Calendar of Events

Sep
19
Wed
2012
Ocular Changes in Pregnancy – Bhavna P. Sheth, MD @ Ob-Gyn Conference Room #252 (2nd floor Dynacare Lab Building)
Sep 19 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Oct
17
Wed
2012
Human Cytomegalovirus – a Silent Pathogen in Our Community – Scott Terhune, PhD @ Ob-Gyn Conference Room #252 (2nd floor Dynacare Lab Building)
Oct 17 @ 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Nov
13
Tue
2012
Measuring Adverse Effects from Breast Cancer Therapies – Joan Neuner, MD, MPH @ Ob-Gyn Conference Room #252 (2nd floor Dynacare Lab Building)
Nov 13 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Dec
19
Wed
2012
No WHRP Seminar – Due to holiday break
Dec 19 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Jan
16
Wed
2013
Nicotine Exposure during Fetal Development and Infant Outcomes – Nuananong Seal, PhD, RN @ Ob-Gyn Conference Room #252 (2nd floor Dynacare Lab Building)
Jan 16 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Feb
20
Wed
2013
Preeclampsia and Future Cardiovascular Risk – Is Endothelial Dysfunction the Common Link? – Erika Peterson, MD and Aimee Welsh, MD @ Ob-Gyn Conference Room #252 (2nd floor Dynacare Lab Building)
Feb 20 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Mar
20
Wed
2013
Sex Differences in Responses to Stress: Role of the “Body’s Own Cannabis” – Cecilia Hillard, PhD @ Ob-Gyn Conference Room #252 (2nd floor Dynacare Lab Building)
Mar 20 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Apr
17
Wed
2013
Jane Kotchen, MD @ Ob-Gyn Conference Room #252 (2nd floor Dynacare Lab Building)
Apr 17 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
May
15
Wed
2013
TBA @ Ob-Gyn Conference Room #252 (2nd floor Dynacare Lab Building)
May 15 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Jun
19
Wed
2013
2013 Resident Research & Alumni Day @ Discovery Classroom | Medical Education Building, Medical College of Wisconsin
Jun 19 @ 12:30 pm – 6:00 pm
2013 Resident Research & Alumni Day @ Discovery Classroom | Medical Education Building, Medical College of Wisconsin | Milwaukee | Wisconsin | United States

Resident Research and Alumni Day is an annual event in which housestaff present their research results within their residency in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

A guest speaker for the Roland S. Cron Lectureship is invited to present each year. We invite our Obstetrics and Gynecology alumni to attend this significant day to support our current residents.

Learn More & Register →

Jun
21
Fri
2013
Graduation Dinner – Class of 2013 @ Blue Mound Golf & Country Club
Jun 21 @ 11:00 pm – Jun 22 @ 2:00 am
Graduation Dinner - Class of 2013 @ Blue Mound Golf & Country Club | Wauwatosa | Wisconsin | United States

Join us on Friday, June 21st to celebrate the graduation of the Class of 2013.

Agenda
6:00 PMAppetizers & Cash Bar
7:00 PMDinner & Awards Program
Sep
18
Wed
2013
MCW Research Day
Sep 18 @ 2:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Zigang Dong, M.D., D.P.H.

Zigang Dong, MD, DPH
Keynote Speaker

Research Day, which will be held on Wednesday, September 18, 2013 in association with the Convocation, will be an excellent opportunity for all scientists and clinicians at MCW and its affiliated institutions to showcase their basic, clinical, population health, and translational research and to identify new possibilities of collaboration. Here are some highlights for the MCW Research Day Poster Session.

Agenda

9:00am - 8:00pmAbstract Posters Available for Viewing
11:00am - 12:00pmODD Numbered Abstract Poster Presentations
12:00 - 1:00pmMCW Research Day Keynote Lecture

“Chemoprevention as an Approach to Cancer Prevention”
Zigang Dong, M.D., D.P.H.

Executive Director
McKnight Presidential Professor in Cancer Prevention
Hormel-Knowlton Professor
Cellular and Molecular Biology
The Hormel Institute
University of Minnesota – Mayo Clinic
1:00pm - 2:00pmEVEN Numbered Abstract Poster Presentations & Award Selections
4:30pm - 6:00pmConvocation

Clinical fellows, residents and junior faculty up to the level of Assistant Professor at MCW are strongly encouraged to submit abstracts for presentation in the poster session. All forms of medical research are invited (basic, clinical/translational, health policy, outcomes, population health, etc.) Senior faculty and research support staff are invited to submit abstracts for the poster session and/or the abstract booklet, but will not be eligible for awards.

Any abstracts and posters on studies that have not been published in full manuscript prior to the abstract submission date can be presented on the Research Day. That includes abstracts and posters that have not been presented previously and those that have been presented previously at regional, national, or international conferences.

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Timothy Klatt, MD @ Ob-Gyn Conference Room #252 (2nd floor Dynacare Lab Building)
Sep 18 @ 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Oct
16
Wed
2013
Yi-Wen Huang, PhD @ Ob-Gyn Conference Room #252 (2nd floor Dynacare Lab Building)
Oct 16 @ 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Nov
20
Wed
2013
Metastasis of Cancer Cells – Unexpected Role of Astrocytes! – Ramani Ramchandran, PhD @ Ob-Gyn Conference Room #252 (2nd floor Dynacare Lab Building)
Nov 20 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Jan
15
Wed
2014
Specifics why Pregnant Women Decline Vaccination against Influenza – Timothy Klatt, MD @ Froedtert - Dynacare Lab Building, 2nd floor, Ob-Gyn conference room #252
Jan 15 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Feb
19
Wed
2014
Somatic Gene Mutations Predict Outcome of Ovarian Carcinoma – Yan Lu, PhD @ Froedtert - Dynacare Lab Building, 2nd floor, Ob-Gyn conference room #252
Feb 19 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Mar
19
Wed
2014
Nogo-B Receptor is a New Partner of Estrogen Receptor for Promoting Estrogen Signaling – Qing Robert Miao, PhD @ Froedtert - Dynacare Lab Building, 2nd floor, Ob-Gyn conference room #252
Mar 19 @ 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Presented by

Qing Robert Miao, PhD

Qing Robert Miao, PhD


Qing Robert Miao, PhD
Associate Professor
Medical College of Wisconsin
Pediatric Surgery and Pediatric Pathology

About Dr. Miao

Dr. Miao’s current research has been focused on the molecular mechanisms of a new ligand-receptor pair, Nogo-B and Nogo-B receptor (NgBR), in regulating endothelial cell migration and blood vessel formation during embryo development and tumor growth. In addition, his team is establishing in vitro and in vivo models to dissect the molecular mechanisms of endothelial cells interacting with microenvironment niche during vasculogenesis and angiogenesis, and developing therapeutic approaches to modulate Nogo-B/NgBR functions.

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Mar
26
Wed
2014
Sterner Lecture for Fetal Medicine: “Fetal Cardiac Therapy: Can We Treat Cardiovascular Conditions Before Birth?” – Jack Rychik, MD @ Alumni Center | Medical Education Building, Medical College of Wisconsin
Mar 26 @ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Apr
16
Wed
2014
Neuromuscular Function in Women Postpartum – Sandra Hunter, PhD and Sarah Eickmeyer, MD @ Froedtert - Dynacare Lab Building, 2nd floor, Ob-Gyn conference room #252
Apr 16 @ 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Presented by

Sandra Hunter, PhD
Associate Professor
Marquette University
Exercise Science Program
Department of Physical Therapy
Sarah Eickmeyer, MD
Associate Professor
Medical College of Wisconsin
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

About Dr. Hunter

Sandra Hunter, PhD

Sandra Hunter, PhD

Dr. Hunter’s current research areas:

  • The impact of stress on neuromuscular function and muscle fatigue
  • The neural control of muscle fatigue and task failure with age
  • Sex and task differences in muscle fatigue of young and older adults
  • Adaptations of neuromuscular aging: control of muscle force and motor unit variability

Department Profile

About Dr. Eickmeyer

Sarah Eickmeyer, MD

Sarah Eickmeyer, MD

Dr. Eickmeyer’s specialties include Amputee/Prosthetic Rehabilitation, Musculoskeletal, Cancer Rehabilitation, Women’s Health Rehabilitation

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May
21
Wed
2014
Thrombomodulin-Protein C Pathway: An Essential Role in Placental Development and Function – Rashmi Sood, PhD @ Froedtert - Dynacare Lab Building, 2nd floor, Ob-Gyn conference room #252
May 21 @ 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Presented by

Rashmi-Sood

Rashmi Sood, PhD

Rashmi Sood, PhD
Assistant Professor
Medical College of Wisconsin
Pathology

About Dr. Sood

Dr. Rashmi Sood received her PhD in Molecular Biology from the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, University of Bombay, India. Her postdoctoral studies were conducted at the Blood Research Institute, Blood Center of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, where she specialized in coagulation and vascular biology. Dr. Sood’s laboratory develops and utilizes rodent models of placental disease and pregnancy disorder to understand disease mechanisms. In parallel, her laboratory seeks to discover predictive biomarkers that can be used to identify high-risk pregnancies in women.

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Jun
25
Wed
2014
2014 Resident Research & Alumni Day @ Alumni Center | Medical Education Building, Medical College of Wisconsin
Jun 25 @ 12:30 pm – 6:00 pm

Resident Research and Alumni Day is an annual event in which housestaff present their research results within their residency in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. We invite our Obstetrics and Gynecology alumni to attend this significant day to support our current residents.

Agenda

TimeActivity
7:30amREGISTRATION & BREAKFAST
7:45amWELCOME
8:00amBenjamin Beran, R3
“Behavioral Interviewing”
Mentor: Paul Lemen, MD
8:15amJessica Greenblatt, R4
“Decision Making and Mode of Pregnancy Termination”
Mentor: Suzanne Walczak, MD
8:30amElizabeth Hopp, R2
“Lymphedema in Endometrial Cancer”
Mentor: Denise Uyar, MD
8:45amCaitlin McCarthy, R3
“Anti-Mullerian Hormone Levels in Predicting IUI Cycle Success”
Mentor: Estil Strawn, MD
9:00amMegan Mietelski, R4
“Threshold for Defining Subclinical Hypothyroidism and its Influence on in Vitro Fertilization Pregnancy and Live Birth Rates”
Mentor: Estil Strawn, MD
9:15amShirley Hinshaw, R3
“Endometrial Carcinoma: the effect of surgical technique in the morbidly obese”
Mentor: William Bradley, MD
9:30amBREAK
9:45amJacinda Hunter, R3
“Perspectives of Specialty Providers on Teratogenic Risk Counseling”
Mentor: Suzanne Walczak, MD
10:00amCara Leppellere, R4
“Specifics Why Pregnant Women Decline Vaccination Against Influenza”
Mentor: Timothy Klatt, MD
10:15amMegan Foeller, R2
“Are Adverse Neonate Outcomes in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Twin Gestations Decreased Compared with Nondiabetic Twins?”
Mentor: Meredith Cruz, MD
10:30amCheryl Czapla, R3
“LEEP and the Active Phase of Labor”
Mentor: Mary Burke, MD
10:45amBREAK
11:00amThe Roland S. Cron Lecture:
Alan H. DeCherney, MD
“Translational Science in Reproductive Medicine”
12:00pmLUNCH

The Roland S. Cron Lectureship

Guest Speaker

Alan Hersh DeCherney, MD

Alan Hersh DeCherney, MD

Alan Hersh DeCherney, MD
Head
Program in Reproductive and Adult Endocrinology/Reproductive Biology and Medicine Branch
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)

About Dr. DeCherney
He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Natural Sciences from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania where he served on the Board of Trustees from 2006-2010. His Medical Degree is from Temple University School of Medicine where he was AOA and awarded the Henry Laughlin Alumnus of the Year Award in 2005.

He also holds an honorary Master of Arts Degree from Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. He did a research fellowship in Immunology at the Lister Institute in London, England; his internship in Medicine was at the University of Pittsburgh, followed by a residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Pennsylvania.
View Dr. DeCherney’s Profile


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Sep
17
Wed
2014
New Approaches to Inhibit Metastasis by Targeting Small GTPases in Cancer Cells – Carol Williams, PhD @ Froedtert - Dynacare Lab Building, 2nd floor, Ob-Gyn conference room #252
Sep 17 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Presented by

Carol L. Williams, PhD

Carol L. Williams, PhD

Carol L. Williams, PhD
Professor
Medical College of Wisconsin
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology

About Dr. Williams

Dr. Williams received a Champion in Women’s Health Award from the Wisconsin Women’s Health Foundation in May, 2013. Her research focuses on the biochemical signaling pathways and cellular processes regulated by the Ras and Rho families of small GTPases. These proteins regulate important physiological processes in a variety of cell types, including contraction of smooth muscle cells and proliferation of epithelial cells. Abnormal signaling by these proteins may contribute to several diseases, including asthma, hypertension, atherosclerosis, and cancer. The importance of these proteins in human health provides the driving force for our studies.

