Biological and Biomedical Science
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JoAnn E. Manson

Chief, Division of Preventive Medicine

Harvard Medical School
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
900 Commonwealth Avenue 3rd Floor
Boston MA 02215
Tel: (617) 278-0871
Fax: (617) 731-3843
Email: jmanson@rics.bwh.harvard.edu

My primary research interests are:

Biomarker and genetic predictors of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes; benefits and risks of postmenopausal hormone therapy and the modifying role of age and time since menopause; sex steroid hormones and other endocrine determinants of vascular disease and diabetes; role of lifestyle factors in chronic disease prevention, particularly the role of physical activity and nutrition; large-scale clinical trials; preventive medicine; women's health.

Several studies on which we collaborate are described below:

Women's Health Initiative (Principal Investigator of Vanguard Clinical Center at Brigham and Women's Hospital, 1993 present): This national multicenter randomized clinical trial is addressing the balance of benefits and risks of hormone replacement therapy, low fat diet, and calcium/vitamin D supplementation. A total of 164,000 postmenopausal U.S. women are enrolled in the study nation wide. Our Clinical Center was one of the initial Vanguard centers that assisted with design and protocol issues in the early stages of the study.

Women's Antioxidant and Folic Acid Cardiovascular Study (Principal Investigator, 1993 present): This investigator-initiated randomized clinical trial is assessing the role of antioxidant micronutrients (vitamins C, E, and beta carotene) in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular events among 8000 high risk women with prior cardiovascular disease or multiple coronary risk factors. A homocysteine lowering component (with folic acid, B6, and B12) was subsequently added to the trial.

Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease in Women (Principal Investigator, 1999-present): an epidemiologic study of determinants of coronary heart disease in women (Nurses' Health Study cohort, including biochemical and genetic markers.

Women's Health Study (co investigator): a randomized trial of aspirin and vitamin E in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer in women among 40,000 female health professionals.

Physicians' Health Study (co investigator): currently a randomized trial of vitamin E, vitamin C, and multivitamins in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer (aspirin component was completed in 1988).

 

References:

  • Manson JE, Willett WC, Stampfer MJ, Colditz GA, Hunter DJ, Hankinson SE, Hennekens CH, Speizer FE. Body weight and mortality among women. N Engl J Med 1995; 333:677-685.
  • Manson JE, Hu FB, Rich-Edwards JW, Colditz GA, Stampfer MJ, Willett WC, Speizer FE, Hennekens CH. A prospective study of walking as compared with vigorous exercise in the prevention of coronary heart disease in women. N Engl J Med 1999; 341:650-658.
  • Manson JE, Hsia J, Johnson KC, Rossouw JE, Assaf AR, Lasser NL, et al for the Women's Health Initiative Investigators. Estrogen plus progestin and the risk of coronary heart disease. N Engl J Med 2003; 349:523-534.
  • Manson JE, Allison MA, Rossouw JE, Carr JJ, Langer RD, Hsia J, et al. Estrogen therapy and coronary-artery calcification. N Engl J Med 2007; 356:2591-2602.