Women & Sex Differences Research Group | NIDA

What We Do

The mission of the Women and Sex Differences Research Program is to 1) promote careers of women scientists and 2) promote the conduct, translation and dissemination of research on:

  • Sex differences in the pharmacology, neurobiology, behavioral and socioeconomic determinants of substance use disorders (SUD), and responses to substances of abuse.
  • Interactions of SUD risk factors, SUD and substances of abuse with changes in female physiology and behavior across the lifespan.
  • Prevention and health services that maximizes the efficient delivery of high-quality, personalized addiction treatment and related services to women across the lifespan.

Objectives [or Priorities]

  • Develop NIDA’s Women’s and Sex Differences Research Agenda that will advance the science on the causes and consequences of drug use and addiction among women across the lifespan and highlight sex differences.
  • Cultivate and strengthen partnerships within NIDA, NIH-wide and beyond.
  • Provide an opportunity for early career investigators to present their research, career development experience, and share lessons learned and thoughts on what’s needed to advance the science in the field.

Funding Opportunities & Announcements

Selected Funding Announcements in which NIDA participates.

“NIDA is a collaborative partner on the NIH Coordinating Committee for Maternal Morbidity and Mortality (CCM3) which is an NIH-wide committee that coordinates the Implementing a Maternal health and Pregnancy Outcomes Vision for Everyone (IMPROVE) initiative . The IMPROVE initiative advances maternal mortality, maternal morbidity and health disparities research to reduce pregnancy-related deaths and complications in the United States.”

Resources of Interest

Related Workgroups

  • Coordinating Committee for Maternal Morbidity and Mortality (CCM3)” (contact Keisher Highsmith )
  • CCRWH Working group on Understanding Complex Morbidity (contact Holly Moore )
  • CCRWH Working group on Reproductive Transitions (contact NIHCCRWH )
  • Maternal Mortality Task Force
  • CCRWH Covid-19 Working group

Other Web Sites of Interest

  • NIH Office of Research on Women’s Health
  • White House Council on Women and Girls (CWG)
  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), located in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, is an agency of the Public Health Service, in the Department of Health and Human Services. It's mission: To promote health and quality of life by preventing and controlling disease, injury, and disability.
  • National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) - National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) supports and conducts biomedical and behavioral research on the causes, consequences, treatment, and prevention of alcoholism and alcohol-related problems.
  • National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Office for Research on Disparities and Global Mental Health (ORDGMH)
    The Office for Special Populations develops and coordinates research policies and programs to assure increased emphasis on the mental health needs of women and minority populations.
  • NIH Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH) - The Office of Research on Women's Health serves as the focal point for women's health research at the National Institutes of Health.
  • The Office on Women's Health (OWH) - The Office on Women's Health (OWH), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), works to improve the health and sense of well-being of all U.S. women and girls. OWH serves as the focal point for women's health activities within HHS offices and agencies. OWH leads programs to improve women's health and collaborates across HHS and with other partners on women's health activities.
  • The Organization for the Study of Sex Differences - The Organization for the Study of Sex Differences (OSSD) works to enhance the knowledge of sex differences by facilitating interdisciplinary communication and collaboration among scientists and clinicians of diverse backgrounds.
  • Society for Women's Health Research - The Society for the Advancement of Women's Health Research is a nonprofit advocacy organization dedicated to promoting the health of women through research.
  • Substance Abuse and Women: Resources for Women - SAMHSA's NCADI offers several resources for helping older adults recognize and overcome substance abuse disorders, deal effectively with anger, and cope with depression. Also included is information about how both medications and alcohol affect the bodies of older adults, and steps to take in order to avoid harmful reactions.
  • White House Council on Women and Girls (CWG) - On March 11, 2009, President Obama signed an Executive Order creating the White House Council on Women and Girls. In his remarks at the signing, the President underscored that the purpose of the Council is "to ensure that each of the agencies in which they're charged takes into account the needs of women and girls in the policies they draft, the programs they create, the legislation they support" and that the true purpose of our government is "to ensure that in America, all things are still possible for all people.
  • Womenshealth.gov (HHS) - This site provides a gateway to the vast array of Federal and other women's health information resources. This site can link you to a wide variety of women's health-related material developed by the Department of Health and Human Services, other Federal agencies, and private sector resources. There is also a toll free call center at 1-800-994-9662 and TDD at 1-888-220-5446.
  • Women's Health Resources (NIH/NLM) - This resource was created in a partnership between the National Library of Medicine Outreach and Special Populations Branch and the National Institutes of Health Office of Research on Women’s Health .