A blood test alone cannot tell the full story of what’s happening inside a newborn’s brain after a brain injury. New research from the Waisman Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison suggests that the hippocampus—a brain region critical for learning and memory—maintains its own powerful, locally regulated steroid environment during early development and after brain injury.
Investigator
Eagles Autism Foundation funds new research on use of nanotechnology to deliver gene-editing tools to the brain
A new research study at the Waisman Center has been funded by the Eagles Autism Foundation to develop a precise, safe, and broadly applicable method for correcting a single-gene mutation associated with symptoms of autism spectrum disorders including learning deficits, anxiety, depression, and reduced social interactions.
Friendship at the museum: How science helps kids make friends through play
Shutts uses what she learns in her research as a social scientist to influence how kids in the community learn through play at the museum. Her area of expertise is how children make sense of their social world, and how to help kids build their social skills. In an attempt to oversimplify her work, you could say she’s an expert in friendships.
How AI is advancing medical research
Waisman Investigator Daifeng Wang, PhD, associate professor of biostatistics and medical informatics, was featured on this article by the School of Medicine and Public Health on how artificial intelligence (AI) is advancing medical research at UW.
Waisman investigator Xinyu Zhao receives grant from the Eagles Autism Foundation
The Waisman Center celebrates the selection of Xinyu Zhao, PhD, a principal investigator renowned for her work in neural stem cells and neurodevelopment, as one of the esteemed recipients of a 2025 Eagles Autism Foundation research grant.
James Li receives Vilas Associates Award
James Li, PhD, Waisman Center investigator and A.A. Alexander Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry, has been selected to receive a Vilas Associates Award.
Healthy Little Eyes Study (Cengiz)
Call us to learn more and find out if your baby is eligible to join! 608-228-4940 We invite your child to take part in a research study about how children’s visual function is related to …
Pelin Cengiz, MD – Slide of the Week
TrkB-mediated neuroprotection in female hippocampal neurons is autonomous, estrogen receptor alpha-dependent, and eliminated by testosterone: a proposed model for sex differences in neonatal hippocampal neuronal injury
Researcher clinicians help bridge the gap between scientific discovery and medical care – Part 2
There is no one “typical” type of researcher clinician. There are differences in training, percentage of focus on research vs clinic, and type of research done. Many also carry teaching and administrative responsibilities on top of their already demanding positions.
Waisman investigator receives award recognizing her outstanding mentorship of women scientists
Pelin Cengiz, MD, was recently awarded the 2022 Women’s Health Research Mentorship Award by the UW School of Medicine and Public Health (UW SMPH) Group on Women in Medicine and Science (GWIMS) and the Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health (BIRCWH).