Cardiovascular Health and Autonomic Research Laboratory (CHARLab)

The CHARLab applies an integrative approach to understand the complex interactions which occur between sex, gender, gonadal hormones, and the cardiovascular system to determine overall cardiovascular health.

Our evolving research program currently spans 4 general pillars:

1. Basic

   Understand sex differences and female-specific sympathetic neuro-vascular regulation of blood pressure at rest and during acute stress, as well as impacts of gender-related variables.

2. Transdisciplinary

   Conduct community-engaged research with individuals with PCOS and TGD individuals to understand the roles of psychosocial and sociocultural factors as determinants of cardiovascular health in these individuals.

3. Clinical

   Evaluate the efficacy of tailored interventions to improve cardiovascular health in individuals with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and in transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) individuals.

4. Sports Science

   Explore the poorly understood link between circulating hormones (e.g. androgens, and menopause-related changes in hormones and gonadotropins) and sport- (e.g. fitness, exercise adaptations), and health-related outcomes in female athletes.