11 February, International Day of Women and Girls in Science, is a key date to make visible the role of women in research and to encourage scientific vocations. At Manuela Project, we believe that disseminating information is essential to inspire and change the history of women’s health.

For this reason, our team has taken science beyond the laboratories, bringing it closer to students, professionals and communities in different spaces. Through these talks we have shared our work and reflected on the impact of research on women’s health.

Advancing science with a gender perspective

The gender gap in scientific research is still a reality. In the field of health, women have been historically underrepresented, and from the Manuela Project we want to contribute to change.

🔬 MANUELA is a pioneering initiative in Spain that studies the female microbiota and its relationship with health, diet and lifestyle. A better understanding of these factors allows us to advance in personalised medicine and more inclusive health policies.

Women’s perception of health is strongly influenced by their digestive wellbeing, diet and hormonal changes throughout their lives. Through this study, we seek to understand what their main concerns are in these areas and how microbiota research can offer solutions to improve their quality of life and overall wellbeing.

On a day like 11 February, we celebrate the women who have driven science forward and reaffirm our commitment to work to reduce the gender gap in research. Because a gender-sensitive science is a fairer and more advanced science.

📢 As part of our actions for 11F, these are the talks we have attended to raise awareness of the project and encourage interest in science:

📍 IES Benlliure – Valencia
📍 IES Maimónides – Córdoba
📍 Chemours Company – Oviedo
📍 Association of Feminist Women of Alboraia- Alboraia, Valencia
📍 Conciencia Té – Valencia
📍 Aldaia Town Hall – Aldaia, Valencia 

📍 IES Benlliure – Valencia

At this Valencian high school IES Benlliure, our researchers Leonor Sánchez and Lourdes Tordera from Fundació FISABIO, shared with the students how science impacts on women’s health and the importance of equity in biomedical research. Through data and examples, they analysed how gender differences in clinical trials and medicine have affected women’s health throughout history. They also discussed the gender gap in scientific careers, the challenges faced by women researchers and the need to push for changes for a more inclusive and equitable science.

📍 IES Maimónides – Córdoba

At the IES Maimónides in Córdoba, Ana Mª González and Ikram Benazizi from IESA-CSIC gave an informative talk on the project and the importance of including the gender perspective in health research. 

📍 Chemours Company – Oviedo

Our colleague Sonia González, from the University of Oviedo, was at The Chemours Company presenting the project and bringing women’s health research closer to professionals in the sector. In this event, she explained how the study aims to reduce the lack of knowledge about women’s health by analysing the microbiome, diet and lifestyle to improve the wellbeing of women at all stages of their lives. 

📍 Association of Feminist Women of Alboraia- Alboraia, Valencia 

At this meeting, Paula Ruiz and Leonor Sánchez from Fundació FISABIO organised an informative day for the Association of Feminist Women of Alboraia in which they presented the project, the importance of a project like Manuela and highlighted the need to approach health studies from a gender perspective. 

📍 Conciencia Té – Valencia

Our researcher Sara Sánchez from IATA-CSIC and INGENIO (CSIC-UPV) gave the talk ‘Science, health and women: the incomplete story’ for the ConcienciaTe dissemination events organised by FEBiotec, Spanish Federation of Biotechnologists and Biotechnology Association of the Valencian Community (ABiVa). In her speech, Sara highlighted the importance of integrating the gender perspective in scientific and medical research. Initiatives such as this are essential to make the work of women scientists visible and to inspire new generations to pursue careers in these fields. 

📍 Aldaia Town Hall – Aldaia, Valencia 

Again with the FISABIO team, Leonor Sánchez, Paula Ruiz and Lourdes Tordera, were at the  Aldaia Town Hall presenting the project and making it known to people of all ages. During the event, they encouraged attendees, including the elderly, to participate in the survey and get involved in the initiative. 

🔬💜 We continue working to make women’s health a priority and science a space for everyone.

Want to learn more about our activities? Follow us on social media and join us on this journey!

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The first article of the ISALA Sisterhood Consortium, which includes the participation of the MANUELA team, explores the diversity of the vaginal microbiome among women from different backgrounds. This study highlights the importance of a more inclusive perspective in female health research and underscores the impact of citizen science in advancing these studies.

MANUELA participates in the first paper of the ISALA Sisterhood!

We are pleased to announce that the first paper of the ISALA Sisterhood Consortium has been published, and MANUELA has been an integral part of this groundbreaking research. The article, titled “Diversity in women and their vaginal microbiota,” explores how the diversity of the vaginal microbiome varies among women from different backgrounds and cultures, emphasizing the relevance of including this diversity in scientific studies.

The study highlights the importance of a healthy vaginal microbiome for women’s overall health and points out how a lack of microbiological diversity is linked to various health conditions, such as bacterial vaginosis and increased susceptibility to infections.

MANUELA is part of this global effort aimed at expanding the understanding of the vaginal microbiome in an inclusive and diverse context. This achievement represents not only a step towards better female health but also a push for the use of citizen science to foster more collaborative and equitable research.

Congratulations to ISALA for starting this great adventure!

You can read the full article here:https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0966842X24003287#s0040