Tag Research
WiCell receives $16 million NIH grant to create national stem cell bank
The WiCell Research Institute has been selected by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to establish the federal government's first and only National Stem Cell Bank (NSCB), it was announced today at a news conference in Madison. Read More
Finding rewrites the evolutionary history of the origin of potatoes
Humans have cultivated potatoes for millennia, but there has been great controversy about the ubiquitous vegetable's origins. This week, writing in the Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences, a team led by a USDA potato taxonomist stationed at UW–Madison has for the first time demonstrated a single origin in southern Peru for the cultivated potato. Read More
Scientist uses form to explain building blocks of life
UW-Madison biochemists have developed an approach that allows them to measure with unprecedented accuracy the strengths of hydrogen bonds in a protein. The scientists were then able to predict the function of different versions of the protein based on structural information, a novel outcome that was published recently in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Read More
Nanoscale research receives big boost
The National Science Foundation has awarded the UW–Madison Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) nearly $14.8 million over the next six years to continue its leading-edge research on the interfaces of materials at the nanoscale. Read More
UW-Madison, Medical College of Wisconsin to lead $16 million children’s health initiative
A consortium of community organizations and academic institutions in Wisconsin will participate in the largest long-term study of the environment's effects on human health and development ever conducted in the United States. The goal of the long-term study is to improve the health and well-being of children. Read More
Prestigious award for scientist exploring consciousness and sleep
A psychiatrist at UW–Madison is one of 13 scientists nationwide to receive the prestigious Pioneer Award, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced today. Read More
Researchers: Deep sleep short-circuits brain’s grid of connectivity
In the human brain, cells talk to one another through the routine exchange of electrical signals. But when people fall into a deep sleep, the higher regions of the brain - regions that during waking hours are a bustling grid of neural dialogue - apparently lose their ability to communicate effectively, causing consciousness to fade. Read More
Research identifies cost-effective delinquency prevention programs
A new report released by UW–Madison and the UW Extension synthesizes the latest research on what works in preventing and reducing juvenile delinquency. Read More
Community events to focus on Vietnam War
The Wisconsin Historical Society, Wisconsin Public Television and the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs are joining to present a series of community events next week centering around a new PBS American Experience documentary film, Two Days in October. Read More
Princeton ecologist to give keynote address symposium
A prominent advocate for the protection of endangered species will be the keynote speaker Sept. 29 and 30 at UW–Madison's annual fall ecology research symposium. Read More
Researchers studying ramifications of equine influenza in dogs
A paper published in Science today (Sept. 26) describes the recent emergence of equine influenza virus, first recognized in racing greyhounds in January 2004, as a pathogen in dogs. During the past year, cases of the virus have been reported in pet dogs in Florida and New York, which raises concern that the virus is spreading. Read More
Marine toxins show promise as cancer drugs
Vibrantly colored creatures from the depths of the South Pacific Ocean harbor toxins that potentially can act as powerful anti-cancer drugs, according to research findings from University of Wisconsin–Madison biochemists and their Italian colleagues. Read More
Can pomegranates prevent prostate cancer?
The juice of the pomegranate, say researchers at University of Wisconsin Medical School, shows major promise to combat prostate cancer - the most common invasive cancer and the second-leading cause of cancer death in American men. Read More
Analysis: Differences between the sexes largely exaggerated
Aiming to dispel misplaced - and widely prevalent - stereotypes about the differences between men and women, a scientist has finally confirmed what many have intuitively known for years: psychologically, at least, the two sexes are basically the same. Read More
Political scientists seek ways to promote civic participation
As Americans turn a cold shoulder to politics and civic involvement, a group of 19 leading political scientists - including UW–Madison's Katherine Cramer Walsh - have recommended a package of reforms to improve democracy and heighten civic involvement. Read More
New residence hall to be named for former housing chief
A 425-bed residence hall under construction on North Park Street will be named for Newell J. Smith, who headed University Housing for 28 years prior to his retirement in 1983. Read More
Medical approach to psychotherapy challenged
Bruce Wampold, professor and chair of the Department of Counseling Psychology, whipped up a storm with his book, “The Great Psychotherapy Debate: Models, Methods, and Findings,”which he based on his comprehensive review of the research on psychotherapy. Read More
Grazing dairies are economically competitive with confinement operations
Managed grazing is becoming increasingly popular with Wisconsin dairy farmers. Grazing systems reduce labor requirements and provide environmental benefits, as the cows harvest much of their own feed and spread their own manure. In addition to these benefits, a new report from UW–Madison shows that these grazing farms are economically competitive with confinement dairy operations. Read More
Lawyer jokes reveal frustration with ‘legalization of life’
A sweeping look at jokes that lampoon lawyers and the tensions between Americans' respect for law and disdain for attorneys is the focus of "Lowering the Bar: Lawyer Jokes and Legal Culture," a new book by UW Law School emeritus professor Marc Galanter. Read More
Study: Abused children stay highly attuned to anger
Even the subtlest hints of anger or hostility in their environment set physically abused children on prolonged "alert," even if a conflict has nothing to do with them. The tendency to stay attentive of nearby discord is probably a natural form of self-preservation in children who routinely face aggression. But it may also explain why abused children are often so distracted at school, write researchers from UW–Madison. Read More