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Oct
15
Wed
2014
Role of Adiposity Distribution in Disease and Health – Srividya Kidambi, MD, MS @ Froedtert - Dynacare Lab Building, 2nd floor, Ob-Gyn conference room #252
Oct 15 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Presented by

Srividya Kidambi, MD

Srividya Kidambi, MD

Srividya Kidambi, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Associate Fellowship Program Director

Medical College of Wisconsin
Department of Medicine
Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Clinical Nutrition

About Dr. Kidambi

Dr. Kidambi’s current research involves Association of aldosterone with metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance, and Gender and ethnic differences in the body fat distribution and its role in causing diseases such as heart disease or high blood pressure. She has authored several papers in medical journals on these topics.

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Jan
21
Wed
2015
Novel Molecular Mechanisms of Endothelial Function – Magdalena Chrzanowska-Wodnicka, PhD @ Froedtert - Dynacare Lab Building, 2nd floor, Ob-Gyn conference room #252
Jan 21 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Presented by

Magdalena Chrzanowska-Wodnicka, PhD

Magdalena Chrzanowska-Wodnicka, PhD

Magdalena Chrzanowska-Wodnicka, PhD
Associate Investigator, BloodCenter of Wisconsin
Assistant Adjunct Professor Pharmacology and Toxicology
, Medical College of Wisconsin

About Dr. Chrzanowska-Wodnicka

Dr. Chrzanowska-Wodnicka’s laboratory studies the function of small G proteins in the cardiovascular system. We use transgenic mouse and zebrafish models for in vivo studies and a variety of biochemical, molecular and microscopy approaches to interrogate signaling by small GTPases in vascular cells ex vivo.

Small G protein Rap1 has been the main focus of research in my laboratory over the past few years. Rap1, evolutionarily conserved and ubiquitously expressed, is activated downstream from multiple cell surface receptors and regulates several basic cellular functions: adhesion, migration, polarity, differentiation and growth. Well studied in vitro, Rap1 functions in mammalian systems in vivo are still not very well understood.

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Feb
18
Wed
2015
Variations in Breast Cancer Care by Hospital Volume – Tina W. F. Yen, MD, MS @ Froedtert - Dynacare Lab Building, 2nd floor, Ob-Gyn conference room #252
Feb 18 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Presented by

Tina W. F. Yen, MD, MS

Tina W. F. Yen, MD, MS

Tina W. F. Yen, MD, MS
Associate Professor
Medical College of Wisconsin
Department of Surgery

About Dr. Yen

Dr. Yen’s current research focuses on studying breast cancer quality of care, patterns of care, and the relationship of these patterns of care to outcomes of care through the analysis of administrative data, Medicare claims, and tumor registry data. Current projects include studying lymphedema incidence and risk factors among older breast cancer women (funded by a Career Development Award by the National Institutes of Health) and hormone therapy use in older breast cancer women.

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Mar
18
Wed
2015
The Role of VRK1 Protein Kinase in Female Fertility – Paula Traktman, PhD @ Froedtert - Dynacare Lab Building, 2nd floor, Ob-Gyn conference room #252
Mar 18 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Presented by

Paula Traktman, PhD

Paula Traktman, PhD

Paula Traktman, PhD
Walter Schroeder Professor and Chairman
Medical College of Wisconsin
Microbiology and Molecular Genetics

About Dr. Traktman

Dr. Traktman’s research focus is in vaccinia virus: replication, morphogenesis, and the role of dynamic phosphorylation. VRK protein kinases: the role of the cellular VRKs in cell structure, function and proliferation.

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Apr
15
Wed
2015
Image Guided Photothermal Therapy of Breast Cancer – Amit Joshi, PhD @ Froedtert - Dynacare Lab Building, 2nd floor, Ob-Gyn conference room #252
Apr 15 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Presented by

Amit Joshi, PhD

Amit Joshi, PhD

Amit Joshi, PhD
Associate Professor
Medical College of Wisconsin
Department of Radiology

About Dr. Joshi

The overarching goal of my research is to develop technologies for image guided interventions in cancer. During my doctoral training, I studied near-infrared (NIR) light interaction with biological tissue and developed mathematical algorithms and imaging methods for investigating fluorescent structures with NIR light in deep tissue. I was the first researcher to propose fully adaptive 3D image reconstruction algorithms in fluorescence optical tomography, which allowed the investigation of liter scale tissue volumes at mm resolution with computationally tractable methods. During my doctoral and postdoctoral training, I also collaborated with nuclear energy researchers from Los Alamos National Labs for porting subatomic particle transport simulation methods for modeling near infrared photon transport in tissue, with first principle derived deterministic methods, independent of assumptions on tissue optical properties, and sourcedetector configurations. The work resulted in successful NIH STTR phase I and Phase-II applications for developing optical photon transport modeling software, under my leadership as the consortium PI at Baylor College of Medicine.
Read More about Dr. Joshi

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May
20
Wed
2015
Iron and Iron Proteins in Breast Cancer Development and Prognosis – Christopher R. Chitambar, MD @ Froedtert - Dynacare Lab Building, 2nd floor, Ob-Gyn conference room #252
May 20 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Presented by

Christopher_Chitambar

Christopher R. Chitambar, MD

Christopher R. Chitambar, MD
Professor of Medicine
Director, Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program
Division of Hematology & Oncology
Medical College of Wisconsin and Froedtert Clinical Cancer Center

About Dr. Chitambar

Dr. Chitambar’s research focuses on understanding the role of iron proteins in tumor cell growth, apoptosis, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial function, with a particular emphasis on the development of novel gallium compounds as therapeutic agents. His clinical emphasis is on the treatment of patients with breast cancer and lymphoma and the development of clinical trials for these diseases.

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Jun
24
Wed
2015
2015 Resident Research & Alumni Day @ Medical College of Wisconsin - Alumni Center
Jun 24 @ 7:30 am – 1:00 pm

Resident Research and Alumni Day is an annual event in which housestaff present their research results within their residency in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. We invite our Obstetrics and Gynecology alumni to attend this significant day to support our current residents.

The Roland S. Cron Lectureship

Ira Bernstein, M.D.

Ira Bernstein, M.D.

Guest Speaker

Ira M. Bernstein, MD – “Preeclampsia: Not Just a Disease of Pregnancy”
Senior Associate Dean for Research, College of Medicine
John Van Sicklen Maeck Professor and Chair
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences

View Dr. DeCherney’s Profile


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Sep
16
Wed
2015
Mechanisms of Sickle Cell Pain – Cheryl Stucky, PhD @ Froedtert - Dynacare Lab Building, 2nd floor, Ob-Gyn conference room #252
Sep 16 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Presented by

Cheryl L. Stucky, PhD

Cheryl Stucky, PhD
Professor of Cell Biology, Neurobiology & Anatomy
Director, Neuroscience Doctoral Program
Medical College of Wisconsin

About Dr. Stucky

In virtually all of our daily activities, we rely on our skin and nervous system to interact with the world around us. Our laboratory is keenly interested in how our skin sensory neurons detect environmental stimuli, such as tactile pressure, cold and heat, and painful stimuli. The best candidate proteins for transduction of physical stimuli are members of the Transient Receptor Potential ion channel family. For example, we recently showed that the Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin 8 (TRPM8), the receptor activated by menthol and peppermint, is a key receptor that detects cool and painfully cold stimuli (Bautista et al., 2007, Nature).

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Sep
23
Wed
2015
2015 Annual Sterner Lecture for Fetal Medicine @ Medical College of Wisconsin - Alumni Center
Sep 23 @ 9:00 am – 10:00 am

Featured Speaker: Foong-Yen Lim, MD – “Amnioport…Cincinnati Fetal Center Experience”

Foong-Yen Lim, MD

Foong-Yen Lim, MD

Associate Professor; Surgical Director, Cincinnati Fetal Center
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine

Foong-Yen Lim, MD, a pediatric and fetal surgeon, leads the Fetal Team as the Surgical Director of the Cincinnati Fetal Center (CFC). He has performed more than 500 fetoscopic procedures and various open fetal surgeries at CFC. Besides his leadership role locally, he currently serves on the Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment Committee of the American Pediatric Surgical Association; and Board of Directors of the North American Fetal Therapy (NAFTNet). He also served as the Program Director of the 30th Annual International Fetal Medicine and Surgery Society (IFMSS) Conference.

Dr. Lim continues to expand his expertise in Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery with an emphasis on congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH); congenital lung lesions such as congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM) and bronchopulmonary sequestration (BPS); congenital high airway obstruction syndrome (CHAOS); and congenital tumors including giant cervical teratoma, and sacrococcygeal teratoma. In addition to serving as one of the attending physicians on the CDH Team that is dedicated to the care and management of all CDH patients, he is leading the clinical and research projects related to CDH and congenital lung lesions at Cincinnati.

Dr. Lim leads the Cincinnati Fetal Center Perinatal Research Group in clinical research with currently over thirty active IRB protocols. Together with the staff in Cincinnati Fetal Center, we are building a comprehensive data base for all of our patients to facilitate outcomes report and study. At Cincinnati Children’s, Dr. Lim collaborates with physicians and researchers at the Perinatal Institute, The Heart Institute, Division of Pulmonary Biology, Division of Radiology, Division of Otolaryngology, Division of Anesthesia, Division of Urology, and the Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic Surgery in various projects. The Cincinnati Fetal Center is also collaborating with physicians and researchers at the University Hospital and Good Samaritan Hospital in various projects. We also have robust involvement in multicenter trials, registries and projects such as International Stage I TTTS Trial, International Prenatal Tracheal Occlusion Trial for Severe CDH, DHREAMS (Diaphragmatic Hernia Research & Exploration; Advancing Molecular Science) study (NIH grant HD057036), International CDH Registry, North America registry for pregnancies complicated by prenatally diagnosed lower urinary tract obstruction (LUTO) with normal amniotic fluid volume, and NAFTNet-sponsor projects including “Natural history of Stage I Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome” and “Delivery indications for TTTS after laser ablation”; just to name a few.
Innovation of prenatal diagnosis and in utero treatment are the mainstay of the Lim lab. The ability to diagnose congenital conditions prior to birth has led to an opportunity to understand the natural history of these processes and provide antenatal therapy to prevent devastating morbidities and even death. While much of our focus is on risk stratification using prenatal evaluations and the development of prognostic indicators, we are also actively investigating the role of prenatal biomarkers that may provide insight into the development and progression of these fetal anomalies. The advancement and innovation of operative techniques can then be performed in animal models with translation into patient use.

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Oct
21
Wed
2015
Role of Astrocyte in Breast Cancer Brain Lesion – Ling Wang, MD, PhD @ Froedtert - Dynacare Lab Building, 2nd floor, Ob-Gyn conference room #252
Oct 21 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Presented by

Ling Wang, PhD

Ling Wang, PhD

Ling Wang, MD, PhD
Instructor
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Medical College of Wisconsin

About Dr. Wang

Dr. Wang’s. has extensive experience in tumor angiogenesis and tumor biology. Her long-term research interests involve the development of a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms and the molecule-based diagnosis and therapy to woman cancer. Her study in neuropilin biology determines the status of neuropilin-1/GIPC (RGS-GAIP-interacting protein) signaling in vascular development and tumor progression. Currently, she is focused on to identify the role of microenvironment and germline BRCA1 mutation in breast cancer and ovarian cancer metastases, with specific emphasis on the signaling mechanisms and clinical significance.

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Nov
18
Wed
2015
A Multi-pronged Immunotherapy to Treat Ovarian Cancer – Weiguo Cui, PhD @ Froedtert - Dynacare Lab Building, 2nd floor, Ob-Gyn conference room #252
Nov 18 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Presented by

Weiguo Cui, PhD

Weiguo Cui, PhD

Weiguo Cui, PhD
Associate Investigator
Blood Research Institute
BloodCenter of Wisconsin

Assistant Professor
Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics
Medical College of Wisconsin

About Dr. Cui

During an acute viral or bacterial infection, naïve T cells can differentiate into multiple types of effector and memory T cells that help to mediate pathogen clearance and provide long-term protective immunity. The main goal of our research in the lab is to elucidate how TCR and cytokine signaling and their downstream transcriptional programs regulate pathogen-specific T cells to proliferate, differentiate into either short-lived effector cells or long-lived memory cells.

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Jan
20
Wed
2016
Strength and Fatigability of the Trunk Flexor and Lumbar Stabilizing Muscles in Postpartum Women – Sandra Hunter, PhD, FACSM and Meredith Cruz, MD, MPH/MBA @ Froedtert - Dynacare Lab Building, 2nd floor, Ob-Gyn conference room #252
Jan 20 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Presented by

Sandra Hunter, PhD and Meredith Cruz, MD, MBA/MPH

About Dr. Hunter

Sandra Hunter, PhD

Sandra Hunter, PhD

Dr. Hunter’s current research areas:

  • The impact of stress on neuromuscular function and muscle fatigue
  • The neural control of muscle fatigue and task failure with age
  • Sex and task differences in muscle fatigue of young and older adults
  • Adaptations of neuromuscular aging: control of muscle force and motor unit variability

Department Profile

About Dr. Cruz

Meredith Cruz, MD, MBA/MPH

Meredith Cruz, MD, MBA/MPH

Dr. Cruz specializes in Maternal Fetal Medicine with an emphasis on critical care and high risk obstetrics, prenatal diagnosis, and ultrasonography. Her other areas of expertise include hypertension, diabetes, and cardiac issues in pregnancy.

