A Conversation with First Lady of the United States Jill Biden | Middle East and Africa Summit 2024

Initiative Launch and Scope

• President Biden and Dr. Jill Biden launched the first-ever Women's Health Initiative in November 2023.
• The initiative aims to address the century-long historical bias where clinical research and medications have been based primarily on male subjects.
• The conversation defines "women's health" broadly, extending beyond reproductive health to include heart disease, Alzheimer's, autoimmune diseases, and menopause.

Drivers and Economic Stakes

• Dr. Biden's personal motivation stems from the 1993 diagnosis of breast cancer in four friends, one of whom died, and her own experience navigating menopause with insufficient medical guidance.
• Current research gaps contribute to an estimated $2 billion annual economic loss in the U.S. due to women leaving the workforce early because of undiagnosed symptoms (e.g., menopause).
• Addressing these health gaps could potentially return 137 million women to the global workforce.
• A 2021 Boston Consulting Group estimate suggests the women's health research market holds significant revenue potential.
• Closing these gaps is projected to unlock $1 trillion in the global economy by 2040 if collaboration continues.

Federal Investment and Priorities

• The federal government invested over $1 billion in women's health research in the last fiscal year, a rapid mobilization directed by the President across multiple agencies.
• Funding Allocation:
  • ARPA-H: Over $100 million.
  • Department of Defense (DOD): $500 million.
  • National Institutes of Health (NIH): $200 million.
• Specific Research Priorities:
  • Development of blood tests to diagnose endometriosis within days rather than the current multi-year delay.
  • Investigation into the biological reasons why women suffer migraines more frequently than men.
  • Studies on post-menopausal conditions including osteoporosis, hair loss, weight loss, and mental health.
• Research goals include advancing virtual care options and at-home diagnostic testing to increase patient engagement.

Global Response and Challenges

• The call for grants attracted applicants from 34 different countries, indicating a global hunger for evidence-based data.
• Dr. Biden emphasized that while research has improved since the 1993 NIH mandate to include women in studies, significant gaps remain regarding disease presentation and biological differences.
• A key challenge identified is the public reliance on misinformation rather than clinical data regarding topics like hormone therapy and breast cancer risks.
• Despite living longer, women in the U.S. spend an average of the last 10 years of their lives in poor health due to chronic pain and undiagnosed conditions.

Call to Action and Future Outlook

• Dr. Biden committed to prioritizing women's health funding as a core legacy item after her term concludes.
• Stakeholders are urged to continue directing capital, organization, and attention to close existing research gaps.
• The Milken Institute is establishing its own women's health initiative to maintain momentum and galvanize private sector investment.
• The dialogue concludes with a pledge to shift the historical focus from men to women's biology over the next several decades to ensure equitable health outcomes.