University of Wisconsin–Madison

Category: Clinics

A spectrum of therapy

April 01, 2016 Adityarup “Rup” Chakravorty “Excelente!” exclaims 12-year-old Xander Trinkner, grey eyes shining behind glasses, sandy-brown hair tousled. His latest iPad mission, protecting the world from droves of alien invaders, is a success. Dressed in a grey-and-green Packers t-shirt and a pair of jeans, Xander could be any 12-year old. But his journey so …

Following newborns, so they may thrive

Jaden Cassidy is three years old and a whirlwind of energy. He bursts into the exam room, jumps on the exam table, flings off his jacket and cowboys boots and whirls around with a beaming smile, expecting—and getting—an enthusiastic round of applause. Jaden’s vibrant nature masks the difficult journey he and his family and friends …

Genetic counseling students learn to serve patients in ever-changing field

Many expected the Human Genome Project to cause a revolution far beyond the field of genetics — into economics and culture — and thought the 13-year, $3 billion international research endeavor would allow us to understand and control viruses, identify the root causes of cancers, advance forensics, create better crops and update anthropology tools to get a better view of our evolutionary path.

Motherhood and mental health: Exploring the links between anxiety, depression and fragile X premutations

Women who have a child with fragile X syndrome (FXS) and are themselves carriers of a “premutation” in the gene linked to FXS are at an increased risk of developing depression and certain kinds of anxiety disorders over time, according to a recent study by researchers at the Waisman Center and the University of South Carolina.

Frayed nerve bundle may spur autism’s motor, social deficits

A new study by Waisman Center investigators Andy Alexander, PhD, professor of medical physics and psychiatry, Janet Lainhart, MD, professor of psychiatry and Brittany Travers, PhD, assistant professor of kinesiology, indicates a nerve bundle at the base of the brain is structurally compromised in people with autism. The study was recently featured by the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative.

Evjue Foundation awards grants to Waisman Center Clinics and Discovery Garden

Two Waisman Center programs will benefit from The Evjue Foundation grants. The Waisman Center Clinics are the recipient of $11,500 to enhance exam rooms to minimize light and sound issues to better serve individuals with disabilities; and $20,000 is designated for improvements to the Discovery Garden, the fully-accessible outdoor learning and play space adjacent to …

Autism activities at the Waisman Center

April is Autism Awareness Month, shedding light on a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects social interaction, communication, and behavior in one out of every 68 children. The Waisman Center is committed to solving the autism puzzle and providing high-quality services to children and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families. We’re home to a …

Autism study finds genetic mutation poor indicator

David Wargowski, MD, a clinical geneticist in the Waisman Center Medical Genetics Clinic, discusses a new autism study in the journal Nature that examines the genetic variance of family members with an autism spectrum disorder.

Autism symptoms often missed in brief clinical appointments

MADISON–In the current issue of Pediatrics, Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison clinical psychologist Megan Farley and colleagues share important insights in the paper “Identifying autism in a brief observation,” which examines how brief clinical appointments are often not long enough to determine if a child has an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), or even if a …

Event on human development is Waisman Center at its best

The UW Madison’s Waisman Center maintains its status as a world class center dedicated to advancing knowledge about human development, developmental disabilities and neurodegenerative diseases through research, teaching and service. It is exceedingly successful in all three areas, and is just as successful in a fourth area: community outreach. This coming Saturday the Waisman Center …