Women's Health Pilot Project Awardees
Pilot Funding Available for Health Disparities Research in Women’s Health
The Iris Cantor-UCLA Women’s Health Center/UCLA National Center of Excellence in Women’s Health seeks to promote women’s health equity by targeting this pilot funding to address health disparities in traditionally underserved populations of women (e.g. racial/ethnic minorities, low socioeconomic status, rural residence, disabled etc.).
- We are open to research that elucidates mechanisms driving health disparities as well as research that evaluates interventions to address health disparities.
- We welcome research that focuses on medical issues and diseases unique to women; however, projects need not be restricted to these health issues/diseases.
- Additionally, projects may address a wide range of factors including but not limited to health care, health policy and the social determinants of health (racism, income, employment, culture etc.).
Funding Amount Available: $30,000 one-year pilot awards for all types of research
For more information and to access application, click here
Pilot Project Awardees
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Executive Advisory Board Research Fund
2020
The following projects were co-funded with the UCLA Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI).
- Gender Difference in maladaptive choice (risky choices) in men and women with stimulant use disorder
Zoe Guttman, BS, PhD student, and Edythe D. London, Ph.D, Thomas P and Katherine K, Pike Professor of Addiction Studies, Professor of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, Molecular and Medical Pharmacology
- Health disparities among women displaced in California’s affordable housing crisis
Katherine Chen, MD, Postdoctoral Fellow, National Clinical Scholars Program, Frederick Zimmerman PhD, Professor, Health Policy & Management; Teryl Nuckols MD, MS, Associate Professor of Medicine, Cedars Sinai, Lauren Wisk PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine (GIM/HSR), and Joann Elmore, MD, MPH, Professor of Medicine GIM/HSR
- Sex differences in the role of iron regulation in pulmonary hypertension disorder
Arie Kim, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine (Pulmonary and Critical Care), Tom Ganz, MD, PhD, Professor of Medicine (Pulmonary and Critical Care)
- Anti-estrogen therapy to improve response to mTOR inhibitors in female patients with lung squamous cell carcinomarder
Milica Momcilovic MD, PhD, postdoctoral scholar, and David Shackelford PhD, Associate Adjunct Professor of Medicine (Pulmonary and Critical Care)
- Building a nonhuman primate model for overcoming primary ovarian insufficiency with regeneration from pluripotent stem cells
Sissy Wamaitha, PhD, postdoctoral scholar and Amander Clark, PhD, Professor and Chair, Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology
2019
The following projects were co-funded with the UCLA Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI).
- The Role of Vaginal Microbiota in Urinary Urge Incontinence
A. Lenore Ackerman, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine (Urology), UCLA
- Investigating Y Chromosome Protection Against Pulmonary Hypertension as a Novel Therapeutic Strategy for Women
Christine Cunningham, B.S., Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology, UCLA
Mansoureh Eghbali, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Medicine (Anesthesiology), UCLA
- Antiestrogens in Breast Cancer Immunotherapy
Richard Pietras, M.D., Professor in Residence, Department of Medicine (Hematology and Oncology), UCLA
Michael Jung, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA
Diana Marquez Garban, M.D., Associate Project Scientist, Department of Medicine (Hematology and Oncology), UCLA
- Tamoxifen and Thermoregulation: Investigating the Role of ER Alpha Expressing Neuronal Populations in the Hypothalamus
Stephanie Correa, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, UCLA
- Interaction Between Molecular and Metabolic Pathways that Influence Adverse Development of Pre-Implantation Embryos in Diabetes
Uptal Banerjee, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor, Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, UCLA
The following project was funded with the SCORE (U54 Specialized Center of Research Excellence, Karen Reue, PI) in Metabolic Syndrome Fund.
- Sex Differences in the Neural Circuit that Controls Feeding
Stephanie Correa, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, UCLA
2018
The following projects were co-funded with the UCLA Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI).
- Targetting Ferroptosis in Ovarian Cancer
Nicolaos J. Palaskas, M.D., Ph.D., Clinical Instructor, Department of Medicine (Hematology and Oncology), UCLA
Elizabeta Nemeth, Ph.D., Professor of Medicine (Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine), UCLA
- Estrogen Sensitive Neurons that Regulate Temperature: Implications for the Mechanism of Hot Flashes
Zhi Zhang, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Scholar, Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, UCLA
Stephanie Correa, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, UCLA
- Dietary Supplementation to Prevent and Reverse Statin-Related Diabetes in Females
Karen Reue, Ph.D., Professor of Human Genetics and Medicine, UCLA
- Decreasing Maternal Morbidity by Monitoring Circulating Trophoblasts (cTBs): A Maternal Biomarker for Morbidly Adherent Placentation
Yalda Afshar, M.D., Ph.D., Fellow, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UCLA
Christiana Han, M.D., Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Maternal-Fetal Medicine), UCLA
Hsian-Rong Tseng., Ph.D., Professor of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, UCLA
Deborah Krakow, M.D., Professor and Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Professor of Orthopedics and Human Genetics, UCLA
- High Throughput Screening of HGSOC Organoids to Identify Effective Drug Combinations for Treatment of Ovarian Cancer (ReACp53 and Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors)
Alice Soragni, Ph.D., Assistant Adjunct Professor, Department of Medicine (Hematology and Oncology) UCLA
2017
The following projects were co-funded with the UCLA Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI).
