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OB/GYN Research Network

The Obstetrics and Gynecology Research Network (OGRN) is the research infrastructure for the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Utah Health. 

Our overarching purpose is to expertly facilitate and conduct women’s health research in Utah and beyond. Our administrative core works hand in hand with team members to deliver the highest quality research.

The OGRN and its staff are committed to the highest possible research standards in order to improve the health of women and their families, both in Utah and across the globe. This ever-evolving research infrastructure is at the heart of the department’s academic success.

Providing Research Administrative

Providing Research Administrative Services

The OGRN houses a full service suite of research administrative services including:

  • Pre-award and post-award grant management
  • Protocol development
  • IRB submission
  • Compliance expertise
  • Clinical research personnel
  • Data management
  • The requisite laboratory facilitates for processing and storage of research specimens

It fosters a robust environment for the conduct of externally and internally funded research and also serves to facilitate research career development for departmental faculty and trainees.

Our History

The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Utah has a long history of successful clinical and translational research. In 1996, the Department was awarded a Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units (MFMU) Network grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Between 1996 and 2006, the Department joined five other networks and was also awarded three large NIH research contracts and individual investigator NIH awards, some of which were conducted in collaboration with Intermountain Healthcare. 

The expanding financial and administrative requirements of these awards were initially absorbed by the Department’s existing clinical infrastructure.  However, research funding had increased tenfold in 10 years and it soon became clear that a dedicated research infrastructure was required in order to optimally manage the numerous aspects of research administration.

The Obstetrics and Gynecology Research Network (OGRN) was established in 2006 and Michael Varner, MD, was appointed as the OGRN Director and Department Vice-Chair for Research. He has recently transitioned these positions to Torri Metz, MD and he has transitioned as OGRN Co-Director. From 2006 to the present, the OGRN has continued to evolve as the comprehensive research infrastructure for the department. OGRN personnel are available to assist researchers in preparing and submitting grants, administering grants after they are awarded (including orchestrating subcontracts with Intermountain Healthcare and other research institutions across the country), training and managing research personnel, ensuring that appropriate IRB approvals are in place, and monitoring research compliance.