Women’s health research has always moved more slowly than it should. Not because the questions aren’t there—but because the resources often aren’t.
At joni, we believe menstrual justice isn’t only about access to products. It’s about access to knowledge, tools, and opportunity. That belief is at the heart of our mission—our commitment to back bold ideas, remove barriers, and invest in people who are reimagining menstrual health from the ground up.
Which is how we found ourselves supporting a high school student in the Canadian Maritimes who’s doing something quietly revolutionary.
Meet Vidya.
A Pad That Does More Than Absorb
Vidya’s research began where many innovations do: frustration.
“I came up with this idea from my dissatisfaction with conventional period pads, and how they always failed at their purpose for me,” she says.
Rather than accepting that discomfort, irritation, and uncertainty were just “part of having a period,” Vidya decided to investigate what period care could be, if science, user experience, and sustainability were treated as equally important.
Her project focuses on bridging the gaps she saw in conventional pads. After conducting mass interviews and gathering feedback from menstruating people, she began developing prototypes and testing procedures using the resources available to her.
The result? A redesigned pad that goes beyond absorption.
Her prototype is:
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Diagnostic, with the ability to detect conditions like bacterial vaginosis (BV) and common yeast infections
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Antimicrobial, with the goal of reducing illness rather than contributing to it
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Biodegradable, designed to safely decompose and return nutrients to the soil
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Thoughtfully shaped, with packaging and form redesigned for comfort and real-world use
“My pad can help by reducing illnesses with its antimicrobial properties and raising awareness about conditions like BV,” Vidya explains. “Research in women’s health is always neglected. Conducting any form of research can significantly benefit the field.”
She’s right. And she’s also pointing directly at a problem the menstrual health industry has lived with for decades.
Menstrual Health Deserves Better Science
For too long, period products have been designed to manage symptoms—not support health.
Innovation has often stopped at words like natural or organic, without asking deeper questions about breathability, moisture, bacteria, or how products interact with the body over hours of use. Vidya’s work challenges that status quo by asking what happens when period care is treated as a health technology, not just a hygiene product.
Her research isn’t niche. It’s expansive.
“My pad will help any menstruating individual, as it’s made with the majority of users’ concerns,” she says. “It will also help the environment because it safely decomposes and turns into compost that nourishes plants.”
Health. Dignity. Sustainability. None of these should be trade-offs.
Why Support Matters—And Why Our Mission Exists
Doing this kind of research requires more than curiosity. It requires access.
Microscopes. Testing materials. Mentorship. Time.
When Vidya shared how important institutional and community support is to her work, it echoed exactly why joni exists.
“It’s important for schools and companies to support young scientists because they have access to important resources and diverse connections,” she says. “Connecting young scientists to these resources can benefit both sides and help improve research.”
We're helping to remove those barriers—whether that means providing products, funding, or in Vidya’s case, helping make specialized research tools accessible. Because ideas don’t fail on their own. They fail when support systems do.
Looking Forward: From Prototype to Possibility
Vidya isn’t finished—not even close.
“I wish to keep working on my pad until I have a finalized prototype,” she says. “In the future, I’d like to commercialize my pad and start a period pad company like joni.”
Right now, she’s focused on improving customer experience and designing for inclusion—making sure her product reflects the diversity of bodies and needs it’s meant to serve.
And her long-term vision is clear.
“In my future, I hope to dedicate my life to women’s health and make products more accessible and inclusive.”
This Is What Menstrual Justice Looks Like
Menstrual justice isn’t just about meeting today’s needs. It’s about investing in the people who are building tomorrow’s solutions.
Vidya’s work reminds us that innovation doesn’t always come from labs with massive budgets. Sometimes it comes from a student who asks better questions and is given the chance to explore the answers.
joni is proud to support young researchers across Canada who are pushing menstrual health forward with curiosity, care, and courage.
Because when we give people the tools, they don’t just build projects.
They build futures.