Institute for Biogenesis Research (IBR)
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Grad PhD Students
Hongwen (Winnie) Wu, a PhD student from the Developmental and Reproductive Biology (DRB) graduate program and the first student supported by the Kosasa Graduate Student Assistantship, has just defended her dissertation and earned a PhD degree in DRB.
The prestigious Kosasa Graduate Student Assistantship is funded by Dr. Thomas Kosasa, 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.
Wu joined the DRB program in Fall 2019. She arrived from China, where she was a board-certified OB-GYN. While in Hawaiʻi, she has been carrying out her graduate studies in the laboratory of Dr. Steve Ward 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.
Wu 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 the 2024 ARCS Award in Medicine. She also contributed to the 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, a well known expert in ovarian biology and reproductive aging, at Northwestern University.
Wu’s long-term goal is to stay in Hawaiʻi and serve as a research physician/scientist. 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,” Wu said.
“Winnie’s performance as the first Kosasa Assistantship supported DRB student has been exemplary,” said Dr. Monika Ward, Interim Director of the YIBR. “She certainly contributed research of relevance to the 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.”