- A Female Specific Brain-Bone Axis: Investigating Bone Regulating Neurons in the Hypothalamus
Stephanie Correa, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, UCLA
- A Mixed Methods Approach to Understanding Gender Differences in Pain and Behavioral Responses to Complementary and Integrative Health (CIH/CAM) in Military Veterans
Elizabeth Evans, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Scholar, VA Greater Los Angeles
Alison Hamilton, Ph.D., Director, VA Greater Los Angeles CSHIIP Qualitative Methods Groups
Stephanie Taylor, Ph.D., Associate Director, VA Greater Los Angeles Health Services Research
- Exploring the Use of Stem Cells to Overcome Infertility after Cancer Therapy
Amander Clark, Ph.D., Department of Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology, UCLA
- Hypothalamic Astrocyte Proliferation: Role in Female Reproduction (Puberty)
Margaret Mohr, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Scholar, UCLA
Paul Micevych, Ph.D., Professor and Chair, Department of Neurobiology, UCLA
- Understanding Sexual Dimorphism of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease via Big Data Integration
Zeyneb Kurt, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Scholar, UCLA
Xia Yang, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, UCLA
2016
The following projects were co-funded with the UCLA Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI).
- Sex- and Age-specific Differences in Gro1 Expression Influence Hippocampal Neurogenesis Response to Inflammation
Vera Chesnokova, Ph.D, Professor, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
- The Role of Iron-Regulatory Hormone Hepcidin in Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes
Veena Sangkhae, Ph.D, Postdoctoral Scholar, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Elizabeta Nemeth, Ph.D, Professor, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
- Using an Index of Bone Balance to Predict the Timing and Magnitude of Menopause-Related Changes in Bone Mass, Microarchitecture, and Strength
Albert Shieh, M.D., Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
The following projects were funded with the Marcia Leavitt Cervical Cancer Research Fund.
- A Novel Therapeutic Vaccine to Clear Early Cancerous Cervical HPV Infection
Otto Yang, M.D., Professor, Microbiology, Immunology, Molecular Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Anna-Barbara Moscicki, M.D., Professor, Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
- Increasing Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine Uptake via General Health Messaging
Adriana Vidal, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Peter Szilagyi, M.D., M.P.H, Professor, Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Anna-Barbara Moscicki, M.D., Professor, Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
2015
The following projects were co-funded with the UCLA Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI).
- Is Switching from Long to Short Form RECK an Important Contributor to Breast Cancer Progression and Metastasis for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer?
Hilary Coller, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology and Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
- Molecular Events Associated with Ovarian Aging that Lead to the Development of Ovarian Cancer
Sandra Orsulic, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
- Sex Differences in Gut Microbiota in Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Kirsten Tillisch, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Digestive Diseases, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
- Improving the Epigenetic Stability of Female Human Embryonic and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells for their Safe Use in Downstream Applications
Kathrin Plath, Ph.D., Professor, Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Anna Sahakyan, Ph.D., Candidate, Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
- Gender Differences in Behavioral and Neural Response to Reduced Nicotine Cigarettes in Young Smokers
Edythe London, Ph.D., Professor, Psychiatry and Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Nicole Petersen, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Student, UCLA Department of Psychiatry (Molecular Imaging), David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
2014
The following projects were co-funded with the UCLA Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI).
- Regulation of maternal and fetal iron status during pregnancy
Elizabeta Nemeth, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Medicine (Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine)
- Determination of EMP2 antibody drug conjugates for treatment of triple negative breast cancer
Madhuri Wadehra, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (augments R01)
- Studying age accelerating effects in breast tissue and their relationship to breast cancer risk: How methylation patterns in female breast change with hormone exposure
Mary Sehl, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine (Hematology and Oncology)
The following projects were co-funded with the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and the Tarlow-Eisner-Moss Endowment:
- The regulation of gene-environmental interactions in regulating the female reproductive lifespan
Patrick Allard, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Health Sciences (Fielding School of Public Health)
- Childhood cancer in relation to maternal exposure to industrial pollution during pregnancy
Julia Heck, Ph.D., Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology (Fielding School of Public Health)
2013
The following projects were co-funded with the UCLA Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI).
