Monika Ward

Monika Ward, PhD is a Professor at the John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, affiliated with the Institute for Biogenesis Research and the Department of Anatomy, Biochemistry and Physiology. She earned her MS and PhD from the University of Poznan, Poland, and has led an independent laboratory since 2003.

Research Focus

Dr. Ward's work spans reproductive genetics and developmental biology, particularly:

• Y chromosome gene functions in spermatogenesis
• Chromatin remodeling in gametes
• Epigenetic contributions to embryo development
• Minimal Y chromosome requirements for fertility
• Mouse models for human male infertility
• In vitro gametogenesis technologies

Publication Trends

Her research reveals Y chromosome gene redundancy in fertility, with key findings on:

• Repairable sperm DNA damage mechanisms
• Epigenetic inheritance through chromatin structure
• Genetic replacement for Y-linked functions
• Meiotic progression dependencies
• Assisted reproduction outcomes in engineered models

Dr. Ward's laboratory has been supported by continuous NIH funding since 1991 and the COBRE grant (2009-2025) to develop biomedical research infrastructure in Hawaii.