Location

MWRI research operations in Erie is located within the Magee-Womens, UPMC Hamot hospital, northwestern Pennsylvania’s regional referral center for women’s and pediatric specialty and subspecialty services.

Clinical

Magee-Womens, UPMC Hamot obstetrical and gynecologic services support approximately 2,500 births and 1600 gynecologic procedures per year (2019). There is a 24-bed level three neonatal intensive care unit. The 10-room labor suite and five operating rooms are staffed with 24/7 anesthesia coverage. The operating room is fully equipped with advanced laparoscopic and robotic equipment.

Clinical services are rendered by 30 Board certified OB Gyn specialists from the University of Pittsburgh Physicians group (at the hospital-based clinic and two community offices) and a large private practice group. Subspecialty services are offered in Gynecologic Oncology, Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery (Urogynecology), Maternal Fetal Medicine and Reproductive Endocrinology.

Full time research coordinator staff provide screening, enrollment and follow-up for clinical trials in the ambulatory and in-patient settings.

Magee-Womens UPMC Hamot Clinical and Translational Research Center (MWHamot CTRC) is situated on the 1st floor of Magee-Womens, UPMC Hamot immediately adjacent to outpatient OBGYN and Pediatric clinical offices as well as the Obstetrical Triage unit and the ObGyn Ultrasound suite. The proximity between the CTRC and sites of clinical care facilitates recruitment, retention, and follow-up of subjects in clinical studies. The CTRC contains two multipurpose interview/telemedicine/consult spaces, a reception area, and workstations for study personnel. Exam rooms, phlebotomy, and laboratory processing of biospecimens is conducted in the adjacent clinic offices. The CTRC is supported in part through grants from the Hamot Health Foundation, MWRI Foundation, and the Erie Community Foundation.

Laboratory

Magee-Womens Hamot Obstetric Specimen Procurement Unit (MWHamot OSPU) is located on the 3rd floor of Magee-Womens UPMC Hamot, within the labor and delivery unit and in immediate proximity to the operating rooms. The 134 square foot biosafety level 2 (BSL2) laboratory is staffed on weekdays and early evenings by technicians experienced in procurement and processing of placentas, myometrium, maternal and umbilical cord blood and other tissues. Available equipment includes: centrifuges, refrigerator, -80 freezers, barcode scanner and label maker, liquid nitrogen dewar and scale. Activities of the unit are supervised by the medical director.