The Women’s Reproductive Health Research (WRHR) training program at the University of Washington was established in 1998 as a career development program for obstetrician gynecologists. Physicians that complete a residency and clinical fellowships are usually superb clinicians, but may not be well prepared to become independent research scientists. Additional research training is often required to successfully compete for funding and complete studies that hold the greatest promise for meaningful contributions to the field of women’s health.

This proposal describes a plan for the continuation of our established career development program for Ob/Gyn physicians. The goal remains a commitment to bridge the gap between clinical and research training to enable young physicians to establish research careers and become independent investigators. Proposed training is a mentored experience with a successful investigator for a minimum of 2 years and up to 5 years. During this period, the scholar devotes 75% of his/her time to a research project(s) whereby he/she acquires the knowledge and skills to become an independent research scientist and assume a faculty position as a clinician scientist. The UW WRHR Program has 18 mentors with extensive research experience and funding to support junior faculty in their career development. Collectively they provide expert training in basic, translational and clinical research in subject areas that directly relate to women’s health. The program has successfully trained 6 individuals with 3 additional scholars currently in training.

This is a multidisciplinary proposal. Mentors have had primary appointments at UW Ob/Gyn, Pediatrics, Medicine, Pathology, Molecular Biotechnology, Genetics, Physiology/Biophysics, Pharmacology, and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. The Department has a large pool of residents, fellows and junior faculty eager to compete for three proposed annual scholar awards. The Department and the School of Medicine at the UW are prepared to make major commitments of resources and funding to support this proposed research center.

For application information, click here.