PROJECT SUMMARY The urgency and importance of training critically needed basic, translational, and clinical scientists in women's health and reproductive research is well recognized by the leadership of NIH, the national government, and the scientific and medical communities. The UCSD Training Program in Reproductive Sciences takes a distinctive multidisciplinary approach to training postdoctoral scholars as physician-scientists and reproductive biologists in the mechanistic investigation of reproductive processes and diseases. The combination of clinical, physiological, coputational, and molecular approaches to studying reproductive processes and disorders creates exceptional training for basic scientists and physician-scientists, producing well-rounded reproductive researchers who are extraordinarily qualified for future careers. The program supports both fellows seeking advanced research experience post-Ph.D. and/or M.D., including those seeking research and clinical training to become board- certified OB/GYN subspecialists. Thus, the leadership and mentor team are well balanced between clinical and basic researchers. We have an exceptional 40-year track record as recognized by an NIH Mentor Award (10 yrs 2003-2012) and a perfect score of 10 awarded by the study section for the 2013-2018 application. Review panels have approved 4 positions for many years, however, NICHD has funded only 3. We primarily support trainees for their first research year, after which they seek F32 or K awards. A cohesive group of NIH-funded faculty from the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences and the Departments of Medicine and Pathology at UCSD with common interests, shared grants, and joint publications, provides basic, translational, and clinical training, and fosters the careers of the trainees. The majority of the faculty are members of the UCSD Center for Reproductive Science and Medicine, the Center for Perinatal Discovery, and/or mentors in the UCSD Women's Reproductive Health Research Program. Thus, this training program is integrated with multiple centers, allowing the faculty and fellows to interact at many levels, creating an atmosphere of collaboration, mentoring, and career support. Our research ranges from computational and molecular to patient-oriented research utilizing bioinformatics, in vitro analyses, cell culture models, whole animal, and clinical research methodology. The breadth of the research opportunites for our trainees covers the lifspan: germ cells, placental growth and function, gonadal physiology and development, pituitary/hypothalamic development and neurophysiology, puberty, pelvic floor muscle biology, vaginal, urinary, and gut microbiome, metabolism and stress, and epidemiology of infertility and preterm birth. The program of training includes group meetings and presentations, journal clubs, seminars, national meetings, clinical and lab training, independent research, career development workshops, grant wr...