Investigators:
John O.L. DeLancey, M.D.
Dr. DeLancey received his Bachelor of Science in biology from Oberlin College in 1973 and received his Medical Degree from the University of Michigan in 1977. He completed his residency in 1981 at the University of Michigan in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Currently, he is a Norman F. Miller Professor for the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Michigan Medical Center. His research interests include: the anatomy of the pelvic floor, pelvic floor biomechanics, vaginal birth and pelvic floor injury. Dr. DeLancey is the Director of the Pelvic Floor Research Group, and principle investigator for PERL2, OPAL, EPI and SCOR projects and co-investigator on the PERL1+ project. Read More
James A. Ashton-Miller, Ph.D.
Dr. Ashton-Miller received his bachelor of science in mechanical engineering in 1972 from the University of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. He received his master of science in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1974 and his Ph.D. in biomechanics from the University of Oslo in 1982. Currently, he is the director of the Biomechanics Research Laboratory in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan. He also is a senior research scientist at the Institute of Gerontology at the University of Michigan. His research interests include: the biomechanics, functional anatomy and aging of the female pelvic floor structures including muscle, fascia, tendons, nerves, urethra, vagina, and rectum; experimental and computer simulation approaches; instrumentation design and development; and measurement systems. Dr. Ashton-Miller is a co-investigator on PFRG's PERL2, OPAL and SCOR projects. He is the project leader of Project 1: Measurement rate of fetal head descent and Core B (Imaging) of SCOR. Read More
Catherine Brandon, M.D.
Dr. Brandon graduated from medical school at the University of California, Irvine in 1985 and completed her diagnostic radiology residency at the University of Michigan in 1989. After fellowships in Ultrasound and Breast Imaging at Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Dr. Brandon spent 14 years as a breast imaging radiologist in both academic and private practice setting through the United States. During this time she was director of several breast centers, received Teacher of the Year awards from two universities, served on multiple committees and advisory boards and gave numerous lectures at the national and state level. She completed a M.S. degree in Medical Management from the University of Texas, Dallas in 2000, developed her own consulting group and joined a start up medical device company. Most recently, Dr. Brandon completed a fellowship in Musculoskeletal Radiology at Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI in 2004 and spent one year as Assistant Professor at Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia before joining the University of Michigan Musculoskeletal Division in July 2006. She has special interests in musculoskeletal ultrasound, sports medicine imaging, and 3T MRI of muscle. Since Dr. Brandon was a graduate student in physical anthropology with emphasis in paleopathology at the University of California, Berkeley (M.A. 1977), she is returning to an area of long held interest. Read More
Susan V. Brooks, Ph.D.
Dr. Brooks received a bachelor of science in engineering from the University of Michigan in 1985. She went on to receive a master of science in bioengineering in 1987 and a master of science in electrical engineering systems in 1987 from the University of Michigan. In 1992, she received a Ph.D. in bioengineering from the University of Michigan. She is an associate professor in both the Department of Physiology and the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Michigan. She also is a senior associate research scientist at U-M's Institute of Gerontology. Her research interests include: skeletal muscle mechanics and physiology; mechanisms underlying lengthening contraction-induced muscle injury and protection from injury and the role that muscle injury plays in the development of atrophy and weakness with aging; the role that injury to the pelvic floor muscles during vaginal childbirth plays in the development of urinary incontinence. Read More
Dee E. Fenner, M.D.
Dr. Fenner received a medical degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1985 and completed residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Michigan in 1989. She is an associate professor and Director of the Division of Gynecology in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Michigan. Her research interests include: anal incontinence and defecation disorders; depression and its impact on urge incontinence. Dr. Fenner is a co-investigator on PFRG's EPI and SCOR projects. Read More
Lisa Kane Low, Ph.D., R.N., C.N.M. F.A.C.N.M.
Dr. Low received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing form the University of Michigan in 1984. She went on to receive a Master of Science in nurse midwifery from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1987. She also received a Ph.D. in women's health from U-M in 2001. Dr. Low was a BIRCWH Scholar from 2001-2003. Currently, Dr. Low is an assistant research scientist in the School of Nursing and a lecturer with the Department of Women Studies and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Michigan. Her research interests include care practices during childbirth with an emphasis on the association of processes of care and social support on health outcomes postpartum. Dr. Low's research focus has included methods of perineal management, social support and the use of doulas during labor and childbirth and care practices during labor in low resources settings (International project work in Honduras). Dr. Low is a co-investigator on Core A of the SCOR Project. Read More
Janis M. Miller, Ph.D., R.N.C.
Dr. Miller received a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Goshen College in 1981 and a Master of Science in Nursing from Loyola University of Chicago in 1987. She went on to receive certification in gerontology in 1999, a Ph.D. in nursing in 1996, and adult nurse practitioner certification in 2000. Currently, Dr. Miller is a faculty member in University of Michigan's Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and in the School of Nursing. Her research interests focus on understanding the etiology of urinary incontinence and other pelvic floor disorders in order to provide the most effective prevention strategies and conservative treatment interventions. Dr. Miller is a principal investigator on Project 2: Evaluating Maternal Recovery from Labor and Delivery (EMRLD) and the IRIS project for SCOR. She also is co-investigator on the PERL 1+, OPAL, EPI and SCOR projects. Read More
Daniel M. Morgan, M.D.
Dr. Morgan received a Bachelor of Arts in history in 1991 from Yale University. He went on to receive a Medical Degree in 1998 from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. Dr. Morgan completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Michigan in 2002. Dr. Morgan completed a fellowship in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Michigan in 2005. Dr. Morgan is a BIRCWH scholar in Obstetrics; Gynecology at the University of Michigan. His research interests include pelvic floor disorders and he is involved in the research efforts of all PFRG projects. Read More
Carolyn M. Sampselle, Ph.D., R.N.C.
Dr. Sampselle received a Bachelor of Science in nursing with honors from Ohio State University in 1965. She went on to receive a Master of Science in Nursing in medical surgical nursing from Ohio State University in 1968. In 1985, she received her Ph.D. in clinical nursing research from the University of Michigan. Dr. Sampselle is the Carolyne K. Davis Collegiate Chair, professor of nursing, and associate dean for research at the University of Michigan. She has appointments in the School of Nursing, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Women's Studies. Her research interests focus on self-care strategies to treat and prevent urinary incontinence. Dr. Sampselle is the principal investigator of the PERL1+ project. Read More
