Research

Cutler, Higgins talk about post-Dobbs research in Cap Times

Abigail Cutler, MD, MPH, assistant professor in the Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn, was the lead author on a study published in JAMA Open Network about the impact of the Dobbs decision on the ability of ob-gyns in Wisconsin to provide adequate health care to patients with pregnancy risks or complications. Cutler and co-author Jenny Higgins, PhD, MPH, professor an... more

Bozzuto appointed to Research on Women’s Health Scholars program

Congratulations to Laura Bozzuto, MD, MS, assistant professor in the Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn, who was selected for the UW School of Medicine and Public Health Research on Women’s Health Scholars (RoWHS) program! Bozzuto’s year-long RoWHS appointment begins July 1, 2025. Bozzuto will use the RoWHS funding for the project “Patient and provider decision makin... more

Sobecki publishes study in Osteoporosis International

Janelle Sobecki, MD, assistant professor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, published a new article published in Osteoporosis International. Co-authors include Diane Krueger; Perry Pickhardt, MD; Neil Binkley, MD; and Paul Anderson, MD. In “Optimizing region of interest size and placement for clinical opportunistic CT trabecular bone Hounsfield unit measurements”, Sobe... more

Bharucha presents poster at ASCO conference

Congratulations to UW Department of Ob-Gyn Kharmen Bharucha, MD, PGY-2, who brought a poster to the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting! ASCO hosted the event May 30-June 3, 2025 in Chicago. Bharucha presented the poster “Progression free survival as a surrogate end point of overall survival in randomized controlled trials of ovarian cancer maintenance ... more

Stanic Lab at the 2025 ASRI Conference

The American Society for Reproductive Immunology held the ASRI 2025 Annual Meeting in St. Paul, Minnesota May 18-21, 2025. Faculty and researchers from the Division of Reproductive Sciences helped shape the conference agenda and shared their research at the event, and even received conference awards! Just some of their exciting accomplishments: Aleks Stanic-Kostic, MD, PhD,... more

Patankar brings research to World Congress on Endometriosis

Manish Patankar, PhD, professor and director of the Division of Reproductive Sciences, brought an oral presentation and poster to the 16th World Congress on Endometriosis 2025, hosted in Sydney, Australia May 21-24, 2025. At the conference, Patankar presented as part of the seminar session Benefits and Bugbears of Modeling Endometriosis Outside of the Human Body: Mediobasal... more

Department of Ob-Gyn brings research to 2025 American Association for Cancer Research annual conference

Researchers from the UW Department of Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive Sciences and Division of Gynecologic Oncology brought posters to the 2025 American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting, held in Chicago April 25-30, 2025. The AACR published conference proceedings, including abstracts, in a supplemental issue of Cancer Research. Each abstract is also linked belo... more

Wegrzynowicz receives oral presentation award at Madison Scholars Symposium

Congratulations to Andrea Wegrzynowicz, PhD, postdoctoral trainee in the Stanic Lab in the Division of Reproductive Sciences, who received the oral presentation award at the Madison Scholars Symposium in early May 2025! The Madison Scholars Symposium was hosted by the T32 Biology of Aging and Age-Related Diseases Training Grant in the University of Wisconsin-Madison Departme... more

Betancourt Ponce graduates from Barroilhet Lab

Congratulations to Mayra Betancourt Ponce, PhD, first-ever PhD graduate from the Barroilhet Lab in the UW Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology! She graduated in May 2025 with the thesis project “Oxidative Phosphorylation Inhibition in Solid Tumors.” After finishing her PhD, Betancourt Ponce will complete her final year of medical school at the UW School of Medicine and Pu... more

Department of Ob-Gyn mentees share research at 2025 UW–Madison Undergraduate Symposium

Undergraduate student researchers mentored by faculty in the UW Department of Ob-Gyn brought four posters and eight oral presentations to the 2025 UW–Madison Undergraduate Symposium on April 25, 2025.The annual Undergraduate Symposium showcases undergraduate creativity, achievement, research, service-learning and community-based research from all areas of study at UW–Madison... more

Presentations at Department Research Day 2025

On May 15, 2025, the UW Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology hosted Department Research Day, an annual presentation of graduating fellows’ thesis projects, research from members of the Department of Ob-Gyn, and posters showcasing a variety of ob-gyn and reproductive health research.Margareta Pisarska, MD, director of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertil... more

Wendland publishes study about maternal mortality misinformation in Global Public Health

Claire Wendland, MD, PhD, professor in the Division of Reproductive and Population Health, co-authored a new study published in Global Public Health. Co-authors include Lynn Morgan.In “Debunking misinformation about abortion-related maternal mortality in Africa,” Wendland and co-authors noted how misinformation in Africa about abortion that justifies its restriction and cri... more

Division of Reproductive Sciences brings research to 2025 SRI Annual Scientific Meeting

