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.

Shapiro Summer Research students present Ob-Gyn-mentored projects at 2025 Research Forum

Students participating in the 2025 Shapiro Summer Research Program presented their work at the Annual Medical Student Research Forum on November 24, 2025. Students and their impressive presentations include: Alyssa Solberg, mentored by Kara Hoppe, DO, PhD: Trends in Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy Highlight Persistent Rac... more

Stanic-Kostic to become director of the Division of Reproductive Sciences and Vice Chair for Basic and Translational Research

Aleks Stanic-Kostic, MD, PhD, will become Director of the Division of Reproductive Sciences and Vice Chair of Basic and Translational Research, effective January 1, 2026. He will take on these roles when Manish Patankar, PhD, steps down from these two roles to become the Senior Director of SMPH Shared Resources. Dr. Patankar ... more

Ong receives Meriter Foundation grant

Congratulations to Irene Ong, PhD, associate professor in the Division of Reproductive Sciences, who received a 2026 Research and Education grant from the UnityPoint Health Meriter Foundation! Ong received a one-year grant for $99,997 to support a project aimed at predicting high-risk term and postpartum preeclampsia using UW... more

Patankar receives grant from Meriter Foundation for endometriosis research

Congratulations to Manish Patankar, PhD, director of the Division of Reproductive Sciences, who received a 2026 Research and Education grant from the UnityPoint Health Meriter Foundation! The grant will fund the project “Targeting metabolic vulnerabilities: a non-hormonal approach for the treatment of the chronic reproductive... more

Trainees in the Stanic Lab present at Upper Midwest Summit for Reproductive Science

Trainees in the Stanic Lab brought their research to the Upper Midwest Summit for Reproductive Science last month! The summit was held at Prentice Women's Hospital in Chicago October 13-14, 2025. The summit brings together trainees, junior and senior faculty, and other research staff and scientists from institutions across th... more
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