OHSU Women's Reproductive Health Research K12 Program

Oregon Health & Science University, Portland OR

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

SUMMARY The Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Women's Reproductive Health Research (WRHR) K12 Program seeks continued support to recruit, train, mentor and launch the next generation of OB/GYN physicians to transition into independent physician-scientists and academic leaders in women's reproductive health. The OHSU WRHR K12 program leverages the multidisciplinary basic, translational, and clinical research opportunities, research facilities, faculty and infrastructure, and educational programs for the development of early-career OB/GYN physician investigators at OHSU. It also builds upon long-standing collaborations between the OB/GYN Department and prominent OHSU Centers, Institutes, and Departments, including the Oregon National Primate Research Center, and the Knight Cardiovascular and Cancer Research Institutes to provide guidance and support to WRHR K12 Scholars. OHSU's WRHR K12 program has a tradition of multi-faceted research and training in reproductive biology and women's health and wellbeing utilizing a life course approach; of the 14 Scholars enrolled in the program, 2 are currently active, 1 transitioned to a different K12 Program (RSDP), and 11 have completed the program and achieved research independence demonstrating exemplary track records of scholarship, funding, and research productivity. Over the next 5 years, we propose to continue support of our 2 current Scholars who are exceeding expected milestones and making excellent progress towards their specific aims and will appoint at least two additional Scholars. In addition, we will build upon the growing diversity of the WRHR applicant pool and focus efforts on recruiting Scholars from groups underrepresented in medicine. We will also continue to expand the research and career opportunities of Scholars to include emerging, cutting-edge scientific fields. The primary objective of the OHSU WRHR K12 program is to transition highly-qualified OB/GYN physicians to become reproductive scientists and national leaders in women's health. Specific areas of emphasis are: (1) contraceptive development, effectiveness, and impact; (2) developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD); (3) reproductive biology including ovarian and uterine function and dysfunction, the developing embryo and fetus; (4) maternal physiology, pathophysiology, pregnancy care and complications, and the outcomes of women and their offspring; and (5) female-specific and gynecologic conditions in women. Upon successful completion of the WRHR Program, Scholars will have expertise in research investigation and the skills required to become independently funded physician-scientists in reproductive health and academic leaders that advance women's health and wellness.