INTRODUCTION AND PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

The University of Pittsburgh Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences (OBGYN) and Magee-Womens Research Institute are deeply committed to training the next generation of physician scientists in reproductive biology and women’s health. As one of the research leaders in our field, we understand the significance of scientific discovery and the need to translate the results of research into knowledge and skills for clinicians and, ultimately, into improvements in reproductive health, women’s health, and offspring health. Our fundamental goals are to provide advanced training for talented Pitt OBGYN physician-scholars in impactful and diverse interdisciplinary research across the lifespan of women and mentor them as they develop a strong scholarly foundation for a productive and sustainable career in the field of women’s reproductive health. Our program spans training in basic, translational, clinical, health services, and community research and focuses on pathogenesis and personalized diagnostics, therapeutics and prevention for women of all ages. Our goals are aligned with the Eunice Shriver Kennedy NICHD strategic goals and objectives and cross-cutting topics. We strongly believe that reproductive health research is essential to propel progress in care for women. As one of the largest academic OBGYN departments in the country, we have the critical mass of reproductive biology and women’s health researchers, the mentoring environment, and the infrastructure to distinctively target training for OBGYN physician-scientists. Pitt-MWRI is the only free-standing research institute in the country solely dedicated to advancing women’s health. As such, it excels in research, education, and sponsoring the next generation of OBGYN physician-scientists. Indeed, we have an outstanding track record of training, supporting, and retaining previous WRHR scholars who are broadly recognized as leaders within, and outside of, our field. Given the diverse scientific skills among our OBGYN primary mentors, established collaborations with outstanding co-mentors across the University of Pittsburgh, our training program emphasizes multidisciplinary mentoring, classroom-based education, team science, and grant writing. Our Pitt-MWRI WRHR program will enable each graduating scholar to embark on a successful career as a physician-scientist poised to contribute to the improvement of women’s health.

Scholars are supported for a minimum of two years and are able to take advantage of the extraordinary environment at the Univ. of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences and Magee-Womens Research Institute as they work with a personalized mentorship team and supportive program advisory committee members to develop a research program that is not only relevant to the Scholar’s research interests in women’s health, but will serve as the foundation for the Scholar’s independence.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

• Be a physician holding an MD or DO degree.
• Have completed postgraduate residency training in obstetrics and gynecology.
• Be no more than 4 years after attaining board eligibility in their subspecialty.
• Have identified a primary OBGYN mentor and University of Pittsburgh co-mentor/s with extensive research experience. External co-mentors are also acceptable.
• Each Scholar will commit to providing 75% effort over a minimum of two calendar years full-time professional effort conducting research and research career development activities. Surgeon scientists have the option of committing to less effort but must maintain at least 50% effort. The percentage effort will remain constant over the full course of the appointment.
• Not be or have been a PI on an R01, R29, U01/U10, subproject of a Program Project (P01), Center (P50, P60, U54) grant, or individual mentored or non-mentored career development award (e.g., K01, K02, K08, K22, K23, K24, K25, K99). Individuals who are or were PIs on NIH Small Grants (i.e., R03s) or Exploratory/Developmental Grants (i.e., R21s) may be eligible providing they meet the other eligibility requirements.
• Scholars may be appointed to the K12 program in the final year of subspecialty fellowship training, but only if the year is designated as a primary research year in order to meet the requirements for 75% research effort.
• Be a U.S. citizen or noncitizen national or must have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence and possess an Alien Registration Receipt Card (I-151 or I-155) or some other verification of legal admission as a permanent citizen. Individuals on temporary or student visas are not eligible.

SCHOLAR SUPPORT

1. Scholar’s salary: The WRHR program will provide salary support for 75% of a scholar’s salary and fringe benefits up to $100,000, annually. If the Scholar’s salary exceeds NIH funding, the Scholar’s department should supplement the WRHR salary contribution to a level that is consistent with that department’s salary scale. Departmental supplementation of a salary cannot require duties or responsibilities that interfere with the purpose of WRHR or the requirement that 75% effort be spent on women’s health research or related career development activities. WRHR research effort may be reduced to 50% FTE for faculty in surgical specialties.

2. Scholar's research and professional development: The WRHR program provides funds to support the scholar’s research ($20,000), including supplies and reagents, equipment, core research services and technical personnel, travel to one scientific meeting ($1,500), and education funds ($2,000). Total annual research and development funding = $2,350. Funds must be spent in the award year and do not carryover.

3. Other support: The division supporting the candidate must be able to demonstrate a commitment to the development of the candidate as a productive, independent investigator. The candidate’s division must agree to protect 75% of the Scholar’s time for the WRHR project (50% allowable for surgical specialties), and cover any of her/his salary and necessary research expenses in excess of the NIH limit. This agreement is needed to ensure that the scholar has a salary commensurate to that of other junior faculty in the division, to ensure provision of the appropriate technical support and supplies necessary to establish a productive research program, and to ensure that the total funds allocated to support each young investigator are within the program guidelines. In addition to salary and protected research time, the division must provide office space and appropriate research space for the Scholar. Program administration funds are also provided to attend the annual WRHR Program Meeting at the NIH.

WRHR Activity and Expectations

WRHR Workshops and Coursework

WRHR Application Submission