American Physiological Society Joins National Collaboration on Women’s Health

Rockville, Md. (Sept. 30, 2025) -The American Physiological Society (APS) is pleased to announce that it has been invited to join the Women's Health Innovation Network, a major global initiative by the Milken Institute to accelerate breakthroughs in women's health research, infrastructure and innovation. The network is chaired by former First Lady Jill Biden, EdD.

The network's newly formed 13-member steering committee brings together leading experts across academia, industry, advocacy, technology, finance and health systems to guide and oversee strategic priorities. Key goals include establishing a digital platform to foster data sharing, resource collection and institutional knowledge exchange; creating a pooled investment fund; and launching proof-of concept projects with clear deliverables in women's health innovation.

"APS is committed to advancing physiological science in ways that address sex- and gender-specific health challenges," says APS President Robert Hester, PhD, FAPS. "Being part of this work gives us an opportunity to help shape crucial infrastructure and funding mechanisms that can elevate women's health research globally."

APS will contribute its scientific expertise and established platforms for disseminating research, such as its 16 journals, specialty scientific conferences and the Society's Women's Health Research Initiative-a program designed to raise the visibility of research conducted by APS members to address

The Milken Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank focused on accelerating measurable progress toward a meaningful life. With an emphasis on financial, physical, mental and environmental health, the Institute brings together leading ideas and resources to address urgent global challenges and anticipate those on the horizon.

NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: To learn more, contact APS Media Relations or call 301.634.7314. Find more information in our Newsroom.   

Physiology is a broad area of scientific inquiry that focuses on how molecules, cells, tissues and organs function in health and disease. The American Physiological Society connects a global, multidisciplinary community of more than 10,000 biomedical scientists and educators as part of its mission to advance scientific discovery, understand life and improve health. The Society drives collaboration and spotlights scientific discoveries through its 16 scholarly journals and programming that support researchers and educators in their work.