Division of Research
The University of Massachusetts Medical School and its clinical partner UMass Memorial Health Care’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology is an academic medical center with a research agenda focused on the advancement of women’s reproductive health across age, specialty and geographic spectra. Consistent with the University of Massachusetts Medical School’s vision, the research division’s vision is that of scientific advancement through creative thinking and innovation to yield an understanding of the causes, prevention and treatment of women’s reproductive health for the pursuit of knowledge and the benefit of women everywhere. The core ideology of this division is ‘Advancing the reproductive health and well-being of women and subsequently their children and their families through evidence-based investigation’. As an academic department, all faculty are encouraged to participate in and contribute to this core ideology acknowledging that some will achieve independent-investigator status and others will be more clinically and educationally productive while contributing to the department’s research reputation through publications and mentorship of trainees.
Departmental research initiatives, while under the broad auspices of women’s health, are quite diverse, and include ongoing investigations in and involvement with:
the National Children’s Study
the Gynecologic Oncology Group
the Eleanor L. Hunter Tumor Registry for Serous Carcinoma of the Peritoneum
Angiogenic biomarkers and the prediction of preeclampsia
Modifiable behaviors and adherence to gestational weight gain
Pelvic reconstructive surgery: short and long-term outcome data
The Department is committed to supporting both clinical and basic research, and to the integration of research activity into our educational mission, which includes intern/residency training and fellowship programs in urogynecology and female pelvic reconstructive surgery.
Overall goals and initiatives of the research division include but are not limited to:
To build a culture of scientific and academic inquiry through the pursuit of research within the dept of Ob/Gyn, amongst faculty, support staff and patients as possible research subjects
To leverage departmental strengths to identify, establish and solidify collaborations with regards to basic science, clinical and translational research
To grow the research division through recruitment of clinician-researchers and full-time researchers
To develop, encourage and mentor research pursuits in current and future faculty by providing faculty development, support and guidance
To expose trainees (students, residents and fellows) to research methods with the goal of cultivating and nurturing future scientists and collaborators
To develop and encourage collaborations with regards to cross-divisional research, interdepartmental research, interdisciplinary research and inter-institutional research efforts
To investigate the appropriate departmental balance and patient/subject exposure with regards to investigator-initiated funded and unfunded research from both within our department and outside, collaborator-initiated funded and unfunded research, industry- or pharma-initiated research, contracts, networks and other research opportunities
Research Team
Tiffany A. Moore Simas, MD, MPH, MEd
Director, Ob/Gyn Research Division
Xun Liao, MS
Statistician II
Laura Robidoux, BS, LMT
Research Assistant
Barrie Marsh
Executive Secretary
Funded Research
NIH-NICHD-NCS-07-11, Contract HHSN267200700024C. Felice, M (PI), Moore Simas T (Co-I)
$16,245,311
Funding source NICHD-NIDDK
Period 10/01/2007 – 09/30/2012
The National Children’s Study Center – MassChild (Massachusetts Child Health Indicators and Life Determinants) in Worcester County
The NCS is a longitudinal study of children’s health, their families, and their environment. This study will examine the effects of environmental influences on the health and development of approximately 100,000 children drawn from a nationwide sample. Subjects will be followed from before birth to age 21 years.
UMMS CCTS Pilot Project Program. Moore Simas, T (PI)
$150,000
Period 06/2008 – 06/2010
Angiogenic Biomarkers for the Prediction of Preeclampsia
Funding Opportunities
Numerous opportunities exist for obtaining extramural funding for research in reproductive science. These range from federal support (e.g. National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation) to grants from pharmaceutical companies, professional societies and private foundations. In addition, some internal departmental funding is available for faculty pilot projects, and for supporting student projects. Please contact Dr. Tiffany A. Moore Simas for additional information. General information about UMMS funding can be found on the Office of Research Funding Services web page
The National Institute of Health
North American Menopause Society
Philip Morris
American Heart Association
The American College of Obstetrics & Gynecologists
The March of Dimes
Endocrine Society
American Federation for Aging Research
The Society for Gynecologic Investigation
USDA
American Society for Reproductive Medicine
Resident Research Presentations 2009
Evans, Janelle MD Got Prolapse? A retrospective cohort study of anterior vaginal
repair with and without synthetic mesh (2000-2007)
Advisor: Stephen B. Young, MD
Resident Research Day, UMass Memorial, June 2009
Oral Presentation: MA ACOG District I ACM, Waltham, MA,
Aug 2009
Poster presentation: AUGS Annual Scientific Meeting,
Hollywood, FL, Sept 2009
Ellingson-Itzin, Amy MD Comparative study of closure techniques after cesarean
section: staples vs. Dermabond.
