It’s no accident that researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison have taken a lead role addressing the Zika virus epidemic gripping the Americas. Many of them were already at work fighting viruses and mosquito-borne diseases in Central and South America.
research
Panda poop study provides insights into microbiome, reproductive troubles
Gastrointestinal diseases are a major cause of mortality in pandas but scientists understand little about their digestive process.
Gene regulatory mutation linked to rare childhood cancer
This basic knowledge of a specific cancer is essential to start drug testing, says researcher Peter Lewis.
Experimental drug cancels effect from key intellectual disability gene in mice
“We are a long way from declaring a cure for fragile X, but these results are promising,” says researcher Xinyu Zhao.
Wisconsin researchers transform common cell to master heart cell
If replicated in human cells, the feat could one day fuel drug discovery, powerful new models for heart disease and the raw material for treating diseased hearts.
Researchers home in on why female newborns are better protected from brain injury
A protein found in the brains of mice is present at higher levels in females, which offers them stronger protection against one type of injury.
Lung cell found to act as sensor, regulator of immune response
The cells are implicated in a wide range of human lung diseases, including asthma, pulmonary hypertension, cystic fibrosis and sudden infant death syndrome, among others.
Urban Canid Project helps track Madison’s coyotes and prevent conflicts
Since 2014, the Urban Canid Project has heavily emphasized outreach and public engagement in the study of Madison’s foxes and coyotes. So far, its efforts have met success.
Antibody targets key cancer marker; opens door to better diagnosis, therapy
University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers have created a molecular structure that attaches to a molecule on highly aggressive brain cancer and causes tumors to light up in a scanning machine. In mouse models of human brain cancer, their tag is easily seen in a PET scanner, which is commonly used to detect cancer.
UW neuroscientists describe brain chemicals that create PTSD response
A new study by University of Wisconsin-Madison neuroscientists shows how stress chemicals reshape the brains of rodents, research that could lead to better treatments for people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).