ADVERTISEMENTs
Yale honors Indian-origin doctors for pioneering women’s health research
Narula and Shah study overlooked vascular conditions in young women, aiming to link brain and heart disorders for better care.
-
Pranavi Sharma - Wed, 11, Jun 2025
- 02:04 EDT
- 64
Dr. Reshma Narula and Dr. Samit Shah, / Yale
Indian-origin researchers Dr. Reshma Narula and Dr. Samit Shah have received the prestigious Wendy U. & Thomas C. Naratil Pioneer Award from Women’s Health Research at Yale to investigate links between underdiagnosed vascular disorders in young women. The award is part of the center’s longstanding Pilot Project Program, launched in 1998.
The duo—Narula, a vascular neurologist, and Shah, a cardiovascular medicine specialist—will analyze over a decade’s worth of clinical data to explore the overlap between reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) and coronary vasospasm. These two conditions cause sudden, severe narrowing of blood vessels in the brain and heart and are often overlooked in young women.
“Over time, we recognized that many patients I’m caring for as a neurologist are also being seen by cardiologists and, more often than not, these patients are young women,” said Narula, associate professor of neurology. “We can really make a difference in people’s lives by giving them a proper, linked diagnosis, more control over their health and, in turn, improved outcomes.”
Shah, assistant professor of cardiovascular medicine, said the research aims to close a significant gap in care. “Cardiovascular disease is systemic, not just affecting any one organ, so collaboration is essential,” he said. “Linking these two conditions, which disproportionately affect women—and young women at that—has the potential to transform clinical practice, reduce sex-based disparities, and ultimately save lives.”
Dr. Carolyn Mazure, director of Women’s Health Research at Yale, emphasized the broader goal of the initiative. “The principal investigators join more than 100 of their faculty colleagues who we have funded—all of whom work to determine how understanding sex differences in health and disease inform interventions of practical health benefit for both women and men,” she said.
The center also announced a second research award to Dr. Jeff Gehlhausen, assistant professor of dermatology, to test a targeted therapy for hand vasculopathy in women with autoimmune disorders. His study will explore the use of botulinum toxin (commonly known as Botox) to treat painful reduced blood flow in the hands, a condition that can lead to ulcers and even amputation.
Women’s Health Research at Yale said the studies aim to generate data for larger clinical trials and could lead to new FDA-approved therapies.
Related
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
 (1).jpg)
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
E Paper
Video
Comments
Start the conversation
Become a member of New India Abroad to start commenting.
Sign Up Now
Already have an account? Login