Yale's Women’s Health Research Unveils 2025 Pilot Project Awards

Yale's Women’s Health Research center has announced its 2025 Pilot Project Program awards, aimed at improving the diagnosis and treatment of vascular dysfunctions affecting young women. The initiative includes two significant research projects focusing on better understanding cerebral and coronary vascular conditions and offering innovative treatment options for hand vasculopathy, which is particularly prevalent among women with autoimmune disorders.

The 2025 awards were revealed by Dr. Carolyn M. Mazure, Director of Women’s Health Research at Yale and a prominent figure in the field, who highlighted the importance of these projects in addressing critical health issues that disproportionately affect women.

Dr. Reshma Narula, an Associate Professor of Neurology, and Dr. Samit Shah, an Assistant Professor of Medicine, will lead a study linking reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) with coronary vasospasm. This research aims to shed light on how these conditions, which can lead to serious health complications, are interconnected and often underdiagnosed in young women. According to their preliminary findings, both conditions share common risk factors and symptoms, which could enhance diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic strategies.

‘Cardiovascular disease is systemic, impacting multiple organs,' Dr. Narula explained. ‘Many of the patients I manage as a neurologist are concurrently treated by cardiologists. By establishing a link between RCVS and coronary vasospasm, we can improve the clinical management of young women who are at risk.’

In another groundbreaking project, Dr. Jeff Gehlhausen, Assistant Professor in Dermatology, will investigate the use of botulinum toxin as a targeted therapy for hand vasculopathy in women suffering from autoimmune disorders. This condition, marked by reduced blood flow to the hands, can result in debilitating pain and severe complications. Current treatments often have debilitating side effects, leaving patients with limited options.

Gehlhausen's study aims to assess the efficacy of localized botulinum toxin injections in alleviating symptoms and improving blood flow, potentially offering a much-needed alternative for patients. ‘This investment from Women’s Health Research at Yale underscores the urgency of providing better treatment for our patients,’ said Gehlhausen. ‘The data from this project will pave the way for larger clinical trials and may lead to FDA approval of this innovative approach.’

Women’s Health Research at Yale, founded in 1998, has established itself as a leader in women's health research. Its Pilot Project Program has garnered national recognition for its role in advancing the understanding of conditions that uniquely or disproportionately affect women, resulting in over 20 times its initial investment in external grants.

The center continues to push boundaries in women’s health research by focusing on the intersection of sex differences in health and disease, which is crucial for developing effective interventions for both women and men. As these projects unfold, they promise to contribute significantly to reducing health disparities and improving outcomes for women nationwide.