2023 News

Helping families navigate genetics through counseling: A history of the genetic counseling program at the Waisman Center

So, in 1976, Burns along with a few collaborators, established the Genetic Counselor Program at UW-Madison.

Waisman BioLibrary: Building a database to boost genetic research on intellectual and developmental disabilities now and for the future

The end goal is to build a collection of information for multiple disorders, the first one being Down syndrome.

CASC Clinic: Enabling the basic human right of communication for all abilities

Without access to communication, people are isolated and frustrated and can end up having very different life experiences. If we can establish communication for a variety of individuals using alternative tools and techniques, and in so doing, increase that individual's quality of life, I think it's a pretty substantial impact...

Waisman’s Own Takes Interim Position in OVCRGE

CMT is a slowly progressive disease in contrast to ALS, which affects the same neurons in the peripheral nervous system.

Reaching beyond Rett Syndrome: How a family and the Waisman Center are working to improve care for those with rare syndrome

Several months after Ella’s first birthday, she received her diagnosis of Rett syndrome. “It was devastating, life changing. It’s rare – we hadn’t heard of it before we started this journey and it’s a very difficult diagnosis to process,” Jennifer says.

Rebecca Alper on long-term impacts of early language skills

Early language skills are one of the best predictors of academic, social, vocational outcomes.

Fit Families makes exercise accessible to children with disabilities

Families and their children with intellectual and developmental disabilities often face many barriers to getting accessibility to exercise.

Branching out beyond where it’s planted: The story of the Waisman Center’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Part 1

The University of Wisconsin-Madison was one of the first sites to be selected to have an IDDRC and UCEDD because of the urging of Harry Waisman, MD, PhD, a prominent researcher physician, for whom the Waisman Center is named.

Neurodegeneration research at the Waisman Center from gene to organelle to cell to brain

Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, and retinitis pigmentosa all have different manifestations and affect different body functions, but they are all connected by one mechanism: neurodegeneration.

Wisconsin educators take on the surge in early speech delays

“Early language skills are one of the best predictors of academic, social, vocational outcomes,” said Rebecca Alper

Traveling Full Circle

Over the past four decades, she (Durkin) has demonstrated an unrelenting passion for readily applying her vast knowledge about different cultures and the varying preponderance of health maladies among children.

New study shows non-invasive brain stimulation can be safely administered at home

A non-invasive brain stimulation technique that may improve neuroplasticity has recently been shown to be possible and safe for children with cerebral palsy when remotely instructed and conducted in a person’s home.

UW effort to map Down syndrome brain raises prospect of treatment for disorder

In a lab near UW Hospital, Megan Jandy grows stem cells from people with Down syndrome — 10 batches of cells, most in three-dimensional clusters, each batch featuring one group with the extra chromosome that causes the disorder and one group without it.

Genomics and genetics cluster hire brings expansion into new research avenues

Tiny but mighty is a good way of describing our genome – the collection of our DNA. Although not visible to the naked eye, the human genome holds around 21,000 genes and millions of DNA variants, containing the information needed to maintain an organism throughout its life.

Discovery reveals mitochondria as potential treatment target for fragile X syndrome

Fragile X syndrome, the most common form of inherited intellectual disability, may be unfolding in brain cells even before birth, despite typically going undiagnosed until age 3 or later.

Understanding the connection between Down syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease

Allison and Amber Westemeier get excited every time they take a trip to the Waisman Center from Oshkosh, WI.

Thursday night’s keynote may be Madison native’s most meaningful speech yet

David Egan, born with Down syndrome at St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison in 1977, has spent much of his life proving that there isn’t much he — or others with intellectual disabilities — can’t do, given an opportunity.

New app aimed at increasing accessibility to machine learning analysis techniques

A new app developed at the Waisman Center makes it easier than ever for researchers to use machine learning techniques to analyze large complex data sets without specialized or specific training.

New study to help illuminate issues for aging autistic adults

A new study from researchers at the Waisman Center and The Ohio State University will investigate aging in autistic adults.

How Waisman researchers are advancing knowledge of speech and language in Individuals with IDDs

People say between 150 and 200 words a minute on average during a casual conversation.

