Keynote Speaker Tracy L. Bale, PhD

Meet Our Opening Keynote Speaker 

Tracy L. Bale, PhD, FAAAS
The Anschutz Foundation Endowed Chair in Women's Integrated Mental and Physical Health Research at the Ludeman Center
Professor, Department of Psychiatry
Director, InterGenerational Stress and Health
Director, Department of Psychiatry Sex Differences Research
University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus

Keynote Presentation: Stress Physiology Communication Via Extracellular Vesicles: Mechanisms and Biomarkers
Location: Minneapolis Convention Center
Date: Thursday, April 23, 2026, 4:15 p.m. CDT

Tracy L. Bale, PhD, FAAAS, is the Anschutz Foundation Endowed Chair in Women's Integrated Mental and Physical Health at the Ludeman Center and professor and director for InterGenerational Stress and Health. She is also the director for Sex Differences Research in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus.

Bale’s research focuses on the role of stress in neuropsychiatric disease and the sex differences that underlie disease vulnerability in humans. Using the mouse as a preclinical model, Bale’s lab attempts to translate research to humans to identify those processes and biomarkers important for promoting disease risk and resilience, especially toward women’s health and in vulnerable populations.

In her directorship roles, Bale engages in the community, developing collaborations and partnerships with local organizations and policymakers. She serves on many scientific advisory boards and is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Medtronic Award from the Society for Women’s Health Research and the Daniel H. Efron Award from the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology.

Bale is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and a member of the National Academy of Medicine. She is also president of the International Brain Research Organization.

Kicking off the Summit, Bale will speak at 4:15 p.m. CDT on Thursday, April 23, at the opening session of the 2026 American Physiology Summit. Join us following Bale's talk for a welcome festival for all registrants in Ballroom AB.