
Q&A: Kip Ludwig on bioelectronic medicine
By hacking the nervous system with minimally invasive, super-precise techniques, Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery Kip Ludwig and his team are creating new treatments to relieve pain and restore function for those suffering from diseases and conditions as diverse as migraine, hypertension and cancer. This field of study is called neuromodulation, and its advances may render orally administered drugs obsolete.

Zachary Morris named chair of human oncology
Dr. Zachary Morris, a leading expert on innovative approaches to cancer therapy, will be the next chair of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health Department of Human Oncology effective June 2.

New Initiative for Theranostics and Particle Therapy launched
A key focus of the initiative will be translational research, or research that is designed to benefit human health. Investigators will assess how particle beam radiation may be effective to treat cancers that are difficult to treat using conventional radiation therapy, how diagnostic and treatment steps can be combined into a single step referred to as theranostics, and how radiation treatment plans can be personalized for each patient.

New study supports recommendation to begin mammogram screening at 40
Breast cancer screening every two years beginning at age 40 has the potential to reduce the number of women who die of breast cancer while minimizing the harms, according to a large study published today.

Training doctors for rural practice helps meet statewide need
Dr. Michelle Clark-Forsting always knew she wanted to be a doctor. Growing up in Alma Center, Wisconsin, she worked during the school year as a nursing assistant at nearby Black River Falls Memorial Hospital. Physicians there were her role models. In 2005, she applied to medical school at the University of Wisconsin.

Partnerships Bolster Biotechnology Research and Training
In October 2023, President Joe Biden announced Wisconsin’s selection among 31 Regional Technology Hubs designated by the Economic Development Administration under the 2021 Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) and Science Act.

UW surgery turns 100
The first day of classes must have felt like a leap of faith. It was 1924 and just three faculty members charged with teaching three medical students made up the new surgery academic department in the University of Wisconsin’s new School of Medicine. At the Wisconsin General Hospital, community surgeons were called in to help teach the students how to set bones, treat sepsis, alleviate inflammation and perform minor surgery.

Stem cells’ light signatures improve understanding of aging in the brain

Midlife testing may help predict later cognitive impairment
When researchers test motor skills, hearing, vision and smell in people in their midlife, they are better able to identify those who may develop cognitive decline or impairment 10 years later, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.

When doctors sit, patients feel better
A new study indicates that the simple act of a doctor sitting in a chair during hospital bedside discussions improved the experience for physicians and patients alike.

Air sampling at schools accurately detects flu and COVID-19 virus levels
Air samplers placed in school cafeterias provided an accurate look at a flu epidemic and at constant low levels of COVID-19 infections in a K-12 school district during the 2022-23 school year, according to a new study from researchers at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.

Gut inflammation linked to aging and Alzheimer’s disease
A new study by researchers at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health suggests a link between gut inflammation and changes in the brain and declines in memory, further supporting a connection between the gut and brain in Alzheimer’s disease.