Kay Emerson and Harry Waisman, two pioneers in PKU
Kay Emerson was the first person in Wisconsin and one of the first in the United States to be successfully treated for phenylketonuria (PKU), a condition in which the body fails to break down the amino acid phenylalanine, causing a buildup.
May 15, 2025
Researcher clinicians help bridge the gap between scientific discovery and medical care – Part 1
Research and clinical services go hand in hand. One can’t effectively work without the other.
January 9, 2024
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.
June 20, 2023
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.
June 9, 2023
PKU patients around Wisconsin are grappling with the formula shortage too
People with metabolic disorders who require formula to ensure adequate nutrition are among those dealing with a months long shortage — the Waisman Center at UW-Madison is seeking to help source alternatives, even as such options can be stressful.
June 17, 2022
Thoughts of Gratitude: Scott Kornstedt
Shortly after Raegan was born to Scott and his wife Carrie, she was diagnosed with phenylketonuria, or PKU — a rare metabolic disorder that prevents her from properly metabolizing phenylalanine, a common amino acid that exists in most proteins. PKU is a rare disorder that affects approximately 16,000 people in the U.S. It is one of 47 disorders for which newborns in Wisconsin are screened. If left untreated, it can cause intellectual disabilities, seizures, among other health-related issues.
March 16, 2020
New clues to healthy bones for those with PKU
Certain kinds of foods prescribed to manage the rare metabolic disorder phenylketonuria (PKU) could contribute to skeletal fragility seen in many PKU patients, according to a new study by University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers. Led by …
May 16, 2017Foods made with special whey protein help PKU patients
Research led by Waisman Center investigator Denise Ney has shown that food products made from a specific protein found in whey can safely be part of a more palatable diet for individuals diagnosed with phenylketonuria …
April 17, 2017A new whey to manage PKU
Food products made from a specific protein found in whey can safely be part of a more palatable diet for individuals diagnosed with phenylketonuria (PKU), according to a new clinical trial led by researchers at …
July 13, 2016
PKU pioneer Dr. Harry Waisman’s work still impacts the world
Kay Emerson, one of the first patients treated successfully for the PKU disorder in the United States, talks about researcher Dr. Harry Waisman.
July 9, 2014- More PKU posts
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