The Ludeman Center Seed Grants
REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS:
Interdisciplinary Research Award in Pediatric Sex Differences
&
Research Award to Address Health Disparities in Women’s Health
The Ludeman Family Center for Women’s Health Research at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is dedicated to mentoring and training the next generation of women’s health and sex differences researchers. The Ludeman Center’s Early-Career Faculty Research Development Award Program is a mentoring, academic and career development training program and funding mechanism that welcomes and incorporates awardees into a network of scientists from across the research spectrum who are focused on women’s health or sex differences.
What it means to be a Ludeman Center scientist:
- Attend monthly trainings on career building and academic skills development
- Participate in annual events (including Women's Health Research Day and the biennial National Conference on Women's Health and Sex Differences Research)
- Receive mentorship and coaching from Ludeman Center senior faculty members
- Network with colleagues across campus and around the world
- Speak to scientific audiences and the lay community about your research
- Receive biostatistical support from Ludeman Center scientists
Applications are due by 5 p.m. on July 24, 2026.
2026 Current Funding Opportunities in Women's Health and Sex Differences Research
| Award | Funds | Purpose |
| Interdisciplinary Research Award in Pediatric Sex Differences | $100,000 one-year award | Fund an interdisciplinary project involving at least two investigators from different departments or divisions in pediatric sex differences within one of the following areas: Cardiovascular disease, diabetes/metabolism, the intersection of mental and physical health |
| Research Award to Address Health Disparities in Women's Health | $50,000 one-year award | Fund a project focusing on women's health or sex differences in cardiovascular disease, diabetes or mental health with a focus on factors that address health disparities |
Jumpstarting Ideas & Advancing Careers
Grant funding is provided for researchers to kickstart their careers in women's health and sex differences research. Pilot data gained from these projects positions researchers to pursue extramural funding.
Awardees receive career development mentoring from the Ludeman Center's faculty leadership, tailored trainings, and career advancement throughout their entire career.
Support from the Ludeman Center goes far beyond the first year of funding. We provide our scientists with unique opportunities to network and seek guidance from international leaders in women's health and sex differences research.
Meet Our 2025 Early-Career Faculty Research Development Awardees
Early-Career Faculty Research Development Awards
Mackenzie Kehmeier, PhD - GLP-1 Receptor Agonist as a Therapeutic Strategy to Counteract Cerebrovascular and Brain Metabolic Decline with the Loss of Estrogen
Andrea Jimenez-Zambrano, PhD, MPH - Understanding Social Determinants of Cardiovascular Health in the ENRICH Trial Population
Eileen Chang, PhD - Elucidating the Role of Fetal Left Ventricular Cardiomyocyte Contractile Function and Sex Differences in the Growth-Restricted Fetal Sheep
Elle Roberson, PhD - Signaling Mechanisms Coordinating Uterine Quiescence during Pregnancy
Anne Gresch, PhD - Exploring Sex-specific Differences in β-cell Heterogeneity: Using C-Fos as a Genetic Marker for Functional Variability and Stress Response
Christina Metcalf, PhD - Pilot Trial of a Stress Resilience Intervention for Perimenopausal Depression and Cognitive Concerns in Women with Histories of Childhood Adversity (MENO-RISE)
Research Award to Address Health Disparities in Women’s Health
Demetria Bolden, PhD, MBA - Sex Differences in Peripheral Artery Disease Outcomes with SGLT2 Inhibitor Therapy in Type 2 Diabetes
Interdisciplinary Research Award in Pediatric Sex Differences
Kristen Boyle, PhD, and Shanlee Davis, MD, PhD - Sex Chromosome Aneuploidy Mesenchymal Stem Cells: A Model to Unveil Genetic Contributions to Sex Differences in Cardiometabolism
Our Scholars in Action
.jpg?sfvrsn=9e21e0bb_0 "Portrait of David Kao")
David Kao, MD
As an associate professor in the Department of Medicine within the Division of Cardiology, Dr. Kao focuses on using big data analysis to personalize management of heart disease, most notably heart failure. This includes development and use of various tools for prediction of survival and response to various therapies. I also am funded by a teaching grant aimed at establishing a data analysis team at the University of Zimbabwe. He was awarded the Big Data Analysis Challenge: Creating New Paradigms for Heart Failure Research (National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute).
.jpg?sfvrsn=2253edbb_0 "Melanie Cree")
Melanie Cree, MD, PhD
Dr. Cree recently finished the first randomized controlled trial of semaglutide to improve metabolic disease in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This is a disease that affects nearly five million people in the US and is the leading cause of infertility. Dr. Cree is a leading expert in PCOS and created the first multi-disciplinary clinic at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Her recent work aims to better understand how semaglutide can regulate hormones and improve PCOS symptoms. In some cases, this treatment may even resolve symptoms entirely. Dr. Cree is now enrolling for the follow-up study to determine how semaglutide can improve ovulation for people with PCOS. This work was recently featured in the New York Times and Vogue Magazine.
.jpg?sfvrsn=72671abb_0 "Kristen Nadeau photo")
Kristen J. Nadeau, MD, MS
Professor, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes, received the 2021 Outstanding Scientific Achievement Award from the American Diabetes Association. Dr. Nadeau focuses on understanding mechanisms of youth-onset diabetes, obesity, and insulin resistance, including sex differences and racial/ethnic disparities, to prevent long-term diabetes complications. First-ever Seed Grant awardee 2006.
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