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.

Ong receives two Wisconsin Partnership Program grants

Irene Ong, PhD, associate professor in the Division of Reproductive Sciences, is a co-investigator on two new grants from the Wisconsin Partnership Program! Proteomic Exploration of Lung Matrisome in Pulmonary Fibrosis: Role of MRC2 is a three-year Collaborative Health Science Program grant, which will be led by Department of... more

Barroilhet and Patankar receive Wisconsin Partnership Program grant for ovarian cancer research

Congratulations to Lisa Barroilhet, MD, MS, director of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, who is co-investigator on a Collaborative Health Sciences Program grant from the Wisconsin Partnership Program for a study to investigate ways to use immunotherapy for ovarian cancer treatment. Jenny Gumperz, PhD, professor in the UW... more

Ong promoted to Associate Professor with tenure

Congratulations to Irene Ong, PhD, who was promoted to the rank of Associate Professor with tenure! Ong’s promotion, reviewed through the UW–Madison Biological Sciences Division Committee, was effective June 30, 2024. Ong, who holds a joint appointment in the UW Department of Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive Sciences and the U... more

Sejal Sharma earns travel award from UW Graduate School

Huge congratulations to Sejal Sharma, PhD candidate in the UW Endocrinology and Reproductive Physiology program and member of Manish Patankar’s lab! Sejal received a travel award from the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Funding in the Graduate School as part of the Graduate School’s Student Research Grands Competition.Sej... more

Students in Abbott Lab present research at summer events

Congratulations to students in the lab of David Abbott, PhD, professor in the Division of Reproductive Sciences! Jacob Blanchar participated in the McNair Scholars program, which included two presentations. Blanchar presented “Defining Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Female Rhesus Monkeys” in July at the UCLA McNair Conference i... more
Read more news →