Federal Grant Award Summary

Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, operating through its Kaiser Foundation Research Institute division, received a $1.758 million Project Grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) under the Cardiovascular Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.837). Awarded on July 15, 2026, with an ultimate completion date of June 30, 2028, this ancillary study to the Women's Health Initiative will characterize postmenopausal androgen and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) levels across 20 to 30 years of longitudinal data collected from postmenopausal women aged 50 to 79 years at baseline.

The grant funds analysis of stored biospecimens and cardiovascular risk markers previously collected from WHI participants to evaluate the association between postmenopausal androgen and SHBG levels, rates of change, and longitudinal profiles with cardiovascular risk markers and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease outcomes, including coronary heart disease, stroke, peripheral artery disease, and heart failure. This research addresses a critical gap in understanding how postmenopausal androgen profiles relate to cardiovascular risk in older women, with findings intended to inform future therapeutic and genetic targets for reducing cardiovascular disease risk in this population. The study leverages Kaiser Permanente's established research infrastructure, electronic health records, and cohort management capabilities at its Seattle, Washington location.