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Indiana University School of Medicine
Indiana University School of Medicine
Obstetrics and Gynecology

Translational Research in Obstetrics and Gynecology

Translational researchers apply basic science discoveries made in the laboratory to inform clinical practice and improve people's health. The OB-GYN translational research team at the Indiana University School of Medicine performs a wide variety of research related to maternal and reproductive health, gynecologic cancers, and postmenopausal and women’s health.

Department translational researchers conduct groundbreaking research and make scientific advancements through cross-departmental and interdisciplinary collaborations. Our investigators are embedded in major research centers, including:

Translational Research Areas

Collaborating with the Divisions of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and General Obstetrics and Gynecology, translational researchers study how pregnant people metabolize various drugs and medications. Because pregnancy changes the ways bodies metabolize medications, researchers must understand what medications do and don't work during pregnancy and the effects those medications have on pregnant people and their fetuses.

Collaborating with the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, translational researchers study neoplasms, endometriosis, fibroids and gynecologic cancers. By utilizing cell culture systems and laboratory animal models, they better understand the processes of noncancerous growth and cancer development. These findings help develop treatment options that researchers test in clinical trials.

In collaboration with the Divisions of General Obstetrics and Gynecology and Gynecologic Oncology, researchers investigate how diet and exercise can improve health after menopause and impact recovery in cancer survivors. Their research encompasses many different aspects of aging, including the effects of aging on musculoskeletal health, the onset of age-associated cancers and the effects of menopause.

In collaboration with the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, translational researchers study the interface of transgender care and the effects of different sex hormones. By administering different hormones in cell cultures and laboratory animal models, researchers examine the effects of sex hormones on different biological processes and development.

Translational research

OB-GYN Faculty Labs

In addition to collaborating with department divisions and interdisciplinary collaborations, OB-GYN translational researchers perform research in dedicated faculty labs. The labs conduct research and studies on specific topics. 


Brodeur Lab

The Brodeur Lab uses mouse models to study the immune system's role in ovarian aging. Studying physiological aging in the ovaries, marked by changes in hormones, tissues and cells of the ovaries and oocytes, is crucial to helping people age well. Findings from the lab inform prevention, diagnostic and treatment efforts related to ovarian health throughout the lifespan.    

Condello Lab

The Condello Lab studies the mechanisms that regulate ovarian cancer metastasis within the peritoneal space. The lab aims to develop innovative therapies to halt tumor dissemination and enhance clinical outcomes. Insights gained from these studies are instrumental in the development of groundbreaking therapies for ovarian cancer, potentially transforming patient care and prognosis.  

Hawkins Lab

The Hawkins Lab studies benign and malignant diseases in the female reproductive tract. Researchers in this lab study ovarian cancer from the perspective of the endometriotic tumor microenvironment and create models that recapitulate human disease. In addition, the lab trains gynecologists, emergency medicine physicians and medical, graduate, undergraduate and high school students.  

Quinney Lab

The Quinney Lab utilizes a clinical pharmacology and pharmacometrics approach to support drug development and personalized therapeutics, emphasizing maternal and pediatric populations. Lab members use pharmacometric approaches, including population pharmacokinetics (PopPK) and physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling, to integrate data from in vitro and preclinical studies to clinical trials and real-world applications. Research contributions include studies supporting the dosing and safety of misoprostol, nifedipine, and gabapentin in pregnant or lactating individuals and drug discovery and development work in Alzheimer's disease, cancer and other areas.  

Smith Lab

The Smith lab studies how nutrition and bioactive components in foods can reduce the risk of chronic disease and improve women's health in aging. Ongoing research utilizes cell culture systems and animal models to inform clinical trials, which seek to understand how the gut microbiome can be targeted to improve immune function and musculoskeletal health. The lab has a track record of training fellows, residents, and students at all levels interested in translational research focused on women's health. 

Contact Us

Please contact Lisa Bruno, administrative assistant, to learn more about our department's translational research or to connect with a potential collaborator or research team.