C.S. Mott Center for Human Growth and Development

Giving Day contributions of every size make a major difference! Support one of these projects today and make a difference in the cutting-edge research in human health and development. 

This year will be a special and monumental year for the C.S. Mott Center as we celebrate our 50th anniversary on June 19, 2023. We are proud of the accomplishments of our faculty and students as we review the history and highlights of the Mott Center over the past 50 years. These efforts have led to excellence in research, clinical training and education for the Wayne State University School of Medicine. This year brings enormous opportunity for continued research success, collaboration and increased educational and training programs. The Mott Center has experienced tremendous growth in federal research funding in the past three years which has positioned us to expand our overall mission and vision. The relocation of the Perinatal Research Branch to Bethesda (NIH) at the beginning of the year brings a unique opportunity for the Mott Center to apply translational research and provide resources to our diverse community through service, clinical trials, awareness and engagement. We are excited about sharing the success and future plans of the Mott Center that are attainable because of the generosity of our donors. 

Mott Center Annual Fund 

The C.S. Mott Center Annual Fund supports our vision to promote a personalized approach in basic, translational and clinical research that will improve health outcomes for women and children in our unique urban environment. Your donation provides the flexibility to fund our areas of greatest need, to embrace opportunities as they arise and support our mission to actively contribute to the community as the leading translational center for reproductive health. 

Preterm Birth Care and Prevention 

Detroit ranks as the worst city in the United States for preterm birth with a rate of 14.5% of every 1,000 live births. Women who were born preterm themselves have a 46% increased rate of delivering their own babies prematurely. This is an example of transgenerational transmission of a disease condition that is likely impacted by genetic, environmental or epigenetic factors. The C.S. Mott Center’s Pregnancy and Neonatology Research Program examines metabolic and environmental factors that impact the fetal development programming of adult disease. This vital research is essential in reducing the preterm birth rate and preventing the self-perpetuating cycle of transgenerational disease progression. With your help, we can make a transformational impact in the community and increase the rate of healthy pregnancies through the development of therapies that target and prevent abnormal outcomes. 

Ovarian Cancer 

Ovarian cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women in the US, and the leading cause of mortality from gynecologic cancer. More than 22,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year. Our approach is to enhance our understanding of the origins of ovarian cancer, to the mechanisms that cause progression and recurrence, and the treatments that can improve patient outcomes. Your support of the Ovarian Cancer Research Group will help improve the outcomes of women with ovarian cancer and possibly save thousands of lives. There is also a signature naming opportunity available for the Ovarian Cancer Research Program at the C.S. Mott Center for Human Growth and Development. We would be pleased to share more about how you can join the fight against ovarian cancer through leadership philanthropy at the Wayne State University School of Medicine.

Achieve your charitable goals and create your WSU legacy with a gift in your estate plan. 

Wayne State faculty and staff can give via payroll deduction here.