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Feb
17
Wed
2016
Stem Cells and Human Disease Modeling – Allison D. Ebert, PhD @ Froedtert - Dynacare Lab Building, 2nd floor, Ob-Gyn conference room #252
Feb 17 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Presented by

Allison Ebertjpg

Allison D. Ebert, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy
Medical College of Wisconsin

About Dr. Ebert

Dr. Ebert’s research interests are in the area of neurodegenerative diseases, both understanding the molecular basis for the disease progression and finding effective experimental therapies. My current research focuses on using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from patient tissue to understand disease mechanisms and therapeutic intervention. Specifically, my lab is investigating the cell death processes involved in motor neuron loss in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). We are using iPSCs derived from an SMA patient to generate motor neurons, astrocytes, and muscle cells to determine how the motor neurons are dying and whether the astrocytes and muscle cells are contributing to the disease process. My lab is also testing the therapeutic potential of ex vivo gene therapy in animal models of Parkinson’s and Huntington’s diseases by transplanting neural stem cells engineered to produce specific growth factors known to aid neuron survival. The growth factors I am actively examining are glial cell line-derivedneurotrophic factor (GDNF), insulin like growth factor (IGF-1), brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Finally, we are interested in characterizing and understanding survival, migration, and differentiation patterns of transplanted stem cells in models of disease, which could have important clinical relevance.

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Mar
16
Wed
2016
NextGen Strategies for Mapping Cancer Risk in the Tumor Microenvironment – Michael Flister, PhD @ Froedtert - Dynacare Lab Building, 2nd floor, Ob-Gyn conference room #252
Mar 16 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Presented by

flister-michae-cropl

Michael Flister, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Physiology
Medical College of Wisconsin

Specialization and Research Interests

Genetics and Genomics; Molecular and Cellular Physiology.

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Apr
20
Wed
2016
Can Immunotherapy with Cancer-Killing T Cells be Improved through Genetic Engineering? – Bryon Johnson, PhD @ Froedtert - Dynacare Lab Building, 2nd floor, Ob-Gyn conference room #252
Apr 20 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Presented by

Bryon Johnson, PhD

Bryon Johnson, PhD

Bryon Johnson, PhD
Professor
Department of Pediatrics (Hematology and Oncology, BMT)
Microbiology and Molecular Genetics
Medical College of Wisconsin

About Dr. Johnson

Dr. Johnson is interested in understanding the biology and immunology of cancer, and uncovering novel immune-based approaches to treat cancer. His current research focuses on combining the following approaches to improve the use of cancer immunotherapy for treating both solid tumors and hematologic cancers: (1) immune checkpoint protein blockade, (2) adoptive transfer of cancer-reactive T lymphocytes, and (3) the use of metabolic inhibitors to increase T cell immunity.

Department ProfileResearch Profile

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May
18
Wed
2016
Utilizing Novel Genetic Tools to Identify Targets to Enhance Radiation Therapy in Cancers – Carmen Bergom, MD, PhD @ Froedtert - Dynacare Lab Building, 2nd floor, Ob-Gyn conference room #252
May 18 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Presented by

Carmen Bergom, MD, PhD

Carmen Bergom, MD, PhD

Carmen Bergom, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Radiation Oncology
Medical College of Wisconsin

About Dr. Bergom

Dr. Ebert’s research interests are in the members of the Rho, Rac, Ras, and Rap families of small GTPases regulate cancer development and progression. In addition, Ras and other small GTPases can alter the sensitivity of cancer cells to radiation and chemotherapy. Identifying new ways to suppress small GTPase activation in cancers may provide new treatment approaches. While most small GTPases promote cancer and are oncogenic, a few of the small GTPase family members are actually tumor suppressors. Our laboratory studies members of the small GTPase family which have tumor suppressor activities.

The DIRAS family of small GTPases has the unique property of having tumor suppressive actions, rather than the tumor promoting actions common to most other small GTPases. DIRAS1 and DIRAS2 are poorly characterized thus far, with the literature consisting of only a few publications demonstrating tumor suppressor functions in central nervous system and esophageal malignancies. DIRAS3 (ARHI) is the most studied of the DIRAS proteins. DIRAS3 is downregulated or lost in 40-70% of ovarian and breast cancers. Overexpression of DIRAS1 inhibits Ras-mediated cellular transformation of NIH3T3 cells, and DIRAS3 dramatically inhibits cells growth of breast and ovarian cancer cells. Our laboratory is currently studying the roles of DIRAS signaling in breast cancer and other malignancies.

Our long-term goal is to understand how small GTPases can be manipulated to enhance cancer treatment. The knowledge obtained from our studies may help define novel signaling pathways that modulate the functions of pro-oncogenic small GTPases in the Ras family. We hypothesize that knowledge of DIRAS family tumor suppressive signaling can identify new targets for cancer therapeutics and help to identify novel ways in which to abolish pro-oncogenic small GTPase signaling which is critical in the development and progression of a number of malignancies.

Department ProfileResearch ProfileView CV

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Jun
22
Wed
2016
2016 Resident Research & Alumni Day @ Medical College of Wisconsin - Alumni Center
Jun 22 @ 7:30 am – 1:00 pm

Resident Research and Alumni Day is an annual event in which housestaff present their research results within their residency in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. We invite our Obstetrics and Gynecology alumni to attend this significant day to support our current residents.

The Roland S. Cron Lectureship – “Hereditary Ovarian Cancer, an Opportunity to Save Lives”

elizabeth-swisher-research-day-2016

Guest Speaker

Elizabeth M Swisher, MD
Professor, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology
Adjunct Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Genetics
University of Washington School of Medicine
Director, Breast and Ovarian Cancer Prevention Program at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance

Dr. Swisher earned a B.S. from Yale University and received her M.D. from the University of California at San Diego. She completed her residency at the University of Washington in Ob/Gyn and a fellowship in gynecologic oncology at Washington University St Louis. She returned to the University of Washington to join the faculty in 1999 and has been here since that time. Both her clinical and laboratory work focus on cancer genetics. Dr. Swisher has published extensively on the genetics and therapy of ovarian cancer and has received numerous national awards including a Sidney Kimmel Award, the CREOG National Teaching Award, the GCF Margaret Greenfield/Carmel Cohen, MD Excellence in Ovarian Cancer Research Prize, and the OCNA Rosalind Franklin Award for Ovarian Cancer Research. She has received many research grants from the NIH, the DoD Ovarian Cancer Research Program, the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, the V Foundation, The Mary Kay Foundation, the Marsha Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer Research, and others. She is the co-leader of the first Stand Up to Cancer/AACR ovarian Cancer Dream team. She is also the co-leader of an international clinical trial and has been the principal investigator.

Dr. Swisher has served many national and international cancer organizations including the American Society of Clinical Oncology (education), the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (elected council member), the Foundation for Gynecologic Oncology (elected board member), NRG Oncology (Translational Science committee), the American Association of Cancer Research (awards committee), and others.

Dr. Swisher is board certified in gynecologic oncology and obstetrics and gynecology.


Learn More about Resident Research and Alumni Day

Aug
10
Wed
2016
“Working Together to Support Breastfeeding” @ Froedtert Cancer Center Conference Room M
Aug 10 @ 8:00 am – 11:00 am

Breastfeeding education and promotion have been identified as vital components of improving the rate of breastfeeding initiation and continuation. Thanks to a generous donation by Mr. Paul and Dr. Kathy Kartke, this symposium will initiate a formal educational program for healthcare providers and staff.


Space is limited for onsite attendance, so it will be first come first served. RSVP to Kelly Winum at kwinum@mcw.edu with your name and credentials.

Videoconferencing will be available for those who are not able to attend and/or if space is full.

TimeTopic
8:00 AMRegistration and Breakfast
8:10 AMWelcome
8:15 - 11:00 AM Invited Expert Presentations and Panel Discussion

Presented by

Hanley, Lauren headshot from websiteLauren Elyse Hanley, MD, FACOG, IBCLC
Dr. Hanley is an Obstetrician/Gynecologist and Breastfeeding Medicine Specialist at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. She is an Assistant Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology at Harvard Medical School. She currently serves as the Chair and a founding member of the Expert Working Group in Breastfeeding of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. She also serves on the Executive Board of the Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition.
Thomas, Jenny, MD headtshotJenny Thomas, MD, IBCLC
Dr. Jenny Thomas is a pediatrician and breastfeeding medicine specialist at Aurora Healthcare in Franklin, Wisconsin and is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Community and Family Medicine and Pediatrics at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW). She received her MD from MCW in 1993, and her MPH in 2011. She has been an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) since 2003. She is now serving on the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Section on Breastfeeding Executive Board after spending several years as the Chief of the Chapter Breastfeeding Coordinators. She also serves on the Executive Board of the Wisconsin Chapter of the AAP, and is a founder and the immediate-past Chairperson of the Wisconsin Breastfeeding Coalition. She is the author of “Dr. Jen’s Guide to Breastfeeding.”
NancyMohrbacher-roundNancy Mohrbacher, IBCLC, FILCA
She is an internationally known lactation consultant, author, and breastfeeding smartphone app developer. Her books include “Breastfeeding Made Simple: Seven Natural Laws for Nursing Mothers”, “Working and Breastfeeding Made Simple”, and “Breastfeeding Solutions: Quick Tips for the Most Common Nursing Challenges”. In 2008 the International Lactation Consultant Association officially recognized Nancy’s contributions to the field of breastfeeding by awarding her the designation FILCA, Fellow of the International Lactation Consultant Association. Nancy was one of the first group of 16 to be recognized for their lifetime achievements in breastfeeding.

Accreditation

The Medical College of Wisconsin is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The Medical College of Wisconsin designates this live activity for a maximum of 2.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

The Medical College of Wisconsin designates this activity for up to 2.75 hours of participation for continuing education for allied health professionals.

Sep
14
Wed
2016
2016 Annual Sterner Lecture for Fetal Medicine @ CHW Briggs & Stratton Auditorium
Sep 14 @ 9:00 am – 10:00 am

Featured Speaker: ANTHONY JOHNSON, DO – “Update in Fetal Intervention”

Anthony Johnson, DO

Anthony Johnson, DO

Professor, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences and in the Department of Pediatric Surgery
The John P. and Kathrine G. McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center
Co-director, The Fetal Center
Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital

Dr. Anthony Johnson is an internationally renowned specialist in maternal-fetal medicine (MFM). He has performed more than 300 laser ablation procedures in the treatment of severe twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, and has extensive experience with other fetoscopic-based and needle guided in utero procedures.

He received his medical degree from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine in Lewisburg, West Virginia, and subsequently completed his fellowship in Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia and a fellowship in medical genetics at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. He later served as the director of the Fetal Intervention Program in the Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine at North Carolina Women’s Hospital in Chapel Hill, North Carolina prior to relocating to Houston in 2006.

Dr. Johnson joined the The Fetal Center, affiliated with Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital and McGovern Medical School at UTHealth, in 2011 as co-director. Prior to joining the team, he was a professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery and the Department of Molecular and Human Genetics at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. He was also one of the senior MFM physicians as part of the Texas Children’s Fetal Center team.

He has served as director of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine’s Special Interest Group in Maternal-Fetal Surgery and Special Interest Group in Genetics. He is an examiner on the Maternal Fetal Medicine Subspecialty Committee of the American Osteopathic Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and on the Medical Advisory Board of the Fetal Health Foundation.

Dr. Johnson was a reviewer of the National Institutes of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), which sponsored the Management of Myelomeningocele Study (MOMS), that was published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2011. Dr. Johnson’s specialty interests include:

Complicated Monochorionic Multifetal pregnancies Twin-Twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS)
Selective fetal growth restriction (SIUGR)
Other fetoscopic-based and needle guided in utero procedures including:
– Laser for TTTS
– Tracheal occlusion for diaphragmatic hernia
– Vesico-amniotic and pleura-amniotic shunts

Sep
21
Wed
2016
New Insight Into Protein Homeostasis – Matthew Scaglione, PhD @ Froedtert - Dynacare Lab Building, 2nd floor, Ob-Gyn conference room #252
Sep 21 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Presented by

Matt Scaglione, PhD

Matt Scaglione, PhD

Matthew Scaglione, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Biochemistry
Medical College of Wisconsin

About Dr. Scaglione

K. Matthew Scaglione received his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from McKendree University in 2001 and his Doctorate in Biochemistry from Saint Louis University School of Medicine in 2007 where his research focused on ubiquitin pathways in cancer. He performed postdoctoral studies at the University of Michigan School of Medicine from 2007 until 2013 investigating the role of protein quality control pathways in neurodegenerative diseases. During his postdoctoral studies Dr. Scaglione was awarded a F32 (Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award) and a NIH K99/R00 (Pathway to Independence Award). Dr. Scaglione joined the faculty of the Medical College of Wisconsin in 2013.

Protein aggregation is a hallmark of numerous neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and the polyglutamine diseases. Dr. Scaglione’s lab focuses on understanding how protein quality control pathways counteract protein aggregation to maintain neuronal health.

Learn more about the WHRP Seminars

Oct
19
Wed
2016
Function of Tie-1 Antisense Long Non-Coding RNA in Vascular Development – Tamjid Chowdhury, PhD @ Froedtert - Dynacare Lab Building, 2nd floor, Ob-Gyn conference room #252
Oct 19 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Presented by

Tamjid Chowdhury, PhD

Tamjid Chowdhury, PhD

Tamjid Chowdhury, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Medical College of Wisconsin

Learn more about the WHRP Seminars

Jan
18
Wed
2017
Non-Coding Genetic Aberrations in Ovarian Cancer – Pradeep Chaluvally-Raghavan, PhD @ Froedtert - Dynacare Lab Building, 2nd floor, Ob-Gyn conference room #252
Jan 18 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Presented by

Pradeep Chaluvally-Raghavan, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Medical College of Wisconsin

About Dr. Chaluvally-Raghavan

Dr. Pradeep Chaluvally-Raghavan received Ph.D. degree in 2006 from the University of Calicut, India where he focused on the role NF-kappa B activation and pro-inflammatory cytokine genes in melanoma models. After completion of graduate school, he moved to the laboratory of Dr. Yosef Yarden at the Weizmann Institute of Sciences, Israel for postdoctoral research. In Dr. Yarden’s laboratory, he studied the role of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family members in breast cancer progression.
Pradeep Chaluvally-Raghavan, PhD

During this period, he identified that NOTCH3 and NOTCH3-associated genes deregulate the growth of mammary epithelial cells and promote the transition of normal mammary duct to Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) in breast cancer models. Further, during this transition phase of DCIS to invasive cancer, he characterized the role of three distinct pathways hypoxia, integrin and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling pathways. In 2010, he joined the lab of Dr. Gordon Mills in the Department of Systems Biology at the MD Anderson Cancer Center. In Mills lab, he focused on genomic aberrations such as gene mutation or copy number variation (CNVs), and its effect on downstream signaling pathways in breast and ovarian cancer. In 2016, he was recruited as a tenure track Assistant Professor to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Medical College of Wisconsin. In the current position Dr. Chaluvally continues his post-doctoral work initiated in the Mills lab, and extends this research into other areas of non-coding RNA biology. Specifically, he is studying the role of non-coding RNA in mediating transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Over the last 6 years, he has made major scientific contributions to our understanding of the role of non-coding RNA aberrations as part of the CNVs in cancer.

Learn more about the WHRP Seminars

Feb
15
Wed
2017
The Role of Sucrose Non-Fermenting Related Kinase in Cardiovascular Development – Stephanie Cossette, PhD @ Froedtert - Dynacare Lab Building, 2nd floor, Ob-Gyn conference room #252
Feb 15 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Presented by


Stephanie Cossette, PhD
Post-doctoral Fellow
Department of Pediatrics-Neonatology
Medical College of Wisconsin

About Dr. Cossette

She is currently a Post-Doc Fellow in Dr. Ramani Ramchandran’s lab. She received the 2016 Edward J. Lennon, M.D. Award for an Outstanding Women Postdoctoral Researcher. Her research focuses on understanding the role of sucrose non-fermenting related kinase (SNRK) during cardiovascular development. SNRK is involved in the metabolism-sensing pathway and is regulated by liver kinase B1 (LKB1), which is a tumor suppressor that is also associated with the Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. By using the mammalian system to systematically remove SNRK from various types of tissue/organ populations, she will be able to investigate the specific role of SRNK in development as well as investigate the developmental relationship between SNRK and LKB1.

Learn more about the WHRP Seminars

Mar
15
Wed
2017
Angiogenesis in Development, Regeneration, and Pathology – Akiko Mammoto, MD, PhD @ Froedtert - Dynacare Lab Building, 2nd floor, Ob-Gyn conference room #252
Mar 15 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Presented by


Akiko Mammoto, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Pediatrics
Medical College of Wisconsin

About Dr. Mammoto

Dr. Mammoto is an assistant professor in the department of Pediatrics. She is interested in cellular mechanotransduction in angiogenesis. Her recent research focuses on the role of angiogenesis in organ development and various pathological states. She has published more than 65 papers in high impact peer-reviewed journals such as Nature, Developmental Cell, Nature Communications, Journal of Biological Chemistry, etc.

Learn more about the WHRP Seminars

Jun
21
Wed
2017
2017 Resident Research & Alumni Day @ Medical College of Wisconsin - Alumni Center
Jun 21 @ 7:30 am – 1:00 pm

Resident Research and Alumni Day is an annual event in which residents present their research results within their residency in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. We invite our Obstetrics and Gynecology alumni to attend this significant day to support our current residents.

The Roland S. Cron Lectureship

Guest Speaker

Michelle A Kominiarek, MD
Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Dr. Michelle Kominiarek, MD MS is a Maternal-Fetal Medicine physician at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and an Associate Professor in the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Kominiarek is nationally known for her expertise in pregnancies complicated by obesity and pregnancies that occur after bariatric surgery. Her clinical and research interests also relate to women’s health outcomes such as labor progress, anticoagulation during pregnancy, hypertension in pregnancy, and obstetrical hemorrhage. She is an active member of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine.

Dr. Kominiarek strives to provide patients and their families with an excellent prenatal care and delivery experience that focuses on patient education and empowerment and often involves a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach with other clinicians who also specialize in high-risk pregnancies


TimeActivity
7:30amREGISTRATION & BREAKFAST
8:00amWELCOME
8:15amKathryn Sarnoski, MD, R4
“Improving Physician Compliance with Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis in Antepartum Patients”
Mentor: Laura Jacques, MD
8:30amKourtney Dropps, MD, R3
“Prophylactic Low Molecular Weight Heparin Surveillance and BMI in Pregnancy”
Mentor: Meredith Cruz, MD
8:45amMolly Isola, MD, R3
“Use of Expedited Partner Therapy for Treatment of Chlamydia in Adolescents”
Mentor: Jessica Francis, MD
9:00amBREAK
9:15amLaura Knutson, MD, R3
“Using the Electronic Medical Record to Decrease Preventable Birth Defects”
Mentor: Timothy Klatt, MD
9:30amPaige Persch, MD, R3
“Establishing an Evidence Based Cutoff: Basal Follicle Stimulating Hormone Levels of 8 or Greater to Detect Diminished Ovarian Reserve in Young Women"
Mentor: Kate Schoyer, MD
9:45amHeather Stief, MD, R3
“Impact of Treated Maternal Hypothyroidism on Neonatal Growth and Outcomes”
Mentor: Cresta Jones, MD
10:00amAlexandra Glasscock, MD, R3
“Sickle Cell Disease and Pregnancy: Mode of Delivery and Complications”
Mentor: Jennifer McIntosh, DO and Cresta Jones, MD
10:15amBREAK
10:30amThe Roland S. Cron Lecture:
Michelle A. Kominiarek, MD
"Gestational Weight Gain – Why Measure It?"
11:30amLUNCH

Learn More about Resident Research and Alumni Day

Sep
13
Wed
2017
2017 Annual Sterner Lecture for Fetal Medicine @ CHW Briggs & Stratton Auditorium
Sep 13 @ 9:00 am – 10:00 am

Featured Speaker: Julie S. Moldenhauer, MD, FACOG, FACMG – “Maternal Implications of Maternal-Fetal Therapy”

Julie S. Moldenhauer, MD

Medical Director, Special Delivery Unit
Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Dr. Julie Moldenhauer is an Attending Physician at the Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), and Medical Director of the Garbose Family Special Delivery Unit. Her clinical focus is in prenatal diagnosis and fetal therapy. She cares for mothers carrying babies with fetal anomalies that place both mother and baby at high risk.

One of Dr. Moldenhauer’s research interests lies in improving the prenatal management of gastroschisis, a defect that causes the fetal intestines to extend into the amniotic fluid through an opening in the abdominal wall. Dr. Moldenhauer also has a particular interest in outcomes after open fetal surgery and EXIT procedures, examining how fetal conditions and their treatment can place mothers at increased risk for complications. She believes that with a better understanding of the interrelation of mother and baby, we can improve the outcome for both.

Before joining CHOP in 2009, Dr. Moldenhauer was the Director of Reproductive Genetics in the Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine at the University of North Carolina. Her extensive background in reproductive genetics gives her unique insight into the practice of prenatal diagnosis.

“I tell every patient that our job is to teach them everything they need to know about their baby’s condition. We need to give them the tools to help them feel comfortable making the best care decisions possible,” Dr. Moldenhauer says. “I speak to patients and families the way I would want to be spoken to myself — I am a mom, too.”

Dr. Moldenhauer has great compassion for her patients and their families, and is interested in how a prenatal diagnosis affects the mother from a psychological standpoint. “I hope to build on caring for the mental well-being of these families,” she says.

Dr. Moldenhauer is conducting further studies into post-partum depression as it relates to mothers carrying babies with fetal anomalies, with the goal of integrating that learning into patient care. “If we can define how often depression occurs and create management strategies to help women and their families, we may be able to make a significant impact.”

Dr. Moldenhauer earned her BS degree in chemistry from Hillsdale College and her medical degree from Wayne State University, both in Michigan. She performed her residencies in obstetrics and gynecology and human genetics at Wayne State University. She also completed her fellowship in maternal-fetal medicine at Wayne State University . She is board certified in obstetrics & gynecology, maternal-fetal medicine and clinical genetics.

In spring 2015, Dr. Moldenhauer appeared in a three-part documentary series airing on PBS called TWICE BORN: Stories from the Special Delivery Unit. The Emmy® Award-winning documentary offered a look inside the Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and its unique Garbose Family Special Delivery Unit.

Sep
20
Wed
2017
Mitochondrial Contribution to Regulation of Microvascular Function in Health and Disease – Andreas Beyer, PhD @ Froedtert - Dynacare Lab Building, 2nd floor, Ob-Gyn conference room #252
Sep 20 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Presented by

Andreas M. Beyer, PhD

Andreas M. Beyer, PhD

Andreas M. Beyer, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Medicine
Division of Cardiovascular Medicine
Medical College of Wisconsin

About Dr. Beyer

Andreas M. Beyer is an Assistant Professor in the Departments of Medicine and Physiology at the Medical College of Wisconsin. During his training in Genetics and Physiology, he has gained detailed expertise in generating and evaluating novel approaches in genetics, molecular biology and physiology. In his time spent in the lab he performs experimental troubleshooting involving video microscopy, fluorescent microvascular imaging, generation of genetic rodent models, physiological evaluation of in vivo vascular function and blood pressure. With the support of this research group and important local and national collaborators, Andreas is using live human tissues to address important questions in vascular biology that will lead to clinically relevant findings and drive further exploration of mechanism in rodent models. His lab hopes that clinically relevant data from human tissues will enable a detailed mechanistic understanding of disease that can then be used to develop novel therapeutics and translate both diagnostics and therapies themselves to the clinic.

The Beyer lab studies the complex relationship and physiological effects of vascular stress response with and aging. We are interested in how telomerase activity contributes to the regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) in health and disease. The role of telomerase in aging and the development of cancer are well established. The catalytic subunit of telomerase, TERT, elongates telomeres in the nucleus to prevent cellular aging and promote proliferation. A potential role in the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD), especially via the endothelium where vascular disease begins, has not been described. This novel idea is supported by a recently described non-nuclear role for TERT in regulating levels of mitochondrial derived reactive oxygen species (mtROS) in fibroblasts. A similar function in endothelial cells would position TERT as a key regulator of oxidative stress and microvascular function.

Endothelial release of NO induces flow-mediated dilation (FMD) under physiological conditions and serves to prevent vascular smooth muscle proliferation and inflammation. In subjects with coronary artery disease (CAD), however, arteriolar FMD is mediated by mtROS, specifically hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), which is a pro-inflammatory and pro-atherosclerotic dilator. We observed that activation of telomerase restores nitric oxide (NO) as the mediator of FMD in vessels from subjects with CAD, while reduction of telomerase activity (TA) in vessels from subjects without CAD activates a CAD-like phenotype. We have generated novel decoy peptides that prevent either telomerase localization to the nucleus or translocation to the mitochondria. Inhibition of nuclear transport of TERT increases cytoplasmic (including mitochondrial) telomerase localization and activity. CAD is associated with elevations in Angiotensin II (ANG II) which contribute to elevated ROS and decreased NO-mediated endothelium-dependent dilation.

Our central hypothesis is that TERT plays a critical and previously undiscovered role in maintaining physiological NO levels while simultaneously suppressing the compensatory rise in mtROS during flow in coronary vessels of both mice and humans. Preliminary data indicate that acute stimulation of telomerase activity is sufficient to maintain NO release following vascular stress, and to decrease mtROS production, suggesting a role independent of telomere shortening. We are utilizing clinically-relevant stressors such as ANG II to deduce the role of mtTERT in relation to vascular stress responses and regulation of mtROS.

Ongoing studies integrate cell culture, in vitro vascular and whole animal approaches. We are defining the effects of telomerase inhibition or activation (global and mitochondrial) on ANG II-induced endothelial dysfunction (human and mouse). Cell culture models are used to investigate important regulators of cellular redox environment (NO/ROS balance).

Learn more about the WHRP Seminars

Oct
14
Sat
2017
Resident Interview Day @ Froedtert Hospital – Delfs/Klieger Conference Room
Oct 14 @ 7:00 am – 1:00 pm
Oct
18
Wed
2017
Resident Interview Day @ Froedtert Hospital – Delfs/Klieger Conference Room
Oct 18 @ 7:00 am – 1:00 pm
Nov
4
Sat
2017
Resident Interview Day @ Froedtert Hospital – Delfs/Klieger Conference Room
Nov 4 @ 7:00 am – 1:00 pm
Nov
15
Wed
2017
Accessing the Genome: Tools and Approaches for Editing Genes and Their Functions – Aron Geurts, PhD @ Froedtert - Dynacare Lab Building, 2nd floor, Ob-Gyn conference room #252
Nov 15 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Presented by

Aron Geurts, PhD

Aron Geurts, PhD

Aron Geurts, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Physiology
Medical College of Wisconsin

About Dr. Geurts

Continuing research efforts in the Geurts lab are being driven by our interests in developing genetic approaches toward understanding human health and disease. For the past 12 years, we have been developing tools for genetic manipulation in a variety of cell and animal systems including stem cells, zebrafish, mice and laboratory rats. These systems are among the most widely preferred models for genetic and physiological investigation into human disease, however, genetic approaches, especially in non-mouse systems, have traditionally been limited by a lack of technologies.

After joining the Medical College in 2006, we implemented new approaches to accelerate transgenic and gene knockout studies for the PhysGen Program for Genomic Applications by adapting the Sleeping Beauty transposable element system for use in rats. Transposons are currently the most reproducible and efficient tool available for adding new genes to the rat genome and since then, we have worked with several other local investigators to create new transgenic rat models.

In 2009, we were fortunate to be the first to demonstrate that engineered proteins called Zinc Finger Nucleases (ZFNs) could be applied to rat embryos to generate the world’s first targeted gene knockout rats. This breakthrough revolutionized the local and broader research communities who use laboratory rats as a model system and other researchers are now applying these methods to other animal models such as mice, pigs, and rabbits. Site-specific modification of the rat genome using ZFNs is used to disrupt (knockout) or introduce specific gene alleles (knockin) to modify gene function. To date, we have created more than 100 knockout and knockin genetic models for several research areas related to our collaborative interests in complex diseases such as hypertension, renal disease, Type 1 Diabetes, and drug abuse.

More recently, the Geurts lab has been developing TAL Effector Nuclease (TALEN) technology for targeted genome engineering. TALENs are a relatively new technology which are analogous to ZFNs, but have some attractive attributes including reduced cost and design flexibility which will facilitate their use in the field. This new technique is complemented by our recent development of the first rat embryonic stem cells from a hypertensive rat model in collaboration with the laboratory of Dr. Howard Jacob. The availability of stem cells from this disease model rat now provides unique possibilities for creating more complicated genetic models. We are currently establishing whether these cells are capable of supporting our engineering approaches for producing genetically modified rats.

Recently, Dr. Geurts’ creative and innovative contributions to the field of genetics and technology were recognized by the granting of a New Innovator Award from the Office of the Director of the National Institutes of Health. This prominent award will propel efforts in the Geurts lab toward pushing the limits of these technologies to create better models of human disease. These techniques, animal models, and resources broadly benefit the local and broader research communities and advance our collective understanding of complex human genetic diseases.

Learn more about the WHRP Seminars

Nov
18
Sat
2017
Resident Interview Day @ Froedtert Hospital – Delfs/Klieger Conference Room
Nov 18 @ 7:00 am – 1:00 pm
Dec
6
Wed
2017
Resident Interview Day @ Froedtert Hospital – Delfs/Klieger Conference Room
Dec 6 @ 7:00 am – 1:00 pm
Dec
9
Sat
2017
Resident Interview Day @ Froedtert Hospital – Delfs/Klieger Conference Room
Dec 9 @ 7:00 am – 1:00 pm
Dec
13
Wed
2017
Resident Interview Day @ Froedtert Hospital – Delfs/Klieger Conference Room
Dec 13 @ 7:00 am – 1:00 pm
Dec
20
Wed
2017
Mechanisms that Alternatively Activated Macrophages Exploit to Enhance Ovarian Cancer Progression – Pamela Kreeger, PhD @ Froedtert - Dynacare Lab Building, 2nd floor, Ob-Gyn conference room #252
Dec 20 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Presented by

Pamela Kreeger, PhD

Pamela Kreeger, PhD
Associate Professor
Vilas Associate
Dept. of Biomedical Engineering
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Dept. of Cell and Regenerative Biology,
Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Dr. Kreeger’s Research

Dr. Kreeger is working to develop a novel model of the retinal microenvironment to determine the impact of microenvironmental properties and cell-cell interactions on angiogenesis in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Her background is in developing in vitro models of tissues (including her graduate work developing a system for the ovarian follicle and work from her independent lab to develop systems to study cell-cell interactions in ovarian cancer) and utilizing systems biology modeling to study cell behavior. Her current AMD-related project is in collaboration with Kristyn Masters (BME) and will involve interactions with McPherson ERI colleagues Jeremy Rogers and David Gamm.

About the Kreeger lab

The Kreeger lab utilizes systems biology and tissue engineering to analyze cellular behavior in a variety of biological contexts. We utilize an iterative approach, where we develop model culture systems that allow us to study a disease in a controlled environment, use high-throughput experimental methods to gather information about the cellular signaling network and cellular responses, and employ computational models to interpret the data. Ultimately, our models will be utilized to identify new drug targets, match patients to the most effective drugs, and identify methods to direct cellular behavior.

Learn more about the WHRP Seminars

Jan
3
Wed
2018
Resident Interview Day @ Froedtert Hospital – Delfs/Klieger Conference Room
Jan 3 @ 7:00 am – 1:00 pm
Jan
17
Wed
2018
Resident CREOG Exams – Conference Cancelled
Jan 17 @ 7:00 am – 3:00 pm
Cohesin Mutations in Acute Myeloid Leukemia – Sridhar Rao, MD, PhD @ Froedtert - Dynacare Lab Building, 2nd floor, Ob-Gyn conference room #252
Jan 17 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Presented by

Sridhar Rao, MD,PhD

Sridhar Rao, MD, PhD
Associate Investigator
Blood Research Institute
Blood Center of Wisconsin

Dr. Rao’s Research

In Dr. Rao’s laboratory, researchers are discovering how leukemia develops. Stem cells are defined by two unique properties: self-renewal, or the ability to undergo symmetric cell division to maintain a stable pool, and “potency”, or the ability to differentiate down multiple lineages. In the case of embryonic stem (ES) cells, their unique ability to differentiate into all three germ layers that form the embryo is termed pluripotency. Adult stem cells, such as the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC), are more restricted in their differentiation potential, but can fully recreate a tissue in vivo. Recently, the stem cell model has been extended into cancer, with cancer stem cells identified in certain malignancies such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML). While many of the factors required for stem cells are well described, none have been shown to play a critical role in all types of stem cells. Factors critical for all three stem cell types would likely operate by controlling a specific “stemness program” used by all stem cells for self-renewal and/or multipotency. Identification of such a program could provide new avenues to identify stem cells in vivo, enhance the reprogramming/generation of stem cells for use in regenerative medicine, and provide novel targets for the development of anti-cancer therapeutics.

Learn more about the WHRP Seminars

Feb
21
Wed
2018
microRNAs: Small Molecules With a Big Impact – Alison Kriegel, PhD @ Froedtert - WI Diagnostics Lab Building, 2nd floor, Ob-Gyn conference room #252
Feb 21 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Presented by

Alison Kriegel, PhD

Alison Kriegel, PhD

Alison Kriegel, PhD
Associate Investigator
PhD Physiology
Medical College of Wisconsin

Dr. Kriegel’s Research

Our research is broadly centered on understanding how alterations in microRNAs and protein coding genes influence cardiovascular disease, renal disease, and cardiorenal syndromes. Cardiorenal syndromes are a grouping of human clinical conditions where primary disease in either the heart or the kidney contributes to the development of secondary disease in the other organ.

Our current focus is on cardiorenal syndrome type 4 (CRS4), also known as chronic renocardiac syndrome, a condition in which chronic kidney disease (CKD) contributes to the development of cardiovascular diseases including hypertrophy, diastolic dysfunction, reduction in cardiac function and increased risk of cardiovascular events.

CRS4 is clinical problem that has received a great deal of attention in recent years because of the large number of people impacted and the high associated healthcare costs. In 2010 the Centers for Disease Control estimated that more than 10% of adults in the United States population chronic kidney disease, and cardiovascular pathology is leading cause of death in these patients. Treatment of CRS4 remains challenging because so little is understood about the pathology of the disease. Adult patients with CKD often have age associated comorbidities, such as diabetes, hypertension, and atherosclerosis, making it difficult to identifying mediators of the pathology in this population.

Our goals are focused on identifying the essential components of cardiorenal syndromes and their therapeutic targets. We have started to investigate the molecular mediators of this conditions using a 5/6 nephrectomy (5/6 NX) model of CKD in Sprague Dawley rats. This model of CKD allows us to study CRS4 related pathologies in the absence of confounding comorbidities that would independently impact the heart, such as atherosclerosis, diabetes and hypertension.

Our current goals in CRS4 research interest include:

-Identifying pathways involved with CRS4 disease progression

-Understanding miRNA regulation of pathways involved with pathological LV remodeling and dysfunction in a rat model of CKD

-Circulating factors in CKD that contribute to the development of CRS4

We combine in vivo approaches for studying cardiac and renal function with advanced molecular techniques to comprehensively study the factors that influence left ventricular pathology. Frequently utilized techniques in our laboratory include: echocardiography, left ventricle pressure-volume relationship analysis, chronic and acute blood pressure recordings, cell culture models (siRNA, miRNA), in vitro and in vivo miRNA suppression, immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, western blot analysis, ELISA, miRNA and mRNA next generation sequencing and qRT-PCR.

Research for this project is supported an American Heart Association Scientist Development Grant (13SDG17100095).

Learn more about the WHRP Seminars

Mar
21
Wed
2018
Macrophages Facilitate Resistance to Anti-VEGF Therapy by Altered VEGFR Expression – Sunila Pradeep, PhD @ Froedtert - WI Diagnostics Lab Building, 2nd floor, Ob-Gyn conference room #252
Mar 21 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Presented by

Sunila Pradeep, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Medical College of Wisconsin

Dr. Pradeep’s Research

Peritoneal seeding is the most common pathway for the spread of ovarian cancer. Because 90% of ovarian cancers are surface epithelial carcinomas, the tumor cells are able to slough off the ovary and enter the peritoneal circulation, thereby seeding multiple sites in the abdominal cavity. Despite the widely-held view that epithelial ovarian cancer metastasizes via peritoneal seeding, the distribution of ovarian metastasis was peculiar in that the ovarian cancer cells gravitated toward the omentum, an apron tissue over the abdomen as the preferred site of metastasis. The omentum is composed of fatty tissue interspersed with immune cell aggregates or “milky spots”, consisting of macrophages, leukocytes, stem and progenitor cells, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells. It is known that disseminated tumor cells adhere to milky spots within hours, and milky spots are sources of cytokines and chemokines sites that facilitate local proliferation of tumor cells, and maturation of macrophages. Given the highly metastatic nature of ovarian cancer, we have an interest in understanding the mechanisms of how immune cells facilitate omental metastasis of ovarian cancer cells.

Our previous work at MD Anderson has demonstrated increased expression of neuregulin 1 (NRG1), the binding partner of ErbB3 (Erb-B2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinase 3), promotes homing of ovarian cancer cells to the omentum (Pradeep et al., Cancer Cell, 2014). In my lab at MCW, we will investigate how adipocytes reprogram the immune cells in omentum to enhance ovarian cancer cell progression and metastasis. We believe that these new mechanisms will offer new options for therapy targeting ovarian cancer metastasis.

View Department Profile

Learn more about the WHRP Seminars

Apr
18
Wed
2018
Antimicrobial Peptides and Intestinal Homeostasis: Contributions of Both Host and Microbe – Nita Salzman, MD, PhD @ Froedtert - WI Diagnostics Lab Building, 2nd floor, Ob-Gyn conference room #252
Apr 18 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Presented by

Nita Salzman, MD, PhD
Professor
Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Medical College of Wisconsin

Dr. Salzman’s Research

The intestinal microbiota is a complex and primarily bacterial ecosystem that lives in a symbiotic relationship with its host. When maintained in a homeostatic relationship with the host, the microbiota carries out numerous critical functions for the host, related to nutrition, metabolism, immune maturation and host protection, and in this context becomes part of the host barrier to infection. The host immune system interacts with the intestinal microbiota, ultimately establishing and maintaining a homeostatic relationship with this vast ecosystem. Disruptions in either the host barrier or the microbial ecosystem can lead to homeostatic collapse and the development of intestinal inflammation in both animal models and in human disease.

Our laboratory is engaged in both basic and translational studies to investigate the innate mucosal immunology of the GI tract, with a focus on host-microbiome interactions and innate barriers to bacterial infection. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are essential components of the host barrier. These are peptides with broad-spectrum antibiotic activity against bacteria, fungi, and viruses, but have been shown to have diverse additional roles both related and unrelated to host defense. Epithelial cells and circulating immune cells endogenously produce these peptides, as do bacteria. One of our primary interests is to understand the multifaceted in vivo roles of intestinal AMPs. Our work has focused primarily on enteric alpha-defensins, produced in Paneth cells localized to the small intestinal crypts. Previous work in our lab demonstrated that Paneth cell defensins have an important role in protecting the mammalian host from enteric bacterial pathogen infection. Recent work from our laboratory has shown that Paneth cell defensins are essential regulators of the composition of the intestinal microbiota, and can modulate mucosal immune responsiveness through their regulation of the microbiota.

Recently, we have translated our findings to the study of Paneth cell antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in pediatric Crohn’s disease (CD). CD, one of the subtypes of inflammatory bowel diseases manifests with chronic intestinal inflammation and is associated with abnormal bacterial growth at mucosal surfaces (dysbiosis). Several genetic mutations that have been associated with increased risk for the development of CD have also been associated with Paneth cell dysfunction. As part of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) Microbiome Consortium, we are investigating the relationship between Paneth cell dysfunction and dysbiosis in pediatric CD patients.

A second translational study focuses on the role of the microbiome in the development and progression of pediatric non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD is associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome and its prevalence has increased in parallel to the prevalence of obesity and type-2 diabetes. The development of NAFLD, its different phenotypes, and the heterogeneity of disease progression are not completely understood. Recent evidence suggests that there is an association between intestinal microbial colonization (the intestinal microbiome) and obesity in humans and in animal models. In addition, there is evidence of abnormalities of bacterial colonization, and intestinal bacterial product induced inflammation associated with NAFLD and progression to NASH. This study investigates the composition of the intestinal microbiome in pediatric patients with obesity and obesity plus NAFLD, to determine the relationship between alterations in the intestinal microbiome, immune activation, and the development of NAFLD.

We have recently begun to investigate the basic mechanisms of bacterial colonization of the GI tract, using Enterococcus faecalis as a model organism. E. faecalis is a common commensal of the mammalian gut, but also an opportunistic pathogen, which is currently an important cause of infection in hospitalized patients. We have developed a novel system to colonize mice with marked laboratory strains of E. faecalis and are using this system to explore both bacterial-host and bacterial-microbiome interactions in the native mouse GI tract, to understand the important host and bacterial determinants essential for colonization and permissive/protective for systemic infection.

Learn more about the WHRP Seminars

May
16
Wed
2018
Towards Drugging Mitochondrial Fission Protein Fis1 in Diabetic Endothelial Dysfunction – Blake Hill, PhD @ Froedtert - WI Diagnostics Lab Building, 2nd floor, Ob-Gyn conference room #252
May 16 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Presented by

Blake Hill, PhD
Professor
Department of Biochemistry
Medical College of Wisconsin

Dr. Hill’s Research

Defects in mitochondrial fission and fusion cause or contribute to human diseases including cancer, neuropathies, cardiomyopathies, and even death. Our goal is to understand molecular basis of these defects in order to identify new therapeutic routes for these diseases.

We determine how proteins interact with other biological macromolecules to control these basic membrane fission and fusion processes in healthy, diseased, and dying cells. We strive to understand these interactions on a physicochemical level, with an eye for gleaning universal principles of protein chemistry including interactions with membrane bilayers that are fundamental to a wide variety of cellular processes.

A key feature of some proteins that affect mitochondrial homeostasis is the structural transformation from soluble to membrane-bound conformations, a phenomenon referred to as amphitropism. Associating with, or dissociating from, a membrane (i.e. amphitropism) has significant functional consequences for numerous biological processes: it can affect enzymatic activity (CCT, PLC), can promote changes in organelle and cell morphology (MinD, dynamins), or can act as a regulatory switch in various signaling cascades (PKC, ESCRTs). However, neither what drives proteins to reversibly interact with membranes nor how this function controls biological outcomes are clearly understood. These interactions are likely governed by evolutionarily conserved mechanisms that are still being determined and is one focus of our efforts.

Towards these goals, we use a wide range of tools including genetic, cell biological, biochemical, and biophysical methods including NMR spectroscopy and x-ray crystallography for protein structure determination.

Learn more about the WHRP Seminars

Jun
20
Wed
2018
2018 Resident Research & Alumni Day @ Medical College of Wisconsin - Alumni Center
Jun 20 @ 7:30 am – 1:00 pm

Resident Research and Alumni Day is an annual event in which residents present their research results within their residency in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. We invite our Obstetrics and Gynecology alumni to attend this significant day to support our current residents.

The Roland S. Cron Lectureship

Guest Speaker

Richard Legro, MD – “Preconception Interventions in Infertile Women: Do They Work?”
Interim Chair and Vice Chair of Research, Penn State Health Obstetrics and Gynecology
Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Public Health Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine

About Dr. Legro

Dr. Richard S. Legro is Professor and Vice Chair of Research in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Penn State University College of Medicine in Hershey, PA and Co-Director of the Hub Resource Capacity Core at the Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute.

His research and clinical practice are primarily focused on polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) – diagnosis, treatment, and genetic/environmental causes as well as on improving infertility diagnosis and treatment. He has been continuously funded by the NIH for over twenty years as a principal investigator. He has designed and led multiple multi-center trials in the U.S. and China that have appeared in high impact journals. These trials have broadened the scope of infertility trials from stopping when the patient conceives to follow mothers and fetus up and through live birth and to capture all treatment and pregnancy-related adverse events in mother and infant. He has published over 200 peer-reviewed articles in medical journals. He has been elected and served as a member of the Executive Board and Chair of the Publications Committee of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine and is currently Secretary-Treasurer of the Endocrine Society.

He serves as a subspecialty board oral examiner for the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He is an Associate Editor for Fertility and Sterility and Human Reproduction Update and the Co-Editor in Chief of Seminars in Reproductive Medicine. He has consulted for the NIH, the FDA, the WHO, and been selected for the Thousand Talents Program in China. He has received many awards including as Best and Top Doctor, has been inducted as a Fellow Ad Eundem to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in the UK and received the 2017 Excellence in Clinical Research Award from the FUNDACIÓN IVI in Spain.


Learn More about Resident Research and Alumni Day

Jul
18
Wed
2018
Fellowship Interview Day @ Froedtert Hospital – Delfs/Klieger Conference Room
Jul 18 @ 7:30 am – 1:00 pm
Aug
1
Wed
2018
Fellowship Interview Day @ Froedtert Hospital – Delfs/Klieger Conference Room
Aug 1 @ 7:30 am – 1:00 pm
Aug
15
Wed
2018
Fellowship Interview Day @ Froedtert Hospital – Delfs/Klieger Conference Room
Aug 15 @ 7:30 am – 1:00 pm
Sep
12
Wed
2018
2018 Annual Sterner Lecture for Fetal Medicine @ CHW Briggs & Stratton Auditorium
Sep 12 @ 9:00 am – 10:00 am

Featured Speaker: Rodrigo Ruano, MD, PhD – “Fetoscopic Regenerative Therapy for Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia at Mayo Clinic”

Rodrigo Ruano, MD, PhD

Senior Associate Consultant
Chair, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Physiology & Biomedical Engineering
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine

His medical degree was from Medical School of University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil (1992-1997). He completed his residency Hospital das Clinicas Medical School of University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil (1998-2001). Additional training included a Maternal-Fetal Medicine fellowship at Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, AP-HP, Université de Paris V, Paris, France (2001-2003) and Fetal Surgery fellowship at Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-em-Yvelines, France (2003-2004). He concluded his PhD thesis “Evaluation of lung volumes by 3D-ultrasonography in fetuses with diaphragmatic hernia congenital isolation” at Medical School of University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil in 2005.

Dr. Ruano has authored over 170 peer-reviewed articles (PUBMED) and 50 book chapters pertaining to maternal-fetal medicine, prenatal detection of congenital anomalies, 3D/4D fetal ultrasonography, and fetal surgery.

Dr. Ruano focuses his clinical efforts on developing and investigating new minimally invasive fetal therapies such as fetal endoscopic tracheal occlusion (FETO) for congenital diaphragmatic hernia, fetal cystoscopy for fetal bladder obstruction and fetoscopic laser ablation for twin-twin transfusion syndrome.

Oct
10
Wed
2018
Characterization of Endothelial Cilia Distribution During Cerebral-Vascular Development in Zebrafish (Daniorerio) – Shahram Eisa-Beygi, PhD @ Froedtert - WI Diagnostics Lab Building, 2nd floor, Ob-Gyn conference room #252
Oct 10 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Presented by

Shahram Eisa-Beygi, PhD
Kelleigh Gustafson Research Fellow
Department of Radiology
Medical College of Wisconsin

Dr. Eisa-Beygi’s Research

I am interested in identifying the mechanisms of neuro-vascular development, with a focus on the etiology of paediatric cerebral-vascular disorders, including cerebral aneurysms and arterio-venous malformations.

Learn more about the WHRP Seminars

Oct
17
Wed
2018
Resident Interview Day @ Froedtert Hospital – Delfs/Klieger Conference Room
Oct 17 @ 7:00 am – 1:00 pm
Oct
24
Wed
2018
Resident Interview Day @ Froedtert Hospital – Delfs/Klieger Conference Room
Oct 24 @ 7:00 am – 1:00 pm
Oct
27
Sat
2018
Resident Interview Day @ Froedtert Hospital – Delfs/Klieger Conference Room
Oct 27 @ 7:00 am – 1:00 pm
Nov
3
Sat
2018
Resident Interview Day @ Froedtert Hospital – Delfs/Klieger Conference Room
Nov 3 @ 7:00 am – 1:00 pm
Nov
17
Sat
2018
Resident Interview Day @ Froedtert Hospital – Delfs/Klieger Conference Room
Nov 17 @ 7:00 am – 1:00 pm
Nov
21
Wed
2018
SOD2 Acetylation as a New Mitochondrial Pathway for Breast Cancer Stem Cell Reprogramming – Marcelo Bonini, PhD @ Froedtert - WI Diagnostics Lab Building, 2nd floor, Ob-Gyn conference room #252
Nov 21 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Presented by

Marcelo Bonini, PhD
Associate Professor
Endocrinology
Medical College of Wisconsin

Learn more about the WHRP Seminars

Nov
28
Wed
2018
Resident Interview Day @ Froedtert Hospital – Delfs/Klieger Conference Room
Nov 28 @ 7:00 am – 1:00 pm
Dec
5
Wed
2018
Resident Interview Day @ Froedtert Hospital – Delfs/Klieger Conference Room
Dec 5 @ 7:00 am – 1:00 pm
Dec
15
Sat
2018
Resident Interview Day @ Froedtert Hospital – Delfs/Klieger Conference Room
Dec 15 @ 7:00 am – 1:00 pm
Dec
19
Wed
2018
Altered Neural Calcium Signaling in HCMV Infection is Mitigated with Viral Kinase Inhibition – Amanda Johnson, MD @ Ob-Gyn Conference Room #252 (2nd floor Wisconsin Diagnostic Lab Building)
Dec 19 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Presented by

Amanda Johnson, MD
Maternal–Fetal Medicine Fellow
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Medical College of Wisconsin

About

Dr. Mandy Johnson joined the department as a fellow in maternal fetal medicine in July 2016. She attended medical school at University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences from 2006-2010. She completed residency at Tulane University in New Orleans, LA in 2014.

Dr. Johnson’s research interests include preterm labor and infectious disease. Her residency research project compared genital and plasma HIV viral load levels in pregnant patients.

She is an active member of American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. She also received the Outstanding Residency Performance award at the end of her residency.

