Prioritizing women’s health

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Dr. Leigh Gabel, PhD, a member of the McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health at the Cumming School of Medicine, is working to prevent bone loss during perimenopause and early post-menopause — an often-overlooked window when prevention matters most.

“We know that declining estrogen drops mean that women can lose 10 per cent of their bone mass during menopause and the 10 years following,” says Gabel. “Women are much more likely to fracture because of this.”  

But her newest research indicates that bone loss cannot only be stopped but reversed through strength training. In Gabel’s nine-month pilot study, funded by Scientists Partnering for Research with Clinicians (SPARC), participants trained twice a week, gradually progressing to heavy resistance exercises such as squats and deadlifts.  

The results were striking. Women who participated in the program not only avoided the expected loss of bone and muscle, they gained bone density, increased muscle and reported improvements in menopausal symptoms and quality of life.  

“We’re not just preventing loss — we’re actually building strength,” says Gabel. “That’s a powerful shift in how we think about aging and women’s health.”  

With these promising early findings, Gabel is seeking funding for a larger study, as well as expanding the exercise program into the community.  

“Our hope is to change the narrative,” she says. “Aging doesn’t have to mean frailty. It can also mean strength — and it’s never too late to start.”  

Half of all women will experience a fragility fracture after age 50.  

Led by Dr. Lois Donovan, MD, and collaborators across Canada and Australia, the study was published in JAMA and examined the use of a specific automated insulin delivery (AID) system during pregnancy. Philanthropic funding for the study was provided by Diabetes Canada, M.S.I . Foundation and the Buckley Family Trust. The findings showed maternal blood sugar levels improved significantly — a key factor in keeping both mothers and babies healthy.   

“This study has had an immediate impact on patient care,” says Donovan. “There are now research-informed recommendations that doctors can give their patients, which is benefiting moms and babies around the world.”  

Beyond the health outcomes, this system also greatly reduced stress in mothers, who often felt enormous anxiety about blood sugar fluctuations during pregnancy.  

The work builds on Donovan’s earlier research into insulin delivery during the postpartum period, including during breastfeeding, and paves the way for future research into blood-sugar during labour and delivery.

Black women in Canada face a disproportionate burden when it comes to breast cancer – they are diagnosed younger and face higher mortality rates than white women. New University of Calgary research, led by Dr. Bukola Salami, PhD, aims to change that through community‑driven solutions.  

“By the time routine breast cancer screening starts, many Black women who will develop cancer may already have it.” says Salami.  

With support from the Canadian Cancer Society, Salami’s team conducted focus groups with Black women, service providers and community leaders. Their stories revealed barriers such as gaps in knowledge, logistical challenges, fear of screening and the influence of religious advice on medical decision‑making.  

Now in the next phase, the team is developing a culturally informed curriculum for health-care providers. They’re also recruiting peer navigators to help Black women during breast-cancer screening and treatment, as well as bringing Black women together to learn, share experiences and receive support.  

“Our goal is to improve screening rates and ensure that women diagnosed during this process have the support systems they need,” Salami explains. “We are positioning the community as leaders in improving their own health and well-being.”