Chief: Nandini Raghuraman, MD, MSCI
The Division of Clinical Research (DCR) at Washington University School of Medicine provides specialized facilities and services to support clinical research in women’s reproductive health. Together with the Center for Reproductive Health Sciences (CRepHS), the clinical research division supports the ob/gyn department’s overall research enterprise.
Clinical research in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology has grown exponentially over the past 10 years. The department is currently ranked among the top 10 in NIH research funding among ob/gyn departments and holds substantial foundation grants.
The goal of the DCR is to build on this record of excellence while further expanding the success and impact of our clinical research. We aim to accomplish this by providing support to established investigators while grooming new investigators to independence.
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- Division of Clinical research mission »
- Investigator resources, support and services »
- Training and education opportunities »
- Faculty and staff »
- Active clinical trials »
Our mission
The Division of Clinical Research serves as the hub for clinical and translational research within the department by:
- Providing shared research infrastructure
- Coordinating and improving efficiency of clinical research activities
- Enhancing existing clinical research training and education
- Fostering cross-collaboration with basic science and public health research
Shared research infrastructure and services
The DCR provides comprehensive services to support clinical investigators. Our excellent support team – which includes research assistants, nurse coordinators, data managers, epidemiologists, a statistician and project coordinators – can assist with multiple phases of study planning, as well as data management and analysis.
We also provide a dedicated clinical research facility that has patient exam rooms, a processing lab, workstations and secure storage. Obstetric exam rooms are also available in the Center for Outpatient Health for the purpose of seeing patients for clinical research studies.
Learn more about the clinical research building »
Need to utilize or inquire about clinical research services or facilities?
OBGYN Investigators should use the IRB intake form to obtain assistance and departmental approval for your study. For consultation or assistance with study planning, please email obgynresearch@email.wustl.edu.
Investigators outside of the WashU OBGYN department should utilize the external inquiry form or email obgynresearch@email.wustl.edu for assistance.
Department-wide resources for researchers
In addition to the facilities and services provided by the DCR, resources available to investigators in the ob/gyn department include:
- Scientific manuscript editing
- Grant-finding and -writing assistance
- Ob/gyn, oncology, and other tissue and data banks
Efficiency of clinical research activities
The DCR coordinates and improves efficiency of clinical research activities by providing:
- Centralized data management support
- Centralized IRB and regulatory support
- Coordination of multicenter studies: database, randomization, interim analysis, DSMB reports
- Scientific review of grant applications
Clinical research training and education
Clinical research learning opportunities in the ob/gyn department include a variety of research seminars and a training program in clinical and reproductive epidemiology. Our division supports education and training at every level of medicine.
- For fellows: Annual applied epidemiology seminar; one-on-one research consults
Learn more about research seminars » - For residents: Monthly Journal Club (with Dr. Raghuraman & Dr. Kuroki); Annual Second Year Residents Research Retreat
Learn more about research training during residency » - For undergraduate and medical students: Coordinate placement with faculty; core clinical research methods lectures in the summer
Our faculty and staff
Many clinicians in our department are actively engaged in clinical research.
See active studies »
David L. Eisenberg, MD, MPH, FACOG
Professor, Ob/Gyn
Division Chief: Complex Family Planning, Contraception, & Gynecology
Division: Complex Family Planning, Contraception, & Gynecology
Admin; Kathy Nesser
Lindsay M Kuroki, MD, MSCI
Associate Division Director, Gynecologic Oncology
Associate Professor, Ob/Gyn
Associate Fellowship Director, Gynecologic Oncology
Jerry L. Lowder, MD, MSc
Professor, Ob/Gyn
Urogynecology & Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery
Director of T32 Training Program, FPMRS Research
David G. Mutch, MD
Professor, Ob/Gyn
SPORE in Endometrial Cancer Core Lead
Division: Gynecologic Oncology
Admin; Hannah Struckhoff
Nandini Raghuraman, MD, MSCI
Chief, Division of Clinical Research
Assistant Professor, Ob/Gyn
Fellowship Program Director, Maternal-Fetal Medicine
- Email: nraghuraman@wustl.edu
Premal H. Thaker, MD, MS
Interim Chief, Gynecologic Oncology
David & Lynn Mutch Distinguished Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Director of Gynecologic Oncology Clinical Research
Division: Gynecologic Oncology
Admin; Whitney Dunker
Yong Wang, PhD
Principal Investigator
Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Primary), Electrical & Systems Engineering (Secondary), Radiology (Jointed), and Biomedical Engineering (Affiliated)
Division: Clinical Research
Candice Woolfolk, PhD, MPH
Assistant Professor, OBGYN
Divisions: Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Clinical Research
Clinical research managers
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Jaime Strickland, MA
314-747-1390
jaime.strickland@wustl.edu
Gynecologic Oncology
Linda Odibo, RN, MN
314-362-1705
odibol@wustl.edu
Data team
Senior Data Analyst
Dong Wang, PhD
314-747-2197
dongw@wustl.edu
Investigator resources
Scientific Editor
Deborah Frank
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