Rebecca Alper, PhD – Slide of the Week

Identifying modifiable sources of variability in early interaction quality is critical to determining intervention need, developing effective caregiver coaching, and improving outcomes.

Friends of the Waisman Center annual awards

The Friends of the Waisman Center present seven awards each year to Waisman students, staff, and and family volunteers. 

WECP announces new director

The Waisman Early Childhood Program recently announced that Teresa Hoveland will become the next director of the program. Hoveland is assuming the leadership role after Nancy Saevang, the current director, steps down at the end of August.

Renowned Waisman investigator Su-Chun Zhang retires

After more than two decades at the Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin and several first-in-the-world stem cell scientific breakthroughs, Su-Chun Zhang, MD, PhD, professor of neuroscience and neurology, is retiring. He came to the Waisman Center in 2001 as part of the Translational Research-Neurodegenerative Diseases Cluster. Zhang anchored Waisman’s stem cell research program and has …

Doug Dean III, PhD – Slide of the Week

Diffusion MRI (dMRI) is a widely used method to investigate the microstructure of the brain. Quality control (QC) of dMRI data is an important processing step that is performed prior to analysis using models such as diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) or neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI).

Waisman Center investigators receive Kellett Fellowship and Romnes Award

Thirty-two UW–Madison faculty have been awarded fellowships from the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research for 2024-25. The awardees span the four research divisions on campus: arts and humanities, physical sciences, social sciences and biological sciences. These include two Waisman investigators, Andrew Alexander, PhD, and Lauren Bishop, PhD, who were awarded fellowships from the …

Christopher Coe, PhD – Slide of the Week

Adversity during infancy can affect neurobehavioral development and perturb the maturation of physiological systems. Dysregulated immune and inflammatory responses contribute to many of the later effects on health.

Waisman Center IDDRC funds three pilot projects on novel Down syndrome research

Three Waisman Center investigators and affiliates were awarded an internal grant to support Down syndrome research in its early stages. The funds were made possible through the Ann Dewey Down Syndrome Catalyst Fund at the Waisman Center.

Waisman welcomes new Autism and Developmental Disabilities Clinic director

After an extensive national search, the Waisman Center is delighted to welcome Lily Wagner, PhD, BCBA, as the new director of the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Clinic.

Andrew McVea, MS, (Christian Lab) – Slide of the Week

Earlier beta-amyloid (Aβ) plaque accumulation and a higher prevalence of Alzheimer’s Disease is seen in the Down syndrome (DS) population due to the triplication of chromosome 21 containing the amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene.