Upcoming Seminars & Conferences

Date

Speaker, Academic Title & Affiliation

Presentation

Long Gu, PhD

Assistant Research Professor, Beckman Research
Institute/City of Hope National Medical Center

The Effects of Darpp-32 and t-Darpp on Cell Growth and Survival in Breast Cancer

Fred W. Turek, PhD

Charles E. & Emma H.
Morrison Professor of Biology

Director,
Center for Sleep and Circadian Biology
Northwestern University

Dysregulation of Sleep and Circadian Rhythms: Role in Obesity and Metabolic Disorders

Mark Phillippe, MD, MHCM

Professor & Chairman, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at the University of Vermont College of Medicine

The Scientific Basis for the Morbidity and Treatment of Pandemic Influenza During Pregnancy

Ceceila Lo, PhD

Chair & Professor
Department of Biology 
University of Pittsburgh & Rangos Research Institute 

A Central Role for the Cilium in the Pathogenesis of Human Congenital Heart Disease

Robert Powers, PhD

Assistant Professor,
Departments of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences and Cell Biology & Physiology 
University of Pittsburgh 

Preeclampsia, the Obesity Epidemic, and the Role of Asymmetric Dimethylarginine (ADMA)

Humphrey Hung-Cheng Yao, PhD

Associate Professor,
Department of Veterinary Biosciences 
University of Illinois at Urbana 

Diverse Functions of the Hedgehog Pathway in Differentiation of Steroidogenic Cell Lineages

William Walker, PhD

Associate Professor,
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences 
University of Pittsburgh 

Regulation of Spermatogenesis by Classical and Non-Classical Testosterone Signaling

R. Dennis Lo

Li Ka Shing Professor
of Medicine

Professor of Chemical Pathology,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong 

Noninvasive Prenatal Diagnosis Using Fetal Nucleic Acids in Maternal Plasma

Linda Giudice, MD, PhD, MSc

Professor & Chair,
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences 
University of California San Francisco 

New Insights into Pathophysiology of Endometriosis

Sang Hyuk Chung, PhD

Research Associate,
McArle Laboratory for Cancer Research 
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine & Public Health 

Interactions of Estrogen with HPV in Cervical Cancer

Dr. Robert Goodman

Chair,
Department of Physiology & Pharmacology
West Virginia University Health Sciences Center 

From Kiss to KNDy: Is a Single Set of Neurons the Final Common Pathway for Feedback Control of GnRH?

Riu Liang, MD

Postdoctoral Research Associate,
Musculoskeletal Research Center

Department of Bioengineering 
University of Pittsburgh 

Improving the Healing of Collagenous Tissue with Tissue Engineering

Henning Schneider, MD

Professor Emeritus of Ob-Gyn
University of Berne, Switzerland  

Malaria During Pregnancy and Its Influence on the Fetus: Antibody Dependent Transplacental Transfer of Malaria Blood Stage Antigen

Olga Basso, PhD

Staff Scientist,
Epidemiology Branch 
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences 

Mortality of Preterm Babies: Immaturity vs. Pathology

Robin Gandley, PhD

Assistant Professor,
Departments of Environmental & Occupational Health and Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences 
University of Pittsburgh 

Vascular Adaptation to Pregnancy: Implications of Smoking

Kathleen Darcy, PhD

Translational Research Scientist,
Gynecologic Oncology Group Statistical Data Center 
Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY 

Translational Research Opportunities Within the NCI-Sponsored Gynecologic Oncology Group

Dana Rofey, PhD

Assistant Professor,
Department of Pediatrics, Psychiatry & Psychology 
Weight Management & Wellness Center 
University of Pittsburgh 

Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds: Helping Adolescents with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Tony Plant, PhD

Professor,
Departments of Cell Biology & Physiology and Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences

Director,
Center for Research in Reproductive Physiology
University of Pittsburgh 

The Hypothalamic Drive for GnRH Release and Therefore Gonadal Function in Man Requires More than KISS

Carlton Bates, MD
Associate Professor of Pediatrics 

Chief,
Pediatric Nephrology

Director,
Pediatric Nephrology Fellowship Program
Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC 
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine 

Role of Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptors in the Kidney

Eleanor B. Schwarz, MD, MS

Assistant Professor of Medicine, Epidemiology, and Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
University of Pittsburgh Center for Research on Health Care 

Infant Feeding Practices and Maternal Risk for Cardiovascular Disease

Kathrin Gassei, PhD

Postdoctoral Associate,
Magee-Womens Research Institute 

The Role of Spait-like 4 (Sall4) in Spermatogonial Lineage Development During Steady-State Spermatogenesis

Alexander N. Yatsenko, MD, PhD

Postdoctoral Associate,
Departments of Pathology, Molecular & Human Genetics 
Baylor College of Medicine 

Molecular Genetics of Male Infertility

Serdar E. Bulun, MD

Chief,
Division of Reproductive Biology Research 
George H. Gardner Professor of Clinical Gynecology 
Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University 

Aromatase in Health and Disease

Anda Vlad, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor,
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences 
University of Pittsburgh 

Mouse Models of Endometriosis and Endometriosis-Related Ovarian Tumors for Preclinical Testing of Vaccines

Kyle Orwig, PhD

Assistant Professor,
Departments of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences and Molecular Genetics & Biochemistry 
University of Pittsburgh 

Translating Spermatogonial Stem Cell Transplantation to the Clinic

Valerian Kagan, PhD, DSc

Professor and Vice Chairman,
Environmental & Occupational Health 
University of Pittsburgh 

Rancid Smell of Death: Oxidative Lipidomics of Apoptosis

Robert Platt, PhD

Associate Professor,
Departments of Epidemiology, Biostatistics & Occupational
Health and Pediatrics
McGill University, Montreal 

Evaluating Customized Fetal Growth Curves

Ellen Nohr, PhD

Associate Professor,
Institute of Public Health
University of Aarhus, Denmark  

Gestational Weight Gain and the Outcome of Pregnancy. Does the Trade-off Between Mother and Child Differ According to Maternal Characteristics?

Carl Hubel, PhD

Associate Professor,
Departments of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences and Environmental & Occupational Health 
University of Pittsburgh 

Circulating Angiogenic Cells and Preeclampsia

Steve Caritis, MD

Professor,
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences 
University of Pittsburgh 

Progestins and Preterm Birth

John R. Chaillet, PhD

Associate Professor,
Microbiology & Molecular Genetics 
University of Pittsburgh 

Inheritance of Maternal and Paternal Imprints

David Haig, PhD

George Putnam Professor of Biology and Harvard College

Professor
Harvard University 

Putting up Resistance on Preeclampsia

Dr. Svetlana A. Yatsenko

Research Associate
Baylor College of Medicine 

Application of Comparative Genomic Hybridization Technique in Clinical Diagnosis and Research: Insights into Congenital Disorders and Cancer Pathogenesis

Michelle Okun, PhD

Assistant Professor
University of Pittsburgh 

What’s Sleep Got To Do With It? Exploring Sleep Disturbances as a Risk Factor for Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes

Yoel Sadovsky, MD

Scientific Director
Magee-Womens Research Institute 

Arrays for Placental macro- and micro-RNAs

Jon F. Watchko, MD

Professor of Pediatrics, Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
Division of Newborn Medicine 
Department of Pediatrics 
University of Pittsburgh 

Minocycline Neuroprotection Against Bilirubin Encephalopathy

Mark T. Gladwin, MD

Professor of Medicine,
Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine 

Director, 
Hemostasis & Vascular Biology Research Institute University of Pittsburgh 

Haldane, Hot Dogs, and Halitosis: The Emerging Biology and Therapeutic Application of Nitrite

Margaret B. Conroy, MD, MPH

Assistant Professor of Medicine
School of Medicine 
Assistant Professor of Epideiology 
Graduate School of Public Health 
University of Pittsburgh 

Regional Adiposity in Postmenopausal Women: Preliminary Data and Future Directions

Naomi Rance, MD, PhD

Professor of Pathology, Cell Biology, Anatomy & Neurology
University of Arizona 

Neurokinin B and the Hypothalamic Regulation of Reproduction

Michele Levine, PhD

Assistant Professor of Psychiatry & Psychology
Western Psychiatric Institute & Clinic, UPMC 

Postpartum Health Behavior Change

Mark Roberts, MD, MPP

Professor of Medicine,
Health Policy & Management & Industrial Engineering

Chief,
Section of Decision Sciences & Clinical Systems Modeling 
Department of Medicine 
University of Pittsburgh 

Virtual Clinical Trials: Gaining Biological Insights Through Mathematical Models of Why It’s a Good Thing Galileo and Newton Were Not Statisticians

Naftali, Kaminski, MD

Associate Professor of Medicine, Pathology, Human Genetics & Computational Biology
Dorothy P. and Richard P. Simmons Endowed Chair for Pulmonary Research 

Director,
Lung, Blood & Vascular Center for Genomic Medicine 

Director,
Dorothy P. and Richard P. Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease
UPMC 

Regulatory Messenger Molecular microRNAs in Lung Fibrosis

Nuria Pastor Soler, MD, PhD, FASN

Assistant Professor of Medicine, Renal-Electrolyte Division

Assistant Professor of Cell Biology & Physiology,
Center for Research in Reproductive Physiology
University of Pittsburgh 

Proton Vacuolar – ATPast Expression and Regulation in the Epididymal Epithelium

Janet Catov, PhD, MS

Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences and Epidemiology
University of Pittsburgh 

Preterm Birth and Maternal Cardiovascular Risk

Brandi Swanier, MSIV

Medical Student
University of Pittsburgh 

Ob-gyn Resident Perceptions of Adolescent Health Care Training

Jean-Francois Mouillet, PhD

Research Instructor
Magee-Womens Research Institute 

The Role of micro-RNA in Placental Function

Ian McGowan, MD, PhD, FRCP

Professor of Medicine
Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences 
University of Pittsburgh 

Challenges in the Development of Rectal Microbicides for HIV Prevention

Robert Edwards, MD

Professor,
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, & Reproductive Sciences

Vice Chair,
Clinical Affairs

Director,
Gynecologic Oncology Research
University of Pittsburgh Physicians 

Ovarian Cancer, Inflammation, and Immunotherapy

Charlene Dezzutti, PhD

Associate Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
University of Pittsburgh 

The Gastrointestinal Tract: Can We Protect it From HIV?

Wen Xie, MD, PhD

Associate Professor & Associate Director
Center for Pharmacogenetics 
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences 
University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy 

Nuclear Receptor-Mediated Gene Regulation in Hormonal Homeostasis

Jerry Straus, III, MD, PhD

Dean School of Medicine

Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs
Virginia Commonwealth University Health System 

Genetic Factors Contributing to Disparities in Preterm Birth

Dorothy Sit, MD

Assistant Professor of Psychiatry 
Western Psychiatric Institute & Clinic, UPMC

Mother-Infant Antidepressant Levels and Maternal Depression: Impact on Neonatal Outcomes

Robert Goldenberg, MD

Professor of Ob-Gyn

Director, 
Division of Research 
Drexel University School of Medicine 

Research Related to Pregnancy Outcomes in Developing Countries

Simon Watkins, PhD, FRCPath

Professor of Cell Biology, Physiology & Immunology

Director,
Center for Biologic Imaging
University of Pittsburgh 

Optical Opportunities and the Center for Biologic Imaging

Lisa Rohan, PhD

Assistant Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences 
School of Medicine 
University of Pittsburgh 

The Development of RC-101 and PSC-RANTES: Two Potential Biopharmaceutical Microbicide Products for HIV Prevention

Melanie Flint, PhD

Research Instructor
University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute  

A Molecular Analysis of Psychological Stress, Stress Hormones, and Breast Cancer

Patrick Pagano, PhD, FAHA

Professor,
Hemostatis & Vascular Biology Institute
Pharmacology & Chemical Biology
University of Pittsburgh 

Paracrine Influences of the Adventitial NADPH Oxidase on Vascular Tone

William Walker, PhD

Associate Professor,
Cell Biology & Physiology
University of Pittsburgh 

Regulation of FSHR and Sertoli Cell Differentiation by the USF Transcription Factor

Anthony S. Ham, PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow
Magee-Womens Research Institute 

Formulation of Novel Vaginal Microbicide Drug Delivery Systems for the Prevention of HIV-1

Robert Nicholls, Dphil

Professor of Pediatrics
Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC
University of Pittsburgh  

Genetic Quirks in the Prader-Willi Syndrome Domain: Imprinting, Master Regulators, and our Holey Genome

Mahmoud Huleihel, PhD

Department of Cell Biology & Physiology
University of Pittsburgh 

Maintenance and Differentiation of Murine Male Germ Cells to Spermatoza in a Soft Agar Culture System

Shanna Tharp-Taylor, PhD & Andrew Dick, PhD

Social Scientist/Senior Economist
RAND Corporation 

Pilot Study of the Magee NICU Transformation

Aleksandar Rajkovic, MD, PhD

Associate Professor,
Clinical Instructor
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
Baylor College of Medicine 

Identification and Characterization of Critical Regulators in Germline Differentation

Thomas Cherpes, MD

Assistant Professor,
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
University of Pittsburgh 

Hormonal Contraception and Viral Infection

Jonathan Pollett, PhD

Assistant Professor,
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
University of Pittsburgh 

Stem Cell Ecology and Cancer

Katherine Wisner, MD, MS

Women’s Behavioral HealthCARE
Western Psychiatric Institute & Clinic, UPMC 

Updates From 3 NIMH Funded R01s: Screening Postpartum Depressions at Magee-Womens Hospital, Antimanic Use During Pregnancy, and Estradiol Transdermal Patch for Postpartum Depression

Nicole Bianco, PhD

Postdoctoral Scholar, Microbiology & Molecular Genetics
University of Pittsburgh 

Exploring the Uses of Exosomes, From Autoimmunity to Cancer

Walter Miller

Professor of Pediatrics
University of California San Francisco 

P450 Oxidoreductase Deficiency: A New Order of Steroidogenesis Causing a Broad Spectrum of Human Disease

Yaacov Barak, PhD

Visiting Associate Professor
University of Pittsburgh 

Molecular Genetics of PPARs: From Gene Targeting to Target Genes

Jennifer Condon-Jeyasuria, PhD

Assistant Professor
Department of Cell Biology & Physiology 
University of Pittsburgh  

New Molecular Insights into the Onset of Labor

Michael Ross

Fetal Origins of the Obesity Epidemic

Lorna G. Moore, PhD

Wake Forest University

Functional Genomic Analyses of Hypoxia-Associated Reductions in Fetal Growth

Dr. Gary Hammer

Adrenal Stem/Progenitor Cells: Implications for Cancer

Donald DeFranco, PhD

Professor, Neurosciences & Pharmacology

Director,
Pharmacology Graduate Program
University of Pittsburgh 

Hic-5, a Stromal Specific Coactivator that Functions in Steroid Hormone and TGF-beta Signaling in Prostate

Dr. Lupski

Genomic Disorders: Mechanisms and Clinical Implementation of High Resolution Genome Analysis

Richard Johnson, MD

Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC

New Insights into the Role of Uric Acid in Hypertension and Renal Disease

Pamela Moalli, MD, PhD

Associate Professor
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences 
University of Pittsburgh 

Biological Basis of Menopause as a Risk Factor for Pelvic Organ Prolapse

Dr. Terry T. Turner

Hypoxia-Inducible Factor in the Testis: Evidentiary Proceedings

Adegboye Abdulkadir

UPMC

A Rat Model of Choriomnionitis and PVL: Placenta Inflammation and Hemodynamic Changes

William Walker, PhD

Associate Professor
Department of Cell Biology & Physiology 
University of Pittsburgh 

New Mechanisms of Testosterone Action in the Testes

Catherine Haggerty, PhD, MPH

Assistant Professor, Epidemiology
University of Pittsburgh 

Reproductive Consequences of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease: The Role of Novel Bacterial Pathogens

Tony Plant, PhD

Professor,
Departments of Cell Biology & Physiology and Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences

Director,
Center for Research in Reproductive Physiology
University of Pittsburgh 

Human Puberty, a Mysterios Awakening: Lessons From the Monkey

Mitch Creinin, MD

Professor,
Departments of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences and Epidemiology
University of Pittsburgh 

Medical Abortion: Where We Have Been and Where We Are Going

Anthony Zeleznik, PhD

Professor,
Departments of Cell Biology & Physiology and Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
University of Pittsburgh 

Physiology and Cell Biology of the Ovarian Cycle

Judy Chang, MD, MPH

Assistant Professor, Departments of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences and Medicine
University of Pittsburgh  

Health Services Research in Women’s Health: The Science for Caring for Patients

Aletha Akers, MD, MPH

Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
University of Pittsburgh 

When There’s Nothing To Do, You Do Somebody: Environmental Factors Affecting HIV Risk in Rural North Carolina

Hyagriv Simhan, MD, MSCR

Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
University of Pittsburgh 

Gene-environment Interactions Contributing to the Racial Disparity in Spontaneous Preterm Birth

Lauren Anton

Graduate Student
Postdoctoral Candidate 

The Role of Renin Angiotensin System in Normal and Preeclamptic Pregnancy

Brian Hermann, PhD

Postdoctoral Associate
University of Pittsburgh 

Molecular Dissection of the Male Germ Cell Lineage in Postnatal Non-Human Primates

Lisa Bodnar, PhD, MPH, RD

Assistant Professor, Epidemiology
University of Pittsburgh 

Is Vitamin D a Contributor to Racial Disparities in Birth Outcomes?

Theresa Powell &
Thomas Jansson

Associate Professor

Placental Nutrient Sensing and Fetal Growth

Sanjeev Shroff, PhD

Professor and Gerald E. McGinnis Chair in Bioengineering

Professor of Medicine

Myofilamental Protein Acetylation: A New Regulator of Cardiac Muscle Contraction

Jon Watchko, MD

Professor,
Departments of Pediatrics and Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
University of Pittsburgh 

Exploring the Genetic Architecture of Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia

Sharon Hillier, PhD

Professor,
Departments of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences and Molecular Genetics & Biochemistry
University of Pittsburgh 

The Microbicide Trials Network: Who We Are and What We Are Doing

James M. Roberts, MD

Professor,
Departments of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences and Epidemiology
University of Pittsburgh

Preeclampsia: The Leading Cardiovascular Disease of Reproductive-Aged Women