BIRCWH Program
Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's Health Program
The BIRCWH program at the Ludeman Center is a career-development program that connects early-career faculty with senior faculty for mentorship opportunities regarding their shared interest in women's health and sex differences research. In recognizing outstanding faculty members in key research areas, the program provides support to researchers in the early stages of their professional careers so they can achieve independent funding for their research. To launch their research careers towards success, scholars are paired with senior investigators and an interdisciplinary mentoring team to provide them with a wealth of knowledge, one-to-one mentorship, and training opportunities.
Established in 2000, the program has awarded 77 grants to 41 institutions supporting more than 613 junior faculty with BIRCWH and Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH) program co-sponsors. Most BIRCWH Scholars move on to obtain independent National Institute of Health (NIH) grant funding that can equate to millions of dollars in support.
BIRCWH funding at the University of Colorado School of Medicine was first awarded in 2007. Our site funding has since been renewed five times.
Program Eligibility
To be eligible for the BIRCWH Program, early-career faculty must have recently completed clinical training or postdoctoral fellowship and must plan to conduct interdisciplinary basic, translational, behavioral, clinical, and/or health services research relevant to women's health.
3 Focus Areas
Pregnancy
Placentation, Lactation, Fetal and Neonatal Programming
Immunology, Rheumatology, Inflammation
Adult Health
Obesity, Menopause, Aging, Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)
The Benefits of BIRCWH
Mentorship
All scholars are provided with a primary and secondary research mentor, as well as additional mentors to supplement the areas in which they need further interdisciplinary training. Scholars meet with their primary mentor and other mentors regularly to discuss scientific issues related to their research.
In addition to meeting with mentors, Scholars at the CU SOM regularly meet with the BIRCWH PI to discuss progress and how to overcome barriers.
Individual Advisory Committee
The Scholar's individual advisory committee meets every six months with all of the Scholar's mentors, the BIRCWH PIs and co-PDs. At this meeting, the Scholar presents ongoing work and further directions are discussed, as well as progress and issues impeding progress.
Core Lab Facilities
Two unique laboratories/units are partially funded to make their facilities available to BIRCWH Scholars.
Clinical Physiology Laboratory | Wendy Kohrt, PhD, Director
This facility provides a resource where Scholars and other interested individuals can learn to perform tests and procedures important to clinical research in cardiovascular disease, exercise and obesity including exercise testing and training, echocardiography, endothelial function, measurement of body composition, arterial stiffness, plethysmography, and fair assessment among others.
The Biostatistics / Research Design Core
This Core, featuring biostatistician Dr. Mary Sammel provides expertise in clinical trial methodology, novel recruitment strategies, and statistical analysis methodologies, including ethical issues and study designs. All BIRCWH Scholars work with a biostatistician to help with their study designs and analysis plans.
Our Scholars in Action
Jacinda Nicklas, MD, MPH/MSPH
Dr. Nicklas is an Associate Professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. She completed the NIH-funded Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health (BIRCWH) scholarship, and K23 career development award testing an evidence-based mHealth intervention program delivered by mobile application called Fit After Baby. Her current research focuses on using technological approaches to promote adherence to lifestyle changes, with the objective of preventing postpartum weight retention among women at elevated risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes, as well as lifestyle interventions to reverse the metabolic syndrome and improve diabetes management. She practices both primary care and obesity medicine.
Phoutdavone "Noy" Phimphasone-Brady, PhD
Dr. Noy Phimphasone-Brady is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. She is also a current K12 Scholar with the Building Interdisciplinary Research Career’s in Women’s Health (BIRCWH) Program. As a trained clinical health psychologist and implementation scientist, her program of research seeks to understand and address 1) sex and gender differences in the development of mental illness in chronic medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, and polycystic ovarian syndrome, and 2) individual, system, and cultural level determinants to the implementation, adaptation, and sustainability of mental health interventions while managing chronic medical diseases, especially for women of color.