Drawn to art: Waisman celebrates artists of all abilities with unique collection

Lang likes to draw buildings and geometric shapes. Most of his drawings focus on interior spaces or places that have meaning to him like different places he has lived, a favorite restaurant, or exteriors of his home.

John Svaren joins research office leadership team

John Svaren, professor of Comparative Biosciences at the School of Veterinary Medicine and director of the Waisman Center IDD Models Core, has been named the interim Associate Vice Chancellor for Research in the Biological Sciences.

The community boards that unite us: A circle of friends, visitors, and constituent advisors

A place such as the Waisman Center needs help to not only function at its highest level but to also ensure the needs of the community it serves are being met. This requires constant feedback, assistance, and support from various community partners.

A parent-mediated physical activity intervention helps autistic kids acquire fundamental motor skills

Autistic children show lower physical activity and fundamental motor skills such as running, jumping, or throwing compared to non-autistic children.

The beginnings and evolution of brain imaging at the Waisman Center

The development of brain imaging techniques has helped us understand emotion, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and neurodegenerative diseases in ways we could not before.

Bridging the Gap: How WB is Helping to Translate Research from Bench to Bedside

By Emily Leclerc, Waisman Science Writer One of Carl Ross’s favorite stories is actually an account of one of his failures. In the early 2000s Ross, the former managing director of Waisman Biomanufacturing (WB), was …

Sharing the expertise: UCEDD’s community training and technical assistance for leaders in the community

After more than a decade of navigating the health care system, he took it upon himself to help Latino families with kids with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) find resources and supports, and navigate the healthcare system.

The Waisman Center’s signature research project looks deeply at the connections between autism and ADHD

Josh loves coming to the Waisman Center. He has told his mom Julia several times that he particularly enjoys the two-day visits because he gets to spend more time at the center. His brain is special so it is cool that the scientists want to study it, he tells Julia.

Nancy Saevang recognized among Wisconsin’s Most Influential Asian American Leaders for 2023

Nancy is director of the Waisman Early Childhood Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, leading a staff of 17 caring for about 100 children aged 12 months to eight years.

Artificial intelligence: A real tool for advancing research on intellectual and developmental disabilities and beyond

AI collects big data and uses computer algorithms to search patterns that are present in your daily life.

New research expands understanding of impact of rapamycin on fragile X syndrome

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common heritable form of intellectual and developmental disability. It is also the most common single genetic contributor to autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

The large scope of research on fragile X syndrome at the Waisman Center

Research studies at the Waisman Center cover both basic science and behavioral research on FXS, starting with the individual, up to the family unit, from childhood, and into old age.

Research beyond Waisman Center: Discoveries that have spun into products

Multiple discoveries born from the minds and hard work of Waisman Center investigators have left the nest to become successful companies or products that have had a significant impact in the world through translational research.

Waisman and PKU: A legacy of being at the forefront of research and care

In 1972, Nancy Reyzer had only been home in Chicago a couple of days with her newborn son, John, when she received an unexpected and alarming phone call from her son’s doctor. The doctor said that her son may have a condition called phenylketonuria and that they needed to come into the clinic immediately.

Waisman investigator one of 12 to receive a Kellett Mid-Career Award

Xinyu Zhao, PhD, Waisman investigator and professor of neuroscience, was recently awarded a Kellett Mid-Career Award, among 11 others, by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education.

Boys with fragile X syndrome + autism spectrum disorder and autistic boys show high rates of word omission during conversations

A recent study shows that boys with fragile X syndrome and co-occurring ASD (fragile X + ASD), and autistic boys have similar patterns of linguistic errors and omit more words in conversations compared to non-autistic boys.

Leading by Example: A Spotlight on Each of Waisman’s Directors

The Waisman Center has a long history of excellent and remarkable leadership. Each director of the center has played a pivotal role in advancing Waisman's research, service, training, and outreach efforts. This article highlights the Waisman Center's directors, both past and present, that have allowed the center to proudly follow its mission of advancing knowledge of human development, developmental disabilities, and neurodegenerative diseases.

The Low-Phe Life: Animated series helps families with PKU learn and laugh

At a recent screening of the video series “The Low-Phe Life”, Logan Schrimpf’s favorite video was the one where the raccoons messed up the family’s supply of PKU formula. It was the episode titled, The Trip, in the six-part animated video series by Kurt Sensenbrenner.