The Society for Reproductive Investigation hosted the 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina March 25-29, 2025. Researchers from the UW Department of Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive Sciences led sessions, gave presentations, and brought posters to the conference. Jessica Vazquez, PhD, moderated the session Immune Cell Programming and Consequences. Sathi... more

Abbott co-authors publication and guest edits Reproduction’s special series on PCOS

David Abbott, PhD, professor in the Division of Reproductive Sciences, co-authored a review in Reproduction as part of a special series on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Origins and Implications. Abbott is a guest editor for the special series. Co-authors on the review and co-editors for the special series include Daniel Dumesic and Vasantha Padmanabhan.In “Polycystic ovary synd... more

Department of Ob-Gyn brings research and leadership to 2025 UW Carbone Cancer Research Retreat

The UW Carbone Cancer Center hosted their annual Research Retreat on April 10, 2025. Members of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology’s Division of Gynecologic Oncology and Division of Reproductive Sciences shared research and provided leadership for the event. Some of their exciting accomplishments:Janelle Sobecki, MD, assistant professor in the Division of Gynecologi... more

Rhoades, Infusino published in BMC Medical Education

Janine Rhoades, MD, director of the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, and Scott Infusino, MD, a Maternal-Fetal Medicine fellow, co-authored a new article published in BMC Medical Education. Co-authors include Adam Lewkowitz, Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman, Stephanie Ros, and Patrick Ramsey.In “Maternal-fetal medicine fellow experience in the first year of training compared to i... more

Division of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery at 2025 SGS Annual Meeting

The Society of Gynecologic Surgeons (SGS) hosted their 51st Annual Scientific Meeting March 30-April 2, 2025. Several members of the Division of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery attended the conference and shared their work. Caroline Cox, MD, assistant professor in the Division of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery, was selected in early 2024 to ... more

Cutler published article in Obstetrics and Gynecology Open

Abigail Cutler, MD, MPH, assistant professor in the Division of Academic Specialists in Obstetrics and Gynecology, co-authored a new article published in Obstetrics and Gynecology Open. Co-authors include Emily Claymore, Jema Turk, and Jody Steinauer.In “Residents Navigating Moral Distress After the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization Decision,” Cutler and co-author... more

Bajpai, Rose publish article in Gynecologic Oncology Reports

UW Department of Ob-Gyn resident Rusha Bajpai, MD, PGY-3, and Stephen Rose, MD, professor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, co-authored a new study in Gynecologic Oncology Reports. Co-authors include Tammy Mundale, Natalia Gontarczyk Uczkowski, and Amy Godecker, PhD, MS.In “Adnexal mass referral patterns in Gynecologic Oncology,” Bajpai, Rose, and co-authors sought to... more

Cutler publishes in JAMA Open Network

Abigail Cutler, MD, MPH, assistant professor in the Division of Academic Specialists in Obstetrics and Gynecology, co-authored a new article in JAMA Open Network. Co-authors include Corinne Hale and Eliza Bennett, MD, Laura Jacques, MD, and Jenny Higgins, PhD, MPH.In “Experiences of Obstetrician-Gynecologists Providing Pregnancy Care After Dobbs,” Cutler and co-authors analy... more

Green’s REAL Lab shares policy brief on Birth Cost Recovery

Tiffany Green, PhD, associate professor in the Division of Reproductive and Population Health, recently co-authored a new policy brief on Birth Cost Recovery. Co-authors include Klaira Lerma, MPH, Laura Swan, PhD, LCSW, Eva Strelitz-Block, BA, and Emma Romell, MS. The policy brief was published through Green’s Reproductive Equity Action Lab (REAL).In “The Future of Birth Cos... more

Zheng publishes article in American Journal of Physiology-Cell Physiology

Jing Zheng, PhD, professor in the Division of Reproductive Sciences, recently published an article in the American Journal of Physiology Cell Physiology. Ying-jie Zhao, MD, PhD, and Si-yan Zhang, PhD candidate of this study, are the co-first authors. Chi Zhou, PhD, at the University of Arizona is a co-corresponding author. Sathish Kumar, DVM, PhD, professor in the Division o... more

Wagar discusses LEAP trial findings with OncLive

Matthew Wagar, MD, fellow in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, spoke with OncLive for a recent story about the phase 3 LEAP-001 trial and what it means for treating patients with advanced endometrial cancer.In “Dr. Wagar on Lenvatinib Plus Pembrolizumab vs. Chemo in First-Line Advanced Endometrial Cancer,” Wagar explained how a mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR) population... more

Green published in Demography

Tiffany Green, PhD, associate professor in the Division of Reproductive and Population Health, recently co-authored a new article published in Demography. Co-authors include Molly Martin and Alexander Chapman.In “The Causal Effect of Increasing Area-Level Income on Birth Outcomes and Pregnancy-Related Health: Estimates From the Marcellus Shale Boom Economy,” Green and co-aut... more

