St. Louis conference on women's health research begins

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Scientists, health care providers and advocacy groups are meeting in St. Louis this week to determine priorities for women's health research.

The National Institutes of Health is hosting the forum at Washington University. It is the first of several regional conferences.

Jennifer Elam directs the Center for Women's Infectious Disease Research at Washington University. She said attendees will look at seven topics including eating disorders and chronic pain syndromes.

She says there's a new focus on how women and men differ in disease effects and treatment response.

Elam says participants also will look at concerns from the public.