The MWRI-Erie Story: World-Changing Medicine Happens Here

Michael Annichine is the CEO of Magee-Womens Research Institute & Foundation (MWRIF), where he leads the development to sustain programs and research at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital and Magee-Womens Research Institute, the largest research institute in the U.S. focused solely on women’s health and reproductive biology.
The research institute, based in Pittsburgh and building collaborations around the world, is home to hundreds of world-class researchers who have devoted their careers to advancing the health of women. MWRI’s medical research spans a woman’s lifetime from nine months to 90+ years and focuses on improving women’s lives by learning more about the various conditions and diseases from which they suffer.
Under Michael’s leadership since 2016, MWRIF has expanded its partnerships with industry, academia, and foundations and significantly grown its revenue base while capitalizing on the translational impact of its scientific investment. Michael is a seasoned professional with more than 20 years’ experience starting, developing, and leading local and national businesses across a variety of growth industries. Prior to his current position, Michael held the Chief Executive roles at C-leveled, FlyerCity Media, and CFS Home Loans, Inc. where his companies were twice named to the Inc. 1000 Fastest Growing Companies in America list. A Carnegie Mellon University alumnus and former Director of Investment Programs at the Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse, Michael has measurably impacted the Pittsburgh start-up community and built strong connections with business, private equity, and venture capital partners.

Halina M. Zyczynski MD, is Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Pittsburgh and a practicing urogynecologist at the UPMC Women’s Center for Bladder and Pelvic Health. As a clinician scientist she had contributed to numerous NIH sponsored clinical trials of traditional and emerging treatments for pelvic floor disorders in women and has published over 130 peer-reviewed manuscripts with the overarching goal of providing patients, and physicians guidance for shared decision making, informing to the risks, benefits and treatment outcomes. She is a passionate advocate for extending access to research to women living in low resource and rural communities. Since its inception in 2020, she has served as the medical director of the Magee-Womens Research Institute, Erie Campus. Dr Zyczynski has held numerous national positions including president of the American Urogynecologic Society, executive board of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and examiner for the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Dr. Ralph Ford brings more than 30 years of academic leadership and industry experience to his role as chancellor and dean of Penn State Behrend. As the college’s chief academic and administrative officer and an architect of Behrend’s “Open Lab” approach to learning, he oversees all teaching, research, and outreach activities at the 4,400-student campus and in Behrend’s Knowledge Park, which is home to more than 20 companies and 500 employees.
Dr. Ford joined Penn State Behrend in 1994 as a faculty member in electrical and computer engineering. He served as director of the School of Engineering and as associate dean for Industry and External Relations before being named interim chancellor in 2015. In his decade as chancellor, he has refined and expanded the “Open Lab” approach while overseeing growth in enrollment, research funding, and the physical campus.
Dr. Ford is highly engaged in regional economic development, serving as chairman of the board of the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership. A former Fulbright Scholar, he also serves as president of the IEEE (I-triple E) Foundation. In 2022, he was named to the Higher Education Power 100 list.