Research
Center for Women's Health and Reproductive Medicine (CWHRM) serves as the research arm of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and is dedicated to the mission of improving the health of women through basic, translational, and clinical research. We are one of the leading research programs in women's health in the country and rank 3rd nationally in special grant funding from the National Institute of Health. The substantial NIH funding of CWHRM investigators has placed the Department among the top in the nation since the Center’s creation.
The Women's Health Clinical Research Center and The Penn Ovarian Research Center are both designed to provide an infrastructure to assist experienced as well as new investigators in the implementation of clinical and translational research in women's health and ovarian cancer, respectively, which will ultimately improve the quality of life for women.
Our mission is to increase understanding of human reproduction through basic and clinical research and to promote the well being of women through the study of gender biology and health problems unique to women. The Center's mandate includes pre- and post-doctoral training in research, and the development and dissemination of lay and professional educational materials relevant to women's health.
Clinical trials
In 2006, The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology established the Women's Health Clinical Research Center (WHCRC) under the direction of Dr. Kurt Barnhart.
The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology has an active clinical research program and numerous clinical trials are available in reproductive health, contraception, infertility, gynecologic oncology, urogynecology, and obstetrics. The Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility is one of eight centers in the country carrying out large, multi-center trials in the area of male and female infertility, and reproductive disorders.
Learn more about clinical trials and to view our list of active clinical trials
The Division of Gynecologic Oncology participates in NCI sponsored clinical trials through the NRG Oncology Group. There are also phase I and phase II clinical trials for cervical, endometrial and ovarian cancers. Population Science trials in cancer prevention are available as well.
Gynecologic oncology clinical research
For every type and stage of cancer, there are recommended standard of care regimens. Standard of care is treatment has been tested and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) and is considered the most safe and effective treatment currently available. When a patient has tried standard of care treatment for the type and stage of her disease and it is no longer effective, a clinical trial may be the best option. Your doctor can discuss the standard of care and clinical trial options with you.
Visit Gynecologic Oncology Clinical Research Unit for more information about our clinical trials.