UW researchers will trial gene editing therapy to treat blindness

Seth Pollak: A career dedicated to understanding child emotion

The fun decals on the colorful walls and the cheerful environment gives it away, the third floor of the Waisman Center is dedicated to children. This space is where Seth Pollak, PhD, has spent most of his career studying child emotion, and how early life experiences shape the brain during development.

The Little Listeners Project: studying language development in toddlers with autism

Even through cute but unintelligible babbles, infants are hard at work learning how to become successful communicators.

We need to know STAT: Mechanisms behind GFAP accumulation in Alexander disease involve transcription factor STAT3.

The hallmarks of Alexander disease, aggregation of misfolded GFAP proteins and dysregulation of brain cells called astrocytes, may be stopped and reversed in rodent models with the inactivation of the transcription factor STAT3.

Waisman’s Early Childhood Program selects a new director

Nancy Saevang was recently selected as the new director of Waisman’s Early Childhood Program (WECP). Most recently, Saevang served as the WECP’s associate director and interim director.

Transitioning Together helps adolescents with autism and their families gear up for adulthood

The Transitioning Together curriculum is adaptable to different settings, including clinical settings and school settings. Because of its unique design and positive impacts, it has been adopted in 11 states outside of Wisconsin, and Canada.

Bill L. Kreamer is a 2023 Academic Staff Excellence Award Winner

This year's award winners includes Bill L. Kreamer, Facilities and Equipment Specialist, Waisman Biomanufacturing at the Waisman Center.

Tiny antennas open door to injectable electronics for brain monitoring

Sensory responses in autistic children are linked to a small under-explored region tucked deep down in the brain called the brainstem

The same external sensory stimulus – a flashing light, a hug, or hearing one’s name – can provoke a different reaction in every person.

From clinics to treatment: Waisman works to help families with autism

For many individuals with autism and their families, their first experience with the Waisman Center may be through the center’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities (A&DD) Clinic. The A&DD Clinic’s primary focus is providing diagnostic evaluations and follow-up care for to individuals suspected of having autism or other developmental disabilities.

Waisman Biomanufacturing selects new managing director

After an extensive national search, Chris Bartley was recently selected as the new managing director of Waisman Biomanufacturing (WB). Bartley most recently served as the facility’s interim director.

The Waisman TIES Clinic, a psychiatry clinic that looks at disability and mental health through a holistic lens

Community TIES (Training, Intervention, and Evaluation Services) is a UW-Waisman Center behavioral support program that serves residents of Dane County with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.

In remembrance of Don Anderson

The Waisman Center community is saddened by the passing of Don Anderson, MSSW, in March 3, 2023. Anderson was a clinical assistant professor in the UW-Madison Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work and the Waisman Center from 1974 to 2004.

Women’s History Month: Celebrating the Women of Waisman | Infographic

For Women’s History Month we are celebrating all of the women of Waisman who are advancing knowledge of intellectual and developmental disabilities and providing cutting-edge clinical care.

Newborn Screening Program on UW–Madison campus helps millions

Since 1978, more than 2.5 million Wisconsin babies have been touched by the University of Wisconsin–Madison within their first few days of being born.

Hope for Failing Eyes

Retinal cells grown from stem cells can reach out and connect with neighbors, according to a new UW study, completing a “handshake” that may show the cells are ready for trials in humans with degenerative eye disorders.

Let’s talk numbers: Epidemiology of intellectual and developmental disabilities research at the Waisman Center

In 2001, newborn screening of Hmong babies had an alarming number of positive results for an enzyme deficiency called MBADD.

From brain stimulation to speech and language interventions, Waisman researchers are making strides to better understand and treat individuals with cerebral palsy

More than 10,000 children are born each year with cerebral palsy (CP) making it the most common motor disability in childhood.

The Waisman Center’s comprehensive care and strides toward early interventions for children with cerebral palsy: Clinics and outreach

The clinics and the research laboratories of the Waisman Center intertwine to care for individuals with cerebral palsy. The mission is one: to improve the outcomes for individuals with cerebral palsy.