- Early Life Influences on Adulthood Health: Exploring the Association in Breast Cancer Survivors and Young Adults
Alexandra Dupont, MA, PhD. Candidate, Health Psychology
Julienne E. Bower, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences
- Impact of Skeletal Muscle Lmcd1 Expression on ERalpha Action in the Maintenance of Skeletal Homeostasis
Zhenqi Zhou, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Medicine (Endocrinology)
Andrea Hevener, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Hypertension
- Genetic Variation in Gene Expression in Adipose Tissue in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Mark Goodarzi, M.D., Ph.D. Department of Medicine (Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism), Cedars Sinai Medical Center
- Brain Activity Related to Hunger and Satiation in Obese Women, and its Relation to Weight Loss after Bariatric Surgery
Claudia Sanmiguel, M.D., Fellow, Department of Medicine (Gastroenterology)
Emeran A. Mayer, M.D., Professor of Medicine (Gastroenterology), Physiology and Psychiatry
- The Estrogen Paradox and the Role of micro-RNA 193 and the Rescue Action of Phytoestrogen Genistein in Pulmonary Hypertension
Mansoureh Eghbali, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology
2012
- The Impact of Social Network Size on Quality of Life of Elderly Women with Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer
Armin Shahrokni, M.D., Fellow, Medicine (Hematology and Oncology)
Arash Naeim, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor of Medicine (Hematology and Oncology)
- Assessing the Role of Sex in Influencing the Relationship of Bowel Microflora Composition with Diet Induced Obesity Using a Systems Genetics Approach in Mice
Tom Drake, M.D., Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
- New Chemical Analogues of Metformin to Treat Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Michael E. Jung, Ph.D., Professor of Chemistry
- Activation of NKT Cells Contributes to Upper Genital Tract Pathology Following Chlamydial Genital Infection
Kathleen A. Kelly, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
- Young Investigator Award
Sex Differences in miRNA Expression in Mouse Visceral Fat and Their Biological Consequences
Yehudit Hasin, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Student
Aldon J. Lusis, Ph.D., Professor of Medicine (Cardiology), Human Genetics, and Microbiology
2011
- The Role of Progesterone Signaling in the Vascular Permeability
Lauren Goddard, UCLA Department of Biology
Luisa Iruela-Arispe, PhD, Professor and Vice-Chair of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology
- Defining the Molecular Program for Establishing the Ovarian Reserve
Amander T. Clark, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology
- The Role and Significance of Estrogen Receptor Beta in Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Lee Goodglick, PhD., Associate Professor of Medicine (Pathology)
Richard Pietras, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Medicine (Hematology-Oncology)
Vei Mah, M.D., Assistant Researcher Department of Medicine (Pathology)
Diana Marquez-Garban, M.D., Assistant Researcher Department of Medicine
- Towards Fertility Restoration in Women Using Pluripotent Stem Cells
Amander Clark, PhD., Assistant Professor of Molecular Biology
The following prize was initiated by Executive Advisory Board Member Judith R. Nelson in honor of her friend, a former board chair.
- Jan R. Cloyde Young Investigator Award
Post-treatment Health Care Utilization in Breast Cancer Patients Receiving a Survivorship Care Plan: A Case Study Control
Erin Hahn, MPH, Doctoral Student in Health Services, UCLA School of Public Health
2010
- Developmental Regulation of X Chromosome Inactivation
Alissa Minkovsky, UCLA Medical Student
Katherine Plath, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biological Chemistry
- Heart Failure in Women:Predicting Outcome with a Sex-specific Risk Model
Tamara Horwich, M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine (Cardiology)
Gregg Fonarow, M.D., Professor of Medicine (Cardiology)
The following two prizes were initiated by executive Advisory Board Member Judith R. Nelson in honor of her friends.
- Eileen Ogle Prize
Is Breast Tenderness during Menopausal Hormone Therapy Associated with Increased Breast Cancer Risk?
Carolyn Crandall, M.D. Associate Professor of medicine, (General Internal Medicine)
- Elaine Lasnik-Broida Young Investigator Award for Ovarian Cancer Research
Identifying Mechanisms of Platinum Resistance in Ovarian Cancer Related to
PI3Kinase/AKTmTOR and Insulin Growth Factor Receptor Pathway Signaling
Oliver Dorigo, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology
2009
- Circadian Regulation of the Female endocrine System: Possible Role for VIP in the Age-related Decline of Endocrine Output
Dawn H. Loh, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Scholar
Christopher S. Colwell, Ph.D., Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
- The Impact of Myeloid-specific ER Alpha expression on Inflammation, Insulin Action, and Adiposity
Andrea L. Hevener, Ph.D., Adjunct Assistant Professor of Medicine (Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension)
- Inflammatory and Coagulation Biomarkers in HIV-infected Women during Pregnancy and Postpartum
Risa Hoffman, M.D., M.P.H., Clinical Instructor of Medicine (infectious Diseases)
Yvonne Bryson, M.D., Professor of Pediatrics (Infectious Diseases)
Judith Currier, M.D., Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases)
This Prize was initiated by outgoing Board Chair Elaine Lasnik-Broida, In Memory of her friend Andrea Dembrowsky. Andrea Dembrowosky was a 20-year Breast Cancer Survivor.
