Beyond the reproductive system, women’s susceptibility to certain diseases is influenced by hormonal, genetic, anatomical, and social factors. Additionally, the historical bias in medical research has led to gaps in understanding and effectively treating diseases in women. Addressing these disparities requires better inclusion in clinical trials, sex-specific treatment approaches, and increased awareness. Autoimmune diseases, such as lupus and multiple sclerosis, are far more common in women, likely due to estrogen’s impact on immune function and genetic influences from the X chromosome. Cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in women, often presents with atypical symptoms, leading to underdiagnosis, while osteoporosis is more prevalent due to estrogen deficiency after menopause and lower peak bone mass. Women account for two-thirds of Alzheimer’s disease cases, with hormonal changes and genetic factors playing key roles. Depression and anxiety are twice as common in women due to hormonal fluctuations and differences in brain chemistry, while chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia and migraines are linked to heightened pain sensitivity and immune responses. Women are also more prone to urinary tract infections due to anatomical differences and face a higher risk of chronic kidney disease progression.

Faculty:

Hector Aguilar-Carreno: long COVID and other infectious diseases that affect women more than men
Ilana Brito: links between the microbiome and autoimmune disease
Jonathan Butcher: medical device technology design, soft tissue biomechanics, cardiovascular disease
Barbara Chubak, MD: sexual dysfunction, regenerative medicine, cosmetic genital surgery, bioethics
Charles Danko: genomics, gene regulation
Katerina Dodelzon: breast cancer screening, breast cancer surveillance for high risk populations
Orli Etingin: preventive care, menopause, thrombotic disorders in pregnancy
Claudia Fischbach-Teschl: breast cancer, menopause-related skeletal changes, effect of obesity on cancer development and progression
Silvia C. Formenti: women and cancer; radiation biology, oncology and immunology
Mario Gaudino, MD: cardiac surgery, clinical trials
Michael Glass: brain plasticity during hypertension in rodent menopause models
Alexander Gleed: fetal ultrasound, placenta, ultrasonic tissue characterization, image analysis
Alison Hermann, MD: perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, menopause and mental health, reproductive psychiatry education
Gunisha Kaur: global health, refugee health, forcibly displaced populations
Jiwon Kim: cardiovascular disease, cardiovascular imaging
Amy Kuceyeski: women’s brain health, neuroimaging, AI
Siu Sylvia Lee: metabolic regulation, gene expression regulation
Yi Liu: osteoporosis, menopause
Roberta Marongiu: menopause, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease
David S. Matteson: AI, data science, statistics
Jyoti S. Mathad: maternal infectious diseases (including HIV), gestational diabetes
Molly McNairy, MD: women’s cardiovascular disease, adolescent HIV and reproductive health
Nozomi Nishimura: neurodegenerative disease, cardiovascular disease
Kimberly O’Brien: nutrition, pregnancy, placental nutrient trafficking, bone health, anemia, osteoporosis
Lauren M. Osborne, MD: perinatal mood and anxiety disorders
Jessica Peña: prevention of cardiovascular disease, implementation science
Ned Place: obstetrics and gynecology, endocrinology, ovarian development and aging
Lisa Placanica: intellectual property, commercial partnerships, new venture creation
Kristen Pleil: female-specific mechanisms underlying mental illnesses and alcohol/substance use disorders
Yi Athena Ren: ovarian biology, reproductive endocrinology, reproductive biotechnology
Laura E. Riley, MD: infectious disease effects on pregnancy, vaccines and pregnancy
Monika M. Safford, MD: cardiovascular disease in women; peer coaching to improve health behaviors
Sunita Sah: gender differences in medical care, decision-making, social and interpersonal factors
Richa Sardana: cancers of the reproductive system, Alzheimer’s disease, protein homeostasis mechanisms
John Schimenti: reproductive genetics; placentation; reproductive aging
Alpana Shukla: gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), postmenopausal cardiovascular disease risk reduction
Madeline Sterling: cardiovascular disease, caregiving, workforce and long-term care
Ayshwarya Subramanian: autoimmune disease, Alzheimer’s disease, menopause
Ceren Tozlu: menopause, multiple sclerosis, hormones, aging
Marjolein van der Meulen: musculoskeletal health, osteoporosis and osteoarthritis
Jingjie Yeo: mucus-related disorders, muco-adhesive and muco-penetrative therapies