Research expertise of the faculty members spans the range from conducting prestigious large-scale national clinical trial studies and outcomes, to the fundamentals of cellular and molecular biology.

UC Davis was one of the clinical centers in the country participating in the Women's Health Initiative Study. Other research projects include studies on the role of sex steroid hormones on the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis; antioxidants and estrogen in cholesterol uptake; soy estrogens in lowering cholesterol; hormone replacement therapy in platelet function; and hormonal regulation of vascular genes.

Improving, Enhancing and Evaluating Outcomes of Comprehensive Heart Health Care Programs in High-Risk Women

The UC Davis Women's Cardiovascular Medicine Program has received a 2-year $315,000 Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Women's Health sponsored award entitled "Improving, Enhancing and Evaluating Outcomes of Comprehensive Heart Health Care in High-Risk Women". The overarching goal of this award is to demonstrate improved clinical outcomes in over 200 high-risk women receiving comprehensive heart care in a model women's cardiovascular program. UC Davis was competitively selected as one of six national sites, and serves as the Data Coordinating Center for all participating sites.

Services provide women with seamless, state-of-the-art, multidisciplinary cardiac care that comprehensively addresses the cardiovascular needs of high-risk women: older women, women in ethnic minority groups and women in rural communities. Participating sites include the Round Valley Indian Health Center linked to UC Davis by telemedicine technology, the UC Davis Medical Group in Colusa, CA., and Alliance Medical Center in Healdsburg, CA.

Additional focused activities in education will broaden the experience of women, health professionals and community organizations served by the program, and emphasize the importance of seamless and continuous integration of services. The program is tracking clinical outcomes, knowledge and risk awareness in women, linked to Healthy People 2010 goals.

National Faith-Based and National Community Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Programs for High-Risk Women

The UC Davis Women's Cardiovascular Medicine Program, in partnership with a National Community organization, The Links, Inc., is participating in a two-year National community cardiovascular disease prevention Program to reduce cardiovascular disease mortality and morbidity among high-risk women in the United States focused on both counseling and risk behavior modification.

The Program will target high-risk women aged 40 -60 years who are members of at least one women of color population, and will focus on African -American women. However, all women will be eligible to participate. The Program, one of four nation-wide, is being implemented in 10 community-based sites across the U.S., including rural and urban areas, during four phases from September, 2006 to February, 2008.

The main goal will be for Program participants to increase their level of physical activity and establish or maintain a healthy weight over the course of the Program. The award is funded by a $250,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Women's Health. The other awardees are: The Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC), The Black Women's Health Imperative, and Jacobs Neuro Institute, Buffalo State University, Buffalo, NY.

To implement this Program, UC Davis will be partnering with The Links, Inc., an international women's public service organization that fosters health and wellness, education, civic involvement and cultural enrichment in the African-American community. The Links, Inc. has been serving the Sacramento region since 1952, and since 2002, outreach efforts have focused on aggressively educating the African-American community about heart disease and other disorders that disproportionately affect people of color. Participating Links, Inc chapters are: Eastern Shore, NY; Fresno, CA; Jackson, TN; Missouri City, TX; Phoenix, AZ; Prince Georges County, MD; Sacramento, CA; Selma, AL; Shelby County, TN; and Windy City, IL.

The UC Davis Women's Cardiovascular Medicine Program is a nationally recognized model women's heart program, the first of its kind in the Nation.

To find out more and learn how you can participate in a research study contact UC Davis Heart Center, (916) 734-5513.