Increased Cardiovacular Risk and Early Natural Menopause in a Biracial Cohort

描述(由申请人提供)：Melissa Wellons，医学博士，MHS，阿拉巴马大学伯明翰分校预防医学系助理教授。在住院医师和首席住院医师期间，她对妇女健康和心血管疾病(CVD)的预防产生了新的研究兴趣。她致力于临床研究的学术生涯，并有完成项目和独立工作的良好记录。K-23奖项将为她提供1)心血管疾病流行病学方面的进一步教育，2)生物统计技术、心血管成像和生殖内分泌学方面的高级培训，3)测试有关女性心血管疾病风险的假设的机会，以及4)与优秀研究人员的指导，以成为一名高生产率的研究人员。导师：科拉·E·刘易斯，医学博士，MSPH，教授，DOPM(初级导师)带来了女性心血管疾病流行病学和预防方面的专业知识。Nelda Wray博士，医学博士，公共卫生硕士，DOPM(共同导师)教授，是一位经验丰富的心血管疾病研究人员，曾指导过25名初级教师。环境：UAB的DOPM提供了一个充满活力的研究环境，并致力于保护Wellons博士发展她的研究事业的时间。研究：Wellons博士的主要假设是，青年时期卵巢血管的动脉粥样硬化可能是早期绝经(46岁自然绝经)的主要决定因素。她进一步指出，绝经早期可能是亚临床脑血管病的一种表现。她的目标1-2包括NHLBI赞助的CARDIA研究的一个混血女性队列：一项关于年轻人(18-30岁)心血管疾病风险因素决定因素和演变的前瞻性流行病学研究，该研究于2006年完成了第20个年头的跟踪。在这个队列中，她将1)调查亚临床心血管疾病(内膜-中层厚度)的一个标志物及其与绝经早期的关系，以及2)调查女性青年时期(绝经前)心血管疾病危险因素的水平和变化率及其与早期绝经可能性的关系。对于目标3，她将从UAB不孕诊所招募女性，并将评估卵巢体积小(绝经早期的标志)、卵巢血流灌注和心血管危险因素之间的关系。结论：拟议的职业发展和研究计划将使韦隆博士走上5年的轨道，实现她成为女性心血管疾病预防方面的独立调查员的目标。(摘要结束)

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Melissa Wellons, MD, MHS is Assistant Professor in the Division of Preventive Medicine (DOPM) at the University of Alabama, Birmingham (DAB). During residency and chief residency, she developed a new research interest in women's health and cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention. She is committed to an academic career in clinical research and has a proven track record of completing projects and working independently. A K-23 award will provide her with 1) further education in CVD epidemiology, 2) advanced training in biostatistical techniques, cardiovascular imaging, and reproductive endocrinology; 3) opportunity to test hypotheses regarding CVD risk in women, and 4) mentorship with outstanding investigators to become a highly productive researcher. Mentors: Cora E. Lewis, MD, MSPH, Professor, DOPM (Primary Mentor) brings expertise in CVD epidemiology and prevention in women. Dr. Nelda Wray, MD, MPH, Professor, DOPM (Co-Mentor) is an experienced CVD researcher and has mentored over 25 junior faculty. Environment: The DOPM at UAB offers a vibrant research environment and commits to protecting Dr. Wellons' time to develop her research career. Research: Dr. Wellons overarching hypothesis is that atherosclerosis of the ovarian vasculature during young adulthood may be a primary determinant of early menopause (natural menopause at an age # 46). Further stated, she posits that early menopause may be a manifestation of subclinical CVD. Her aims 1-2 include a bi-racial cohort of women from the NHLBI sponsored CARDIA study: a prospective, epidemiologic study of the determinants and evolution of CVD risk factors among young adults (ages 18-30) which completed its 20th year of follow-up in 2006. In this cohort, she will 1) investigate a marker of subclinical CVD (intimal-medial thickness) and its association with early menopause and 2) investigate the levels of and rate of change of CVD risk factors during women's young adulthood (the premenopausal time period) and their association with the likelihood of undergoing early menopause. For Aim 3, she will recruit women from the UAB Infertility Clinic and will assess the relationship between small ovarian volume (a marker of early menopause), ovarian perfusion, and CVD risk factors. Conclusion: The proposed career development and research plan will place Dr. Wellons on a 5-year trajectory to reach her target of becoming an independent investigator in CVD prevention in women. (End of Abstract)