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Funded Projects

Understanding How Aging Affects the Health of Males and Females Differently

Awarded in 2025
Postdoctoral Grant
Updated Dec 3, 2025

At a Glance

The project, Understanding how Aging Affects the Health of Males and Females Differently, led by postdoctoral trainee Cassandra McGill, PhD, investigates how biological sex influences aging and age-related disease risk. By examining patterns of fat distribution and metabolism across mice, monkeys and humans, the study aims to uncover why individuals experience aging differently. Understanding these biological pathways could lead to more targeted strategies to promote healthy aging and prevent chronic illness. Rozalyn Anderson, PhD, professor in the Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology, UW–Madison, serves as the supervising mentor.

More Funded Projects

research icon: microscope and stethoscope
Postdoctoral Grant

Healthcare Experience Assessing Resilience, Toxic Stress and Prenatal Quality of Care (HEARTS-PQC)

Awarded in 2025
The project, Healthcare Experience Assessing Resilience, Toxic Stress and Prenatal Quality of Care (HEARTS-PQC), led by postdoctoral trainee Melissa Neal, PhD, MPH, seeks to better understand how to measure resilience, toxic stress and prenatal quality of care. Through clinical and community engagement, this African American/Black health initiative gathers perspectives of birthing people on what supportive, respectful and responsive prenatal care should look like, as well as the barriers and facilitators to assessing these factors in real-world settings. Kara Hoppe, DO, PhD, professor (CHS) and vice chair of clinical research in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, serves as the supervising mentor.
research icon: microscope and stethoscope
Postdoctoral Grant

Regulation of Inflammatory and Wnt Signaling by LncRNA IL6-AS1

Awarded in 2025
The project, Regulation of Inflammatory and Wnt Signaling by LncRNA IL6-AS1, led by research associate Xin He, PhD, investigates how a little known molecule called IL6-AS1 regulates two critical cellular pathways: inflammation and tissue growth/repair. By mapping how IL6-AS1 communicates with these pathways, the study aims to clarify why some individuals are more susceptible to severe infections, autoimmune conditions or certain cancers. The project also examines naturally occurring gene variants to understand how they may alter IL6-AS1 activity and influence vulnerability to specific fungal infections. Bruce Klein, MD, professor and division chief, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, serves as the supervising mentor.