BIRCWH Director, Associate Professor, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Mentor

Dr. Guise's research focuses on improving healthcare and safety for women and children related to childbirth. She is the Director of the State Obstetric and Pediatric Research Collaboration (STORC ) and has developed a standardized simulation OB emergency drill and team training curriculum which is implemented throughout rural and urban Ob practices in Oregon. She is nationally recognized as a leader in evidence-based obstetrics. 

Department Obstetrics & Gynecology, Mentor

Department Physiology/Pharmacology, Medicine, Mentor

Vollum Institute, Mentor

Dr. Stork studies growth regulation during development and in adult life. Much of the research in the laboratory is centered on the use of the Ras/Raf-1/MEK/ERK signaling axis that governs cellular decision to differentiate or proliferate (myocyte differentiation in utero is one example; cancer is another). The laboratory has identified a second parallel pathway that couples extracellular signals to ERKs, involving the kinase B-Raf.  B-Raf is expressed in a developmentally regulated manner and its expression dictates hormonal signaling to ERKs.

Heart Research Center, Mentor

Dr. Barker has lead pioneering studies that have shown lower birthweights within the normal range are associated with increased risks of coronary heart disease, stroke, hypertension and type II diabetes. This has led to the "fetal origins" hypothesis that chronic disease originates through undernutrition during development and that gene-nutrition interactions during development initiate disease in later life. David Barker divides his time between faculty appointments at OHSU and the University of Southampton. In Oregon, he is helping to establish a new study of periconceptional nutrition and fetal development. In Europe his activities focus on the unique cohort of twenty thousand men and women who were born in Helsinki, Finland and for whom there are detailed records of fetal, infant and child growth and disease through life. 

Chair, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Mentor

Novel therapeutic approaches for the prevention of adverse thrombotic cardiovascular events (heart attack and stroke) emanating from Dr. Hanson’s lab include pharmacologic reduction of the circulating platelet count, inhibition of contact factor proteins such as coagulation Factor XI, and activation of the physiologic protein C pathway using a mutant recombinant thrombin enzyme. Approaches to inhibit intimal hyperplasia in vascular grafts include local delivery of anti-proliferative agents into the blood boundary layer at the blood-graft interface. Other interests in Dr. Hanson’s lab include the experimental and mathematical modeling of mass transport phenomena in flowing blood in order to define the relative importance of coagulation-mediated and platelet-mediated pathways of thrombus formation in vivo.

Senior Scientist and Head, Division of Reproductive Sciences, ONPRC, Mentor

Dr. Stouffer’s lab is interested in the factors controlling cyclic ovarian function in primates. Studies examine the cascade of events following the midcycle gonadotropin surge that result in ovulation of the mature follicle and development of the corpus luteum from the ruptured follicle. Experiments are also elucidating the role of local factors, including angiogenic factors and progesterone itself, in the maintenance and timely regression of the corpus luteum in the nonfertile cycle, and during luteal “rescue” in early pregnancy.  

Director, ONPRC, Department Physiology/Pharmacology, Mentor

Dr. Smith studies hypothalamic neurons that control food intake and energy balance. The primary hypothesis being examined in both rodent and nonhuman primate models is that exposure to a calorically rich or calorically deprived diet during the critical period of development of feeding circuitry can permanently alter the body weight phenotype during adulthood. Another focus of the research in the Smith laboratory is to understand how the regulation of food intake/energy balance and reproduction are highly integrated. For example, in times of prolonged negative energy balance, menstrual cyclicity stops.

ONPRC, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Mentor

Dr. Ojeda's main area of interest is the neuroendocrine control of female sexual development. His research efforts are focused on two principal topics: the development of the hypothalamic neuronal network which produces luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone, the neuropeptide that controls the secretion of gonadotropin hormones from the adenohypophysis, and the regulation of ovarian function by noradrenergic and peptidergic nerves.  The involvement of growth factors in controlling both the development of ovarian innervation and the organization of the reproductive hypothalamus is a subject of intense interest. Recent studies include determining the roles of neurotrophic factors in the onset of puberty and the role of homeobox genes in neuroendocrine development.

ONPRC, Mentor

 Dr. Grove is interested in whether programming defects in body weight management lie in abnormal development of hypothalamic feeding circuitry, deficiency in central sensitivity to peripheral hormonal signals (i.e., insulin and/or leptin) or in peripheral metabolism. The nonhuman primate model used investigates the role of maternal health and diet on the development of metabolic pathways in offspring. They have found that chronic consumption of a high fat/calorie diet during pregnancy leads to the development of fatty liver disease in the offspring. Thus the dramatic rise in obesity, diabetes and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in children in the past two decades may be partially due to maternal diet during pregnancy.

