# Advancing womens health through research: the UNC WRHR Career Development Program

> **NIH NIH K12** · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · 2024 · $340,200

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Obstetrician-gynecologists have an integral role to play in women’s reproductive health research. However, Ob-
Gyn investigators have historically been underrepresented in the field, leading to critical missed opportunities to
generate clinically-relevant research questions and to translate new findings into clinical practice. To address
this important gap, we propose to re-establish the Women’s Reproductive Health Research Career Development
Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Our aims are to catalyze early career development of
promising Ob-Gyn clinician investigators and to support collaborative, cutting edge research that advances the
field of women’s reproductive health. This program provides mentorship, structured career development
activities, and at least 75% protected research time for two Ob-Gyn scholars annually. Building upon prior WRHR
success (2005-2010), we have designed a program that addresses the needs of early career Ob-Gyn
researchers. First, our scholars are embedded in a vibrant research environment within our Department of Ob-
Gyn, which is supported by $14 million in annual research funding from NIH, other federal agencies, and
foundations. Our scholars will conduct mentored research within emphasis areas designated in the application,
at their intersection with women’s reproductive health. These include established research domains led by
program faculty and supported by multiple NIH awards (complications of pregnancy, mood disorders and
substance use, obesity and cardiometabolic disease, sexual and reproductive health). Opportunities to work in
emerging areas with individual, funded investigators will also be offered. Second, our scholars will be mentored
by experienced faculty. Mentorship committees are led by NIH-funded Ob-Gyn investigators and supported by
collaborating faculty from the UNC Schools of Medicine, Public Health, Pharmacy, Nursing, and Social Work.
Third, we have developed a robust career development curriculum that leverages existing K12/KL2 resources
at UNC, while remaining distinct in its goals and purpose. This broader community of early career, research-
oriented faculty provides opportunities for networking, shared learning, and peer-to-peer mentorship, and
minimizes the risk of academic isolation. Fourth, our program has exceptional institutional support from the UNC
School of Medicine. This includes a commitment of significant cost-sharing to ensure competitive junior faculty
salaries, commensurate with specialty and subspecialty faculty in the department. Scholars will also have access
to additional institutional resources through university-wide centers and institutes. The overarching goal of the
UNC WRHR Program is to support promising early career Ob-Gyns during the often tenuous transition to
research independence. Through access to an unparalleled group of experienced faculty mentors and the
strength of its career development curriculum, our program wi...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10865130
- **Project number:** 5K12HD103085-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
- **Principal Investigator:** Genevieve S. Neal-Perry
- **Activity code:** K12 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $340,200
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-07-23 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10865130

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10865130, Advancing womens health through research: the UNC WRHR Career Development Program (5K12HD103085-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10865130. Licensed CC0.

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