BIONews Missing Menopause in Basic Research: Risk Factors in Alzheimer’s Disease

Bio2Device Group Evening Meeting – March 10, 2026
It’s that time again! Our next Bio2Device Group (B2DG) Evening Meeting is just around the corner, and we hope you’ll join us for an informative and thought-provoking session.
📅 Date: March 10, 2026
⏰ Time: 6:15 PM – 8:30 PM (PST)
💻 Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83593256859
We’ll begin the evening with a review of this week’s BIONews, followed by a live presentation from a distinguished guest speaker.

Prof. Nozomi Nishimura
Associate Professor, Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering
Director, Menopause Health Engineering Initiative
Cornell University

Missing Menopause in Basic Research: Risk Factors in Alzheimer’s Disease
Despite decades of Alzheimer’s research, sex differences have often been overlooked, and the biology of menopause has remained largely absent from basic science studies. Yet women make up nearly half of the population—and represent a disproportionately large share of Alzheimer’s patients.
In this timely and important talk, Prof. Nishimura will present groundbreaking work from her lab, including:

• Development of a novel Alzheimer’s mouse model incorporating ApoE4 genotype, hypertension, and menopausal transition
• Advanced two-photon microscopy imaging revealing brain blood flow deficits linked to cognitive symptoms
• Evidence showing sex-specific responses to experimental treatments
• Why including menopausal females in research is essential for discovering effective future therapies

Her findings underscore a critical message: failing to include menopause in preclinical research may limit our ability to develop effective treatments for Alzheimer’s disease.
About the Speaker
Prof. Nishimura develops cutting-edge optical tools to study cell behavior in living systems. Her laboratory pioneers intravital multiphoton microscopy imaging methods that reveal how cells function, move, and interact within the body.
Her research focuses particularly on:

• Microvascular dysfunction in the brain
• Microvascular occlusions in Alzheimer’s disease and neurodegeneration
• Single-cell function and cardiac microvasculature in the beating heart

She is the recipient of numerous honors, including:

• NSF CAREER Award
• Fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE)
• Cook Award for commitment to women’s issues at Cornell
• James M. and Marsha D. McCormick Award for Outstanding Advising

Prof. Nishimura is also deeply engaged in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives at both the college and department levels.
This promises to be a highly relevant and eye-opening discussion at the intersection of biomedical engineering, neuroscience, and women’s health.
We look forward to seeing B2DG members and guests on March 10!