Saint Luke's Muriel I. Kauffman Institute for Women's Cardiovascular Research

For 30 years, Saint Luke’s Muriel I. Kauffman Women’s Heart Center has been at the forefront of women’s cardiovascular research and advocacy. Women’s heart conditions have more questions than research-supported answers because women are traditionally underrepresented in cardiovascular research. The Women’s Heart Center is dedicated to defining transformational research that addresses cardiovascular conditions across a woman's lifespan.

In 2024, with the support of a $10 million endowed fund from the Muriel McBrien Kauffman Family Foundation, Saint Luke’s Muriel I. Kauffman Institute for Women’s Cardiovascular Research was created. The Institute is the first of its kind, dedicated to studying the unique aspects of heart conditions in women with the goal of narrowing the sex-specific research gaps both in prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease.

Areas of focus

• Heart Conditions in Pregnancy: In 2015, we launched a combined cardiology and obstetrics program.
• Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD): The leading cause of heart attacks in women under the age of 50 and leading cause of pregnancy-related heart attacks.
• Peripartum cardiomyopathy: Condition where the heart becomes weak during or shortly after pregnancy. Contributes to poor maternal and fetal outcomes.
• Preeclampsia: Affects up to 8% of pregnancies and leads to higher likelihood of developing cardiovascular risk factors and greater risk of congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, stroke, and cardiovascular death.
• MINOCA: Myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries.

Current studies

The Women's Heart Center is leading or participating in six multisite studies focused on women’s cardiovascular conditions:

• HOPE: We are leading the 33-site, 1,000 patient, Heart Outcomes in Pregnancy Expectations (HOPE) for Mom and Baby Study
• ReBIRTH: One of 50 hospitals contributing to ReBIRTH study, a randomized control trial evaluating peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) recovery
• iSCAD Registry: Third highest enrolling site within the 22-hospital iSCAD Research Network and received the 2023 iSCAD Research Network Ally Award
• One of four pilot sites studying a cardiovascular disease screening tool in general obstetrics population alongside University of California-Irvine (lead), University of California-San Diego, and University of Tennessee
• Launched a registry to follow women with a history of preeclampsia to address gaps in knowledge regarding optimal screening and management of these higher risk patients.