VP for Research, Professor, Department of Physiology/Pharmacology, Mentor

Dr. Dorsa’s laboratory attempts to understand the cellular and molecular events which mediate the effects of estrogen on gene transcription in brain neurons and glia. Classical actions of estrogen involving nuclear hormone receptor dimerization and binding to consensus hormone response elements, as well as “cross-talk” with other protein kinase-dependent signal transduction pathways such as protein kinase A, and the mitogen activated protein kinases are studied. The lab also investigates the relative roles of estrogen receptor-subtypes (ERa and ERb) in these responses. The interest is in understanding membrane initiated events in neuroendocrine regulation, reproductive behavior, and neurotropic effects in the developing and aging brain. 

ONPRC, Department of Physiology/Pharmacology, Mentor

Dr. Cameron’s research seeks to determine what makes some individuals sensitive to the detrimental health effects of life stresses and others resilient to those adverse consequences. Her studies examine the interplay between genetic factors and life experiences in regulating the effects of stress on health. Major questions currently studied include: how genetic factors, food intake, and metabolism interact to regulate the control of body weight; how metabolic and psychological stresses interact to regulate fertility; and how genetic factors and early life stresses interact to influence the development of anxiety, depression and other mental disorders.

Department Pharmacology/Physiology, Mentor

The Kelly laboratory is interested in the electrophysiology of hypothalamic neurons (e.g., opioid, dopamine and GnRH) that control homeostasis and behavior. Opiates and opioid peptides inhibit both sexual behavior and gonadotropin secretion from the anterior pituitary of the male and female. A particular group of endogenous opioid neurons, hypothalamic ?-endorphin neurons, are both neurosecretory and neuromodulatory in nature.  The Kelly lab has established that the ?-opioid receptor is an autoreceptor on ?-endorphin neurons and inhibits their activity via activation of inwardly rectifying K+ channels.

Department Neurology, Mentor

Dr. Janowsky is Director of the Aging and Cognition Laboratory. Her research interests are the neural basis of learning and memory. Two major techniques are used: 1) The cognitive and neural changes that occur with aging and dementia as modified by sex steroids, and 2) The changes in brain morphology and function with aging using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technology. Current projects focus on the whether sex steroid supplementation (estrogen and testosterone) modifies emotions and emotional memory in older men and women.

Department of Internal Medicine, Mentor

Dr Elliot is the PI of a NIH-funded study entitled PHLAMEII (Promoting Healthy Lifestyles: Alternative Models' Effects) that studies interventions that encourage habits to develop healthy nutrition and physical activity.  PHLAME extends the original Behavior Change Consortium using a team-centered, peer led, scripted curriculum and one-on-one motivational interviewing for health promotion that has been shown to significantly improve healthy nutrition and physical activity. She directs the ATHENA (Athletes Targeting Healthy Exercise and Nutrition Alternatives) program to deter disorder eating and drug use among adolescent females in 40 middle and high schools and the ATLAS (Athletes Training and Learning to Avoid Steroids) program in male high school students.

Chair Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Mentor

Dr. Becker is an internist with a long history of gynecologic cancer research among minority women. He has published extensively on HPV infections and their relation to cervical neoplasia in Hispanic and American Indian women in New Mexico, as well as among Alaska Native women in Anchorage. He has been involved in cancer control training and cancer control research among American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Polynesians through two NIH grants (R01-CA-64451 and R25 CA83646). Through those grants, he provides mentorship to numerous Native researchers around the country. He also is program director for a large American Indian-based project, Northwest Tribal Health Research Center, also under NIH funding (GM-00-007). Along with Dr. Cynthia Morris, he co-directs the Human Investigations Program (K30 HL4516). Dr. Becker is well positioned to assist the BIRCWH trainees in mentoring for minority research projects, and can facilitate bridging activities with the Human Investigations Program and the MPH program.

Director, OHSU Cancer Institute, Mentor

The Bagby laboratory intensively investigates the hematopoietic functions of the Fanconi anemia protein family. He mentors Tanja Pejovic, a BIRCWH Scholar who studies whether alterations in FANCD2 expression plays a role in ovarian carcinogenesis in women. The results of the project carried out by Drs. Pejovic and Bagby are in press (Cancer Research, 2006) and indicate that tissue specific genetic instability in ovarian epithelial cells and FANCD2 gene suppression in those cells may be biomarkers of inherited ovarian and breast cancer risk.  

