Lyda M. Ludeman Endowed Chair in Bioinformatics Celebration
Written by Becca Schjodt
Apr 11, 2025
On the afternoon of Thursday, March 13, 2025, 36 guests came together for a very special celebration in honor of longtime benefactor Lyda T. Ludeman and the establishment of the Lyda M. Ludeman Endowed Chair in Bioinformatics.
Ms. Ludeman’s partnership with the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus has been an extraordinary one, marking a firm commitment to the pursuit of medical excellence for the benefit of all. The creation of this chair continues that legacy in a poignant way, standing as a lasting testament to the memory of Ms. Ludeman’s mother, Lyda M. Ludeman, who was a steadfast proponent of women’s health research throughout her life and dreamed of one day funding an endowed chair. Through her namesake daughter, that dream has now been fulfilled.
In collaboration with the Ludeman Family Center for Women’s Health Research, and through the work of inaugural chair holder, statistical geneticist Barbara Stranger, PhD, the Lyda M. Ludeman Endowed Chair in Bioinformatics seeks to better understand the genetic variations between sexes and how they translate into disease phenotypes.
“It is one of my greatest joys to see the spirit of innovation on this campus transform dreams into new discoveries,” said Chancellor Don Elliman in his opening remarks. “The field of bioinformatics offers new possibilities for life-saving discoveries for women’s health across the lifespan, and this new chair will further cement the Ludeman Center as a leading destination for women’s health and sex differences research.”
University of Colorado president Todd Saliman expanded upon these sentiments in his own remarks: “Thanks to Dr. Judy Regensteiner’s extraordinary leadership, this work has been a core focus at CU Anschutz for more than 20 years. The Ludeman Center has invested millions of dollars in research funding, as well as thousands of hours of mentorship and career development, to advance women’s health research, making it a national leader in this space. None of it would be possible without the vision, passion and generosity of Lyda Ludeman and the Ludeman family.”
University of Colorado School of Medicine dean John Sampson, MD, PhD, MHSc, MBA, Ludeman Center director Judy Regensteiner, PhD, and Dr. Stranger also spoke, sharing insights into the Department of Biomedical Informatics’ vision for the future, the incredible legacy of Ms. Ludeman’s mother and the power of philanthropy in pioneering new frontiers in research and medicine.
Dean Sampson then closed with the presentation of honorary medallions to Dr. Stranger and Ms. Ludeman.
