Fourth Biennial National Conference on Women’s Health Research
Devin Lynn Apr 23, 2025On October 23, the Ludeman Family Center for Women’s Health Research hosted the 2024 National Conference on Women’s Health and Sex Differences Research. This biennial conference focuses on cardiometabolism and mental health. More than 120 researchers from around the world gathered for three days to discuss the latest developments in women’s health and sex differences research and create new research partnerships.
“We are excited to have the top scientists and thought leaders in sex differences research across the lifespan, with sessions on fetal origins of adult disease, bone and metabolism, heart disease, sleep, diabetes, exercise, mental health and cardio metabolism,” said Judy Regensteiner, PhD, distinguished professor of medicine and director of the Ludeman Center.
Research session topics included:
It Takes Two: Maternal Health and Paternal Influences on Pregnancy Outcomes
Beyond the Gonads: FSH Actions across the Female Reproductive Lifespan
Cardiovascular Disease in Women: What Have We Learned?
Obesity and Diabetes in the Era of Durable Weight Loss
Maternal Mortality – A US Tragedy
Women’s Health Research Matters: A Discussion of How to Move this Agenda Forward
Advancing Women’s Health through AI and Genetic, Clinical and Behavioral Data
Sex as a Key Variable in Brain Function and Mental Health
In addition to the scientific presentations, the Ludeman Center also hosted a community session focused on menopause featuring Wendy Kohrt, PhD, Neill Epperson, MD, Kerrie Moreau, PhD, and Irene Aninye, PhD, from the Society of Women’s Health Research.
The poster session attracted more than 35 researchers who presented their research findings. Winners of the poster competition included:
Brittany Schwende, MSc, McGill University, Impacts of Gender-Related Variables on Blood Pressure Outcomes in Individuals with and without Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Sara Stockman, MD, PhD, Massachusetts General Hospital, Earlier Age of Natural Menopause in Low-weight Women and the Role of Laboratory Testing in Diagnosis
Phinea Romero, BS, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Sexually Dimorphic Neurovascular Coupling Deficits in the 16p11.2 Locus Deletion Mouse Model of Autism
Alyssa Hohorst, MS, University of Colorado Denver, Sex and Estrous Cycle Phase Influences Functional Connectivity between Brain Regions during Fear Extinction
Marissa Nicodemus, BS, West Virginia University, Pubertal Stress Influences the Transcriptomic Response of Key Hypothalamic Neurons During the Adult Perinatal Period
Margaret Tanner, PhD, University of Colorado Denver, Sex Differences in Striatal Dopamine Release During Voluntary Physical Activity
Shiqi Zhang, PhD Student, Institute for Diabetes and Regeneration Research & Helmholtz Diabetes Center, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Sex-Specific Dynamics of Glucose-Dependent Insulinotropic Polypeptide Receptor (GIPR) Activation in the Hypothalamus and Hindbrain of Mice