The Waisman Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison advances knowledge about human development, developmental disabilities, and neurodegenerative diseases across the lifespan through research, clinical services, education and outreach. It aims to discover the causes, consequences and cures/treatments for these conditions. Since opening in 1973, the Center has trained over 9,000 students and provides clinical services to over 5,000 patients annually through specialized clinics and programs.

1. Waisman Center
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Mission
To advance knowledge about human development,
developmental disabilities, and neurodegenerative diseases
throughout the life span.

2. What is a “Developmental Disability”?
•Onset is prenatal or early in life
•Affects a child’ development in
s
multiple and significant ways
•Lasts indefinitely
Examples…
•Autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy,
fragile X syndrome, epilepsy, other types of
intellectual disability (formerly called
mental retardation)

3. What is a “Neurodegenerative Disease”?
•Onset can be at any point in life
•Affects a person’ life in multiple
s
and significant ways
•Lasts indefinitely and often is
the cause of death
Examples…
•Parkinson’ Disease, ALS
s
(Lou Gehrig’ disease),
s
Alzheimer’ Disease,
s
spinal cord injury

4. The Waisman Center’ Overarching Goal –
s
to discover the 3 “ s”
C’
◘ Causes (genetic,
environmental)
◘ Consequences -- for the
individual, the family, and
society
◘ Cures and treatments

5. The 3 C’ The Example of Autism
s:
◘ Causes
- What is the cause of the rising prevalence of autism?
- What is the role of genetics in causing autism?
◘ Consequences
- What is the lifetime cost of care for a person with autism?
- What are the consequences for the family?
- How do people with autism differ in brain function and
structure from people without disabilities?
◘ Cures and treatments
- What targeted medical treatments and educational services
reduce the severity of autism?

6. Precursor to the Waisman Center - 1963
UW Orthopedic Children’ Hospital
s
•Addition built in 1963 for the
Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Memorial
Labs, funded by a grant from
Kennedy Foundation.
•Dr. Harry Waisman, Director

7. Dedication of the
Joseph P. Kennedy
Jr. Laboratories ─
November 20, 1963

8. Who was Harry Waisman?
•Director of research at the
Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr.
Memorial Laboratories
•Pediatrician, biochemist,
pioneer in research on
childhood disability
•Advocated for testing of all
newborns for genetic
diseases
•Role model for us today

9. Construction of the Waisman Center
•A Presidential Panel
recommended creation of
multidisciplinary centers focused
on intellectual disabilities at
major universities.
•Waisman Center becomes one
of those centers, opening in
1973.

10. Fifteen Centers in the U.S.
◘ The Waisman Center is the only one that houses both –
•a multidisciplinary
research center
and
•a clinical, service,
and outreach center
•Both are needed to translate research results
into treatments –translational research

11. The Waisman Center in the UW-Madison
Carolyn “Biddy”Martin, Chancellor
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Schools and Colleges
Ag & Life Sciences Martin Cadwallader, Dean
Education Graduate School and VC for Research
Engineering
Human Ecology
Letters and Science Marsha Mailick Seltzer, Director
Medicine/Public Health
Nursing
Waisman Center
Pharmacy
Veterinary Medicine

12. Waisman Center Facts
• 55 faculty members from 27
departments at the UW-Madison
• 600 faculty, staff, students payrolled
• 250,000 sq ft building complex
• 5,000 patient visits in 2009
• ~ 90 grants from the NIH
• Multiple “centers within the Waisman
Center”

13. The Waisman Center’ Four Major Activities
s
Research Training
Service Outreach

14. Research throughout the life span
Waisman Center research on early learning, and
how poverty affects learning and development.

15. Waisman Center Stem Cell Research Laboratories
The neural stem cell
program of the UW-
Madison.
• have discovered
We
how stem cells can be
turned into neurons.
• are working to
We
discover how neural
stem cells can be
specialized to treat
diseases of the nervous
system.
▲ Early stage retinal cells

16. Waisman Clinical Biomanufacturing Facility
Production of
pharmaceuticals
for early stage
human clinical
trials.

17. Waisman Center Brain Imaging Facility
Expanding our
knowledge about
brain development
and function using
MRI and PET
scanning.

18. A New Center within the Waisman Center
The Center for Investigating Healthy Minds
•Research on attention, mindfulness, and other healthy
qualities of the mind.
•Directed by Dr.
Richard Davidson
•The Dalai Lama
participated in
opening celebration,
scientific meeting at
the Waisman Center

19. Training Future Researchers and Clinicians
Since it opened in 1973, the Waisman Center
has trained more than 9,000 undergraduate
and graduate students.

20. Waisman Early Childhood Program
•The WECP serves
100 children birth
to age five.
• of enrollment
1/3
are children with
disabilities.
•National leader in “inclusive”early
childhood education.

21. Waisman Center Clinics
- Genetics
- Autism
- Fragile X Syndrome
- Feeding
- Cerebral Palsy
- Speech Disorders
- Computer-Assisted
Communication
- Neonatal Intensive Care
Follow-up

22. Family Village: A World-wide Website Resource
More than 3 million people from throughout the world
have visited this award-winning website.

23. Dane County Regional Airport Art Exhibit
•50 artworks, all by
people with
developmental
disabilities
•Sponsored by the
Friends of the Waisman
Center.
•Curated by Tandem
Press.
•July 2010 through
January 2011.

24. The Biggest House My Great
Grandfather Ever Built
Phillip H. Porter © 2006
Acquired through the
Wisconsin Arts Board’ s
Percent for Art Program
“ is therapy for me.
Art
It creates a whole
new world.”

25. Recent Visitors…
July 10, 2010: Rotary “Dine Around”Lunch and Tour

26. Visit the Waisman Center!
◘ 1500 Highland Avenue
Located on the west campus, across from UW Hospital
and Clinics
Call us! 263-5940