Keeping the Women we Love Healthy

Much of the knowledge about diseases, treatment, and drug development are based on research results of male subjects, ignoring the possibility of gender differences and inferring that what works for men will work for women as well. Applying results of clinical studies that include only men affects women adversely.  Even though there has been a significant growth in health research regarding key differences between men and women, women are still underrepresented in many research areas. The Howell Foundation's key initiatives are focused on guaranteeing an emphasis on all areas of research that may affect women’s health, promoting the need for further women’s health research, avoiding research bias by addressing the backlog of research efforts that include women, and ensuring that all the progress in research is integrated in educational publications and information sources available to our community. It has only been a little over 25 years since the National Institutes of...

Pictured above: 2018 Howell Scholars with Howell Co-Chair Kathleen Franklin & CSUPERB Executive Director, Susan Baxter Every year, during our first luncheon for the year, we ratify a partnership that advances women’s health at its basic level –research; two great organizations aligned to provide opportunities for students to have access to careers in the biomedical research field. “CSUPERB believes that the best way to engage, recruit and retain students in life science careers is to provide access to and opportunities in real-world biotechnology research settings. We know that these experiences are particularly effective at engaging and retaining students who are the first in their families to attend college or are from communities underrepresented in the life sciences. By working with CSU faculty in the classroom and on research problems, students build a solid foundation for successful life science careers”, comments Susan Baxter, Executive Director, CSUPERB, and liaison...

Dr. Howell (front center) and Dr. Maloy with the 2017 Howell-CSUPERB Scholarship recipients.  Double the Impact! CSUPERB (California State University Program for Education and Research in Biotechnology) awards a new research grant for each full scholarship the Howell Foundation awards to a CSU undergraduate. A strict protocol is followed in the choice of the students, including review of the students' scholarship applications, and quality of supervision during their research work. This supervision has become known as the "Mentor Program." It is the lifeline to the program's success. Each student must have a qualified mentor to direct and guide them. The research subjects range from the most basic of life sciences such as cell biology to creating vaccines and testing altered immune reactions. Often the results of the student's research are presented at professional conferences or published in peer-reviewed journals, contributing to the community and the f...

  ### About the Doris A. Howell Foundation: The Doris A. Howell Foundation for Women’s Health Research is committed to keeping the women we love healthy, advancing women’s health through research and educating women to be catalysts for improving family health in the community. The organization does so by funding scholarships to students researching issues affecting women’s health; providing a forum for medical experts, scientists, doctors, and researchers to convey timely information on topics relevant to women’s health and the health of their families through its Lecture and Evening Series, and by funding research initiatives that improve the health of under-served women and increase awareness and advocacy in the community. To learn more about the Foundation, visit  www.howellfoundation.org .      ###

Pictured above:  Sima Chokr (Biology, California State University, Long Beach),  Karl Liboro (Biology, California State University, Los Angeles),  Brandon Strong (Biological Sciences, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo) & Alan Tran (Biological Sciences, San José State University).   Photo courtesy of John Zimmermann. Howell-CSUPERB Students Present their Fields of Research during Foundation’s first Luncheon of the Year. Scholars to Start their Research in Women’s Health in Spring & Summer 2016 CSUPERB and the Doris A. Howell Foundation:  Proud of our Scholars!  Twelve CSU biology students will now have a unique opportunity to conduct research in women's health.  Receiving a total of 28 applications, the Howell Foundation, partnering with the CSUPERB program, chose students from 9 CSU campuses to receive scholarships worth $42,000.  The scholarship awards were announced in January, and each scho...

“The experience that stands out most to me was the opportunity to attend a Howell luncheon and meet Dr. Howell and the other members of the Foundation. The experience was so inspirational and it meant so much to be able to share that opportunity with my mentor, Dr. Doran. It was truly an honor to be in the presence of so many proponents of women’s health.” – Erin Fletcher (San Diego State University, 2013 Scholar) This year marks the 15th anniversary of a partnership that was only logical:  two great organizations aligned to advance women’s health research through education, and provide opportunities for students who otherwise would not have access to careers in the biomedical research field.  “CSUPERB believes that the best way to engage, recruit and retain students in life science careers is to provide access to and opportunities in real-world biotechnology research settings. We know that these experiences are particularly effective at engaging and retaining stude...

Pictured with Dr. Howell, 2 of the 12 C-SUPERB Scholars, Anna Leighton and Andres Bermudez during the Foundation's Lecture on Telemedicine in February. Howell-CSUPERB Students Present their Fields of Research during Foundation’s first Luncheon of the Year. Scholars to Start their Research in Women’s Health in Spring &Summer 2015 CSUPERB and the Doris A. Howell Foundation:  Proud of our Scholars!  Twelve biology students will now have the research experience required to complete their related studies in women’s health.   Receiving a total of 30 applications, the Howell Foundation, partnering with the CSUPERB program, chose students from 12 CSU campuses to receive scholarships worth $42,000 last year.  The scholarship awards were announced on November 25th, 2014, and the students are expected to start their studies during Spring and Summer. “The opportunity that the Doris A. Howell Foundation offers is time .  With our scholarships, stude...