The Department of Anatomy, Biochemistry and Physiology at the University of Hawaiʻi John A. Burns School of Medicine offers a graduate program leading to MS and PhD degrees in Developmental and Reproductive Biology (DRB). In our program, students are enganged in laboratory research and classes that integrate diverse disciplines, such as the study of:
Whether your goal is pure basic science or translational research, we offer opportunities that will enable you to impact biomedical science and our understanding of life!
On April 30, 2025, the DRB Graduate Program Committee released the DRB Handbook, which outlines the policies and procedures of our program:
The handbook is intended for both current as well as incoming students, as well as faculty members.
Kosasa Fellow Winnie Wu Awarded PhD in DRB
Hongwen (Winnie) Wu, a PhD student from the Developmental and Reproductive Biology (DRB) graduate program has just defended her dissertation and earned a PhD degree in DRB.
Winnie has been a recipient to prestigious Kosasa Graduate Student Assistantship, funded by Dr. Thomas Kosasa (top left), a Director of the Pacific IVF and a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB-GYN) at JABSOM. The Kosasa Assistantship was created to strengthen the bridge between the Yanagimachi Institute for Biogenesis Research (YIBR), the OB-GYN Department, and the Pacific IVF.
Winnie joined the DRB program in Fall 2019. She arrived from China, where she was a board-certified OB-GYN. While in Hawaii, she has been carrying out her graduate studies in the laboratory of Dr. Steve Ward (bottom right) at the YIBR. Her research focused on female fertility. She investigated the role of protein EXOC5 in ovarian aging. She discovered that EXOC5 is essential for normal egg development and when missing it leads to ovarian failure.
Winnie has graduated with several achievements and honors under her belt. She co-authored five manuscripts, presented her research at seven local and four national conferences, including annual meetings of the Society for the Study of Reproduction (SSR) and the Society for Reproductive Investigations (SRI). She was a recipient of 2024 ARCS Award in Medicine. She also contributed to teaching mission of JABSOM by serving as a TA and volunteered at local and national research events. She was also a visiting scholar in a laboratory of Dr. Duncan, well known expert in ovarian biology and reproductive aging, at the Northwestern University.
Winnie’s long-term goal is be a research physician/scientist in Hawaii. Her passion is to fuse cutting-edge research with clinical expertise to advance women's healthcare. Grounded in obstetrics and gynecology, she aims to bridge the gap between clinical pathology and scientific investigation. Through a dynamic approach, I aspire to significantly contribute to improving individual patient health and advancing the broader landscape of women's health research.
Winnie’s performance as the first Kosasa Assistantship supported DRB student has been exemplary. She certainly contributed research of relevance to mission of all four parties: DRB program, YIBR, OB-GYN Department, and Pacific IVF. The DRB Program and YIBR are grateful to Dr. Kosasa for his continued support.DRB Program Retreat 2025
The Developmental and Reproductive Biology (DRB) graduate program 2025 RETREAT took place on October 31, 2025, in the Yanagimachi Institute for Biogenesis Research (YIBR) at Manoa. Thirteen DRB MS and PhD student presented their research findings, addressing topics such as ovarian and embryo culture, assisted reproductive technologies, hypoxic stress, germ cell apoptosis and gene expression, Alzheimer disease, cardiomyocyte differentiation and function, aging, stem cell-based embryos, microplastics and embryogenesis. The event coincided with Halloween and the atmosphere was festive, with dress up of students and faculty.
The following students won the awards:
Congratulations to all students!!!
Podcast by DRB Alumni on Career in Reproductive Biology
In this podcast, Victor Ruthig from the University of Colorado is interviewing Egle Ortega, a senior embryologist in Hawaii. Victor and Egle are alumni of DRB Program, and alumni of Dr. Monika Ward's lab. Both hold PhD in DRB, earned in 2016 (Victor) and 2018 (Egle).
The interview is on alternative careers in reproductive biology.New Publication by DRB Students
Back-to-Back Master's Thesis Defenses 
Two of our students are defending for their Master's theses!! Chloe Garcia's defense will be held on Monday, July 27 at 10:00AM, and Shion Auo's defense will follow on Tuesday, July 28 at 10:00. Please see their flyers for more details: Chloe's Defense & Shion's Defense.
Courtney Kurashima won ARCS Scholar of the Year
Courtney Kurashima, a PhD student in the DRB Program, received the E. Palmer Payne Jr. Memorial ARCS Award in Medicine and was also named one of three ARCS Scholars of the Year. Courtney is mentored by Dr. Yusuke Marikawa, and her story is featured in UH News.
Benazir Yarbabaeva, an incoming student in the DRB Graduate Program, has been conducting research under the mentorship of Dr. Monika Ward. She presented her work at the Tester Symposium (April 11, 2025), and received the Best Undergraduate Student Poster Award. Benazir will officially join the DRB Program this fall. Congratulations, Benazir!
Congratulations also to Lovina Abdi and Edward Stitt for winning Poster Awards at the JABSOM Biomedical Sciences Symposium (see below)!
JABSOM Biomedical Sciences Symposium 2025
Ten of our DRB students showcased their research projects at the 2025 JABSOM Biomedical Sciences Symposium, held on Friday, April 4, at the Medical Education Building.
New Funding for Ryan Lum
The Monika Ward Lab was awarded an administrative supplement to her active NIH R01 to support a first year DRB MS student Ryan Lum (top middle in the photo). The funds will allow Ryan continue her thesis research as a Research Assistant in the Ward Lab. A comprehensive mentoring plan associated with this award and a team of mentors and advisors will prepare Ryan for various career paths to be taken after graduation.
New Publication by Lance Nunes
Halloween at YIBR!
First year DRB MS student, Bailey Haneghan (pumpkin), brought festive spirit to the IBR Manoa and inspired everyone to dress up. Happy Halloween 2024 Everyone!!!
Montana INBRE/RAIN Technology Access Grant for Hayden Holmlund
Hayden Holmlund, a PhD student in the Developmental and Reproductive Biology (DRB) graduate program, has just been awarded a Montana INBRE/RAIN Technology Access Grant ($4,600) for his proposal entitled: "Identifying Potential Co-regulators of ZFY1 and ZFY2 in the Male Germline." Hayden pursues his PhD research in the laboratory of Monika Ward. He will use the newly acquired funds to cover the cost of performing mass spectrometry analyses of male germline samples from transgenic mice he developed in Hawaii.
This is not Hayden's first success with attracting grant funding. He has previously applied and been awarded the prestigious Cheteaubriand Fellowship, which sponsored his 6-months training in the laboratory of Dr. Ward's collaborator in Paris, France in Spring this year. He has also recently been awarded the NIH F31 grant to study the function of ZFY proteins.
For Prospective Students