The iWoman Report: Funding to Women's Health Study Cut, New Boston Marathon Record, and Why Women Leaders are Important

NIH Cuts Funding to the Women's Health Initiative -- The Largest Women's Health Study in the U.S.

Sometimes, the loss of something great doesn't come with a bang, but a memo.

That’s exactly what is happening right now, as the Trump administration quietly moves to defund the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI)—a study that revolutionized how we understand women’s health. It’s not just a budget cut. It’s the unraveling of one of the most significant scientific endeavors in public health history.

Medical research has always been, and still is, overwhelmingly male-centric. Men were the default test subjects. Did you know that period products were not even tested with real blood until 2023?! Women, with their “complicated” hormones and biological differences, were often left out of trials and research entirely. The WHI was created to change that. Funded by the National Institutes of Health, this massive, long-term study enrolled over 160,000 women, collecting detailed health data to answer the questions no one else had been asking. And it delivered—big time.

The WHI was responsible for overturning one of the most persistent myths in women’s health: that hormone therapy protected the heart. Spoiler alert—it doesn’t. That discovery alone saved countless lives and reshaped how doctors approach menopause. But the study didn’t stop there. It dug into diet, supplements, cancer risk, dementia, and frailty. It’s been a gold mine of insights into how women age, what keeps them healthy, and what puts them at risk. And yet, treating menopause is still a mystery to many women and doctors.

Now, all four of WHI’s regional centers—in California, New York, Ohio, and North Carolina—have been told their contracts are being terminated by September. The directive came without warning. No plan for transition, no alternative funding, no clear explanation. These researchers have spent decades building a treasure trove of knowledge about women's health, and now they’re being told to pack it in. But please, Trump Administration, tell us why we should have more babies.

The WHI is the only study of its kind, looking at the experience of over 40,000 women and the kinds of ailments that are unique to women as we age. Where else can scientists find a real-time map of what it means to grow older as a woman in America? Nowhere.

For now, there’s a thin sliver of hope. The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, which manages the study’s coordinating center, has funding through January 2026. But after that? No one knows. The fate of the database that holds decades of biological and health data—is still in limbo.

The WHI was never just a study. It was a commitment: that women’s health matters, that their lives and bodies deserve focused attention, that science should serve everyone—not just the default male model. Losing it now, in an era when we know more than ever about the gaps in healthcare equity, would be nothing short of a national tragedy.

So if you’re reading this and feeling fired up, good. Stay that way. Share this. Talk about it. Write to your representatives. Support the institutions and scientists trying to keep this project alive. Because if we don’t fight for women’s health research now, who will?

Sharon Lokedi Smashes Record in Boston Marathon Thriller

Locked in a fierce duel with two-time defending champion Hellen Obiri, Sharon Lokedi pulled away in the final miles of the Boston Marathon with a determined look etched across her face — the kind only runners in the fight of their lives wear. She crossed the finish in a jaw-dropping 2:17:22, not only claiming victory but obliterating the course record by more than two and a half minutes.

The race had shaped into an instant classic early on. The elite women wasted no time, tearing through the halfway mark in a blistering 1:08:46 — a pace more fitting for the flat, windless streets of Berlin than the unforgiving hills of Boston. Spectators gasped as the front pack flew past, knowing full well the Newton hills still loomed. As the race wore on, runners began to fade, but Lokedi and Obiri stayed locked in stride-for-stride combat. With less than two miles to go, Lokedi made her move: a subtle, steady surge that broke the stalemate and, ultimately, Obiri’s hold on the crown.

The 2025 Boston Marathon delivered everything a sports fan could hope for: record-breaking speed, compelling rivalries, redemption arcs, and even a bit of sibling rivalry for good measure. For the runners, it was a test of will and heart. For the fans, it was a masterclass in what makes this race one of the greatest in the world.

Why Seeing Women in Politics Matters More Than You Think

There’s a quiet power in visibility. And a new study out of the University of Notre Dame just gave us one more reason to believe in the old adage: representation matters.

For over two decades, researchers tracked the lives of 6,000 adolescent girls, beginning in 2002, to see how early exposure to women running for public office might shape their political futures. The findings? Girls who saw viable women candidates during their formative years were significantly more likely to vote when they reached adulthood. And, not just in the big, flashy presidential elections, but in the quieter, just-as-crucial local and midterm races too.

And here’s the kicker: the girls didn’t need to come from politically engaged households. They didn’t need parents dragging them to rallies or discussing Senate races over dinner. It was enough to pass a billboard, hear a name on the news, or see a woman’s face on a campaign sign. That simple, often incidental exposure sent a message: politics is for you, too.

The researchers explained it like this: when girls see women run for office, it shapes their perception of what’s possible. It tells them the political system isn’t just a man’s game. It tells them their voices belong. And the more examples they see, the more likely they are to feel invited into the process themselves.

But despite this incredibly encouraging insight, the path to candidacy for women is still steep and rocky. A 2024 report from the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University highlighted a frustrating trend: political parties often prefer candidates who can self-finance their campaigns, and women, thanks to enduring pay gaps and systemic inequality, usually don’t have that kind of cash lying around. On top of that, women are more likely to carry the bulk of caregiving responsibilities and unpaid labor.

So yes, women are still facing an uphill climb — but this research gives us hope. Because every campaign a woman launches, whether she wins or loses, isn’t just about her. It’s about the girls watching. It’s about normalizing women in power so thoroughly that one day, it’s no longer remarkable. It’s expected.

If we want a future where more women hold office, we have to build the foundation now — by making it easier for women to run, removing financial barriers, and addressing the societal pressures that hold them back. Because when girls grow up seeing women lead, they grow up believing they can, too.