A Crowdsourced Topic Map and Future Research Agenda for Women's Health

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Services Research
• Biomedical Research

Background:

• Women's health research is underfunded, under-prioritized, and narrowly defined, leading to persistent evidence and data gaps that reinforce health inequities.
• Distinct health needs across women's life courses have significant implications for overall health and well-being.
• A universally accepted definition of women's health is lacking, hindering focused research and innovation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a comprehensive topic map to delineate the breadth of women's health.
• To identify a set of evidence-informed, top ten priority questions to guide future women's health research and innovation.
• To establish a unifying framework for the field of women's health research.

Main Methods:

• A participatory, iterative methodology inspired by the 100 Questions Initiative was employed.
• Combines structured stakeholder engagement, rapid evidence synthesis, and iterative validation with 77 global experts.
• An initial topic map was refined, and research questions were submitted, clustered, prioritized, and ranked via virtual surveys.

Main Results:

• A four-branched topic map was developed, covering key domains, determinants, technology, and research gaps in women's health.
• 113 research questions were submitted, clustered into 56 themes, and narrowed to a top ten through expert and public prioritization.
• Top-ranked questions emphasize reframing women's health, strengthening investment, addressing evidence gaps, research participation, data quality, and equity.

Conclusions:

• The study presents a comprehensive topic map that captures the complexity and cross-sectoral nature of women's health.
• The prioritized questions provide a strategic foundation for future global research, policy, and investment in women's health innovation.
• This framework aims to advance women's health research and address existing inequities.