About

^{Celebrating the first anniversary of the ACWHR with the University of Aberdeen Principal George Boyne}

The mission of the Centre is to improve the lives of women across their lifecourse through excellence in research.

History

The University of Aberdeen has pioneered the transformation of women’s health care for decades. Professor Sir Dugald Baird, Regius Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (1937-65), established Aberdeen’s international reputation in Obstetrics & Gynaecology (O&G) research by establishing the MRC Obstetric Medicine Unit, and later the MRC Medical Sociology Unit. These research units built on the distinctive features of the Grampian region; a stable population in a mixed urban and rural geographical region, and centralised clinical and laboratory services which allowed long term follow-up of women and their families.

Research

Our health research has improved the lives of millions of women globally.  Our works transcends all phases of women’s reproductive and post-reproductive life. As world-leaders in the management of women’s health,  our research has provided robust information that enabled women, clinicians, and healthcare providers to make evidence based decisions In all areas of women’s health: from optimising IVF techniques, to advising women on appropriate periods to wait after miscarriage, helping women in planning their childbirth and determining the most effective treatments for menstrual disorders, endometriosis, urinary incontinence and prolapse. 

Our team at ACWHR excel in delivery of clinical trials and our future work will build upon this existing research strength and active engagement with women on their health concerns. We will also focus on:

• Prediction modelling and methodological developments to multi-centre clinical trials responding to the post-Covid healthcare environment 
• Routinely collected data and use of electronic health records for recruitment, participation in and delivery of research studies

We will continue to establish collaborations with other research centres and individual researchers in the UK and worldwide to further enable us in delivering the mission of our centre.

Lifecourse Approach

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (RCOG) acknowledge that research in women’s healthcare is at its best when a full account of each woman’s circumstances is taken into consideration. Our Centre embodies this holistic approach to women's health research, taking a life course approach to our work.