Heart & Stroke and Brain Canada have committed CA$5 million over five years to the RENEW Network , the third recipient of the Research Network of Excellence in Women’s Heart and/or Brain Health program.
Led by Dr. Jodi Edwards of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute and the Bruyère Health Research Institute, the RENEW Network aims to address key care gaps in women’s heart and brain health. Notably, women are referred to cardiovascular and brain rehab programs at lower rates than men, while female-specific research on both conditions is limited.
“The RENEW Network represents an important step forward in addressing inequities in rehabilitation and recovery,” said Doug Roth, CEO of Heart & Stroke. “By bringing together researchers, clinicians, people with lived experience and health system leaders from across the country, this network will generate evidence and solutions that can improve outcomes for women nationwide.”
The RENEW Network will examine how menopause impacts recovery, mental health support during brain rehabilitation, new rehab and mental health interventions, and referral patterns.
“What happens after a heart-brain event can determine a person’s health and well-being for years to come,” said Viviane Poupon, president and CEO of Brain Canada. “By supporting Dr. Jodi Edwards and the RENEW Network, we’re helping to close a critical gap in the research continuum and ensuring that the progress we’ve made in understanding women’s brain health translates into better care and recovery after a heart-brain event.”