Learn more about the WHRP Seminars

Jan
16
Wed
2019
Stat5 and Anti-Androgen Resistance of Prostate Cancer – Marja Nevalainen, MD, PhD @ Ob-Gyn Conference Room #252 (2nd floor Wisconsin Diagnostic Lab Building)
Jan 16 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Presented by

Marja Nevalainen, MD, PhD

Marja Nevalainen, MD, PhD
Professor, Eminent Scholar, Department of Pathology and Pharmacology & Toxicology
Assistant Dean of Research
Associate Director of Education & Training, Medical College Cancer Center
Director of the Prostate Cancer Center of Excellence
Medical College of Wisconsin

About

Dr. Nevalainen is an internationally recognized leader in the field of cytokine and steroid hormone signaling in prostate cancer. The focus of her laboratory is on translational prostate cancer research to develop and improve diagnostics and therapy for prostate cancer. Dr. Nevalainen holds the title of Eminent Scholar at MCW. She is also Director of Prostate Cancer Center of Excellence at MCW Cancer Center, which is a multi-disciplinary hub for prostate cancer research with an international collaborative network. Dr. Nevalainen serves as Assistant Dean for Research at MCW, and Associate Director of Education for the MCW Cancer Center. Her primary appointment is in the Department of Pathology, and a secondary appointment in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology. Dr. Nevalainen has extensive experience in collaborative research, mentoring and leadership from her previous roles at Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University as Associate Director of Education and Vice Chair of Education in the Department of Cancer Biology.

Dr. Nevalainen’s research accomplishments include development of an androgen-dependent human PC cell line which mimics the course of human disease when grown as xenograft tumors in nude mice. Specifically, the tumors response to androgen deprivation by regression but regrow eventually back as castrate-resistant tumors.

Dr. Nevalainen is further recognized in her field for early development of a long-term 3D tumor explant culture system for normal and malignant prostate tissue for efficacy testing of experimental biologics and small-molecules ex vivo in clinical PCs from patients and as an experimental model system for identification of growth factor and drug modulated signaling proteins in prostate tissue.

Current work focuses on Jak-Stat signaling in anti-androgen resistance of prostate cancer, Stat5 regulation of DNA repair and optimization of the lead compound Stat5 inhibitor.

Learn more about the WHRP Seminars

Feb
20
Wed
2019
Use of Far Red Light to Stimulate Vasodilation in Models of Endothelial Dysfunction – Nicole Lohr, MD, PhD, FACC @ Ob-Gyn Conference Room #252 (2nd floor Wisconsin Diagnostic Lab Building)
Feb 20 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Presented by

Nicole Lohr, MD, PhD, FACC

Nicole Lohr, MD, PhD, FACC
Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Disease and Internal Medicine
Medical College of Wisconsin

Learn more about the WHRP Seminars

Mar
20
Wed
2019
Novel Mechanisms of Endothelial Homeostasis – Magdalena Chrzanowska-Wodnicka, PhD, FAHA @ Ob-Gyn Conference Room #252 (2nd floor Wisconsin Diagnostic Lab Building)
Mar 20 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Presented by

Magdalena Chrzanowska-Wodnicka, PhD, FAHA

Magdalena Chrzanowska-Wodnicka, PhD, FAHA
Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
Medical College of Wisconsin
Investigator
The Blood Research Institute

Learn more about the WHRP Seminars

Apr
17
Wed
2019
Discovering and Exploiting Selectively in BET Bromodomains in the Context of Type I Diabetes – Brian Smith, PhD @ Ob-Gyn Conference Room #252 (2nd floor Wisconsin Diagnostic Lab Building)
Apr 17 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Presented by

Brian Smith, PhD

Brian Smith, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry
Medical College of Wisconsin

Learn more about the WHRP Seminars

May
15
Wed
2019
Jennifer McIntosh, DO – Novel Role for Placental Endothelial Mitochondria in Preeclampsia @ Ob-Gyn Conference Room #252 (2nd floor Wisconsin Diagnostic Lab Building)
May 15 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
WHEN: May 15, 2019 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Presented by

Jennifer McIntosh, DO, MS
Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Medical College of Wisconsin

Dr. McIntosh’s Research

Maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality caused by preeclampsia is a significant global health burden with approximately 10 million pregnancies impacted resulting in nearly half a million fetal or neonatal lives lost each year. A novel relationship may exist between mitochondrial damage and endothelial dysfunction and subsequent development of preeclampsia.

Our overall goal is to investigate the mechanism whereby placental hypoxia is responsible for release of ROS and inflammation secondary to mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and if there is altered FMD as a result of heightened mtDNA in vessels from placentas in those with preeclampsia.

Learn more about the WHRP Seminars

Jun
19
Wed
2019
2019 Resident and Fellow Research & Alumni Day @ Medical College of Wisconsin - Alumni Center
Jun 19 @ 7:00 am – 1:00 pm

Resident and Fellow Research and Alumni Day is an annual event where our residents and graduating fellow present their clinical, translational science, and educational research results within their residency and fellowship in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

The Roland S. Cron Lectureship

Guest Speaker

William M. Leininger, MD, FACOG – “Advocacy Beyond the Statehouse”
Assistant Professor, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Fellow, Physicians for Reproductive Health

About Dr. Leininger

Dr. William M. Leininger, MD, FACOG (CAPT, MC, USN [Ret]), currently practices as a board certified, Obstetrician/Gynecologist at Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD). He served on the hospital’s Graduate Medical Education Executive Committee, and is an Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD. He has previously served as the Obstetrics and Gynecology Specialty Advisor to the Surgeon General of the Navy (2012-2015), and was a Residency Program Director for Obstetrics and Gynecology at Naval Medical Center San Diego (2007-2012).

Dr. Leininger graduated from Williams College with a BA in Biology in 1986, and then spent a year teaching high school math and science at the Landon School in Bethesda, MD (his alma mater). He next attended the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and graduated in 1991, and subsequently completed his residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at NMCSD in 1997. In addition to San Diego, he practiced at the Naval hospitals in Bethesda, MD, Portsmouth, VA, Camp Pendleton, CA, and Keflavik, Iceland.

During his 26 years in the Navy, he deployed to the Persian Gulf and Kuwait, and served in humanitarian operations in Somalia (Operation Restore Hope), Guatemala, and Indonesia (Operation Tsunami Relief). During his career, he also worked on numerous policy issues, patient safety strategies, and medical education improvements, covering topics such as updates to the armed services’ abortion policy, developing care guidelines for transgender service personnel, decreasing cesarean section rates, preventing unplanned pregnancies, delivering healthcare for pregnant and deployed servicewomen, and promoting the core competency of professionalism.

Dr. Leininger is married to a Marine Corps veteran and a former volunteer fire fighter, and his wife is now a Senior GIS Analyst/Cartographer for the North County Dispatch JPA, providing support to the Fire and EMS Services in northern San Diego County. They live in Escondido, CA, and have three rescued German Shepherds.

Agenda

TimeActivity
7:00amREGISTRATION & BREAKFAST
7:45amWELCOME
8:00amAmanda Johnson, MD, MFM Fellow
“Altered neural calcium signaling in HCMV infection is mitigated with viral kinase inhibition”
Mentor: Scott Terhune, PhD
8:15amKathryn Carnahan, MD, R3
Association Between Continuity of Care and Health Care Utilization in an OB/GYN Resident Clinic
Mentor: Jessica Francis, MD
8:30amTalia Coney, MD, R3
Maternal Outcomes of Pregnancies Complicated by Life-Limiting Conditions
Mentor: Anna Palatnik, MD
8:45amJustin Harold, MD, R3
“All That Glitters isn’t Node: Failed Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping with Indocyanine Green in Women with Endometrial Cancer”
Mentor: William Bradley, MD
9:00amBREAK
9:15amSarah Hirsch, DO R3
Desire for Psychosocial Support and Barriers to Counseling in Couples with Infertility
Mentor: Abbey Kruper, PsyD
9:30amIsabel Nellen, DO, R3
Adiponectic in Visceral and Omental Fat in Middle Aged Women with a History of Infertility
Mentor: Kate Schoyer, MD
9:45amCindy Vu, MD, R3
Medical Students and the Influence of Gender in Obstetrics and Gynecology Education: A Possible Case of Gender-Bias?
Mentor: Rahmouna Farez, MD & Kristina Kaljo, PhD
10:00amBREAK
10:15amThe Roland S. Cron Lecture: William Leininger, MD, FACOG
“Advocacy Beyond the Statehouse”
11:30pmLUNCH

Learn More about Resident and Fellow Research & Alumni Day

Sep
11
Wed
2019
2019 Annual Sterner Lecture for Fetal Medicine @ MCW HRC Bolger Auditorium
Sep 11 @ 9:00 am – 10:00 am

Featured Speaker: Stephen P. Emery MD, FACOG – “Ventriculoamniotic Shunting for Fetal Aqueductal Stenosis”

Stephen P. Emery MD, FACOG

Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, & Reproductive Sciences, Divisions of Ultrasound and Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Director, Center for Innovative Fetal Intervention at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Dr. Emery is the Director of the Center for Innovative Fetal Intervention at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC. He is the principal provider of fetal therapy for this geographic region. He is the main instructor on fetal therapy for Maternal-Fetal Medicine fellows, Ob/Gyn residents and medical students. Dr. Emery is the Chair of the Steering Committee of the North American Fetal Therapy Network (NAFTNet) and is responsible for its research agenda. He has recently conducted a multinational, multicenter, multidisciplinary study on the treatment of early-stage twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) which was published in a major medical journal and presented ant the 36th International Fetal Medicine and Surgery Society (IFMSS) meeting in August of 2016. Dr. Emery is leading an international evidence-based reassessment of ventriculoamniotic shunting for fetal severe hydrocephalus through NAFTNet and IFMSS. His clinical, research and education efforts revolve around fetal therapy.

Sep
18
Wed
2019
Role of Vascular Smooth Muscle RhoBTB1/Cullin-3 in Hy-pertension: A Role in Preeclampsia? – Curt Sigmund, PhD @ Ob-Gyn Conference Room #252 (2nd floor Wisconsin Diagnostic Lab Building)
Sep 18 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Presented by

Curt D. Sigmund, PhD

Curt D. Sigmund, PhD
James J. Smith & Catherine Welsch Smith Professor and Chair, Department of Physiology
Associate Director, Cardiovascular Center
Medical College of Wisconsin

Dr. Sigmund’s Research

Dr. Sigmund’s major areas of research focus on central nervous system and vascular mechanisms of blood pressure regulation by the renin-angiotensin system, the transcription factor PPAR-gamma, and its downstream effectors Cullin-3/RhoBTB1, investigating these using a combination of molecular biological, genetic and physiological approaches including the generation of unique transgenic and knockout models. Dr. Sigmund’s laboratory is located within the Cardiovascular Center in the Health Research Center and Medical Education buildings.

Learn more about the WHRP Seminars

Oct
16
Wed
2019
Diagnosing and Treating Preeclampsia: What Does The Brain and Urine Have To Do With It? – Mark Santillan, MD, PhD, FACOG, FAHA @ Ob-Gyn Conference Room #252 (2nd floor Wisconsin Diagnostic Lab Building)
Oct 16 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Presented by

Mark Santillan, MD, PhD, FACOG, FAHA

Mark Santillan, MD, PhD, FACOG, FAHA
Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology – Maternal Fetal Medicine
Faculty, Molecular and Cellular Biology
Clinical Research Director, Maternal Fetal Tissue Bank
Co-Director, OB/GYN Residency Research
Carver College of Medicine

Dr. Santillan’s Research

The Santillan lab is particularly interested in the relationship between maternal health during pregnancy and the short and long-term health effects to the mother and child. Specifically, our current work focuses on the early mechanisms involved in the development of preeclampsia, including immunological and vascular function changes during pregnancy. A central focus in the lab is investigating the predictive, preventative, therapeutic and curative potential of the arginine vasopressin pathway in preeclampsia. Leveraging the group’s novel discovery of a very early biomarker for preeclampsia and a novel mouse model for preeclampsia, our lab works to investigate the mechanistic underpinnings of the predictive and therapeutic potential of vasopressin in the management of preeclampsia in a translational manner. As a practicing academic high-risk obstetrician, Dr. Santillan is very qualified in caring for women with high risk pregnancies, in understanding their clinical management, and in conducting clinical/translational research in perinatal biology. He has been successful in conducting studies in both murine and human pregnancies. As the clinical research director and co-founder of the Maternal Fetal Tissue Bank, Dr. Santillan has significant experience in clinical data acquisition, management, and analysis as well as molecular biology techniques needed for translational studies. Furthermore, as the Principal Investigator of the Population project of the University of Iowa American Heart Association Strategically Focused Research Network in Hypertension, Dr. Santillan has developed the PREDICTV network of prenatal providers around the state of Iowa to collect samples and clinical information from a diverse cohort of pregnant women.

Learn more about the WHRP Seminars

Nov
13
Wed
2019
Developing Novel Biomarkers and Therapies Against Ovarian Cancer – Manish Patankar, PhD @ Ob-Gyn Conference Room #252 (2nd floor Wisconsin Diagnostic Lab Building)
Nov 13 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Presented by

Manish Patankar, PhD
Professor, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Sciences
Associate Director, Endocrine and Reproductive Physiology (ERP) Program
University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Medicine and Public Health

About

Dr. Manish Patankar is a Professor in the Division of Reproductive Sciences. Dr. Patankar grew up in Thane, India, a city that borders Mumbai (Bombay). His wife is a physical therapist at the American Family Children’s Hospital and they have a 7 year old daughter who is in first grade at Glenn Stephens Elementary.

