The goal of the Traditional IGNITE awards program is to promote and support early-phase, proof-of-concept studies, in the specific area of expertise of the candidate, aimed at advancing our understanding of female-specific and sex-differentiating factors in the development and utilization of novel diagnostics and therapeutics – drugs, devices, and digital strategies.
One $50,000 award was distributed in 2024. The award total is inclusive of indirect costs. Applicants must have an HMS appointment and BWH listed as the primary affiliation.
The Connors Center Traditional IGNITE Awards are funded by Jennifer Toolin McAuliffe, our BWH Women’s Health Advisory Board, and other generous donors to the BWH Connors Center.
George Stamatiades, MD, PhD
2025 Casey Toolin McAuliffe Memorial IGNITE Awardee
Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Hypertension
“Deciphering the Mechanisms Underlying the Higher Female Prevalence of Cushing’s Metabolic and Reproductive Complications”
Cushing’s syndrome is an endocrine disorder characterized by excessive cortisol production and a notable female predominance (4:1). It is associated with long term comorbidities such as metabolic syndrome and reproductive disorders that significantly impact the quality of life. In many patients, especially in women, these complications persist even after successful treatment and normalization of cortisol levels. This project aims to investigate the transcriptomic and epigenetic changes in patients with Cushing’s syndrome, with the goal of explaining the female-predominant prevalence and identifying novel treatment targets for these debilitating comorbidities.
This year’s Traditional IGNITE award is made possible through funding from Jennifer Toolin McAuliffe, co-chair of our BWH Women’s Health Advisory Board.
Saranna Fanning, PhD
2024 Casey Toolin McAuliffe Memorial IGNITE Awardee
Department of Neurology
“The Parkinson’s disease patient lipidome as a sex differentiator, diagnostic, and therapeutic target“
Although Parkinson’s disease (PD) affects twice as many men as women, several factors associated with clinical course and treatment response differ between women and men. The omission of female patients has resulted in a critical need to focus on this population to improve clinical outcomes. This project will embark on analyzing lipid changes in female PD patient cells and biofluids to determine a female-specific PD lipid pattern that can be used as a disease marker and candidate therapeutic target.
This year’s Traditional IGNITE award is made possible through funding from Jennifer Toolin McAuliffe, co-chair of our BWH Women’s Health Advisory Board.
