Women’s Brain Foundation joins PAREA as full member to strengthen gender-informed mental health innovation
PAREA is pleased to welcome the Women’s Brain Foundation as a new full member. Their membership helps put greater focus on ensuring that sex and gender differences are systematically recognised and addressed across mental health and psychedelic research, policy, and clinical innovation in Europe.
Sex and gender differences profoundly shape how mental health conditions and brain disorders manifest across the lifespan. For example, women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with depression and anxiety. Women’s symptoms are often overlooked, dismissed, or misdiagnosed due to a limited understanding of female-specific presentations. Critically, women remain underrepresented in research—from cellular studies to clinical trials—and even when included, data are rarely analysed for sex- and gender-specific effects.
“The lack of sex- and gender-informed evidence in mental health and neuroscience has far-reaching implications,” said Dr Antonella Santuccione Chadha, Founder and CEO of the Women’s Brain Foundation. “We aim to change this by promoting prevention, early detection, and personalised approaches that account for biological and social differences between women and men.”
The Women’s Brain Foundation is an international non-profit organisation that advocates for sex- and gender-sensitive research and healthcare. It works to generate scientific evidence, shape policies and regulatory frameworks, and foster innovation that addresses the specific needs of women across the lifespan. Its work highlights the importance of closing the “gender data gap” in medicine—an omission that continues to distort understanding, diagnosis, and treatment outcomes for women.
PAREA Vice-Chair Emma Christersson said:
“Understanding gender differences is essential in both science and policy. Current psychedelic research rarely accounts for women’s unique biology, including hormonal fluctuations that can influence neurochemistry as well as subjective experience. Gender-informed research is critical to developing evidence-based, equitable care models that reflect real-world diversity.”
The collaboration between PAREA and the Women’s Brain Foundation will help bridge this knowledge gap, fostering a more inclusive and scientifically robust approach to mental health and psychedelic research. Both organisations share the conviction that equitable access to effective, personalised care depends on recognising biological and social diversity within mental health science and policy.
“Brain health and mental health innovation cannot advance if half the population remains underrepresented in research and underserved in care,” said Tadeusz Hawrot, PAREA’s Founder and Executive Director. “With the Women’s Brain Foundation joining our Alliance, we can work together to make European mental health innovation more inclusive, precise, and responsive to the needs of all.”
This collaboration comes at a time of renewed attention to women’s health in Europe. Over 20 organisations and 40 experts have recently urged the European Commission to adopt a dedicated EU Strategy for Women’s Health, highlighting ongoing gaps in research, data, investment, and policy. In their letter to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, they called for EU leadership to close the gender health gap and fully integrate women’s health into future European frameworks.
About the Women’s Brain Foundation
The Women’s Brain Foundation is an independent Swiss-based non-profit research institute committed to closing the gender gap in brain and mental health. Through sex- and gender-precision research, advocacy, and education we champion equity in neuroscience and care. We foster a global community of interdisciplinary experts who conduct research and education, provide scientific advice and support, adapt emerging technologies such as AI to create solutions for better brain and mental health. Together, we strive to unlock the full potential of the women's brain capital and drive meaningful change worldwide.
