The research division of Woman’s Hospital’s lab services conducts clinical and molecular biology/genetic research, including technical and administrative support, for the medical staff and community. Our goal is to promote women's and infant's health research while enhancing medical care and improving patient outcomes. Research initiatives are chosen by their potential to ultimately improve the health care of women and infants in this region.

You can help be a part of our mission by participating in these studies. May we contact you about participating in our research programs? If so, please complete and submit this form or contact Woman’s Hospital Research Department at 225-231-5275.

Woman's Hospital researchers collaborate with many researchers at institutions across the United States, including: American College of Surgeons Oncology Group, Gynecologic Oncology Group, Louisiana State University, Pennington Biomedical Research Institute, University of Washington at Seattle, and several pharmaceutical companies.

All research studies are submitted to Woman's Hospital’s Research and Development Council (R&D). The R&D is a multidisciplinary group of individuals, appointed by the Woman's Hospital Foundation Chair, to oversee clinical research at the hospital and to refer studies involving human subjects to the Woman's Hospital Foundation Institutional Review Board (IRB) for review.

In addition to research endeavors, the hospital’s research staff provides non-research services to Woman's Hospital and surrounding communities.
These activities include:
• Molecular-based clinical diagnostic testing
• Program development and support

Current Studies

1. It’s never too early to prevent diabetes.

Woman’s Hospital Research Department is looking for women who recently were pregnant and diagnosed with diabetes during their pregnancy to take part in a Metabolic Screening Program

If you had gestational diabetes when you were pregnant, you and your child have a lifelong risk for getting diabetes. Because of this risk, you need to be tested for diabetes 6 to 12 weeks after your baby is born, then every 1-2 years. We are performing a study to determine the best diabetes screening strategies after pregnancy to prevent or delay diabetes in women who have a high risk of getting diabetes for the rest of their lives.

All screenings are free of charge. All results will be kept confidential and test results will be available to you and your doctor.

2. Pregnancy Insulin Resistance and Subsequent Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

In order to study the relationship between insulin resistance (IR) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), Woman’s Hospital Research Department is conducting a study to validate a convenient and sensitive measurement of insulin resistance and beta-cell function in pregnant African-American women and Caucasian women who are at risk for gestational diabetes mellitus. We will further examine whether there are differences in IR, which vary by race in our patient population, which may result in new strategies for the clinical screening and management of pregnant women at Woman's Hospital.

This study is open to African-American and Caucasian women between 18-42 years of age who are 24-28 weeks of gestation and whose physician has ordered a 3-hr oral glucose tolerance test. Patients who wish to participate in the study cannot be currently taking medication known to influence carbohydrate metabolism or have known diabetes mellitus, liver, heart, lung, or kidney disease.

In addition to the blood samples that are drawn for a standard 3-hr glucose tolerance test, patients who consent to the study will have a single additional tube of blood drawn at 30 minutes for measurement of insulin and glucose and extra blood withdrawn for insulin determinations at all other standard time points. This study does not require the physician to order the additional tests, which will be provided at no cost to the patient. Patients must consent for the study prior to the first blood draw of their glucose tolerance test to participate. All the laboratory results will be provided to the physician along with the ordered glucose values. Physicians will receive the standard glucose tolerance interpretations from the 3-hr OGTT. Interpretation of the insulin secretory function will be provided at completion of the study.

If you are interested in participating in our research programs, please complete and submit this form or contact Woman’s Hospital Research Department at 225-231-5275 for more information and to see if you qualify.

3. The SILLY Study

(Study of Insulin Sensitivity in Low-birth weight Louisiana Youth)

Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center and The Clinical Trials Center at Children's Hospital are looking for 7 to 9 year olds to participate in a health evaluation syudy. Participants will receive a FREE health screening including:

• Blood pressure
• Cholesteral
• Body fat estimate
• FREE diabetes risk evaluation
• Compensation for time and travel
  

What is the SILLY Study?
The SILLY Study is a federally-funded study conducted by the LSU Health Sciences Center.  The primary goal of the study is to determine markers of insulin sensitivity – a key indicator of diabetes

Why should your child participate in the SILLY study?

• Participants receive a free medical screening and diabetes risk profile
• Students are given the opportunity to learn about science and help other kids
• Compensation for time and travel will be provided 

Who is eligible? 
We are looking for healthy 7-9 year old children to participate. The SILLY study will look at the importance of birth weight to diabetes. All boys and girls ages 7 to 9 are eligible to participate in this study, even those with average and high birth weights. Please help to pass information along to anyone who might be interested.

Why is the study being conducted?
The rate of type 2 diabetes is increasing in children – this study will examine how and why

Where is the study conducted?
The SILLY study is conducted at Children’s Hospital in New Orleans and Pennington Biomedical Research Center and Woman’s Hospital in Baton Rouge

For more information, questions, or comments please contact the study coordinator, Brian Bennett, by phone or email at:
1-866-92-SILLY (toll free) or (504) 568-6005
bbenn1@lsuhsc.edu