Data from the ongoing NYU Women's Health Study include biospecimens and survey data with variables concerning health conditions, reproductive history, and dietary habits. Between 1985 and 1991, the NYU Women's Health Study enrolled 14,274 women between the ages of 35 and 65 years old at the Guttman Breast Diagnostic Institute in New York City for a study of endogenous hormones, diet, and risk of breast cancer. Since its inception in 1985, the study has been expanded to investigate exposures associated with cancer and other chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and osteoporotic fractures. At the time of enrollment, women donated blood samples and completed questionnaires about their health conditions, reproductive history, and diet, exercise, and lifestyle habits. Participants returning for annual screening mammography were asked to donate additional blood samples at each visit. The blood samples and survey responses are used to explore biological differences between women who develop disease and women who remain disease-free.

Participants complete follow-up questionnaires by mail or telephone every 3 to 5 years to update information on their health conditions and lifestyle. Follow-up is supplemented by periodic linkages to tumor registries and to the National Death Index. As of October 2022, 7,795 study participants (54.6%) were still alive, of whom 1,260 (16.2%) had withdrawn from active follow-up.