The Ludeman Center Seed Grants
Early-Career Faculty Research Development Awards
The Ludeman Center's Early-Career Faculty Research Development Awards, or seed grants, are awarded annually to help build researchers' careers in women's health and sex and gender differences. The one-year grant awardees are selected through a peer-review process that recognizes exceptional faculty members and fellows conducting research in this field. This includes the study of underlying mechanisms, diagnosis, treatment, or management of cardiovascular disease and diabetes as well as studying mental health as it intersects with physical health.
One-Year Seed Grants Awarded Annually
Each seed grant is typically $25,000—while $50,000 grants are periodically awarded for multi-disciplinary research projects. This funding is not solely financial, but an opportunity for early-career researchers to receive mentoring, training, networking, and biostatistical support throughout their careers. This makes it possible for them to obtain crucial pilot data and become independent investigators, effectively positioning them to secure future funding.
All awardees become a part of the Ludeman Center's researcher network with ample opportunity for interaction, participation, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Awardees especially benefit from career development mentoring by the Ludeman Center's faculty leadership, support in translating research and communicating findings to both professionals and the public, as well as receiving tailored training on academic skills and career advancement.
The 2024 seed grant cycle is now closed.
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 2023 Early-Career Faculty Research Development Awardees
Talia Thompson, PhD - Recognizing Anxiety in Turner Syndrome Early (RATE): Development and Validation of a Clinic Administered Screening Instrument
Kimberley D. Bruce, PhD & Miguel Lanaspa Garcia, PhD - Does GLUT5-mediated Fructose Metabolism Drive Alzheimer's Disease Risk in Females?
Jessica C. Nelson, PhD - Investigating the Genetics of Sensory Processing in Migraine
Danielle Cooke, PhD - Predicting Postpartum Depressive Symptoms and Screening using a Machine Learning Approach
Joanne Cole, PhD - Sex-specific Genetic Effects on Lifestyle Behavior and its Causal Role in Obesity and Diabetes Risk
Prateeti Khazanie, MD, MPH, William Allshouse, PhD, BSPH, Christine Jones, MD, Christopher Knoepke, PhD, MSW, & Megan Morris, PhD, MPH - Characterizing Gender Differences in Community Care and Referral for Heart Failure in the U.S.
Emily Bates, PhD, & Won Chan Oh, PhD - Defining How Maternal Cannabidiol (CBD) Consumption during Pregnancy Affects Female Offspring Cognition and Mental Health
Josephine C. Chou MD, MS - Continuous Hemodynamic Characterization of Preeclampsia with Severe Features: A Prospective Observational Study (PEC-HEMO OBS) **** Also awarded Jacqueline Leaffer Wish for the Heart Award
Alison Xiaoqiao Xie, PhD - Sex Differences in Sympathetic Glial Regulation of Blood Pressure
Our Scholars in Action
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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.
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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.
Seed Grant FAQs
We are excited to announce...
The Ludeman Center Health Equity Award for Intersectional Research
The $25,000 and $50,000 awards are one-year grants for exceptional faculty members and fellows conducting research focused on women’s health or sex and gender differences, with an intersectional lens towards health equity in the underlying mechanisms, diagnosis, treatment, or management of CVD, diabetes, and/or mental health as it relates to physical health. Research focused on other diseases or physiological questions will be considered relevant if there is a connection to CVD, diabetes or the integration of physical and mental health on these.
The long-term goal of this award is to support change in the field of women’s health research to incorporate a deeper intersectional lens toward health equity. Additionally, we are committed to ensuring a diverse field of researchers at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus and encourage and welcome applications who are likely underrepresented in the University’s workforce, including individuals from historically marginalized and underrepresented groups.
The 2024 Health Equity Award grant cycle is now open. Applications are due by 5pm on June 7, 2024.
Congratulations to the 2023 Awardees
Carey Candrian, PhD
The Development of a Community-led Cultural Change Initiative to Improve the Heart Health of LGBTQ Adult Women
Maigen Bethea, PhD
The Role of Gastrointestinal GLP-1R Neurons in Mediating the Glucose-Lowering and Weight Loss Effects of Oral Exendin-4
To apply for the Ludeman Center Seed Grants, contact Carly Pilius.
Email: Carly.Pilius@cuanschutz.edu
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