Statistical geneticist Barbara Stranger, PhD, will join the Department of Biomedical Informatics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine this fall as a professor and the Lyda M. Ludeman Endowed Chair in Bioinformatics in Women’s Health Research, a position she says is a “sweet spot” among her research passions.
“I’m excited to be among these two camps of researchers because there is so much potential for synergy here,” Stranger says. “An attractive quality of the CU Anschutz Medical Campus is that they’ve completely prioritized big data, genetics, and women’s health. This will be an amazing experience because it allows us to start the conversation and advance research on a completely different level.”
The position is a partnership between the department and the Ludeman Family Center for Women’s Health Research.
“Throughout her life my mother supported healthcare, and it was her wish to endow a chair for women’s health research,” says Lyda Ludeman, the benefactor for whom the center is named. “This endowed chair is very personal for me because it represents fulfillment of that wish. I know she would be inspired by the work being done in bioinformatics and the promise it holds for improving women’s health. I am thrilled that Dr. Stranger will be joining CU Anschutz and continuing her leading research at the Ludeman Center.”
“We’re delighted that Dr. Stranger is joining us and bringing her expertise to bear on the critical challenges facing women’s health,” adds Judy Regensteiner, PhD, the center’s director and distinguished professor of medicine.
Historically, Stranger says, there has been hesitancy among the scientific research community to support investigations into sex differences, but that’s changing, and CU Anschutz is at the front of the pack prioritizing and providing a bevy of opportunities from across specialties to dive into an understudied area.
“We identified the intersection of big data and sex differences as an area where our department could excel and drive tangible improvements in people’s lives,” says Casey Greene, PhD, chair of the Department of Biomedical Informatics. “It’s been delightful working with Dr. Regensteiner and the Ludeman Center to grow the community at this interface. We’re thrilled about the program that Dr. Stranger brings to our campus.”
Understanding sex differences in disease
Stranger’s work revolves around finding the genetic basis of traits and then learning more about the links between genetic association and mechanisms occuring at the cellular level. To do this, her lab, which she brings from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, uses a combination of experimental and computational approaches, including genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for trait mapping and integration with multimodal genomics and clinical data.
“It’s very much about discovering mechanistic pathways,” she says. Employing these methods in ways designed to probe male and female physiology separately gives researchers a whole new look at a disease, with significant consequences for the field of women’s health.
“There are certain traits that we know have huge differences between men and women in terms of prevalence, progression, or severity, and we haven't devoted enough attention yet to trying to understand why,” she adds.
Understanding those contrasts can be huge for a variety of diseases. Stranger plans to staff her lab with a team to continue building on this research and partner with various other investigators to learn more about the ways sex and genetics interact.
Future plans for the Stranger Lab
Stranger already has her eye on what’s next for her work and lab, including utilizing on-campus resources like the biobank at the Colorado Center for Personalized Medicine.
“This lab will apply our approaches to a variety of different clinically relevant traits,” she says. “We have projects looking at sex differences in cancer – both in terms of tumor biology and genetic susceptibility. We are also focusing on sex differences in the genetic contribution to clinical laboratory test values. We are starting projects in cardiovascular disease and hope to collaborate with Ludeman Center colleagues already in this space. Our ultimate goal is to discover the biological mechanisms relevant to women’s health and that underlie sex differences across health and disease so we can translate this new knowledge into improved health for all.”
A collaborative and diverse environment is key to making strides in genetics and women’s health. Her lab is already recruiting for roles at CU Anschutz as she builds her program here.
“It can be a lot for an individual investigator,” Stranger says. “There are still challenges to overcome in this field, but with thoughtfully designed studies, more resources, and dedicated, innovative researchers, I envision a bright future full of scientific discovery that can contribute to a better understanding of women’s health and better health for all.”
