For Investigators

The Women's Health Study (WHS) has been funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The WHS encourages outside investigators to take advantage of our data to address new research questions or address old questions in new ways. We also encourage ancillary studies that leverage the cohort for new research.

For planning purposes, full text copies of all questionnaires from completed data collection phases are provided, as well as a data matrix from both the trial and the observational follow-up study periods. A bibliography of WHS publications is also provided, as well as a summary of the numbers of cancer and cardiovascular events accrued in the WHS.

As described in the guidelines and procedures for collaboration, proposed research will be evaluated based on the potential overlap with other ongoing studies, methodological soundness, and scientific validity and importance. Priority will be given to projects that advance the overarching aims of the WHS. Request forms for data access and collaboration are provided. Investigators need to provide financial support to conduct their proposed project.

Studies that involve the use of biological specimens will require additional justification and review due to the limited supply of biological materials available. Information on sample volume, validation of proposed assays, and statistical power estimates are required. Additional costs will be involved to retrieve the requested specimens.

For further information, please contact Dr. Julie Buring or Dr. I-Min Lee, the WHS PIs.