Kenneth Ward, M.D.

Professor
- Former Chair-2003-2008, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Women's Health
- Board Certifications:
- American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology
- American Board of Maternal Fetal Medicine
- American Board of Medical Genetics
- American Board of Molecular Genetics
- Director, Hawaii Community Genetics
- Director and Principal Investigator, Pacific Research Center for Early Human Development
- Founder of Four Biotechnology companies including Haumea Biosciences in Honolulu
- Recipient of numerous teaching and research awards
- International authority on disease gene discovery
- Author, over 100 scientific papers, over 200 scientific abstracts
- Former Chief, Division of Reproductive Genetics, Founder and Director, DNA Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Utah
- Background
- Fellowship: Maternal-Fetal Medicine & Medical Genetics,University of Utah
- Residency: University of Utah, George Washington University
- Medical School: University of Florida
- Undergraduate: University of Florida
- Research Interests
- Genetics of Birth Defects and Pregnancy Complications
- Preeclampsia
- Preterm Labor
- Recent Honors and Awards
- Keynote Speaker: Scoliosis Research Society, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Inducted member to Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society
- Selected for Best Doctors in America
- Peer Reviewed Publications
- Goepfert AR, Varner M, Ward K, McPerson C, Klebanoff M, Mercer B, Meis P, Iams J,Moawad A. Differences in Inflammatory Cytokine and Toll-Like Receptor Genes and Bacterial Vaginosis in Pregnancy. Am J Obstet Gynecol Submitted 2004.
- Lee RM, Brown MA, Branch DW, Ward K, Silver RM. Anticardiolipin and anti-beta2-glycoprotein-I antibodies in preeclampsia. Obstet Gynecol 2003;102(2):294-300.
- Lee RM, Brown MA, Ward K, Nelson L, Branch DW, Silver RM. Homocysteine levels in women with antiphospholipid syndrome and normal fertile controls. J Reprod Immunol 2004;63(1):23-30.
- Morgan T, Rohrwasser A, Zhao L, Hillas E, Cheng T, Ward K, Lalouel JM. Hypervolemia of Pregnancy is Not Maintained in Transgenic Mice Chronically Overexpressing Angiotensinogen. JCI Submitted 2004.
- Van Horn JT, Craven C, Ward K, Branch DW, Silver RM. Histologic features of placentas and abortion specimens from women with antiphospholipid and antiphospholipid-like syndromes. Placenta 2004;25(7):642-8.
- Ward K. Genetic factors in preterm birth. Bjog 2003;110 Suppl 20:117.
- Szczygiel MA, Moisyadi S, Ward K. Expression of foreign DNA is associated with paternal chromosome degradation in intracytoplasmic sperm injection-mediated transgenesis in the mouse. Biol Reprod 2003;68(5):1903-10.
- Chapters
- Ward K Genetics and Prenatal Diagnosis. Danforth's Obstetrics and Gynecology ninth edition. J. R. Scott, R. S. Gibbs, B. Y. Karlan and A. F. Haney. Philadelphia, Lippincott, Williams, & Wilkins. 2003.
- Abstracts Presentations
- Casey VF, Braun JT, Ward K. “An update on the heritability of idiopathic scoliosis in first degree relatives of surgical probands.” Scoliosis Research Society, 38th Annual Meeting, Quebec City, Canada, 2003.
- Casey VF, Braun JT, Ward K. “The heritability of severe idiopathic scoliosis in relatives of surgical probands in Utah.” Scoliosis Research Society, 38th Annual Meeting, Quebec City, Canada, 2003.
- Hitti JE, Caten E, Cohn SE, Kamemoto L, Kashuba A, Rosengranz SL, Aweeka F. “Sex,
- Ward K, Farrington PF, VeeAnn, A Meade, MC, Nelson, L. “Heritability of polycystic ovary syndrome.” Society for Gynecologic Investigation, Houston, 2004.
