Dedicated to the advancement of knowledge about human development, developmental disabilities, and neurodegenerative diseases throughout the lifespan. Waisman Center University of Wisconsin-Madison

What is a developmental disability? Onset is prenatal or early in life Affects a child’s development in multiple and significant ways Lasts indefinitely Examples… Autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, fragile X syndrome, epilepsy, other types of intellectual disability

CDC: 1 in 6 kids have a developmental disability 17% increase, data collected from 120,000 kids ages years old over an 11-year period increase due to growth in cases of autism, ADHD, and “other developmental delays”

What is a neurodegenerative disease? Onset at any point in life Affects a person’s life in multiple ways Lasts indefinitely, is typically progressive, and often is the cause of death Examples… Parkinson’s Disease, ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), Alzheimer’s disease Mechanisms in common with… traumatic brain/spinal cord injury

The Waisman Center’s Overarching Goal – to Discover the 3 “Cs” C auses genetic, environmental C onsequences for the individual, the family, and society C ures and treatments

Precursor to the Waisman Center – 1963 UW Orthopedic Children’s Hospital Addition built in 1963 for the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Memorial Laboratories, funded by a grant from Kennedy Foundation Dr. Harry Waisman, Director Senator Ted Kennedy visits Madison for the lab’s opening November 1963.

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

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

A Presidential Panel in 1961 recommended creation of multidisciplinary centers focused on intellectual disabilities at major universities Construction of the Waisman Center Waisman Center opens in 1973

14 Centers in the United States The Waisman Center is the only center in the U.S. 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

Rebecca Blank, Chancellor University of Wisconsin-Madison Schools and Colleges Ag & Life Sciences Education Engineering Human Ecology Letters and Science Medicine/Public Health Nursing Pharmacy Veterinary Medicine The Waisman Center in the UW-Madison Marsha Mailick Interim Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education Albee Messing, Interim Director Waisman Center

57 faculty members from 21 UW-Madison departments division of the Office of Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education 600 faculty, staff, students 253,585 square foot building Waisman Center Facts patient visits each year ~90 grants from the NIH

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

Research on Child Development Waisman Center research on early learning – cognitive development, social development, language development, sensory development (eyes and ears)

Waisman Center Stem Cell Research Laboratories We have discovered how stem cells can be turned into neurons and other brain cells. We are working to discover how stem cells can be exploited to treat diseases of the brain, spinal cord, eye, and ear. Early stage retinal cells

Waisman Biomanufacturing Production of pharmaceuticals for early stage human clinical trials

Waisman Center Brain Imaging Facility Expanding our knowledge about brain development and function using MRI and PET scanning Brain imaging studies have focused on: - autism - Down syndrome - Alzheimer’s - PTSD

Center for Investigating Healthy Minds Research on attention, mindfulness, and other healthy qualities of the mind

Training Future Researchers and Clinicians The Waisman Center has trained more than 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students since 1973.

Waisman Early Childhood Program 85 children, ages 1-5 1/3 of enrollment are children with disabilities National leader in “inclusive” early childhood education More than 1,900 children have participated in the WECP since 1979

Waisman Center Clinics Autism & Developmental Disabilities Biochemical Genetics Bone Dysplasia Communication Aids and Systems Cerebral Palsy Down syndrome Feeding Medical Genetics Metabolic Bone Disorders Neuromotor Developmental Newborn Follow-up Pediatric Brain Care Spasticity and Movement Disorders

Harvey A. Stevens International Collection of Art 150 artworks in the collection, all by people with developmental disabilities Sponsored by the Friends of the Waisman Center Featured as a six-month exhibit at the Dane County Regional Airport

Waisman Center Children’s Theatre community outreach series art and environmental themes performances are on the second Sunday of each month at 1:00 p.m. more than 100,000 people have attended since 1986 Funding for series from The Kids Fund and Madison South Rotary

Grandparents’ Network Provide support to grandparents and their families Help grandparents send positive messages about disabilities to their communities to create a better climate for family members Facilitate direct “grandparent-to- grandparent” communication Monthly grandparent-to-grandparent coffee group at 9:30 a.m. on the first Friday of each month waisman.wisc.edu/grandparents

Waisman Center Day with the Experts Cerebral Palsy – November 1, 2014 Autism – January 24, 2015 Down Syndrome – March 21, 2015 Cochlear Implants – May 30, 2015

Thank you!