Women's Health Research Priorities (WHRP)

About the project

The WHRP project seeks to define the most pressing unanswered questions in women’s health by centring the voices and priorities of women and communities affected.

Through national surveys, analysis by our research team, and a final workshop, we’ll develop a set of priorities to guide future research and funding.

Watch this short video to learn more about the WHRP project and how you can contribute to this important initiative.

Progress and next steps

Over 1,400 people took part in our first survey, sharing more than 4,000 unanswered questions about women’s health. These were grouped into six key areas: fertility, gynaecology, obstetrics, oncology, societal factors and ‘other’.

Our second survey, which closed in July 2025, invited people to help us prioritise those themes. The findings are now being reviewed by our research team to develop a shortlist of research questions.

Later this year, we’ll launch a final survey asking people to rank these questions by importance. We’ll then hold a small online workshop with a diverse group of participants to help shape the final list of priorities.

Get involved

The second WHRP survey is now closed. Thank you to everyone who shared their views. The third survey will be announced soon.

If you’d like to stay informed or have any questions about the next steps, please contact the team at whrp@rcog.org.uk.

Project team

The project is being led by Professor Asma Khalil, RCOG Vice President for Academia and Strategy, supported by a dedicated team:

Clinical Research Fellows:

• Dr Thomas Hanton
• Dr Kelsey Lennox
• Dr Sofia Gron

Steering Group: a diverse advisory group providing strategic direction and ensuring inclusivity. Members include women and people with lived experience and health professionals.

Members:

• Mrs Jane Plumb
• Dr Matina Iliodromiti
• Professor Shakila Thangaratinam
• Dr Fionnuala Mone
• Professor Lucilla Poston
• Dr Sujeewa Fernando
• Dr Abi Merriel
• Professor Colin Duncan
• Professor Laura Magee
• Professor Peter von Dadelszen
• Ms Freya El Baz
• Dr Michalina Drejza
• Professor Wessel Ganzevoort
• Dr Sanne Gordjin
• Dr Hajra Khattak
• Ms Nafiza Anwar
• Dr. Lizzie Evens
• Ms Geeta Nayar
• Ms Jackie Matthew
• Professor John Allotey
• Dr Soha Sobhy
• Dr Sergio Silberio

Our partners

The following organisations have joined us as WHRP project partners - a supportive group of stakeholders with an interest in this work, who collectively commit to sharing and promoting the project within their respective networks: