Dr. Lori Brotto

Lori A. Brotto, PhD, R Psych is the Executive Director of the Women’s Health Research Institute at BC Women’s Hospital and Health Centre. Dr. Brotto is a Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, with a Joint Appointment in the Department of Psychiatry. She holds a Canada Research Chair in Women’s Sexual Health. Her program of research focuses on women’s sexual health, and includes randomized controlled trials of psychological interventions (such as mindfulness and cognitive behavioural therapy) to address low desire in women and chronic genital pain (vulvodynia). She has a strong interest in quality of life among survivors, and has been involved in a number of studies to address sexual health among cancer survivors. To that end, she is a member of the Gynecologic Cancer Collaborative Cluster, lead by Dr. Gavin Stuart. Her CFI-funded research lab is located at Vancouver Hospital and is equipped with sexual psychophysiological measures, an eye tracker, and infrastructure to support salivary hormone collections. She also collaborates on studies exploring asexuality, culture and sexuality, and most recently, digital technologies to deliver women’s sexual health programs.

As a member of the Women’s Health Research Cluster, she is part of the “Applied” theme, which collectively examine women’s health research and its applications to clinical practice and policy. In her role as WHRI Executive Director, Dr. Brotto works closely with the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) as well as other health authorities to raise the profile of research. This relationship also provides opportunities to champion women’s research needs across PHSA settings.