Grant: Planning and Dissemination Grant - Institute Community Support

Despite representing more than half the population, women and gender-diverse people remain significantly underrepresented in health research. While Canada's top health research funder, CIHR, is recognized globally for integrating sex and gender, only 7% of its funded projects focus on women's health-and most of those are limited to pregnancy or cancer, leaving out other serious and prevalent health conditions such as heart disease, chronic pain, autoimmune disorders, and mental health. The consequences are real: misdiagnoses, ineffective treatments, and stark inequities in care. These gaps are even more pronounced for marginalized groups. Indigenous and transgender women experience higher rates of chronic illness and disproportionately face barriers to gender-affirming or culturally safe care-yet these realities are rarely prioritized in research agendas. To address this, we propose the creation of a high-quality, bilingual (English/French) educational documentary. Through expert interviews, lived experiences, and dynamic visuals, the film will expose how research blind spots translate into harm-and demonstrate why inclusive, sex- and gender-informed science is essential for building better health outcomes for all. Produced by the acclaimed Sibelle Productions and led by a diverse team of scientists, clinicians, and community leaders, the documentary will be shared widely at schools, universities, professional conferences, and public forums-including a premiere at the St. John's International Women's Film Festival. Our goal is to spark conversation, inspire the next generation of researchers and healthcare professionals, and ensure no one is left out of the evidence-or the solutions.