The Howard W. and Georgeanna Seegar Jones Division of Reproductive Sciences & Women’s Health Research
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics
Meet The Team
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Dr. James Segars
Principal Investigator
Dr. Segars is the Howard and Georgeanna Seegar Jones Professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics and Director, Division of Women’s Health Research at Johns Hopkins. A major focus of his research explores the molecular mechanisms responsible for reproductive diseases, including uterine fibroids, endometriosis, PCOS, and infertility. He graduated from Duke University and Duke University School of Medicine followed by a residency in OB/GYN and a fellowship Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Vanderbilt. After clinical training, he completed 3 years of post-doctoral training at the NIH. Dr. Segars was recruited to the intramural program at NICHD for 20 years before moving to Johns Hopkins. At Johns Hopkins, his research division is engaged in several NIH-funded clinical and translational research studies of fibroids, endometriosis, and infertility. Dr. Segars has published over 200 research papers and serves on several editorial boards. He has received several awards for mentorship and research and has served on several boards in leadership roles in the field of reproduction.
The Clinical Team
Director of Clinical Research
Dr. Bhuchitra Singh
Bhuchitra Singh is the Director of Clinical Research at the Howard W. and Georgeanna Seegars Jones Laboratory. He received his medical degree from Manipal Academy of Higher Science, India, and received his post graduate training in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He received his Healthcare Management and Leading Organizations training (MS HCM and MBA) from the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School. His translational clinical research is focused on women’s gynecologic conditions such as fibroids, endometriosis, polycystic ovary disease (PCOS), and adenomyosis. He is an expert in FDA regulated studies and has developed protocols for both NIH and numerous top tier pharmaceutical company-sponsored research studies. His current basic sciences research interest is to develop new diagnostic methods to determine quality of human oocytes to improve success rates of IVF cycles. His healthcare management research focuses on process flow engineering in basic sciences research labs and assisted reproductive technology (ART) centers. He aims to develop true efficacy markers for ART centers through his research. He is actively involved in reproductive rights research and has published extensively about period poverty, conversion therapy and impact of gynecological conditions on quality of life.
Clinical Research Fellow
Dr. Samya El Sayed
Samya graduated from the American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine with a Doctor of Medicine degree in 2024. Immediately afterwards, she joined the lab as a postdoctoral research fellow working with the clinical team. She leads and coordinates clinical trials on benign gynecological disorders (fibroids, endometriosis), recurrent pregnancy loss, and infertility. Our trials aim to validate a non-invasive test to diagnose endometriosis, develop new therapeutic options for fibroids, elucidate genetic etiologies of recurrent pregnancy loss, and improve fertility outcomes for people with endometriosis and fibroids. Samya is dedicated to women’s health and proud to be part of a team that is advancing the field and improving patient care.
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Sr. Clinical Research Nurse
Irene Trueheart
Irene is a registered nurse who brings over 20 years of research experience working with commercially sponsored clinical trials and Investigator Initiated Trials (IIT). Studies are conducted with adherence to FDA guidelines and Good Clinical Practice (GCP) principles. She provides clinical and administrative support for various studies from Phases I to IV while continuing to build comprehensive knowledge of the clinical research process.
Clinical Research Nurse
Karen Lynch
Karen is a Research Nurse assisting with clinical research in Gynecology and Obstetrics. She has worked as a nurse in Women’s health for the past 20 years with the last 5 years in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. She is currently the lead coordinator for the NatPro
The Research Team
PhD Candidate
Briana Winer
Bri is a 4th year PhD candidate in the Cellular & Molecular Medicine Program (CMM). She obtained her Bachelors of Science from Stevenson University in 2017.
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Her thesis is oriented around developing a 3D organoid model of endometriosis. Using patient derived endometrial and stromal cell lines, she aims to evaluate somatic cancer-driver gene mutations commonly found in Deeply Infiltrating Endometriosis (DIE) that seem to promote progesterone resistance. She also is studying the role of mechanical stiffness on this niche environment. In addition, Bri assists in andrological techniques used in ongoing marmoset research​
Research Analyst / Lab Manager
Joshua Brennan
Josh is lab manager for the division of Reproductive Sciences and Women’s Health Research. He obtained his BS in Biology from York College of PA, later obtaining his MPH in Global Health from Liberty University and MS in Bioinformatics from University of Maryland Global Campus. He oversees and manages in vitro and in vivo research projects, maintains lab equipment, and supports clinical trials.
Assistant Professor
Dr. Kamaria Cayton Vaught
Kamaria C. Cayton Vaught, M.D. is an Assistant Professor in the department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at Johns Hopkins where she is a reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist. Dr. Cayton Vaught received her medical doctor degree at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine. She completed her residency at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, followed by postdoctoral fellowships in reproductive sciences and reproductive endocrinology, infertility, medical genetics and genomics (REI/MGG) at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. As a senior fellow, Dr. Cayton Vaught went on to be a Women’s Reproductive Health Research (WRHR) scholar (NIH K12). Dr. Cayton Vaught’s research interests include the genetic basis of reproductive function, recurrent pregnancy loss and infertility. Her current focus is utilizing genome editing techniques, such as CRISPR-Cas9, to further understand the genes and regulatory pathways that are required for granulosa cells to respond to gonadotropins. Recently she was named a recipient of the Society of Reproductive Investigation Bayer Innovation Grant to further study hormonal signaling in granulosa cells.
Faculty Researcher
Dr. Md Soriful Islam
Dr. Islam is a faculty Research Associate. He received a bachelor’s and master’s degree in plant biology from University of Rajshahi (Bangladesh) and a PhD in Reproductive Sciences (uterine fibroid) from Università Politecnica delle Marche (Italy). His research interests include mechanical signaling, hypoxia, inflammation and fibrosis, and 3D organoids in uterine fibroids. He is also working on small molecule inhibitors, and natural compounds for fibroid therapeutics. Recently, he received an SRI and Bayer Discovery/Innovation grant to conduct research in uterine fibroids.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Dr. Rebecca Holton
Becky is a postdoctoral researcher and embryologist facilitating the creation of transgenic marmoset embryos. She graduated from Drexel University College of Medicine with a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics in 2023. Her dissertation focused on the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying oocyte development and ovarian aging in mammals. She is also an alumna of Boston University, where she obtained her bachelors degree in Biology with a specialization in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, and Genetics in 2017. Prior to joining the Segars lab, Becky was an IVF specialist with the Johns Hopkins Fertility Center. She hopes her research can aid in furthering knowledge and understanding of female reproductive organs to improve clinical IVF outcomes.
Research Assistant
Rachel Michel
Rachel is a recent graduate from the Bloomberg School of Public Health with an MSPH in maternal, fetal, and perinatal health. She will begin medical school in 2025 with the goal of practicing in the field of OBGYN. Rachel works on the SOUL project bridging clinical and translational research. She collects fresh fibroid tissue samples from the operating room during elective hysterectomies and brings them to the lab, where she leads mouse experiments by implanting fibroid tissue and testing a range of senolytic drugs. Our ultimate goal is to identify non-hormonal treatment options for uterine fibroids.
Administration
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Administrative Coordinator
Miriam Doyle-Baschat
Miriam Doyle-Baschat is the administrative coordinator of the Reproductive Sciences Division. Miriam also serves as the Women’s Reproductive Health Research (WRHR) program coordinator and the GYN/OB Reproductive Scientist (GORS) program coordinator, and coordinates rotations of visiting medical students, residents, and fellows to the laboratory. Ms. Doyle-Baschat has many years’ experience in healthcare and educational administration.