Earlier this spring, faculty, trainees, and researchers from across Rutgers gathered for the third bi-annual Reproductive and Perinatal Research Summit.
Months later, the conversations and connections sparked during the event continue to reflect what makes reproductive and perinatal health research at Rutgers unique: collaboration across disciplines, a commitment to mentoring future researchers, and a shared focus on improving health across the lifespan.
Hosted by Rutgers School of Public Health’s Ellen Francis, assistant professor in the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, and Mobolaji Ibitoye, assistant professor in the Department of Urban-Global Public Health, the summit brought together researchers from across the university to share ideas, learn from one another, and explore how research can shape clinical care, public health practice, education, and policy.
The spring 2026 summit centered on interprofessional development for trainees, with a scientific focus on cardiovascular health during pregnancy. But the conversations extended well beyond a single topic.
Throughout the day, speakers explored reproductive healthcare access and justice, cardiovascular health during and after pregnancy, environmental exposures, pregnancy loss, childhood metabolic health, HIV, and other issues affecting individuals and families across the life course. Together, the sessions reflected the reality that reproductive and perinatal health challenges rarely fit neatly within one discipline.
"Many of the most important challenges in reproductive and perinatal health cannot be addressed by a single discipline," Francis said. "We wanted trainees and faculty to learn about research outside their immediate areas, see how scientific advances are translated into practice and policy, and make connections that may lead to future collaboration."
That interdisciplinary approach came to life through presentations that demonstrated how research moves into practice.
Noa'a Shimoni, Associate Vice President for Student Health and Wellness, and associate professor, Department of Family Medicine, New Jersey Medical School, led a discussion on expanding access to abortion care in New Jersey through interdisciplinary training strategies, highlighting the roles that clinical care, education, public health, policy, and health systems all play in improving reproductive healthcare.
Guest speaker Jaclyn D. Borrowman, a research fellow at Northwestern University, focused on pregnancy as an opportunity to identify cardiovascular disease risk and improve long-term health outcomes. Her presentation illustrated how pregnancy research can inform prevention efforts across obstetrics, cardiology, primary care, epidemiology, and public health.
One of the day's highlights was a series of seven three-minute trainee lightning talks. The fast-paced presentations challenged early-career researchers to communicate their work clearly to an audience with a wide range of scientific backgrounds while showcasing the breadth of reproductive and perinatal research taking place across Rutgers. Research topics included:
- Stillbirth as a marker of postpartum cardiovascular readmission
- Cardiometabolic, nutritional, and behavioral risk factors for pregnancy loss
- Metabolomics of metabolic risk in childhood
- Prenatal cadmium exposure, placental proteins, and child health
- Bile acids and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy
- Epigenetic aging, neurocognition, and oral health among adolescents with HIV
- The role of reconciliation in achieving nonviolent social change
The trainee presenters represented the Rutgers School of Public Health, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and the Rutgers School of Health Professions.
"The lightning talks were an important part of the program because they allowed us to recognize trainee accomplishments while giving emerging researchers experience communicating their work to an interdisciplinary audience," Francis said.
The conversations didn't stop when the presentations ended. Time throughout the day was intentionally set aside for discussion, networking, and informal conversations, giving faculty and trainees the opportunity to connect with colleagues outside their own departments, exchange ideas, and begin building relationships that may lead to future collaborations.
Support from the Rutgers Joy at Work initiative helped create opportunities for professional development, reflection, communication, and community-building throughout the event.
While the summit took place over a single day, its purpose extends well beyond the event itself. By creating opportunities for trainees to present their work, build interdisciplinary connections, and learn from researchers across Rutgers, the summit helps strengthen the collaborative foundation needed to address today's most complex reproductive and perinatal health challenges—and prepares the next generation of researchers to lead that work forward.
Learn more about upcoming summits by emailing Francis at Ellen.Francis@rutgers.edu.
