Stories of Change

We are honored to share that a $15 million gift from longtime benefactor Lyda T. Ludeman will launch the Pioneering Research and Innovation in Science and Medicine for Women (PRISM) program at the Ludeman Family Center for Women’s Health Research (Ludeman Center). This landmark investment represents a major step forward in advancing the Center’s mission to translate scientific discovery into improved clinical care for women. PRISM will serve as the first phase of an integrated clinical and translational effort, designed to ensure that research insights directly inform patient outcomes. 

Recognized as one of the nation’s leading centers for sex differences research, the Ludeman Center is widely regarded as a driving force in shaping the future of women’s health. The PRISM program builds on that foundation by intentionally linking research, innovation and clinical care through a coordinated, phased approach.  

The PRISM program will focus on translation and innovation in women’s health research, beginning with areas of strategic importance and deep focus at the Ludeman Center, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and mental health. Cardiovascular health — one of the leading causes of death among women — will serve as the initial clinical focus, creating a model that can be expanded across additional areas of women’s health over time. 

Through PRISM, the Ludeman Center will strengthen the bridge between research and clinical practice by supporting leadership roles, clinical pilots and infrastructure that enable discoveries to move more efficiently into patient care. The $15 million investment provides the resources necessary to establish PRISM and sustain its early momentum through a combination of new and existing funds that support leadership, innovation and clinical translation. 

The gift includes the creation of: 

• The Pioneering Research and Innovation in Science and Medicine for Women (PRISM) Program Support Fund, which will advance translational and clinical innovation efforts and support leadership roles critical to the program’s success. 
  
• The Clifford G. Ludeman, PhD, Endowed Chair in Women’s Health Research, intended to support a faculty leader who will serve as associate director of research for the Ludeman Family Center. 
  
• The Bernard W. and Maude E. Ludeman Endowed Chair in Women’s Cardiology, supporting a faculty leader focused on cardiovascular research and care related to women’s health. 
  

Together, these investments create the leadership structure, infrastructure and flexibility needed to advance PRISM as a cornerstone of the Center’s clinical and translational vision. 

We extend our deepest gratitude to Lyda Ludeman for her continued commitment to advancing women’s health; to Judy Regensteiner, PhD, director of the Ludeman Center, for her expertise in women’s health; to Kim Muller, vice chancellor for innovation and biotechnology at CU Anschutz and executive director of CU Innovations; and to Elizabeth Hepworth in the Office of Advancement for her leadership in facilitating this transformational gift.