NIH-funded research R21 grant

How menopause affects gene regulation and metabolic health in women

Official title: Changes in cardiometabolic tissue gene regulation and omics profiles with menopause

Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-10872907 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is looking at how menopause affects hormones and body health, especially heart and metabolism, using mice to see what changes happen in their bodies, which could help us understand why women might face more health risks after menopause.

More Menopause research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeR21 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of California, San Francisco
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (San Francisco, United States)
Project startJune 15, 2024
Project endMay 31, 2026
Funding year2024
Award (this year)$450,688
NIH project number1R21AG086775-01
Project IDNIH-10872907 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are postmenopausal women experiencing cardiovascular or metabolic health issues.

Less likely to help

Patients who are premenopausal or do not have any cardiovascular or metabolic conditions may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research investigates the hormonal and physiological changes that occur during menopause and their impact on cardiovascular and metabolic health. By using a mouse model that simulates menopause, the study aims to identify changes in gene expression and chromatin accessibility in key tissues such as the liver, adipose tissue, and aorta. The research will compare menopausal mice with control groups to understand how these changes contribute to increased health risks in women after menopause. The findings could provide insights into the molecular mechanisms behind the worsening of health conditions during this transition.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and management of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases in postmenopausal women.

How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that hormonal changes during menopause significantly affect health, but this specific approach to studying gene regulation is relatively novel.

Where this research is happening

  • University of California, San Francisco
    San Francisco, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Theusch, Elizabeth — University of California, San Francisco
  • Study coordinator: Theusch, Elizabeth

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.