– We need more knowledge about women’s health. That is why it is so important that more research projects are started that can contribute to precisely this. This is what Health and Care Minister Ingvild Kjerkol (Ap) says about the licences. The Research Council has set aside a total of NOK 60 million for six research projects. The research will provide new knowledge about, among other things, childhood arthritis, which most often affects girls, women’s mental health after sexual abuse and about gender differences in sickness absence. More knowledge is crucial for effective treatment and for restructuring the health sector, believes the CEO of the Norwegian Research Council, Mari Sundli Tveit. – We are experiencing enormous interest from the professional community who want to do research in the field, and this is promising for women’s health. Rejoicing over funds for ME research University of Bergen receives NOK 11 million for research into ME patients. Mari Skumsnes from Fitjar was diagnosed with ME in 2015. Then she had waited a year to be admitted for treatment. Today, she is happy that there is more focus on her illness – I think that is absolutely fantastic. For many years I have hoped that they would get more research funding. The 33-year-old searches for the words to describe what it means to him. Because of the illness, she has difficulty concentrating. – I have “brain fog” It makes it a little difficult to put things into words. Low energy level means that I live very quietly and that I have to prioritize hard what I can be involved in. Women’s health is given little priority – This is a field that has so far received little research funding, says Professor Karl Johan Tronstad at the University of Bergen (UiB). Tronstad believes that one contributing reason why ME has been little researched is that it largely affects women. – We see it in other diseases as well. Complex ailments that more women than men get have received less focus and research. He is pleased that 11 of the 60 million allowed by the government will go to research at UiB. The research project at ME starts in the autumn and will last three years and is a collaboration with Haukeland University Hospital. Their hypothesis is that ME is linked to a fault in the patients’ immune system. – That means a lot. Now we have the chance to find out what is wrong with the patients. Karl Johan Tronstad is a professor at the Department of Biomedicine at the University of Bergen. Photo: Endre Stigen No money for endometriosis research Even though the government is now increasing the focus on women’s health, the money does not reach those who want to research endometriosis. The disease is relatively little talked about, but has major consequences for those who are affected. – I am happy that there is now money for research into women’s health. We have to start somewhere, but at the same time I think it is sad that endometriosis and pcos are not included, says Maria Eide Nøstdal. Endometriosis is called the “invisible disease”. Nøstdal shares the diagnosis with every tenth woman. Now she hopes that the trip will soon come to them too. – Løyvingane shows that it helps to talk about women’s health. We just have to talk even more loudly so maybe eventually there will also be money for endometriosis in the budget soon.
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Releases NOK 60 million for research into women’s health – news Vestland
