The Ohio State University College of Medicine is pleased to offer a comprehensive research and innovation initiative dedicated to addressing health conditions and diseases that disproportionately affect women.
The Soter Women’s Health Research Program (SWHRP), supported by a generous contribution from Sarah “Sally” Ross Soter and the Soter Ziegler Foundation, advances women’s health research to deliver new treatments and improves diagnostics, prevention, and health outcomes across the lifespan.
SWHRP connects basic science with clinical and translational researchers to drive novel therapeutic approaches that address critical challenges in women’s health.
Services provided by the Soter Women’s Health Research Program
The SWHRP is committed to advancing women's health throughout all stages of life, with research initiatives focused on the treatment and prevention of diseases that predominantly impact women. The primary elements of the program include:
- Soter Research Awards – Competitive funds for multidisciplinary teams advancing women’s health, including the annual Soter Summit Award.
- Program Directorship – An endowed position for a preeminent physician-scientist with demonstrated success in creating new approaches to women’s health.
- Early-Career Professorships – Two endowed professorships for postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty members, with positions rotating every three years.
- Women’s Health Research Laboratory – A dedicated “neighborhood” of eight labs in The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center’s new Pelotonia Research Center. The SWHRP is housed in the Pelotonia Research Center in The Ohio State University’s Carmenton Innovation District. The research neighborhood will include eight principal investigators and their teams, conducting research focused on women’s health issues, in the Women’s Health Research Laboratory.
- Women’s Health Community Outreach – Support to expand The Ohio State University College of Medicine’s community outreach programs for women's health.
About the Soter Summit Award
The Soter Summit Award is an annual, competitive research grant awarded to a team of investigators whose research focuses on women’s health and sex differences across the lifespan. The goal of this award is to support innovative and transdisciplinary research that generates critical data for extramural grant applications.
Funding is a one-time grant of $125,000, and is intended to support laboratory personnel, supplies and other required expenses (e.g., cores). At least one principal investigator (PI) of the grant must be a faculty member at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, and all co-investigators must be within The Ohio State University or The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. The teams should comprise basic, clinical, and translational scientists working together to address a common issue affecting women’s health.
Special interest is given to projects related to:
- Stress
- Pregnancy
- Cardiovascular health
- Cancer prevention
- Aging
FY2026 Soter Summit Award
Grants are due November 24th, 2025.
Awardee(s) will be selected - April/May 2026.
Previous award winners
To request the current RFA or ask questions regarding the Soter Research Awards, reach out to WomensHealthResearch@osumc.edu.
FY2025 awarded to:
- Kara Rood, MD
- Natalia Higuita-Castro, PhD
- Kristin Stanford, PhD
Their research centers on "Novel Modalities for Preeclampsia and Postpartum Cardiovascular Risk Reduction."
Check back later for information on the FY2027 Soter Summit Award.
News and events
The Women’s Health Research Symposium
September 17th, 2025
The Women’s Health Research Symposium was designed to foster collaboration and advance research in women’s health across the College of Medicine.
- 110 registrants attended the event, with attendees from eight different colleges and more than 50 departments.
- The keynote address was delivered by W. Kimryn Rathmell, MD, PhD, MMHC, CEO of The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research.
- The Research Showcase featured 10 presentations on women’s health research by scientists from the Colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Engineering, and Arts and Sciences, and the Enterprise for Research Innovation and Knowledge.
In 2025, the Ohio State University College of Medicine was selected for membership in the Milken Women's Health Research Network, garnering national attention and laying the groundwork for future partnership opportunities. The plenary session of the symposium was delivered by Ayodola Anise, Senior Director for The Milken Institute, Health.
Sarah Ross Soter Women’s Health Luncheon
May 14th, 2025
The Women’s Health Luncheon included Sally Soter and family, leadership and faculty across the university, all advocating for women’s health. During the event, the FY25 Soter Summit winners were presented with their award.
Soter Women’s Health Research Program Directorship Installation
May 13th 2025
Tamar Gur, MD, PhD was named the endowed director of the Soter Women’s Health Research Program in 2024. The Installment Ceremony took place May 13, 2025. Dr. Gur was joined by OSU leadership, as well as many colleagues, friends, and family, to celebrate this achievement.
Our team
Contact us
Questions? Want to get involved in women’s health research?
Email us at: WomensHealthResearch@osumc.edu.