- Ward K, Farrington PF, Meade, MC, Hull, D, Nelson, L. “The heritability of endometriosis:Insights from a large population database.” Society for Gynecologic Investigation, Houston, 2004.
- Ward K, Argyle V, Meade M, Nelson L. “Heritability of preterm delivery.” Dept. of OB/GYN, JABSOM, University of Hawai`i, Honolulu, HI; Taueret Laboratories LLC, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2004.
- Invited Presentations
- Ward K “New Findings in Preeclampsia.” JABSOM, University of Hawai`i, Grand Rounds,2003
- Ward K “New Insights Into Preeclampsia.”; “Genetics in OB/GYN.” The 16th Annual ACOG Hawai`i Section Meeting, Kauai, HI, 2003
- Ward K “Placentas I Have Known.” Grand Rounds, University of Hawai`i John A. Burns School of Medicine, 2003
- Ward K “Writing a Scientific Paper.”, “Writing a Scientific Abstract.”, “Picking a Research Project.”, “Writing a Grant.” Faculty Development Lectures, Kapi’olani Medical Center,University of Hawai`i, October/November, 2003
- Ward K “Magnesium Sulphate for Preeclampsia and Preterm Labor.” OB/GYN Clinical Care Conference, Queen’s Medical Center, 2003
- Ward K “Research Perspective” First Annual Prematurity Summit, March of Dimes Hawai`i Chapter, Kapi’olani Medical Center for Women & Children, 2004
- Ward K “An Update on Perinatal Genetics Research.” Perinatal Providers and Advocates Network Meeting, Department of Health, Clinical Providers Meeting, Special Focus Session, 2004
- Ward K “Prematurity and Low Birth Weight” The Hawai`i Perinatal Health Summit, 2004
- Ward K “Double Trouble” Grand Rounds, University of Hawai`i John A. Burns School of Medicine, 2004
- Ward K “Genetic Aspects of Spine Deformity.” Presidential Guest Speaker, Scoliosis Research Society Annual Meeting, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2004
- Ward K Ethics in Biomedical Research, University of Hawai`i, 2004
- Ward K “Endometriosis Update” Grand Rounds, Queen’s Medical Center, 2004
- Ward K “The Problem of Preterm Birth in Hawai`i” First Annual March of Dimes Town Hall Meeting, Honolulu, HI, 2004
- Ward K “Preterm Labor Gestations, Germs, and Genes” American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, District V Annual Meeting, Kohala Coast, Hawai`i, 2004
- Ward K “Perinatal Perspectives on Human Health” Medical School Advisory Board,Honolulu, HI, 2004
- Ward K “Town Hall Meeting” Grand Rounds, University of Hawai`i John A. Burns School of Medicine, 2005
- Ward K “First Trimester Screening for Aneuploidy” Grand Rounds, Kaiser Permanente Hospital, 2005
- Ward K “Perinatal Research and Common Adult Diseases” Bioscience Symposium, John A.Burns School of Medicine, 2005
- Grants
- Ward K: Intrauterine Growth Restriction in Different Ethnic Groups: The Role of Angiotensinogen in Birth Weight. Principal Investigator. Queen Emma Research Fund, March, 2004.
- Ward K: Pacific Research Center for Early Human Development. Principal Investigator.NIH/NCRR, Sept 2004 – Sept 2009
- Ward K: Genetic Determinants of Pelvic Floor Disorders. Co-Investigator. NIH, Aug 2001-July 2004
- Ward K: Cytokine Polymorphisms in PROM. Contract. NIH Maternal-Fetal Medicine Network, 2002-2003
- Ward K: Angiotensinogen Variants and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes, NIH, August 1999 -July 2003
- Ward K: The Genetics of Preterm Labor. Principal Investigator. NIH, August 1999 - July2003
- Pending Grants
- Ward K: Hawai`i Women’s Reproductive Health Research Career Development Program.Principal Investigator. NIH/NICHD, Apr 2005 – Mar 2010.







