Awardees & Updates – 2010

Yalda Afshar is a MD/PhD student at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine. Yalda is enrolled in the medical scientist training program within the department of obstetrics and gynecology. Her research is in the field of reproductive endocrinology identifying molecular mechanisms of the uterus that affect decidualization (i.e. fertility and mechanisms involved in embryonic implantation) with a particular focus on the Notch 1 gene. Yalda has won an impressive number of awards, fellowships and honors and in her personal statement expressed her passion for improving women’s health through a career in academic medicine.

Awarded to Mian Shahzad, MD, a gynecologic oncology fellow, PhD candidate at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and a Women’s Reproductive Health Research Scholar at Baylor Medical School. His research on the causes and possible treatments for ovarian cancer involve identifying the genetic differences in healthy versus cancerous cells lining ovarian blood vessels. Dr. Shahzad has received recognition for his contributions and has published extensively on the subject of ovarian cancer. His personal statement expressed his clear dedication to continue his pursuits in research and clinical care to improve prevention, treatment and outcomes for ovarian cancer.