Category Health & Wellness
Signs of Summer
There’s plenty of interaction, but absolutely no talking in one class at UW–Madison this summer, as an intimate group of students learns to communicate with American Sign Language. Video by Craig Wild/University Communications
New measure of insulin-making cells could gauge diabetes progression, treatment
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison have developed a new measurement for the volume and activity of beta cells, the source of the sugar-regulating hormone insulin.
Study: Medicaid Expansion Helped Reduce Reliance on Federal Income Assistance
“A rigorous debate about redesigning Medicaid requires accounting for the secondary effects of Medicaid on public programs beyond the health care sector,” said Dr. Marguerite Burns, assistant professor in Population Health Sciences.
UW Hmong-American nurse brings her community to the doctor’s office
Maichou Lor developed new survey tools that she hopes can help close gaps in access to care among her own community and other underserved populations.
UHS named top college health service for 2nd year in a row
“We're honored to be recognized for the outstanding care and services that each UHS staff member provides to students and the campus community," says Dr. William Kinsey, UHS Director of Medical Services and UW–Madison Chief Health Officer.
Pregnancy loss and evolution of sex linked by cellular line dance
UW-Madison scientist Dan Levitis’ quest led to a discovery that helps explain why so many plants and animals lose so many offspring. The villain? Meiosis.
Zika infections unlikely to be passed by kissing, casual contact
UW-Madison researchers have found in a study of monkeys that casual contact through saliva is not enough for the virus to move between hosts.
Near-miracle stroke survivor heading for repeat vacation at “Stroke Camp”
The Wisconsin Refresh and Retreat Stroke Camp is part of a national network of weekends – think summer camp – for people recovering from strokes and those who for care for them.
Mosquito-spread encephalitis found in Wisconsin horses
A wet and warm summer — much like last year, when EEE virus infected 18 horses in 11 Wisconsin counties — makes for good mosquito habitat and conditions conducive to the spread of viruses like EEE and West Nile virus.
UW center plays key role in finding Zika-transmitting mosquito in state
Under a federal grant, Midwestern universities led by UW–Madison have more resources to conduct the kind of surveillance that turned up the Asian tiger mosquito in Dane County.
Advance furthers stem cells for use in drug discovery, cell therapy
UW–Madison researchers have invented an all-chemical replacement for the confusing, even dangerous materials, now used to grow stem cells.
Study reveals interplay of an African bat, a parasite and a virus
The role of bat parasites in maintaining chains of viral infection is little studied, and the new study serves up some intriguing insights into how viruses co-opt parasites to help do the dirty work of disease transmission.
School of Nursing receives grant to expand Native American enrollment
Two faculty members at the UW–Madison School of Nursing have received a $1.3 million federal grant to develop a comprehensive system of support services that will help admit, retain and graduate 30 Native American nursing students over the next four years.
Made-in-Madison skin replacement starts final clinical trial
A University of Wisconsin–Madison spinoff that makes an innovative material designed to speed healing of serious burns has begun a large clinical trial for the “regenerative skin tissue” it has been developing since 2000.
Study links insurance coverage to higher rates of colorectal cancer screenings
As the nation debates whether and how health insurance should be reformed, researchers at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health determined that people with a certain type of insurance policy were more likely to be screened for colorectal cancer.
Stem cell advance brings bioengineered arteries closer to reality
New techniques have produced, for the first time, functional arterial cells at both the quality and scale to be relevant for disease modeling and clinical application.
Old bones lead to new strategy for drug delivery
An engineering team has developed a new way to seed biomedical devices with agents that promote tissue growth and healing.
UW-Madison advisory board aids cancer treatment statewide
The Precision Medicine Molecular Tumor Board has a dual mission: consulting with oncologists statewide about targeted drugs to battle out-of-control cancers; and amassing data on what works and what does not.
Medical students join program to get more physicians into rural Wisconsin
The students will spend time in Green Bay, La Crosse, Marshfield, and surrounding communities through the Wisconsin Academy for Rural Medicine.
Plant derivative could help patients reliant on tube feeding
Experiments suggest it could help people who must obtain "enteral nutrition" — often due to swallowing problems related to cancer, neurological disease, surgery or developmental delay.