Zheng receives grant from Meriter Foundation

Congratulations to Jing Zheng, PhD, professor in the Division of Reproductive Sciences! Zheng received a 2025 grant award from the UnityPoint Health - Meriter Foundation Research and Education Committee to support preeclampsia research.The grant Uncovering the Function of Long Non-coding RNA 00704 in Endothelial Cell will support research into the role of a newly identified ... more

Hoppe attends PRC Week 2025

Kara Hoppe, DO, PhD, associate professor in the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, joined leadership from the UW-Madison Prevention Research Center (PRC) at PRC Week 2025. The event, which kicked off the 2024-2029 CDC Prevention Research Center funding cycle, was held January 14-16, 2025 in Atlanta. Hoppe, who is the principal investigator of the UW PRC Core Research Proj... more

Hanks discusses post-Dobbs sterilization study with Cap Times

Laura Hanks, MD, assistant professor in the Division of Academic Specialists in Obstetrics and Gynecology joined the Cap Times for a story about local sterilization rates.The Cap Times article “Sterilization rate at Madison hospital doubled after abortion ruling, study finds” shared data from a study co-authored by Hanks in the most recent issue of the Wisconsin Medical Jour... more

Hoppe, Kumar publish study in Reproductive Toxicology

Kara Hoppe, DO, PhD, associate professor in the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, and Sathish Kumar, DVM, PhD, professor in the School of Veterinary Medicine, co-authored a new study published in Reproductive Toxicology. Co-authors include Jay Mishra, Bradley Bosse, Kristen Malecki, and Scott Hetzel.In “Perfluoralkyl substances (PFAS) exposure and preeclampsia risk: Impai... more

Senderowicz publishes in Population Studies

Leigh Senderowicz ScD, MPH, assistant professor in the Division of Reproductive and Population Health, recently published a new article in Population Studies. Senderowicz co-authored the article with Rishita Nandagiri, PhD.In “Thirty years of ‘strange bedmates’: The ICPD and the nexus of population control, feminism, and family planning,” Senderowicz and Nandagiri reflects o... more

Abbott co-authors new publication in Journal of the Endocrine Society

David Abbott, PhD, professor in the Division of Reproductive Sciences, recently co-authored a new publication in the Journal of the Endocrine Society. Co-authors include Marissa Kraynak, Molly Willging, Daniel Uhlrich, Robert Shapiro, Matthew Flowers, Karen Manning, Sara John, Samantha Williams, Lukas Henjum, Rebecca Marrah, Hannah Yohnk, Carter Berg, Kevin Brunner, Ricki Co... more

Bailey, Hoppe co-author publication in Wisconsin Medical Journal

Erin Bailey, MD, MS, assistant professor in the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, and Kara Hoppe, DO, PhD, associate professor in the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, co-authored a new publication in the Wisconsin Medical Journal. Co-authors include Maria Kamenetsky, Alexa Lowry, Ronald Gangnon, and Brian Stafeil.In “The Role of Neighborhood in Individual and Disparit... more

Anderson-Carter, Gaston co-author study in Wisconsin Medical Journal

India Anderson-Carter, MD, assistant professor in the Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn, and Luther Gaston, MD, clinical associate professor in the Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn, co-authored a new study published in the Wisconsin Medical Journal. Co-authors include Kathleen Antony, MD, MSCI, Aime Teo Broman, Sarah Gnadt, Delores Krickl, Shefaali Sharma,... more

Zheng published in Journal of Physiology

Jing Zheng, PhD, professor in the Division of Reproductive Sciences, recently published an article in the Journal of Physiology. Division of Reproductive Sciences trainees Ying-Jie Zhao, MD, PhD, and Chi Zhou, PhD, are co-first authors on the article. Sathish Kumar, PhD, is also co-author. In “An endogenous aryl hydrocarbon receptor ligand induces preeclampsia-like phenotype... more

Ong co-authors new article about radiation therapy

Irene Ong, PhD, associate professor in the Division of Reproductive Sciences, co-authored a new study in Science Translational Medicine about mixed-dose radiation.In Intratumoral radiation dose heterogeneity augments antitumor immunity in mice and primes responses to checkpoint blockade, Ong and co-authors studied the impacts of combined high and low-dose radiation on tumors... more

Stanic, Golos co-author articles in Frontiers in Immunology and Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Aleks Stanic, MD, PhD, associate professor in the divisions of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility and Reproductive Sciences, as well as Thaddeus Golos, PhD, professor in Comparative Bioscience and Ob-Gyn, co-authored recent articles in two journals.In “Decidual leukocytes respond to African lineage Zika virus infection with mild anti-inflammatory changes during acute... more