Magee-Womens Research Institute & Foundation

04/03/2026

What if improving pregnancy outcomes starts long before pregnancy itself?

Magee‑Womens investigator Dr. James Roberts is a co‑author on a new publication in the journal Elsevier Pregnancy Hypertension: An International Journal of Women’s Cardiovascular Health exploring how preconception health — including nutrition, environmental exposures, chronic conditions, stress, and more — can shape risks for conditions such as preeclampsia and other adverse pregnancy outcomes.

The article highlights findings from the Global Pregnancy Collaboration workshop, emphasizing the exposome, modifiable risk factors, and new opportunities to intervene before conception to support healthier pregnancies across populations.

Read more: https://bit.ly/478Cl93

04/01/2026

We had a great time at Her Hockey Day. Thank you to the Pittsburgh Penguins and Women Who Rock for helping turn game day into meaningful support for women’s health research at Magee-Womens Research Institute.

This year’s event brought the community together in a powerful way, continuing our shared commitment to advancing the health of women and families. Grateful to everyone who joined us and helped make the day a success.

Learn more: MageeWomens.org

04/01/2026

We’re excited to share the April lineup for the Magee-Womens Seminar Series!

This month features an outstanding group of experts whose work spans research discovery, clinical advances, and new directions in women’s health. Their contributions continue to enrich our scientific community and spark meaningful conversations across disciplines.

03/31/2026

Meet Malavika Eby, a researcher committed to reshaping how endometriosis care is understood and delivered. Her work brings much‑needed attention to the reality many patients face as they fight to be heard, believed, and taken seriously in clinical settings. By examining how patients and physicians navigate credibility, communication, and decision making, Malavika’s research highlights the human dynamics that shape diagnosis, treatment, and trust.

Malavika’s upcoming paper in Women’s Reproductive Health offers a powerful look at how care‑seekers and physicians perform and negotiate credibility during appointments. She recently shared her insights as a panelist for SisterSong’s early‑career endometriosis research event, contributing to conversations that elevate patient voices and push the field toward meaningful change. She is also a contributing author to the Routledge Handbook of the Anthropology of Menstruation, where her chapter explores patient–physician agency and decision making in endometriosis care.

Through collaborations with experts at Magee‑Womens Hospital, MWRI, Carnegie Mellon University, and SisterSong, Malavika’s work continues to drive forward a more compassionate and patient‑centered approach to endometriosis care.

Read more about her work here: https://bit.ly/4rYPYix

03/30/2026

Can you recall a time when you saw a doctor who really helped you? Or a moment when a family member of yours received exceptional care? Doctors’ Day is March 30 –– and you can show your appreciation for a doctor who really cared, while giving back to women everywhere.

As you may know, many Magee-Womens physicians go beyond providing exceptional care — they also lead the research that improves how women’s health care is delivered here in Pittsburgh and around the world. From earlier detection of complications to better treatments and new approaches to lifelong health, research is what allows great doctors to deliver even better care.

Make a gift in honor of your doctor today at MageeWomens.org

03/27/2026

Smoking during pregnancy remains common among women with opioid use disorder—but many want to quit.

New research from Magee-Womens investigator Dr. Elizabeth Krans and colleagues highlights how pregnant patients navigating opioid addiction often face complex barriers to smoking cessation and need more tailored support from healthcare systems.

Supporting these women means expanding access to compassionate, evidence-based care that addresses both ni****ne dependence and substance use.

Read more here:
https://bit.ly/4boNbcj

03/26/2026

Vote for abdOguide in the ACC InVenture Prize Competition!

This week, six Pitt Bioengineering undergrads are headed to Notre Dame to pitch abdOguide, a groundbreaking fertility device designed to expand access to reproductive care. Insights from MWRI investigator Dr. Breonna Slocum played a key role in the development of this innovation.

Support the team: Text “Pitt” to 415‑965‑7445 to vote for the People’s Choice Award.
Tune in: Watch the finals on PBS this Friday at 7 p.m. EST.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4rYAPOn

03/26/2026

Pelvic organ prolapse, or POP, is a common condition that affects up to 50 percent of women.

It occurs when the pelvic floor muscles become too weak to support the pelvic organs, allowing the bladder, uterus, or re**um to shift out of their normal position.

This weakening often occurs with age or after vaginal childbirth, and these childbirth‑related changes remain the leading cause of POP. Yet despite how widespread the condition is, there is still much we do not understand about why pelvic floor muscles weaken and how to prevent or treat this process more effectively.

With support from a WHAM Edge Award, Magee‑Womens investigator Dr. Amanda Artsen and Dr. Amrita Sahu from the McGowan Institute of Regenerative Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh are working to change this. Their research will explore whether childbirth‑related injuries impair the cells’ ability to repair themselves and maintain energy, which may weaken pelvic floor muscles over time. They will also test a new vaginal hydrogel treatment that could help restore the health and function of these cells.

Millions of women live with POP. They deserve research and innovation that leads to better treatments and better outcomes.

If you agree, reshare to help raise awareness.

03/25/2026

“They told me it might be in my head. It was in my whole body.”

Her pain started at 12. She passed out in school. Missed class. Was told it was normal.

For decades, she lived with worsening symptoms. Birth control was adjusted. ER visits led to misdiagnoses. At times, she was made to feel like the pain wasn’t real.

At 42, she finally learned the truth: endometriosis had spread throughout her entire body.

Endometriosis is not just “bad cramps.” It is a complex, inflammatory disease that can affect multiple organs. Delayed diagnosis and medical dismissal can have life-altering consequences.

No one should have to fight to be believed while fighting a disease.

👉 Learn more about endometriosis research and how you can support women’s health at MageeWomens.org.

03/25/2026

03/24/2026

What if the key to Pittsburgh’s economic future is something we’ve overlooked for decades?

Women are driving our region’s success across healthcare, higher education, life sciences, manufacturing, and tech — yet they spend more of their lives in poor health than men. That gap isn’t just a health issue. It’s a workforce issue, a productivity issue, and a massive economic opportunity.

Magee-Womens Research Institute is leading the charge to change that — right here in Pittsburgh — proving that when we invest in women’s health research, we invest in stronger companies, stronger communities, and a stronger regional economy.

Read the full story: https://bit.ly/4szNSHj

03/24/2026

She had $1 million in NIH funding and a dream to forge something entirely new: a research program dedicated to women’s health. As CEO of UPMC Magee‑Womens Hospital, Irma Goertzen recruited Dr. Jim Roberts to lead four basic scientists focused on women’s health issues.

With its founding in 1992, Magee‑Womens Research Institute became the nation’s first freestanding research institute specifically dedicated to the health of women across the lifespan. Since then, it has grown into the largest.

In a UPMC press release following her retirement in 2004, Irma reflected on her legacy:

“I am pleased that we have been able to do so much… The opportunity to make Magee the focal point for positive change in women's and infants' health was strongly supported by the hospital board, the medical staff, and an outstanding administrative team. I feel honored to have had the opportunities I did here at Magee and in Pittsburgh.”

Her bold vision continues to shape the future of women’s health research.

Follow to keep the celebration going.