Larry Copeland, MD, Chair
Obstetrics and Gynecology has several divisions that conduct basic or clinical research. The Division of General Obstetrics and Gynecology focuses on clinical research, most of which is industry-supported and concentrates on hormonal therapies for pregnancy prevention and menopause management. The Division of Gynecologic Oncology is involved with clinical trials, mainly through the Gynecologic Oncology Group, as well as industrysupported drug-development trials. Most of these are aimed at preventing and treating ovarian, endometrial and cervical cancer. Basic researchers in this Division identify molecular targets associated with gynecologic malignancies. Scientists in the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine predominantly focus on clinical and basic research into preventing pre-term labor. In conjunction with the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Network of Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units, this Division also participates in clinical trials regarding fetal growth, diabetes in pregnancy, and preventing pre-eclampsia. Studies in the Division of Reproductive Biology and Vaccine Research focus primarily on developing and applying peptide vaccines.
Research Accomplishments of 2006
- The Division of Gynecologic Oncology continued as a leading participant in the Gynecologic Oncology Group, the premier clinical trials group in this field. The Division maintains patient accrual within the top three study centers in the United States. Advances in this past year included studies to improve survival in ovarian cancer with the use of intraperitoneal chemotherapy, and preventing cervical cancer with vaccines.
- The Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine continued participation in clinical trials of the Multicenter Network of the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units funded through the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Focus areas included evaluating vaginal births after cesarean section (VBAC). Additional research was directed at perinatal outcomes in women with preterm rupture of membranes.
- The Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine continued a basic research program directed by Douglas Kniss, PhD, and William Ackerman, MD, in mechanisms of preterm labor and regulating the cyclooxygenase cascade.
- The Division of Reproductive Biology and Vaccine Research continued studies on the use of conformational peptides in developing vaccines to treat ovarian cancer. This research is directed by Pravin Kaumaya, PhD, in association with David Cohn, MD.
- The Gynecologic Oncology Division continued to conduct basic and clinical research in the management and prognostic factors associated with endometrial adenocarcinoma.
