Sizzle Brochure: Magee-Womens Research Institute & Foundation

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HER HEALTH IS OUR FUTURE

Where would we be without our mothers, our grandmothers, and our great grandmothers? The answer is simple. We wouldn’t exist.

Women make up 50% of the population but carry 100% of the future.

Her body is powerful, miraculous, unique. All life starts with her.

Women’s health is human health. And yet for decades, women’s health has been dramatically underrepresented and understudied in scientific research—including clinical trials.

We see a better, healthier world where women’s health has the scientific prominence and cultural status it deserves.

We are Magee-Womens Research Institute & Foundation, the largest U.S. research institution dedicated solely to women’s health and reproductive biology. And we are committed to creating fundamental research that informs health care progress and innovation all over the world.

Because when she is healthy, we are healthy. When women thrive, so does humankind.

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WE ARE PIONEERS, VISIONARIES & COLLABORATORS WHO

ARE ON A MISSION

To challenge the status quo.

To close the gaps in women’s health.

To change the way the world treats women.

3 THE HOME OF WOMEN’S HEALTH RESEARCH

MAGEE-WOMENS RESEARCH INSTITUTE & FOUNDATION BY THE NUMBERS

In 1992, a humble research institution in the South Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh was born. We’ve been shaping the future of women’s health in western Pennsylvania—and around the globe—ever since.

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30 YEAR CHAMPION OF SEX-SPECIFIC MEDICINE

57% OF STAFF ARE WOMEN ACTIVE GRANTS

5 FLOORS OF FLEXIBLE LABORATORY SPACE

197 CLINICAL TRIAL PARTICIPANTS 162K CONDITIONS

IN NIH FUNDING FOR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH RESEARCH #1

PARTNERSHIPS IN THE HOME OF WOMEN’S HEALTH RESEARCH

5 SCIENTISTS RESEARCHERS
& STAFF 380
292 COUNTRIES & 20+ 5 CONTINENTS

OUR 7 AREAS OF RESEARCH

REPRODUCTIVE DEVELOPMENT

We accelerate discoveries in stem and germ cell biology to unlock the mysteries— and enormous medical potential—of the very beginnings of life.

PREGNANCY AND NEWBORN MEDICINE

We study maternal health and fetal and placental development to ensure healthy mothers and babies. Because the nine months of pregnancy offer a window into lifelong health.

INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Hundreds of millions of women are affected every year. We are developing new therapies for STDs, including a groundbreaking study that puts women in control of preventing HIV.

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“These formative steps during the 9 months of pregnancy set the stage for 90+ years of health, wellness, and therefore the future of humankind.”
– Yoel Sadovsky, MD Executive Director Magee-Womens Research Institute

GYNECOLOGY

From family planning and safer contraception to postmenopausal health, we focus on the incredible and sometimes challenging adventure that is a woman’s lifespan.

LIFE CHANGING RESEARCH STARTS HERE. WITH HER.

Like life, we don’t stand still. We question. We challenge. We re-think. We do over. We push the boundaries. We reach higher. We achieve.

We are patient for the patient’s sake. We’re persistent for the future’s sake. Will this discovery be the answer? Or will it open the door for yet another discovery?

At Magee-Womens Research Institute & Foundation, we’re always looking forward. Because as science evolves, care evolves.

REPRODUCTIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY AND INFERTILITY

We’re working to make infertility history. That means tackling the toughest infertility challenges to help more families who are struggling to conceive.

WOMEN’S CANCERS

We’re making tremendous strides in the detection, treatment, and prevention of women’s cancers—from breast and ovarian to uterine and endometrial cancer.

WOMEN’S WELLNESS

Our goal is to reduce health disparities and improve access to affordable, quality care for women—especially those with risk factors

9 MONTHS TO 90 YEARS – AND BEYOND

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AREAS OF RESEARCH

OUR RESEARCH ADVANCES HER HEALTH

Science tells us that a woman’s body is unique, right down to her DNA. Women respond differently to pain, stress, and medications—as well as to symptoms and disease. And yet, until the 1990s, most medical research had sidestepped these sex differences, studying men and applying the findings to women.

