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Significant cardiovascular health disparities still exist in women and disadvantaged ethnic minorities. This continues to fuel Dr. Velarde's clinical research interests. Her clinical research has consistently focused on understanding gender and ethnic/racial differences in cardiovascular risk factors and how these may impact diagnosis, treatment and health outcomes. Dr. Velarde has served as Principal Investigator for seven IRB-approved clinical studies and sub-investigator with four research studies. Her efforts have centered on understanding biological markers in cardiometabolic risk in women and ethnic groups with high prevalence risk and or disease. The metabolic syndrome is highly prevalent in women of all ethnicities and represents a constellation of pre-adverse-conditions (pre-hypertension, pre-diabetes, central obesity and mild dyslipidemia among others). These ‘pre’ conditions often silently co-exist in patients and can go undetected for years. Current guidelines do not call for specific treatment of the syndrome, as the literature is mixed and controversial.