BIRCWH Program Overview


Tradition of Promoting Women's Health

The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB Health) through the Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Women's Health (CIRWH) and with the support of numerous UTMB Health research centers, offices, divisions, and their faculty are offering this National Institutes of Health (NIH) supported program for training junior faculty to become successful, independent clinical and translational investigators in women's health.

The BIRCWH program focuses on four interdisciplinary research areas.  These are:

  1. Aging,
  2. Reproductive Health,
  3. Infectious Diseases, and
  4. Health Disparities/Hispanic Health.

The BIRCWH program supports three early career investigators as Scholars, who receive 75% salary support and 75% protected time for research. At UTMB Health, the BIRCWH program has four research focus areas: aging, cancer, infectious disease, and reproductive health. Each focal area is supported by nationally recognized mentors, chosen for their research, mentoring records, and dedication to advancing interdisciplinary women's health research. To enhance interdisciplinary collaborations, BIRCWH Scholars are encouraged to select a second mentor from another discipline.


The UTMB Health BIRCWH Program is supported by a research career development award (3K12HD052023: Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health Program – BIRCWH from the Office of the Director (OD), National Institutes of Health, Abbey Berenson PI) .

Contact Us

Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Women's Health
John Sealy Annex, Suite 3.108
University of Texas Medical Branch
Galveston, TX 77555-0587
Office: (409) 772-2417
Email:  Abbey Berenson