Advancing knowledge of human development, developmental disabilities, and neurodegenerative diseases.
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 …
At the age of 9, Xavier Hansen already has it figured out. Someday, he is going to be the boss. “He has great aspirations to make things,” says his mom, Gail. “His goals are to own a movie theater. He wants to be in charge. If he wants something, he’ll find a way to get it.”
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 …
UW–Madison’s Waisman Center is known for its groundbreaking work helping people with developmental disabilities and neurodegenerative disorders. On Thursday, Dec. 10, several members of the UW System Board of Regents and the system president and his leadership team had the chance to tour the building and meet many of the people who help the center carry on its work.
A positive emotional climate at home and inclusive educational experiences while at school can have long-lasting beneficial effects for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to a recent study by researchers at the Waisman Center at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the University of Massachusetts. As children with ASD transition to adulthood many of …
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.
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.
Fathers who read to their infants with autism and take active roles in caregiving activities not only promote healthy development in their children, they boost moms’ mental health too, new research suggests.
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.
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 …
