In 2015, UW–Madison launched the All Ways Forward comprehensive fundraising campaign to move the university and its mission forward. As the campaign concludes this December, it has collectively inspired a sweeping surge of generosity and …
Comparative Biosciences News
Promising Treatment for Alexander Disease Moves From Rat Model to Human Clinical Trials
Posted onAlexander disease is a progressive and rare neurological disorder with no cure or standard course of treatment. But a new study led by researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison involving a rat model of the …
Disrupted Biochemical Pathway in the Brain Linked To Bipolar Disorder
Posted onBipolar disorder affects millions of Americans, causing dramatic swings in mood and, in some people, additional effects such as memory problems. While bipolar disorder is linked to many genes, each one making small contributions to …
New Faculty Focus: Fei Zhao
Posted onFei Zhao: assistant professor, Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine Hometown: Kaifeng, China Educational/professional background: I received my PhD in toxicology from the University of Georgia and postdoctoral training in reproductive and developmental biology in the National …
New Faculty Focus: Kimberly Keil Stietz PhD’14
Posted onKimberly Keil Stietz PhD’14: assistant professor, Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine Hometown: Manitowoc, Wis. Educational/professional background: BS, St. Norbert College, DePere, Wis.; PhD, University of Wisconsin–Madison; Postdoc, University of California-Davis How did you get into your field …
Gene-Edited Monkey Embryos Give Researchers New Way To Study HIV Cure
Posted onA gene that cured a man of HIV a decade ago has been successfully added to developing monkey embryos in an effort to study more potential treatments for the disease. Timothy Brown, known for years …
From Orthopedic Researcher to Advocate for Health Justice
Posted onFive Questions with Shannon Walsh PhD’20 On Call: What originally brought you to the Comparative Biomedical Sciences (CBMS) graduate program and your area of PhD research? Walsh: My overarching inspiration for pursuing a PhD was …
Forming Genitals in Boys Requires Complex Dance Between Genes and Hormones
Posted onThe most common congenital disorders of all, especially in baby boys, are differences in a newborn’s sexual anatomy that is not standard female or male. In boys, they include undescended testicles, misplaced urethras, and improperly …
Common Chemical Linked to Rare Birth Defect in Mice
Posted on
A chemical commonly used in consumer and agricultural products to boost the effectiveness of insecticides has been linked to a rare birth defect in mice. The chemical, piperonyl butoxide or PBO for short, is widely used as a “synergist” in household and agricultural insecticides to make the toxic effects of the insecticide longer lasting and to reduce the amount of actual insecticide in a product.
Despite its widespread and growing use, as well as its ubiquity in the environment, the chemical has been little studied. Now, a team led by Robert Lipinski, a professor of comparative biosciences in the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s School of Veterinary Medicine, reports that PBO interferes with the critical signaling pathway dubbed by scientists as sonic hedgehog, resulting in stunted forebrain development and signature facial abnormalities. The study is published this week (Oct. 23, 2019) in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.
Tiny Capsules Packed With Gene-Editing Tools Offer Alternative to Viral Delivery of Gene Therapy
Posted onNew tools for editing genetic code offer hope for new treatments for inherited diseases, some cancers, and even stubborn viral infections. But the typical method for delivering gene therapies to specific tissues in the body …