Someone had to change the status quo. And that someone was us.

Since our beginning, we’ve been committed to learning more about women’s health, so we can better diagnose, treat and care for women.

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Every day, our world-class researchers and physicians are finding solutions that dramatically impact the lives of women, their families, and communities.
WHAT WE DO

THIS IS WHAT LIFE CHANGING RESEARCH LOOKS LIKE

WE ARE...

FINDING HOPE FOR WOMEN’S CANCERS

We are making tremendous strides in the detection, treatment, and prevention of women’s cancers. This includes conducting large-scale clinical trials of breakthrough therapies for breast and gynecological cancers.

SOLVING INFERTILITY STRUGGLES

We are helping women with premature ovarian aging and young cancer patients who face infertility after chemotherapy, as well as individuals and families in the LGBTQ community, realize their dream of having a family.

PREVENTING HIV/AIDS

We are making headway in the fight against HIV, seeking to decrease the incidence among women in Africa and around the globe.

REDUCING THE INCIDENCE OF PREMATURITY

We are studying the root causes of prematurity, including conditions like preeclampsia and placental complications.

IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE AS WOMEN AGE

We are treating pelvic floor disorders with timely diagnosis, surgery, physical therapy, and regenerative therapies.

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FACILITATING RECOVERIES FROM SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS

We are changing the treatment protocols for substance use disorder, a rising problem among pregnant women. Deaths caused by overdose are a leading cause of maternal death, and we are developing novel interventions to address this public health crisis.

MAKING BIRTH CONTROL SAFER AND MORE EFFECTIVE

At our Center for Family Planning Research, we’re studying safer, more effective forms of birth control.

HELPING WOMEN LEAD PRODUCTIVE, PAIN-FREE LIVES

We are at the forefront of diagnosing and treating pelvic pain and endometriosis. Our Chronic Pelvic Pain and Endometriosis Center is one of the only comprehensive facilities of its kind.

UNLOCKING THE MYSTERIES OF MENOPAUSE

We are learning about the links between surgery and dementia risks in post-menopausal women.

IMPROVING RACIAL HEALTH DISPARITIES

We are piloting programs to remotely monitor and improve blood pressure outcomes for pregnant Black women. We are teaming with Healthy Start on educational programs to support minority women and help them become more aware of the risks they might face during pregnancy, such as preeclampsia.

11 WHAT WE DO

FAST FACT: MOMI contains more than 300 variables for approximately 190,000 deliveries at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital since 1995.

WHAT’S NEW AND TRANSFORMATIONAL

Magee-Womens Research Institute & Foundation is at the forefront of the health concerns facing women today.

REDUCING INFANT MORTALITY

A partnership with the Richard King Mellon Foundation

The Richard King Mellon Foundation has invested more than $24 million in our cutting edge research and advanced patient care. Most recently, they have partnered with us in our effort to combat infant mortality in Allegheny County, and beyond, by supporting providers in the development and implementation of technologies and interventions to reduce risks of infant mortality in prenatal and postnatal care.

ADVANCING THE SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING OF MATERNAL AND INFANT HEALTH

Steve N. Caritis Magee Obstetric Maternal & Infant Database and Biobank (MOMI)

The MOMI Database is one of the largest pregnancy databases of its kind, containing more than 300 variables for approximately 190,000 deliveries at UPMC MageeWomens Hospital since 1995. The MOMI Database and Biobank are used for research of normal and abnormal pregnancies—creating knowledge that will improve the health of women and future generations. Researchers use the MOMI Database and Biobank to address everything from the causes and prevention of premature birth to the effectiveness and safety of taking medications during pregnancy.

COVID-19 NASAL SPRAY A Novel Form of Prevention

A development lab at MWRI is working with the University of Louisville on a nasal spray that will protect the user from being infected with COVID-19. The product will be key to protecting frontline medical personnel and immunocompromised individuals from the disease. The nasal spray is being funded in part, by a one year, $8.5 million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Defense and is currently in a Phase 1 clinical trial.

