The specific aim of the Women's Reproductive Health Research (WRHR) Career Development Program at Magee-Women's Research Institute, the University of Pittsburgh, is to prepare outstanding junior faculty in the field of obstetrics and gynecology for a productive and exciting investigative career in reproductive biology and medicine.
This specific aim aligns with the core mission of Magee Women's Research Institute of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh to train exceptional individuals, pursue knowledge in reproductive sciences and to translate basic discoveries into improved health for women and their babies. Our program will support two scholars per year in a well-structured curriculum of basic or translational laboratory-based training. The scholars will be selected among either graduates of an OBGYN residency or among OBGYN sub-specialty fellows in the final research year of postdoctoral fellowship. Our ability to selectively target trainees in basic or translational reproductive biology is supported y the rich and comprehensive fundamental research programs at Magee-Women's Research Institute. The institute includes a recently renovated laboratory research building of 125,000 square feet, furnished with state-of-the-art technology and equipment items that are housed in individual laboratories or integrated core facilities. Among a community of more than 50 reproductive biology researchers we selected a group of 18 exceptional mentors who will guide the WRHR scholars throughout their training. The mentors were selected based on their previous rich history of mentoring successful individuals, creative scientific programs, productivity, well-established laboratories, and a strong dedication to research education and mentorship. Furthermore, all mentors, who represent a diverse and rich portfolio of reproductive biology research, have a proven ability to secure extramural funding. An Internal Advisory Committee, monitored by an External Review Board, will oversee and monitor the program's quality and the progress of individual scholars along well-defined milestones. A comprehensive evaluation system, which is based on a set of sophisticated tools, will provide feedback to the PI, Research Director, and Advisory Committee, allowing the program to maintain excellence. Magee-Women's WRHR program will train the future leaders in basic and translational reproductive medicine. Our previous record and current resources that are unrivaled among departments of obstetrics and gynecology are ideal to nurture careers of junior physician scientists into research independence, and thereby enrich reproductive medicine with well-qualified individuals that will lead our specialty into the exciting future.

Public Health Relevance

Numerous diseases that affect women are poorly understood and insufficiently studied. This proposal is directly relevant to the health of women and their children, as it supports the training of scholars in women's reproductive health research. The basic biology tools acquired through this training will enable tomorrow's physician-scientists to make discoveries that will be translated to improved medical care to women.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Physician Scientist Award (Program) (PSA) (K12)
Project #
2K12HD063087-06
Application #
8991836
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZHD1-DSR-L (50))
Program Officer
Halvorson, Lisa M
Project Start
2009-09-30
Project End
2020-06-30
Budget Start
2015-07-01
Budget End
2016-06-30
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
$342,200
Indirect Cost
$9,417
Name
Magee-Women's Research Institute and Foundation
Department
Type
DUNS #
119132785
City
Pittsburgh
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
15213
Harris, John Alexander; Engberg, John; Castle, Nicholas George (2018) Obesity and intensive staffing needs of nursing home residents. Geriatr Nurs 39:696-701
Menke, Marie N; King, Wendy C; White, Gretchen E et al. (2017) Contraception and Conception After Bariatric Surgery. Obstet Gynecol 130:979-987
Harris, John A; Sammarco, Anne G; Swenson, Carolyn W et al. (2017) Are perioperative bundles associated with reduced postoperative morbidity in women undergoing benign hysterectomy? Retrospective cohort analysis of 16,286 cases in Michigan. Am J Obstet Gynecol 216:502.e1-502.e11
Harris, John A; Menke, Marie N; Haefner, Jessica K et al. (2017) Geographic access to assisted reproductive technology health care in the United States: a population-based cross-sectional study. Fertil Steril 107:1023-1027
Harris, John Alexander; Castle, Nicholas George (2017) Obesity and Nursing Home Care in the United States: A Systematic Review. Gerontologist :
Harris, John A; Byhoff, Elena; Perumalswami, Chithra R et al. (2017) The Relationship of Obesity to Hospice Use and Expenditures: A Cohort Study. Ann Intern Med 166:381-389
Ankuda, Claire K; Harris, John; Ornstein, Katherine et al. (2017) Caregiving for Older Adults with Obesity in the United States. J Am Geriatr Soc 65:1939-1945
Harris, John A; Uppal, Shitanshu; Kamdar, Neil et al. (2017) A retrospective cohort study of hemostatic agent use during hysterectomy and risk of post-operative complications. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 136:232-237
Larkin, Jacob C; Chauhan, Suneet P; Simhan, Hyagriv N (2017) Small for Gestational Age: The Differential Mortality When Detected versus Undetected Antenatally. Am J Perinatol 34:409-414
Froehlich, Rosemary; Simhan, Hyagriv N; Larkin, Jacob C (2016) An Evidence-Based Approach to Defining Fetal Macrosomia. Am J Perinatol 33:456-62

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