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Celebrating women in heart research: International Women’s Day 2025
Blog: Tuesday 4 March 2025
This International Women’s Day, we celebrate the incredible women driving change in heart health research.
Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death in women in Australia, yet research and treatments are often not designed to consider the unique risks women face. The Heart Foundation is currently funding 109 projects led by women researchers, including 12 projects focused specifically on women's heart health. The work of these researchers is expanding our understanding, improving diagnosis and developing treatments tailored to women’s needs.
Here is a preview of 6 of these inspiring researchers and their projects:
Dr Katharine Brown, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute
Co-designing a heart health program with First Nations women
First Nations women have a higher risk of developing heart disease compared to other women in Australia, and it often occurs at a younger age. Dr Brown’s research, supported by a Heart Foundation First Nations CVD Grant, includes co-designing a 16-week heart health program with First Nations women in northern Adelaide. By incorporating cultural, social, and emotional well-being alongside physical health, the program aims to empower First Nations women with knowledge and strategies to reduce heart disease risk in their communities.
Dr Lauren Houston, University of New South Wales
Revolutionising heart disease screening for women
Dr Houston’s Heart Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship focuses on exploring the use of routine mammograms to predict heart disease risk in women. With 50% of women aged 50–74 in Australia attending breast cancer screenings annually, this novel ‘two-for-one’ screening tool has the potential to improve early detection and prevention of heart disease, while also addressing the gender disparities in heart disease screening.
Professor Maxine Bonham, Monash University
The role of meal timing in heart health
Menopause significantly increases cardiovascular risk, yet targeted lifestyle interventions are limited. Professor Bonham’s research funded by a Heart Foundation Vanguard Grant explores how aligning diet and exercise with the body’s natural clock – through time-restricted eating and short bursts of exercise or ‘exercise snacking’ – can improve heart health in postmenopausal women. By co-designing personalised lifestyle interventions with participants, her work ensures practical, sustainable strategies for cardiovascular prevention.
Dr Natasha de Alwis, The University of Melbourne
Tackling preeclampsia and its long-term heart effects
Preeclampsia is a serious pregnancy complication that not only affects maternal health during pregnancy but also increases the risk of heart disease later in life. With support from a Heart Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship, Dr de Alwis is investigating how existing medications targeting inflammation could be repurposed to treat preeclampsia, with the goal of improving cardiovascular outcomes for mothers post-pregnancy.
Professor Rebecca Ritchie, Monash University
Addressing heart failure in women with diabetes
Women with type 1 diabetes face nearly double the risk of heart failure compared to men, yet current treatments do not account for these differences. Professor Ritchie’s research, supported by a Heart Foundation Vanguard Grant, is uncovering why female hearts may respond differently to standard therapies. Using a model of a beating miniature heart made from human cells, her work aims to develop targeted treatments that better serve women with diabetes-induced heart failure.
Ms Ingrid Tarr, University of New South Wales
Uncovering the genetic causes of spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) in women
Ms Tarr’s research focuses on the genetic causes of spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), a rare condition that causes heart attacks in young, otherwise healthy women. Supported by a Heart Foundation Postgraduate Scholarship, her work studies the DNA of people who have experienced SCAD to identify genetic factors that could lead to better diagnostics and treatments. Her findings are critical in improving heart health for women, as SCAD often goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.
Driving change for women’s heart health
As one of the leading causes of death in women, urgent attention to the barriers to diagnosis and treatment for cardiovascular disease in women is a key priority of the Heart Foundation and our funded researchers.
These outstanding researchers are working to improve outcomes for women by ensuring they receive the tailored prevention and treatment strategies they deserve. Their work is made possible by the generosity of Heart Foundation donors, whose support help fund life-changing innovations in women’s cardiovascular health.
On this International Women’s Day, let’s celebrate their achievements and continue advocating for greater investment in women’s heart health research.
References
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2024). "Heart, stroke and vascular disease: Australian facts." Retrieved February 24, 2025, from https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/heart-stroke-vascular-diseases/hsvd-facts/contents/disease-types.
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2024). "Health and wellbeing of First Nations people." Retrieved February 24, 2025, from https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-health/indigenous-health-and-wellbeing.
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2022) BreastScreen Australia monitoring report 2022, catalogue number CAN 150, AIHW, Australian Government.
- Chadalavada, S., et al. (2021). "Women With Diabetes Are at Increased Relative Risk of Heart Failure Compared to Men: Insights From UK Biobank." Front Cardiovasc Med 8: 658726.
- Ohkuma, T., et al. (2019). "Diabetes as a risk factor for heart failure in women and men: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 47 cohorts including 12 million individuals." Diabetologia 62(9): 1550-1560.
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Last updated03 March 2025