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.

Mohamed and Stanic Lab team publish study in American Journal of Reproductive Immunology

Mona Mohamed, PhD candidate in the Stanic Lab, is first author on a new article published in the American Journal of Reproductive Immunology. Co-authors include Yan Li, Andrea Wegrzynowicz, PhD, Payton Lindner, Jessica Vazquez, PhD, Gladys Lopez, and Aleks Stanic, MD, PhD. In the study T-bet Fate Mapping Reveals Gestational S... more

Mañán Mejías receives UW Carbone Cancer Center Minter Graduate Student Cancer Research Award

Congratulations to Paula Mañán Mejías, graduate student in the lab of María Virumbrales-Muñoz, PhD! Mañán Mejías was selected as the 2026 recipient of the UW Carbone Cancer Center’s Thomas and Bonnie Minter Graduate Student Cancer Research Award. Mañán Mejías will use the award to attend the 2027 American Association for Canc... more

Wegrzynowicz publishes in Biology of Reproduction

Andrea Wegrzynowicz, PhD, postdoctoral trainee in the Division of Reproductive Sciences and the Stanic Lab, is lead author on a new study in Biology of Reproduction that was featured as a BoR Editor’s Choice article in the Society for the Study of Reproduction monthly newsletter! Co-authors on the study include Soma Banerjee,... more

Berube receives Postdoctoral Research Award from Canadian Institutes of Health Research

Huge congratulations to Michael Berube, DVM, PhD, who received the Canada Postdoctoral Research Award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research! Berube is a postdoctoral research associate in the labs of Lisa Barroilhet, MD, MS, associate professor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology and María Virumbrales-Muñoz, PhD... more

Department of Ob-Gyn mentees share research at 2026 UW–Madison Undergraduate Symposium

Undergraduate student researchers mentored by faculty in the UW Department of Ob-Gyn brought nine posters and three oral presentations to the 2026 UW–Madison Undergraduate Symposium on April 17, 2026.The annual Undergraduate Symposium showcases undergraduate creativity, achievement, research, service-learning and community-ba... more