HIV PREVENTION Putting Prevention in Women’s Hands

Our infectious disease researchers envision a day when any young woman, whether she lives in the U.S. or Sub-Saharan Africa, can easily buy a product that protects her from sexually transmitted diseases. That’s why we’re continually developing new therapies to protect against HIV—everything from a vaginal ring to a dissolving strip of film that administers both contraceptives and HIV-fighting microbicides in a single product. Through our partnerships, we’re making headway in the global fight against HIV. In Africa —where infection rates are the highest—we’ve stopped the spread of HIV by 30 percent.

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NOTABLE PROJECTS

THE MORE BRILLIANT MINDS, THE BETTER

Drawing on partnerships close to home and across the globe, MageeWomens Research Institute & Foundation collaborates with leading minds to shape the future of womankind and humankind.

Our world-leading researchers and physician scientists work side-by-side with renowned clinicians at UPMC. UPMC is an integrated global health care enterprise and the largest university-affiliated medical center in the United States. Together, we take the latest research discoveries directly to patients, a practice known as bench-to-bedside.

And right across the street from our research institute you’ll find our namesake partner, UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital, a world-class center for women’s health and comprehensive care. UPMC Magee-Womens also optimizes the bench-to-bedside approach to apply groundbreaking discoveries to everyday patient care.

For more than a century, UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital has cared for women through every stage of their lives. Known for its excellence in clinical care and contributions to research, the hospital is also one of the nation’s most respected training centers for providers in women’s health services.

UPMC MAGEE-WOMENS HOSPITAL

UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital is a National Center of Excellence in Women’s Health.

Nationally ranked for excellence in gynecology by U.S. News & World Report. Magee delivers 10,000 babies each year, which is 45% of all births in Allegheny County.

The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is the largest in Pennsylvania and one of the largest in the country, treating more than 1,500 seriously or critically ill babies annually.

DELIVERING WORLD-CLASS CARE

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COLLABORATING ON THE FOREFRONT OF WOMEN’S HEALTH

Magee-Womens Research Institute & Foundation is shaping the future of health with a myriad of academic and industry partners across the nation and around the world.

UNIVERSITY PARTNERS

Harvard University

Johns Hopkins University

Penn State University

Northwestern University

Stanford University

University of California

San Francisco

University of Pittsburgh

FOUNDATION PARTNERS

American Cancer Society

American Heart Association

A Glimmer of Hope Foundation

March of Dimes

Richard King Mellon Foundation

Susan G. Komen

INDUSTRY PARTNERS

AMAG Pharmaceuticals

Bayer

Boston Scientific

GE Healthcare

Merck

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ACADEMIC & INDUSTRY PARTNERS AROUND THE GLOBE

TODAY’S GIFT COULD SPARK TOMORROW’S BREAKTHROUGH

Innovations don’t happen overnight. Life changing research takes time, dedication, and passion.

And, of course, nothing is possible without meaningful investment. Funding can change the course of women’s research. And women’s research can change the course of all lives.

That’s why we have a foundation that supports the transformative work of Magee-Womens Research Institute and UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital.

Our Foundation receives funding from national health organizations, but it also relies on the generosity of philanthropic organizations, corporations, and private individuals.

Everyone plays a critical role in our success. The scientists and physicians who pursue innovations. The patients who join our clinical trials and benefit from our research. And the donors whose generosity fuels the science.

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EVENTS HELP RAISE AWARENESS FOR OUR MISSION

MAGEE-WOMENS SUMMIT A Celebration of Science

We convene regularly to host the Magee-Womens Summit. Here, the world’s leading women’s health research scientists and thought leaders exchange information and ideas on bringing women’s health research to the forefront of scientific discovery.

The mission is simple, yet profound: To chart a course for tomorrow’s medical research innovations that will lead to healthier, longer lifespans for humankind.

The centerpiece of the event is the announcement of the landmark $1 million Magee Prize. Funded through the generosity of the Richard King Mellon Foundation, the Magee Prize recognizes collaborative and transformative research within women’s health and reproductive sciences.

The prize is one of the largest of its kind in the world. Carrie Coghill, Chair of the Magee-Womens Research Institute & Foundation Board, says it best:

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“If there were a Nobel Prize in women’s health research, the Magee Prize would be it.”

