University of Pittsburgh/Magee-Womens Research Institute Women's Reproductive Health Research Across the Lifespan (Pitt-MWRI WRHR)

Background: The University of Pittsburgh Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences (OBGYN) and Magee-Womens Research Institute (Pitt-MWRI) propose to lead a career development program entitled Women’s Reproductive Health Research Across the Lifespan (Pitt-MWRI WRHR). Pitt-MWRI is deeply committed to training the next generation of physician-scientists in reproductive biology and women’s health. As one of the research leaders in our field, we understand the significance of scientific discovery, and the need to translate the results of research into knowledge and skills for clinicians, and ultimately, into improvements in reproductive health, women’s health and the health of their offspring. Our fundamental goals are to provide advanced training for talented Pitt OBGYN physician scholars in impactful interdisciplinary research across the lifespan of women, and mentor them as they develop a strong scholarly foundation for a productive and sustainable career in the field of women’s reproductive health. Our program spans training in basic, translational, clinical, health services, and community research and focuses on pathogenesis and personalized diagnostics, therapeutics and prevention for women of all ages. Our goals are aligned with the Eunice Shriver Kennedy NICHD strategic goals and objectives, cross-cutting topics and aspirational goals. We strongly believe that reproductive health research is essential to propel progress in care for women. Few OBGYN Departments have the critical mass of reproductive biology and women’s health researchers, the mentoring environment and the infrastructure to distinctively target training for OBGYN physician scientists. Pitt-MWRI excels in all these areas. We have an outstanding track record of training, supporting and retaining previous WRHR scholars who are broadly recognized as leaders in our field. Given the breadth of scientific skills among our OBGYN primary mentors, established collaborations with outstanding mentors across the University of Pittsburgh, our training program that emphasizes multidisciplinary mentoring, classroom-based education, team science and grant writing, and our large pipeline of OBGYN trainees, our Pitt-MWRI training program will enable each graduating scholar to embark on a successful career as a physician-scientist poised to contribute to the improvement of women’s health.