Division of Reproductive Sciences

We are often asked, “Why conduct and invest in basic research in a clinical department?” An investment in basic research at the cellular and molecular level provides us with the tools needed to understand diseases that do not yet have a clinical treatment. Where therapies are known and have complications, basic science research is essential to understanding their side effects and how to avoid them.

A significant focus of our basic research program is in seeking to understand the cellular and molecular interactions and functions that are needed to establish a healthy pregnancy to full gestation in both animal and human models. A healthy pregnancy has the greatest benefit to mother, child and society; however, understanding the causes of pregnancy complications such as pre-eclampsia and potential pre-term labor and delivery that result from this condition is essential to developing safe, effective treatments for mother and child.

Our Mission

As an academic institution, our mission is to educate future scientists and physicians in the new world of interdisciplinary and collaborative biomedical research. In particular, for NIH’s (National Institutes of Health) initiative to build interdisciplinary teams to be achieved we must have basic researchers working in clinical departments in order to understand what the clinical problem is at a mechanistic level. Likewise for doctors who are practicing clinical medicine to know what is possible they need to see and understand cutting edge research being done in their own department. We must not overlook the pre- and post-doctoral scholars within our department who are essential to advancing the research mission not only to support work conducted by the faculty Principal Investigator, but also to develop their own career paths through guided mentorship and training. For these reasons, conducting basic research in a clinical department is essential to a healthy and bright future for all women, infants and children.

Hutcherson to present research at UW-Madison Day at the Capitol

Congratulations to Beverly Hutcherson, graduate student in the Endocrinology and Reproductive Physiology program, who was selected by the UW-Madison Office of State Relations and Catalysts for Science Policy to present research at UW-Madison’s Day at the Capitol on Wednesday, April 17.Hutcherson will present a new hypothesis ... more

Phoebe Hayes to work with Abbott Lab during Honors Summer Apprenticeship

Congratulations to Phoebe Hayes, University of Wisconsin–Madison undergraduate student, who earned an Honors Summer Research Apprenticeship Grant from the College of Letters and Science to work in the lab of David Abbott, PhD, of the Division of Reproductive Sciences. Hayes will work with the lab’s ovary team to characterize ... more

Presentations and awards at the 2024 SRI Annual Meeting

Congratulations to members of the Department of Ob-Gyn who brought presentations and received awards at the 2024 Society for Reproductive Investigation (SRI) Annual Scientific Meeting! The meeting was held in Vancouver, Canada, March 12-16, 2024.Jessica Vazquez, PhD, postdoctoral research scientist in the Division of reproduc... more

Hutcherson earns Physician Assistant Program Lecturer of the Year award

Congratulations to Beverly Hutcherson, graduate student in the Endocrinology and Reproductive Physiology program, who received the UW-Madison Physician Assistant Program Lecturer of the Year Award! The PA students in the class of 2024 selected Hutcherson as the lecturer they feel has gone above and beyond in teaching.Hutchers... more

Stanic Lab publishes study in Frontiers in Immunology

Aleksandar Stanic-Kostic, MD, PhD, associate professor in the Divisions of Reproductive Sciences and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, co-authored a new article published in Frontiers in Immunology. Postdoctoral researcher Jessica Vazquez, PhD, is lead author on the article, and co-authors include Mona A. Mohamed, S... more
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