What is Athena Institute?

What is ATHENA INSTITUTE? In Greek mythology, Athena was the daughter of Zeus, and the goddess of wisdom and skills. Dr. Winnifred Cutler, founded the Athena Institute in 1986 and selected that name signifying the mission of helping women increase their wisdom and skill related to their bodies, their health, and their well-being.
Athena Institute for Women’s Wellness, Inc. can best be described by its Mission and Purpose Statement: Athena is a biomedical research institute dedicated to improving the quality of healthcare for women. The primary focus of Athena Institute is Behavioral Endocrinology -- the relationship between your behavior and your physiology Athena Institute's research addresses avoiding unnecessary hysterectomy and ovariectomy; sexual response in women; menopause; osteoporosis; hormone replacement therapy; sex during menstruation; and pheromones as sexual attractants. The Athena Institute: Conducts original experimental research Publishes research papers in peer-reviewed journals Delivers lectures, conduct seminars, and present poster abstracts to scientific and medical conferences Provides funding and research support in endocrinology to independent scholars. Analyzes scientific literature, uncover overlooked data, challenge erroneous "orthodoxy" Formulates new hypotheses in psychoneuroendocrinology Uses print and electronic media to transmit findings to physicians, scientist, journalists and the public "When a woman refuses to be treated with disrespect and condescension, she becomes empowered to evaluate options and make intelligent choices. By doing the work of learning about her body and improving her health habits, she is in a position to assert her power. Power begets dignity. Dignity is essential to well-being." Winnifred Cutler, Ph.D. 1986 founder of Athena Institute	Dr. Winnifred Cutler, B.S. in Psychology cum laude from Ursinus College in 1973, earned her Ph.D. in Biology form the University of Pennsylvania in 1979 followed by a postdoctoral fellowship in behavioral endocrinology at Stanford University. In 1985 she co-founded the Women’s Wellness Program at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. She has published over 35 scientific papers, is co-inventor on 5 patents and author if six books on women’s health translated into 7 languages. In 1986, Dr. Cutler's co-discovery of human pheromones received made news coverage in Time (12/1/86), Newsweek (1/12/87), and a front page story in the Washington Post newspaper (11/18/86) because it established the first scientific proof that human pheromones affect the relationship between men and women. In 1993, Dr. Cutler formulated, tested, and marketed a pheromone cosmetic for women called Athena Pheromone 10:13tm. She successfully created a chemical copy of the pheromones that sexually attractive women in their 20's naturally give off. The pheromone product is a colorless, odorless liquid women add to their favorite perfume; a cosmetic fragrance additive. After conducting in 1994 a successful study of 38 heterosexual men over 8 weeks, Athena Institute marketed in 1995 an equivalent aftershave additive for men, Athena Pheromone 10Xtm. Both products have been the subject of double-blind placebo controlled scientific tests which demonstrate increased sexual attractiveness for the men and women wearing Athena Pheromones compared to placebo. In the cosmetic industry, "gold-standard" product-effectiveness studies of this caliber are rare to non-existent.	With Dr. Elizabeth Genovese, Dr. Cutler wrote WELLNESS IN WOMEN AFTER 40: The Role of Sex Hormones and Pheromones, a monograph for medical practitioners. Upon invitation in 1999, Dr. Cutler gave a seminar PHEROMONES AS SEX ATTRACTANTS, to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists for continuing medical education credits. Dr. Cutler is a member of and has recently presented her research to: the International Academy of Sex Research, the International Society of Psychoneuroendocrinology, the North American Menopause Society, and the American Society of Reproductive Medicine. In June 2000, Athena Institute awarded a 3-year $175,000 research grant to Cindy Meston, Ph.D. of the University of Texas at Austin for the study of sexual deficits in post-hysterectomized women. Athena Institute provides local college students with paid science and business internships. Athena Institute has awarded two grants so far for separate hospice projects to promote pre-med student outreach to the geriatric community. The hopsice project grants are complemented by the premed's guide for applying to medical school - available on Athena's website. Based on Dr. Cutler's book, Searching for Courtship: The Smart Woman's Guide to Finding a Good Husband, Athena Institute offers a multimedia workshop program for individuals, groups, or therapists and counselors. The program is available for women to organize and conduct their own workshops. Athena Institute's research is funded by sales of its two pheromone cosmetics and Dr. Cutler's books and workshop materials. Athena Institute has a panel of research advisors who evaluate research grants and protocols for clinical investigations from ethical, scientific and medical criteria Athena’s advisors serve without compensation and share the mission of Athena Institute. Through the Institute, Dr. Cutler collaborates with her worldwide network of scientists, physicians and research scholars to expand academically-grounded knowledge of women's health, sexuality and well-being.

Note: "Athena Pheromone 10X", "Athena Pheromone 10:13", and "Raise the octane of your aftershave" are trademarks of the Athena Institute, Chester Springs, PA.