A global research programme investigating how menopause influences women’s heart health has been awarded approximately US$10 million through the International Research Challenge on Women’s Cardiovascular Health, led by the Global Cardiovascular Research Funders Forum (GCRFF).
The funding will support the SHE-HEALS study, a large international collaboration aiming to transform the prevention of cardiovascular disease in women by identifying opportunities for earlier intervention during perimenopause and early menopause.
Led by researchers at the University of Cambridge and the University of Melbourne, alongside a global team spanning 13 institutions across seven countries, the study will use advanced techniques to detect early, silent changes in the arteries that increase women’s risk of heart disease. The programme will also examine how age at menopause and the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) affect cardiovascular risk.
A central component of the project is the launch of the largest clinical trial of its kind to identify silent atherosclerosis – a key driver of cardiovascular disease – in women before symptoms appear. By detecting disease earlier, the research will assess whether targeting risk factors such as high blood pressure and cholesterol can slow, halt or even reverse disease progression.
This award marks an important milestone in global efforts to address long-standing gaps in women’s cardiovascular health research. Evidence generated by the SHE-HEALS programme is expected to help inform future clinical guidelines, supporting earlier and more effective prevention strategies for women worldwide.