Dr. Miranda Bernhardt using a microscope in a lab.

Center for

Lifestyle, Environment, Epigenetics, and Reproductive Health

Integrating human and animal health, environmental science, agriculture, and AI-enabled data analytics to generate measurable societal impact.

College of Veterinary Medicine > Departments > Center for Lifestyle, Environment, Epigenetics, and Reproductive Health

Center for
Lifestyle, Environment, Epigenetics, and Reproductive Health (CLEERH)

Please note

As of July 1, 2026, the Laboratory for Biotechnology and Bioanalysis (LBB) has closed. Sequencing services are now offered through the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (WADDL), and questions can be emailed to the Next Generation Sequencing team.

The Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting (FACS) Core, the Gene Editing Reagent Core (GERC), and the Animal Production Core have moved to the College of Veterinary Medicine Office of Research. Questions about these cores can be directed to Jon Oatley.

The Center for Lifestyle, Environment, Epigenetics, and Reproductive Health (CLEERH) represents a strategic evolution of WSU’s nationally recognized Center for Reproductive Biology into a forward-looking, interdisciplinary platform addressing a defining scientific question: How do lifestyle and environmental factors interact with the genome and physiology to shape reproductive vitality, health trajectories, and intergenerational resilience? Fully aligned with WSU’s land-grant mission and One Health vision, CLEERH integrates human and animal health, environmental science, agriculture, and AI-enabled data analytics to generate measurable societal impact.

CLEERH is structured around three high-impact pillars:

1. Interdisciplinary Research Acceleration: Competitive preparatory grants catalyze multi-investigator program project proposals (e.g., NIH P01/P50, USDA center grants).
Goal: Secure center-scale external funding and elevate WSU’s national competitiveness.

2. Flagship Training and Education Program: Fully funded doctoral scholarships and early undergraduate research immersion establish CLEERH as a premier training destination.
Goal: Build a vertically integrated pipeline of next-generation biomedical and translational leaders.

3. Community Engagement and Population Research: Community-based epidemiological studies and public-facing programming align discovery with public priorities.
Goal: Strengthen land-grant impact and societal relevance.

Become a member

Are you interested in becoming a member of the WSU Center for Reproductive Biology?

Some member benefits include an adjunct/affiliate faculty appointment in the center, reduced rates for our core laboratory services, and access to a community of world-renowned researchers.

Apply to become a member

Other resources

These resources are available to anyone at WSU. Services are offered to Center for Reproductive Biology members at reduced rates or free of charge.

Microscope maintenance services – The center coordinates a yearly visit by Pacific Microsystems, LLC for maintenance, cleaning, and instruction on how to maintain your microscope. Contact Laila Bensaud or call 509-335-8751 for more information.
Imaging resources – Imaging services are offered through the WSU School of Molecular Biosciences. Confocal microscopy is available for use by center members through the lab of Dr. Eric Shelden. Contact Dr. Eric Shelden or call 509-335-2368 for scheduling information.
Histology resources – Equipment is available to center members for generating cross-sections from fixed tissues, including paraffin embedding apparatuses, microtomes, and cryostats (supplies will be charged to the PI). Contact Jeanene Deavila or call 509-335-0675 for scheduling information.