WOMEN WHO ROCK BENEFIT CONCERT Women’s Research is Music to All Ears

Women Who Rock connects all women through the power of music and helps to educate, support and fund women-centric health research and music endeavors. The annual concert—which just rocked its fourth year— is founded, produced, and fronted by women. Concert proceeds benefit women’s health research at Magee-Womens Research Institute.

WOMEN WHO ROCK IMPACT AWARD She’s a Rockstar for Womankind

This annual award honors outstanding women making a difference in the fields of women’s health, women’s rights, or women in music. Sheila E. took home the award in 2021. Past winners include Dr. Sharon Hillier, Kelly Frey, and Dr. Carola Neumann.

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THE IMPACT OF INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS

A SON’S GIFT, A MOTHER’S LEGACY

Matt Deitch was a 20-year-old college student when his mother Robbie died from ovarian cancer. To honor her memory, Matt chose to give to a cause she championed fiercely: women’s health.

Matt’s donation of $250,000 functioned as a seed grant for Dr. Ronald Buckanovich, who specializes in finding novel treatments for ovarian cancer. One year later, on Christmas Eve, the National Institutes of Health approved a $2.2 million grant based on the research that Matt’s gift funded.

That tenfold return on his initial investment was a significant boost for research that may change the course of the disease that took Robbie’s life far too soon.

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“This is the goal,” Matt said. “We’re trying to push forward the things we can be most optimistic about.”

$1 MILLION GIFT FUNDS PREMATURITY RESEARCH

Terri and Tom Bone donated $1 million to Magee-Womens Research Institute & Foundation to benefit a cause that is dear to their hearts: prematurity research. Two of the Bones’ three children spent time in the NICU after being born prematurely, reflecting a pattern of prematurity that runs in Terri’s family.

Having worked hard all their lives, Terri and Tom wanted to give to a place where they knew it would make a difference. “I have confidence that this is a good place to put money to both enable results and enable women to be empowered to get those results,” Terri said.

Nearly 1 in 10 babies are born prematurely each year in the United

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FUNDING OUR MISSION
States. Those born before
weeks can be susceptible to long-term health problems over their entire lives. That’s why MWRI researchers are dedicated to reducing the incidences of prematurity.

GIVE TO WOMANKIND BENEFIT HUMANKIND

There’s no telling what we’ll discover next. And how it will transform women’s lives for generations to come. That’s why there’s no better time to contribute to the largest U.S. research institute dedicated solely to women’s health and reproductive biology.

Remember, a gift to womankind is a gift to humankind.

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WAYS TO GIVE

Your gift impacts the world-class research at Magee-Womens Research Institute, essential patient care services at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital, and ongoing staff education at both institutions. Every gift moves our research forward another mile, and improves the lives of women, families, and communities around the globe.

CASH: Contributing cash is the easiest gift and provides the maximum tax deduction while also making an immediate impact for Magee-Womens Research Institute & Foundation (MWRIF).

BEQUESTS AND BENEFICIARIES: Naming MWRIF in your will, living trust or as a beneficiary of your retirement plan allows you to help MWRIF without impacting your income today.

IRA CHARITABLE ROLLOVERS: If you are over 70½, you can make a qualified charitable distribution (also known as an IRA charitable rollover), directly to MWRIF. By making a gift directly to a qualified charity, including MWRIF, you may avoid any income tax associated with this distribution.

APPRECIATED STOCKS: Donating securities that have increased in value directly to MWRIF allows you to possibly avoid capital gains taxes and maximize your charitable deduction.

LIFE INSURANCE: Naming MWRIF as a beneficiary of an existing life insurance policy, or creating a new policy specifically to benefit MWRIF, allows you to build a legacy, often with a relatively small annual premium payment and without diluting your estate.

When considering charitable giving, you should talk with your tax, legal and financial advisors; MWRIF does not render these services.

To learn more, call 412-641-6091

3240 Craft Place, Suite 100 | Pittsburgh, PA 15213 | 412.641.6091 MageeWomens.org
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