Director, Oregon Aging and Alzheimer's Disease Center, Mentor

Dr. Kaye’s clinical research group focuses on identifying factors that protect individuals from developing dementia in later life and that promote a maximal cognitive health span. The Oregon Brain Aging Study is the only study in the U.S. that specifically focuses on the brain of healthy individuals 85 years or older. Longitudinal methods of gauging the progression change using the tools of psychometric testing, genetic markers, volumetric and functional neuroimaging, and serum and cerebrospinal fluid protein markers are employed.

Senior Scientist, Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Mentor

The lab is interested in development and function of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), specifically their antiviral and antitumor activity, with an emphasis on the biology of CTL selection and antigen recognition. These studies are performed in the context of the relationship between immunity and pathogens over the lifespan of the organism, with a specific emphasis upon the age-related defects in immunity and defects in homeostasis of the immune system. Differences in gender in view of the higher incidence of autoimmune diseases in adult and older females is a particular interest. Diagnosis of the most critical, primary defects in innate and adaptive immunity of old age is being followed by studies to repair or modulate those defects by immune intervention as well as by tailored, rational vaccine design. Many of those studies are pursued by vertical model integration - using broad and fundamental studies in rodents to crystallize questions to be asked and verified in non-human primates, leading to final and most relevant studies in humans.

Vice Chairman of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Mentor

Dr. Hurn is a mentor for two current BIRCWH Scholars. She is internationally known for her work with gender differences in ischemic brain injury and for investigations into the neuroprotective properties of estrogen and progesterone.  Dr. Hurn has a long standing interest in the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying ischemia/reperfusion injury, historically including effects of bioenergetics, regulation of intra-ischemic hemodynamics and glucose, and oxidant stress. She has over 15 years of experience with mentoring faculty, fellows and students in research and in study of gender-specific disease mechanisms.

Professor of Neurology, Mentor

Dr. Offner is a Javits Neuroscience Investigator with numerous awards and honors awarded for her work in molecular immunology and in Multiple Sclerosis. Her interest in estrogen’s neuroprotective properties in a model of human MS, murine experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) has opened new avenues to address the disease as it relates to women. She has a longstanding interest in developing new immunoregulatory therapies for autoimmune diseases, with a focus on the role of the sex hormones, estrogen, estriol, and testosterone, in inhibiting T cell mediated inflammation.

Professor of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Mentor, Associate Dean for Basic Research and Associate Vice President for Research

Dr. Traystman is an internationally known cerebrovascular physiologist and stroke researcher. His major interest has been in the mechanisms involved in cerebral vasodilation with hypoxia with concentration on metabolic and neurogenic mechanisms, in ischemia/reperfusion injury in cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Most recently, he has begun unique investigations into the effects of estrogen and female sex on outcome in animal models of global brain ischemia/CPR.

Department of Physiology/Pharmacology, Co-Mentor

Males and females have evolved to perform different roles and marked sex differences are observed in the structure and functioning of their brains. Dr. Roselli studies gender differences in the biosynthesis and actions of estradiol in the brain and in particular cytochrome P450 aromatase that converts circulating testosterone into estradiol. His aims are to identify hormone-sensitive control points and target genes that are regulated by androgen-derived estrogen and identify their neurophysiological functions. 

Vice Chair of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology, Mentor

Dr. Morris has a research focus in maternal and child health, including preeclampsia and congenital cardiac malformations.  Dr. Morris established the Oregon Registry of Congenital Heart Defects, a population-based cohort study of Oregonians with surgery for common heart defects, followed prospectively for outcomes. She has a strong interest in the use of patient registries and practice-based networks for translation of research to the community. She is the research director for the Oregon Rural Practice Research Network and was awarded the 2004 Mentor Award from the Medical Research Foundation of Oregon.

Associate Professor, Obstetrics & Gynecology. Mentor

Dr. Berlin’s research concerns evidence-based prevention and screening in women’s health, particularly cervical cancer. Dr. Berlin is Director of the OHSU National Center of Excellence in Women’s Health and Program Director of PATH for women, focusing on evidence-based policy issues within women’s health. Dr. Berlin uses epidemiology to evaluate economic, geographic, and racial disparities in women’s health, and is a primary author of Making the Grade on Women's Health: A  National and State-by-State Report Card project.