Working in a field with missing data
Women's health research carries a structural deficit. Exclusion from clinical trials through most of the twentieth century, underfunding of conditions that predominantly affect women, and symptom reporting historically filed under psychology rather than physiology have left genuine gaps in the evidence. We build inside that reality, which imposes two duties: use the evidence that exists rigorously, and never dress speculation as certainty.
The Five Signals framework
The framework organises patient-reported experience across five domains chosen because each maps to measurable physiology. The framework is an interpretive structure, not a diagnostic model, and we publish it in full: our white paper sets out the mechanistic basis for each signal, with references and an explicit limitations section. Available on request at clinical@meialab.com.
- Energy
- Mitochondrial function, iron status, thyroid activity
- Clarity
- The cognitive effects of estradiol fluctuation, sleep architecture and cortisol
- Rhythm
- Menstrual, circadian and digestive timing
- Resilience
- HPA-axis function and stress recovery
- Perception
- Interoception, the sensing of the body's internal state
What we are studying
Our active research questions are practical. Whether structured longitudinal self-report can reliably surface patterns that single consultations miss. Whether appointment briefs measurably improve the quality of clinical conversations. How to score honestly across cycles that are absent, irregular or suppressed by hormonal contraception, where much published cycle research simply does not apply. And how AI can conduct a health intake conversation that is rigorous without being clinical theatre.
How we handle evidence
Claims in the product trace to mechanisms in the peer-reviewed literature or are labelled as interpretation. We distinguish, in our own materials, between what is established, what is plausible, and what is our hypothesis. Meia Lab is not a peer-reviewed medical product and does not present itself as one.
Working with us
We welcome researchers and clinicians who want to examine, challenge or collaborate on any of the above, particularly in endocrinology, primary care and women's health epidemiology.