Streisand Gives L.A. Hospital $5M for Heart Research

Barbra Streisand
has put her money where her heart is. The 66-year-old
singer-actress has donated $5 million to endow a research
and education program on women's heart disease at
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

The hospital on
Wednesday announced the new Barbra Streisand Women's
Cardiovascular Research Education Program.

Dr. Eduardo
Marban, who directs the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute, said
cardiovascular disease is the nation's leading killer of
women -- responsible for nearly 500,000 deaths a year
-- but most research on heart disease revolves around
men.

Streisand said
women must get involved in reducing risks for heart
disease. The new program will conduct trials on new drugs
for women, try to identify the role of gender in heart
disease, and work on other ways of reducing risks.
(AP)