awarded a significant grant from the Gates Foundation under the Grand Challenges in Global Health initiative, specifically within the Women’s Health stream. The project, titled “Innovating Menstrual Health Management: Implementing Clinically Informed Absorbency Standards & Digital Diaries,” will be led by Professor Robert Gorkin from the Translational Health Research Institute (THRI).
The objective of this initiative is to empower women and healthcare professionals by enhancing the understanding of menstrual bleeding and recognizing when it necessitates medical attention. Professor Gorkin will spearhead an interdisciplinary team from the university, comprised of experts in health, technology, and diagnostics, including Associate Professors Mike Armour and Carolyn Ee, and Dr. Millie Mardon from the National Institute of Complementary Medicine (NICM). Additionally, clinician researcher Dr. Talat Uppal and her team from Women’s Health Road, along with technical specialists from Enersol, are also contributing to this project.
Professor Gorkin emphasized the project’s aim to establish absorbency benchmarking methodologies for menstrual products alongside intuitive digital tracking tools to facilitate early detection of heavy menstrual bleeding. “Too many women suffer in silence,” he remarked, highlighting the prevalent stigma and lack of clear information regarding menstrual health. This initiative seeks to alleviate confusion surrounding menstrual health, ultimately improving the quality of life for women globally.
Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) is underdiagnosed, affecting an estimated one in four women and is often linked to treatable health conditions. The issue is particularly acute for women in low- and middle-income countries, as well as culturally diverse populations. Professor Gorkin underlined that this project not only aims to enhance health outcomes but also to promote equity in healthcare access.
Vice-Chancellor and President, Distinguished Professor George Williams AO, expressed pride in the team’s efforts and their alignment with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal on Gender Equality. Recently, Western Sydney University ranked 7th worldwide in this regard, underscoring its commitment to community health and global impact.
Professor Deborah Sweeney, the university’s Provost, congratulated the team on securing this competitive grant, recognizing it as the university’s first from the Gates Foundation. She stressed that the project aims to revolutionize menstrual health management and improve equitable healthcare access.
Following the acquisition of the grant, Professor Gorkin and Dr. Uppal have also joined the Australian Standards Committee to work on enhancing menstrual product standards. This grant marks Professor Gorkin’s second significant collaboration with the Gates Foundation, following his previous work on next-generation condom technology, which led to the establishment of Eudaemon Technologies and a successful Phase 1 clinical trial in Australia.
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