Dr. Patankar graduated from the University of Bombay, India with a B.S. in Chemistry in 1987. Subsequently, he received his Masters of Science in Organic Chemistry from the University of Bombay in 1990, and his Masters of Chemistry from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia in 1993. Dr. Patankar then completed his PhD in Biomedical Sciences at Eastern Virginia Medical School/Old Dominion University in 1998.

Dr. Patankar was an instructor and Research Professor at Eastern Virginia Medical School until 2004 when he joined the department as Professor and also became a member of the UW-Madison Carbone Cancer Center. His current research includes developing diagnostic tests for ovarian cancer and preeclampsia and strategies for treating ovarian cancer.

Collaborations at UW-Madison include: Drs. Joseph Connor, David Abbott, Paul Sondel, David Beebe, Ralph Albrecht, Mark Cook, Sean Fain, Ian Rowland, Hirak Basu and and Lingjun Li. Non UW-Madison collaborations include: Drs. Mitchell Ho and Ira Pastan (National Cancer Institute), Dr. Jennifer Gubbels (Augustana College, SD), Rebecca Whelan (Oberlin College, OH), Biotech Industry: Neoclone Biotechnology (Madison), and Gentel Biosciences (Fitchburg).

Dr. Patankar teaches Endocrine Physiology, Biology 151, and lectures on immunology in several different courses on campus.

What does he do in this spare time? He loves music and watching SpongeBob with his daughter.

One of the most interesting places that Dr. Patankar has visited is Bergen, Norway.

Research Focus

The primary focus of my research is to devise specific methods for early diagnosis of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and to understand the effect of factors produced by ovarian tumors on the functional capacity of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes. This research involves extensive utilization of glycoproteomic analysis in conjunction with cellular immunology, molecular biology and glycobiology.

Learn more about the WHRP Seminars

Dec
18
Wed
2019
Investigating Sugars and Artificial Sweeteners Exposure in Pregnancy and Lactation – Stephanie Olivier-Van Stichelen, PhD @ Ob-Gyn Conference Room #252 (2nd floor Wisconsin Diagnostic Lab Building)
Dec 18 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Presented by

Stephanie Olivier-Van Stichelen, PhD
Assistant Professor, Biochemistry
Medical College of Wisconsin

About

Dr. Olivier-Van Stichelen received her PhD degree in Biochemistry from the University of Lille, France in 2012. Her work was focused on the understanding of the nutrient-sensing O-GlcNAcylation in colorectal cancer development with a special interest in diet-dependent modification of the oncogene beta-catenin.

After completion of her degree, she was appointed as a post-doctoral Fellow in the Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology at the National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA. In this lab, Dr. Olivier-Van Stichelen worked on different aspects of O-GlcNAcylation during development including X-inactivation of the O-GlcNAc Transferase gene. She also developed a brain O-GlcNAcase knockout model and studied the impact of sugar consumption during pregnancy on O-GlcNAc-dependent development of metabolic homeostasis. More recently, she developed interests in understanding the importance of artificial sweeteners for offspring’s metabolism and microbiome.

Dr. Olivier-Van Stichelen established her lab at the Medical College of Wisconsin at the crossroad of sweeteners, pregnancy, development and metabolism.

Research Focus

Due to the global trend of growing sweetener consumption, determining the interplay between diet and pre- and post-natal development is emerging as a critical area for research. Currently, the average American eats around 22 teaspoons of added sugar every day (30 sugar cubes/day hidden in foods). This modern glucose-rich diet correlates with an increase in the prevalence of obesity, diabetes and others metabolic syndromes. Moreover, the effort to reduce sugar consumption has led people to consume more non-caloric sweeteners (Aspartame, Sucralose, Acesulfame-K…). While they appear healthier for glucose homeostasis than a high carbohydrate diet, recent studies have shown that artificial sweeteners impact glucose metabolism as well as gut microbiota, rising questions about their excessive use.

Therefore, understanding what happens when caloric and non-caloric sweeteners are metabolized is of utmost importance for public health and the focus of my research group.

Nutrient-dependent O-GlcNAc cycling in development and disease

O-GlcNAcylation is one of the key components of diet-responsive signaling. This unique glucose rheostat is a ubiquitous and dynamic glycosylation of intracellular proteins with approximately 1000 modified proteins described to date. Two key enzymes drive O-GlcNAc cycling: The O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) adds the modification and the O-GlcNAcase (OGA) removes it. Although many studies have focused on the decrease or complete absence of O-GlcNAc cycling by modulating the expression or activity of OGT, only a few studies have targeted hyper-O-GlcNAcylation by disturbing OGA. Because this post-translational modification is directly dependent on glucose input, depleting OGA creates an artificial and constant hyperglycemia-induced O-GlcNAcylation state. Using Oga and Ogt knockout (KO) cellular and mouse models, we can decipher the impact of high carbohydrate diet on embryonic development.

Non-Nutritive Sweeteners in pregnancy and lactation

Part of my lab is interested in understanding the impact of Non-Nutritive Sweetener (NNS) consumption through pregnancy and lactation. Although, NNS have been found in mother’s milk and in placental blood circulation, no study has focused on the fundamental effect of those non-caloric sweeteners on the developing organism.

Among the impacts described in adults are changes in intestinal hormonal secretion, glucose metabolism and most fascinating, re- duction of the gut microbiota. Nevertheless, the fundamental mechanisms of those changes are far from understood. Glycoproteins found on the surface of the intestinal epithelium define the glycocalyx and are an essential mammalian mechanism of communication with the gut microbiome. Their reciprocal relationship with the gut microbiome regulates not only nutrient breakdown, and food absorption, but also infection. We are convinced that by altering both microbiome and the detoxification process, NNS exposure in early life will impact metabolic homeostasis later in life.

Learn more about the WHRP Seminars

Jan
15
Wed
2020
Alcohol-Induced Developmental Brain Injury – Xiaowen Bai, MD, PhD @ Ob-Gyn Conference Room #252 (2nd floor Wisconsin Diagnostic Lab Building)
Jan 15 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Presented by

Xiaowen Bai, MD, PhD

Xiaowen Bai, MD, PhD

Xiaowen Bai, MD, PhD
Associate Professor, Cell Biology, Neurobiology & Anatomy
Medical College of Wisconsin

About

Dr. Bai’s research interests are centered on the application of stem cells on disease modeling and tissue regeneration. The current major focus of the laboratory is to utilize gain- and loss-of-function approaches to examine the novel molecular mechanisms underlying the roles of non-coding RNAs, mitochondria, and genetic factors in neurodegeneration and cardiotoxicity in mice, and translate the findings to humans using stem cell-derived brain cells, heart cells, three-dimensional mini brains, and heart organoids.

Research Area 1:

Non-coding RNAs, mitochondria, and cell stress-related genes in neurodegeneration:
Neurological disorders have emerged as a predominant healthcare concern in recent years due to their severe consequences on quality of life and prevalence throughout the world. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of these diseases and the interactions between different brain cell types is essential for the development of new therapeutics. Many drugs (e.g., anesthetics), environmental factors (e.g., alcohol), diseases, and genetic risks are related to neurodegeneration. We examine the novel molecular mechanisms underlying the roles of microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, mitochondria, immediate early and other cell stress-related genes in neurodegeneration using both mouse, and human stem cell-derived brain cell and three-dimensional mini brain models

Research Area 2:

Stem cell-mediated myocardial regeneration
Myocardial infarction is one of the major causes of death throughout the world. Currently, there is not a highly effective approach for treatment. Stem cells hold promise in repairing injured cardiac tissue. Our lab is involved in studying the effect of the transplantation of adipose tissue-derived stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes on myocardial regeneration following ischemia injury. A molecular imaging method has been developed to investigate the molecular mechanisms controlling homing, engraftment, and survival of injected cells in vivo.

Research Area 3:

The mechanisms of impaired cardioprotection under diabetic conditions
Hyperglycemia has been shown to be particularly detrimental to the cardioprotective effects, with the underlying mechanisms remaining largely unknown. We have developed and validated a clinically relevant model of functional human cardiomyocytes derived from both normal induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and diabetes mellitus iPSCs. This in vitro model of human disease will enable developmental and comparative studies of normal and diabetic cardiomyocytes to address genetic and environmental mechanisms responsible for attenuation of cardioprotection signaling in diabetics.

Learn more about the WHRP Seminars

Feb
19
Wed
2020
Analysis of Collagen Alterations in Human Ovarian Cancer by High Resolution Optical Microscopy – Paul Campagnola, PhD @ Ob-Gyn Conference Room #252 (2nd floor Wisconsin Diagnostic Lab Building)
Feb 19 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Presented by

Paul Campagnola, PhD
Professor, Biomedical Engineering
University of Wisconsin-Madison

About

Campagnola’s research is directed toward developing high resolution imaging modalities. The technologies his group has developed can readily be applied to problems in eye and vision research. For example, the technique of Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) to image collagen fibrillar structure has been used by other labs to image the corneal structure. Expanding into eye research is a natural direction for the Campagnola Laboratory.

Alterations to the extracellular matrix (ECM) composition and structure are thought to be critical for tumor initiation and progression for several epithelial carcinomas, including those of the ovary and breast. Our lab develops Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) microscopy tools to quantitative assess these alterations in the stroma where we correlate the optical signatures with structural changes in the fibrillar assembly between normal and diseased tissues. This physical approach provides objective measurements that may be used to understand disease progression. To further investigate how remodeling enables invasion and metastasis in vivo we use multiphoton excited (MPE) photochemistry to fabricate biomimetic in vitro models of the ovarian ECM. The nano/microstructured models simulate the crosslinked fibrillar structure of the native ECM.

Tissue engineering has vast potential to improve human health by repair and maintenance of existing tissue or generation of replacement of tissues and organs. A major limitation has been an incomplete understanding of the underlying cell-ECM interactions that govern cell adhesion which will ultimately affect downstream functions. Our approach to this problem utilizes MPE photochemistry to create 3D biomimetic scaffolds directly from crosslinked proteins. Beginning with bio-inspired designs we will seek to achieve improved function.

Learn more about the WHRP Seminars

Jun
24
Wed
2020
2020 Resident and Fellow Research & Alumni Day @ Virtual Session: Register below for link
Jun 24 @ 7:45 am – 11:00 am
2020 Resident and Fellow Research & Alumni Day @ Virtual Session: Register below for link

Resident and Fellow Research and Alumni Day is an annual event where our residents and graduating fellow present their clinical, translational science, and educational research results within their residency and fellowship in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Due to COVID-19, this event will be virtual. Register with the link below to receive the Webex information.

REGISTER

Agenda

TimeActivity
7:45amWELCOME
8:00amRachel Harrison, MD, MFM Fellow
Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 Placental Levels in Infants with Macrosomia

Mentors: Meredith Cruz, MD & John Corbett, PhD
8:15amPrecious Gaddis, MD, R4
The Prevalence and Impact of the Treatment of Vitamin D Deficiency in Patients undergoing In Vitro Fertilization

Mentor: Jayme Bosler, MD
8:30amBrian Tillis, MD, R4
Effect of a Best-Practice Alert on the Rate of Smoking Cessation
among Pregnant Women


Mentor: Anna Palatnik, MD
8:45amBradley Corbin, MD, R3
Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Protocols: Preoperative Education: Patient Satisfaction Outcomes

Mentor: Denise Uyar, MD
9:00amSpencer Gantz, MD, R3
Obstetric Outcomes in Pregnancies Complicated by Maternal Congenital Heart Disease

Mentor: Erika Peterson, MD
BREAK
9:15amColin Johnson, MD, R3
Assessment of the Immunologic and Clinical Significance of the Variable Microsatellite Instability Phenotype Observed in MMR-Deficient Endometrial Cancer

Mentor: William Bradley, MD
9:30amLauren Kurtz, MD, R3
Comparison of Hypertensive Disorder of Pregnancy Prevalence in Patients with Anxiety and Depression with or Without the Use of Psychotropic Medication

Mentor: Anna Palatnik, MD
9:45amTheresa Piquette, MD, R3
Obesity and Embryodynamics: Effect of BMI on Embryo Division Timing in Patients Undergoing IVF

Mentor: Kate Schoyer, MD
10:00amAshley Verhasselt, MD R3
Attitudes, Barriers and Needs of Healthcare Providers Providing Breastfeeding Support at Froedtert Hospital Birth Center

Mentors: Kristina Kaljo, PhD & Kate Dielentheis, MD
10:15amKate Wlodarczyk, MD
Neonatal Outcomes and Frequency of Ultrasound in Women with Prior Bariatric Surgery

Mentors: Meredith Cruz, MD & Rachel Harrison, MD
Jun
26
Fri
2020
2020 Resident and Fellow Graduation @ Virtual: Webex link below
Jun 26 @ 7:30 pm – 11:30 pm

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2020 Resident Graduates

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Kathryn Carnahan, MD

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Talia Coney, MD

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Precious Gaddis, MD

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Justin Harold, MD

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Sarah Hirsch, DO

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Isabel Nellen, DO

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Brian Tillis, MD

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Cindy Vu, MD

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2020 Maternal-Fetal Medicine Fellowship

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Rachel Harrison, MD

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