Ireland: A Nation of Strong Women — and Strong Research Ambitions
Ireland is a nation of strong women — leaders in our homes, communities, workplaces, and increasingly, in research and innovation. Yet, across Europe and beyond, women’s health remains under-researched and under-represented across many fields. As Horizon Europe enters its next phase, Ireland has both the opportunity and the responsibility to lead change.
From Excellence to Leadership
Ireland has built a strong reputation for health research within Horizon Europe, with researchers leading large-scale European collaborations that combine excellence with social impact.
As women’s health rises on the European policy agenda, Ireland is well positioned to align national priorities with EU ambitions, and to become a driver of research, innovation, evidence and equity in this critical field.
A powerful example is Dr Siobhain O'Mahony at University College Cork, who leads the microbiome work package in EUmetriosis – a €7 million, eleven country Horizon Europe project developing AI-based diagnostic tools and novel interventions for endometriosis. Read more here.
The forthcoming Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026–2027 is expected to include dedicated opportunities for women’s health research and innovation, opening doors for Irish researchers and innovators to shape the European agenda.
Notably, a 2026 call is planned on sex and/or gender-specific mechanisms of cardiovascular diseases (with €40m budget). Other key areas of intervention include:
- Health across the life course: including maternal, reproductive, and ageing-related health.
- Environmental and social health determinants: addressing inequalities and underserved populations.
- Non-communicable and rare diseases: with potential for sex- and gender- specific research.
- Tools and technologies for health and care: including personalised medicine and Femtech.
- Health systems innovation: improving access, equity, and sustainability.
The evidence gap-and the opportunity.
The HRB’s Women’s Health Treatment Interventions and Outcomes: an Evidence and Gap Map Review (September 2025) highlights both progress and persistent gaps. Reviewing over 2,200 studies from OECD countries, it found growing but uneven evidence across conditions.
Areas like menopause and endometriosis are gaining attention. Others, including pelvic pain, vulvodynia, pelvic organ prolapse, early pregnancy loss, and postpartum mental health — remain strikingly under-examined. Even where studies exist, inconsistent outcome reporting limits their translation into policy and practice.
These gaps have real-world consequences for diagnosis, treatment, quality of life, and health equity. They also highlight where Ireland can lead — through research co-designed with women, grounded in lived experience, and connected across disciplines, from medtech and digital health to public health systems.
More details here.
Momentum for Action
Women’s health is not a niche issue; it is central to equality, innovation, and resilient healthcare systems.
Ireland’s evolving policy landscape reflects this. The Department of Health’s Women’s Health Action Plans 2022 -2025, developed in collaboration with the Women’s Health Taskforce, demonstrate a strong national commitment to improving services, access, and outcomes. Read more here.
Innovation is also accelerating. The Femtech@HIHI, launched in 2023, has supported over 30 Irish start-ups, from menopause-tracking wearables to pelvic health and fertility technologies. The recent report Femtech in Ireland: The Case for Prioritising Women’s Health Research and Innovation (Health Innovation Hub Ireland), underscores Ireland’s potential to lead in this space. More details here.
The momentum continues through events like 'Empowering Women for a Healthier Europe'—a globally focused, EU4Health-funded event hosted by the Irish Global Health Network in Dublin on 14th November. This event brings together European and global voices on leadership, equity, rights-based approaches, and youth-driven innovation to explore the complex, intersectional challenges faced by women and underserved populations in health systems worldwide. Read more here.
A Call to Act together
Ireland’s Horizon Europe National Support Network (NSN) is uniquely placed to turn this momentum into measurable impact. By connecting researchers, innovators, policymakers and communities; supporting high-quality proposals; and aligning national priorities with European strategy, the NSN can help to position Ireland as a recognised European leader in women’s health research and innovation.
Together, we can shape a future where women’s health is no longer overlooked — but championed through research, innovation, and collaboration.