Research Opportunities

Our fellowship provides rich clinical research opportunities. 

Family Planning research at the U of U is centered at the Division of Family Planning in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. To broaden the scope of their interdisciplinary research, the Division formally established the U of U Center for Reproductive and Sexual Health Access, Science, Coverage, Equity, iNnovation and Training (the ASCENT Center). Dr. David Turok serves as the ASCENT Center Director. The Center engages with a wide range of interdisciplinary collaborations of health care providers, researchers, educators, and administrators who are committed to elevating the health and well-being of our community through sexual and reproductive health care, research, education, and advocacy. The ASCENT Center has 22 full-time employees and extensive collaborations across the U of U campus, in the community, and across the country. The faculty are split between clinical (MD) and PhD researchers. Clinical care is also provided by one Doctor of Nursing Practice. We have diverse funding streams that include support from the National Institutes of Health, national and local foundations, industry, and individual donors.

The ASCENT Center currently executes over two dozen investigator-initiated research protocols focused on overcoming contraceptive access barriers. The Center’s work on developing a platform supporting IUD use for EC and same-day starts is detailed throughout this application. In addition to that work are two contraceptive initiatives that have provided over 28,000 people in Utah no-cost contraception. The first was the HER Salt Lake Contraceptive Initiative which enrolled 4,425 participants at 4 sites in Salt Lake County and assessed the impact of increased contraceptive access on a wide range of medical and social outcomes. This led to a state-wide initiative called Family Planning Elevated which supports 28 clinical sites across Utah. Most recently, a large scale grant was received to increase patient access and create social impact around abortion care and overall access to the full range of sexual and reproductive healthcare in Utah and the surrounding region.

The Center also serves as Utah Site for the NICHD-funded Contraceptive Clinical Trials Network (CCTN). The Center is currently executing four FDA phase I, II, III, and IV clinical trial protocols through the CCTN addressing novel contraception delivery of a vaginal ring, a copper IUD, an injectable, and a male hormonal gel.

These ongoing projects and partnerships provide a vast array of opportunities for fellows to explore research project prospects unique to their individual interests and skill building preferences.