Advisor: Dawn S. Tasillo, MD
Resident Research Day, UMass Memorial, June 2009
Kelly, Deborah MD Review of management techniques and outcomes of the third
stage of labor in mid-trimester deliveries
Advisor: Mark J. Manning, DO
Resident Research Day, UMass Memorial, June 2009
Kumaraswami, Tara MD Postpartum Depression: Impact of an Educational Intervention
on Help-Seeking Behaviors
Advisors: Tiffany A. Moore Simas, MD, MPH, MEd
Janet Hardy, PhD, MPH, MSc
Resident Research Day, June 2009
Barlow, Erin MD Poster presentation: Barlow E, Moore Simas TA,
Hardy JR, Zhang Y, Jackson S.
Predictors of Postpartum Weight Retention in Adolescent
Pregnancy.
ACOG 57th Annual Clinical Meeting, Chicago, IL. May 2009.
Barron, Kenneth MD Poster presentation: Barron KI, Moore Simas TA,
Hardy JR, Zhang Y. Vaginal versus
Cesarean: Obstetric Patients’ Preferences Regarding Mode
of Delivery.
ACOG 57th Annual Clinical Meeting, Chicago, IL. May 2009.
Robb, Teresa MD Poster Presentation: Robb T, Hardy J, Mazo K, Zhang Y,
Andrade S, O’Dell K.
Patient’s knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about potentially
teratogenic medications in pregnancy.
ACOG 57th Annual Clinical Meeting, Chicago, IL. May 2009.
Whitman, Kristy MD Poster presentation: Whitman K, Demone J, Meyer B,
Moore Simas TA.
Obstetric Interventions and Outcomes in Pregnancies
Following Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP).
ACOG District I Meeting, Waltham, MA, July 2009.
ACOG 57th Annual Clinical Meeting, Chicago, IL. May 2009.
Resident Research Presentations 2008
Barlow, Erin MD Predictors of Postpartum Weight Retention in Adolescent
Pregnancy
Advisors: Tiffany A. Moore Simas, MD, MPH, MEd,
Janet R. Hardy, PhD, MSc, MPH
Resident Research Day, UMass Memorial, June 2008
Barron, Kenneth MD Giving Birth: Patient attitudes and preferences -
Prospective survey of pregnant women's opinions on mode
of delivery (CS v Vaginal) and past birth experiences for
the evaluation of cesarean delivery on maternal request
Advisors: Tiffany A. Moore Simas, MD, MPH, MEd,
Janet Hardy, PhD, MPH, MSc
Resident Research Day, UMass Memorial, June 2008
Lunman, Stacey DO A comparative study of closure techniques after
cesarean section: staples vs Dermabond
Advisor: Dawn S. Tasillo, MD
Resident Research Day, UMass Memorial, June 2008
Robb, Teresa MD Patient’s knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about potentially
teratogenic medications in pregnancy
Advisors: Janet R. Hardy, PhD, MSc, MPH,
Kate O’Dell, PhD, CNM, Kathleen M. Mazo, EdD,
Susan E. Andrade, Scd ,
Tiffany A. Moore Simas, MD, MPH, MEd
Resident Research Day, UMass Memorial, June 2008
Whitman, Kristy MD Obstetric Interventions and Outcomes in Pregnancies
Following Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP)
Advisor: Tiffany A. Moore Simas, MD, MPH, MEd
Resident Research Day, UMass Memorial, June 2008
.