Ludeman Family Center for Women's Health Research

02/27/2026

A recent article reminds us that heart disease is the #1 killer of Hispanic women, and yet it is largely preventable. While 6 in 10 White women in the U.S. are aware of common signs of heart attacks, only 3 in 10 Hispanic women are, according to medical experts at the American Heart Association. "Hispanic women often face many social pressures as the heart of their families, which can add to their stress,” says Dr. Raymundo Quintana, a cardiologist at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital. He also comments that "protecting the heart health of Hispanic women safeguards families and future generations". The positive news is that with information and lifestyle changes, heart disease can be prevented. Discover more here, including the UCHealth "Healthy Hearts and Minds" and the "Su Corazon, Su Vida" program.

https://www.uchealth.org/today/heart-disease-no-1-killer-hispanic-women-its-largely-preventable/?utm_campaign=OwnedSocial_UCHealthToday_February_JFMFY26_AW_Engagement&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=organic-social&fbclid=IwY2xjawQAfFNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeBpsrNg4tdA3UbIiaJ_Z3zayqD2W3Gg6UBz42S-JS7DBCyZuyqwYcjiQaeRM_aem_eWMhA0Gj6NrHzKJJI7u59w

02/27/2026

A recent article discusses how a new pilot grant proposal to the Colorado Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CCTSI) will help advance research on post-concussion sleep problems in adolescent athletes. Working alongside David Howell, PhD, and Julie Wilson, MD, is Ludeman Center researcher and the co-medical director of sleep medicine at Children’s Hospital Colorado, Stacey Simon, PhD, who through this grant were able to challenge existing clinical knowledge regarding how to classify sleep quality disruptions among adolescents with concussion. “This is a win-win for Dr. Howell and his research team as well as the children and families for whom his research is going make an important difference in their lives.”

https://news.cuanschutz.edu/cctsi/pilot-grant-leads-to-advances-in-post-concussion-care

02/27/2026

In 2023, Heart Disease led to one in five deaths among females in the U.S, a much deadlier risk than breast cancer. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), only 56% of women were aware that heart disease is the leading cause of death for females. This article points out a range of heart disease symptoms that women experience during a heart attack, including symptoms of aching or pain in the upper back, arm, neck and jaw, among other heart disease symptoms can include feeling short of breath, nauseated, sweaty, or very fatigued. Women are more likely to wait to seek medical attention and they often downplay these symptoms. A key message is: act on these symptoms if they occur! Learn more here.

https://abcnews.com/Health/heart-disease-remains-top-threat-women-coming/story?id=129718739

02/25/2026

For , we recognize Ludeman Center researcher Prateeti Khazanie, MD, whose collaborative research investigated why women make up only 15-20% of patients in the US who receive left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). This is imperative research because these devices often improve a patient's quality of life. Her work looks into whether this disparity could be due in part to implicit bias in the social assessment for LVAD candidacy and to develop a more standardized and equitable system for evaluating women and men for advanced heart failure therapies. Learn more here!

https://medschool.cuanschutz.edu/center-for-womens-health-research/about-us/-researchers/prateeti-khazanie

02/24/2026

For , we celebrate Ludeman Center researcher, Fabrice Dabertrand PhD, for his contributions to a 2025 paper that made the front page of@CircRes! The paper is about how healthy brain aging is decisively correlated to cardiovascular function. Dr. Dabertrand is dedicated to through his work that is helping to reduce gaps in the understanding of female cerebrovascular function and drug responsiveness created by historical biases that have favored male experimental models. At his on-campus lab, he is supporting the next generation of early-career researchers through mentorship and scientific collaborations. Learn more about Dr. Dabertrand here.

https://medschool.cuanschutz.edu/center-for-womens-health-research/about-us/-researchers/fabrice-dabertrand

02/23/2026

During , we look to the for important guidelines on heart health that disproportionately impacts women. It is important that women are treated or their unique life stages of their heart health. To stay connected to your heart, the recommends tracking key health metrics like blood pressure and cholesterol and addressing your personal risk factors to help lower your risk of heart disease later in life. Learn more here.

https://www.goredforwomen.org/en/

02/22/2026

Congrats to Ludeman Center researcher and Postdoctoral Fellow in the
Department of Medicine , Ana J. Pinto, PhD, for being awarded the Trainee Research Excellence Award — Clinical/Translational. The award recognizes clinical/translational science scholars who show excellence in and great potential for future research impact during their training.

https://medschool.cuanschutz.edu/center-for-womens-health-research/about-us/-researchers/ana-pinto-phd

02/20/2026

More Americans meet criteria for high blood pressure under new guidelines

02/19/2026

February is and we recognize that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. and disproportionately affects women. Researchers at the Ludeman Center are dedicated to informing the development and testing of treatments to benefit both women and men as well as guiding healthcare providers to better evaluate and treat heart conditions in women. From studying heart failure therapies to heart disease as it relates to diabetes, our researchers center their work on filling the gap in cardiovascular research to benefit both women and men across the lifespan. Learn more about their work here.

https://medschool.cuanschutz.edu/center-for-womens-health-research/research/research-areas/cardiovascular-disease

02/19/2026

Congratulations to distinguished professor and Nancy Anschutz Chair in Women's Health Research, Wendy M. Kohrt, PhD, for being awarded the Chancellor's Distinguished Research Lectureship Award — Clinical at . This award recognizes extraordinary research accomplishments from any discipline and showcases impact and innovation.

https://medschool.cuanschutz.edu/center-for-womens-health-research/about-us/faculty-leadership/wendy-kohrt

02/16/2026

02/12/2026

A new article from explores emerging data that mammograms can actually help to identify women who are at-risk for heart disease. An ongoing Mount Sinai study is exploring the link between calcium deposits in the breast arteries and life-threatening heart risks. “When the arteries are calcified in a woman’s breast, it only makes logical sense that vessels might be calcified elsewhere," says Dr. Laurie Margolies. Margolies estimates 12.5% of women in the health system have breast arterial calcifications. Mammograms are typically reccomended for women 40 and older who are already at a higher risk for heart disease, and doctors can use these pictures to look for calcifications that are vascular. Although more research is needed to define how much arterial calcification in the breast may be a cause for concern, this area of research has great potential to help uncover cardiovascular disease in women.

https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a69977476/diabetes-reshapes-heart-study/