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.

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 E... 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 ... 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 Gra... 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 ... 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-ba... more
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