Women's health

Women build and lose muscle mass differently than men. This has significant implications, particularly for health care workers engaged in physically demanding work. In this project, we explore these differences and develop targeted solutions through nutrition, training, and adjustments in the work environment.

This scan identifies the connections between hormone-driven and general health issues in women and their work. It supports employers in addressing topics like menstrual complaints and menopause, offering tools for targeted interventions and support for managers, occupational physicians, supervisors, and employees.

Endometriosis affects 1 in 10 women, yet diagnosis often takes a decade. Within a broad consortium, we aim to expedite diagnostics and treatment. Our goals include developing biomarkers for early detection and enhancing awareness among healthcare professionals.

In partnership with the premiere league football club PSV, we are investigating how menstruation affects sports performance. For instance, the likelihood of injuries increases during menstruation. We are focusing on nutrition, training, and injury prevention. This project aims to enhance performance and break the taboo surrounding menstruation in sports.

As a partner in the largest national consortium on menopause, we are investigating the effects of female sex hormones on energy metabolism and chronic inflammation at the cellular level. The research will help prevent harmful fat accumulation and scar formation in liver and muscle cells and widespread diseases such as fatty liver, obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.

Together with energy companies, we are building towards a gender-inclusive cultural change to improve the underutilised and unused potential of women in the energy transition with a strong focus on healthy and sustainable employment for women in different stages of life.

It is not the woman who needs to change, but the system. That is the premise of the Dutch Economic Resilience Coalition (NEVCO) to ensure that economically vulnerable women become and remain independent. With various partners, TNO is investigating how to take concrete and scientifically substantiated action to strengthen women's economic resilience. For example, through research on guiding single mothers on welfare towards employment.

A Health Holland inquiry into family-friendly employment for staff retention after family expansion is underway. Combining work and family can create stress and pressure for working parents, resulting in absenteeism, turnover and lost production.

Pro Parents developed an integrated approach to promote well-being, health and employability of (prospective) parents. It consists of an app for parents with personalized eHealth modules and 24/7 chat with healthcare professionals. In addition, there is a dashboard for executives with insight into what is going on in the team around parenting and with leave, health and safety and interview guidelines. There is also a dashboard for HR. TNO is conducting research into the process and effect of Pro Parents' integrated eHealth approach.

With young people and stakeholders, TNO is launching the learning network “Working parenthood and mental health of parents and children in 2040.” With research and creative workshops among young people of various ages and backgrounds, it looks at what contributes to the mental health of future generations of working parents and their children. It provides a vision of the future for 2040 and what is needed to achieve transition.