- Andrea Dembrowsky Prize
Prospective Study of Aromatase Inhibitor-associated Arthralgias in Non-metastatic, Post-menopausal Breast Cancer Patients
Sara Hurvitz, M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine (Hematology and Oncology)
Veena Ranganath, M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine (Rheumatology)
2008
- Sex Chromosomes Effects on Sex Difference In Metabolic Disease
Xuqi Chen, M.D., Assistant Researcher, Physiology
Karen Reue, Ph.D., Professor of Human Genetics
Arthur P. Arnold, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor, Physiology
- Menstrual Cycle Irregularity: Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors
Sharon Stein Merkin, Ph.D., Assistant Researcher, Medicine (Geriatrics)
Teresa Seeman, Ph.D., Professor of Medicine (Geriatrics)
Ricardo Azziz, M.D., MPH, MBA, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
- Targeting Gender Differences for Improved Therapy of Human Lung Cancer
Richacd J. Pietras, Ph.D., M.D., Professor of Medicine (Oncology)
- Identification of Molecular Targets for Novel Therapeutic Approaches in Paget’s Disease of the Vulva
Oliver Dorigo, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Jainyu Rao, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
2007
- Sex Differences in the Basic Pathophysiology of Migraine
Andrew Charles, M.D., Associate Professor of Neurology
Kevin Brennan, jr., M.D., Clinical Instructor, Neurology
- The Prevalence of Patent Foramen Ovule (PFO) in Postmenopausal Women Who Develop an Ischemic Stroke and the Impact of Hormone Replacement Therapy
Nancy C. Greep, M.D., Clinical Professor of Medicine
Associate Director, endocrine/Bone Disease Program, John Wayne Cancer Institute
Johnathon M. Tobis, M.D., Professor of Medicine (Cardiology)
David S. Liebeskind, M.D., Assistant Professor of Neurology
- Targeting Endometrial Cancer Using Recombinant EMP2 Antibodies
Madhuri Wadehra, Ph.D., Assistant Researcher,
UCLA Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Jonathon Braun, M.D. Ph.D., Professor and Chair, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Manuel Pinochet, M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine and Immunology
- The Role of Proinflammatory HDL in Atherosclerosis in Women with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
Maureen McMahon, M.D., Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine (Rheumatology)
2006
- Identification of Human Trafficking Victims through the U.S. Health Care System
Susie Baldwin, M.D., M.P.H., Assistant Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology
David Eiseman, M.D., M.S.H.S., Assistant Professor of Medicine (General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research)
Kenneth Chuang, M.D. Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Founder and Director, Trafficking Survivor’s Clinic, Venice Family Clinic
Donna Washington, M.D., M.P.H., Associate Professor of Medicine (General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research)
- Modulation of Gut Mast Cell Functions by Estrogen: Implication in Prevalence of Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Women
Muriel Larauche, Ph.D., Post-doctoral Fellow,
Center for Neurovisceral Sciences and Women’s Health, UCLA Division of Digestive Diseases Yvette Tache, Ph.D., Professor of Medicine (Digestive Diseases)
- Intensive Lipid Lowering for Stroke Prevention Using MR Imaging of the Neck to Assess Treatment Efficacy in Women
Bruce Ovbiagele, M.D., Assistant Clinical Professor of Neurology
- Role of the Male Transcription Factor on Dopaminergic Function: Implications for Gender
Eric Vilain, M.D., Associate Professor of Human Genetics, Chief, Division of Medical Genetics
2005
- Genomic Analysis of Sex Specific Genetic Determinants
Thomas Drake, M.D., Professor of Pathology
Aldons J. “Jake” Lusis, Ph.D., Professor of Human Genetics
Vice Chair, Department of Human Genetics
Susanna Wang, Graduate Student
- Down-regulation of CXCR4 and CXCR12 as a Mechanism Underlying the Prevention and Treatment of Breast Cancer by Components of Cruciferous Vegetables
Oliver Hankinson, Ph.D., Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Erin Hsu, Graduate Student
- Cellular Trafficking to Inflamed Female Genital Mucosa
Kathleen Kelly, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
- Stress Reduction Through Yoga
Arun Karlamangala, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine (Geriatrics)
