Advancing Adolescent-Inclusive Sexual and Reproductive Health Research: Overcoming Challenges and Leveraging Opportunities
September 2025 

Speakers: Bianca A. Allison, MD, MPH, University of North Carolina School of Medicine; Errol L. Fields, MD, PhD, MPH, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine; Andrea Hoopes, MD, MPH, Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute; Tracey Wilkinson, MD, MPH, Indiana University School of Medicine; Sarah Wood, MD, MPH, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Session Description: Despite increasing numbers of adolescent health professionals trained to lead adolescent-centered research, adolescents—particularly minors under 18—remain systematically underrepresented in sexual and reproductive health (SRH) research. Barriers such as limited mentorship, institutional resistance, recruitment and retention challenges, and the need for adolescent-specific measures continue to hinder progress. This one-hour webinar will equip attendees with practical strategies and resources to overcome these obstacles and promote inclusive, high-quality adolescent SRH research. This is particularly timely in light of ongoing legal shifts affecting adolescent access to abortion and contraception. The session covers:

• Why Adolescent SRH Research Matters: An overview of the critical role adolescent-focused research plays in advancing health equity.
• Navigating Research Barriers: A practical exploration of common challenges (e.g., developmental considerations, IRB resistance, legal/ethical constraints), using real-world examples from presenters’ own research.
• Resources and Strategies for Success: A guide to tools, networks, and methods (e.g., youth participatory research, human-centered design) that support effective adolescent engagement in research.

Learning Objectives

• Identify strategies to support colleagues and mentees in overcoming common challenges in adolescent SRH research.
• Explain the significance of including adolescents in a broad spectrum of SRH research.
• Leave with concrete ideas and resources to strengthen current or future adolescent-centered SRH research projects.