Brad’s Update
People at Morgridge — bright, committed, and curious — follow scientific evidence to propel our work in new directions, fulfilling our mission.
So, when we hired two new Morgridge investigators, regenerative biologist Ken Poss from Duke University and virologist Megan Spurgeon from the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s McCardle Laboratory, all of those traits mattered.
Ken and Megan join me in recognizing you, whose crucial support enables our eff orts to improve human health and inspire scientific curiosity.
Ken delves into how organisms regenerate damaged heart and spinal cord tissue, and his research has potential application to humans. He will also serve as our director of regenerative biology. Megan studies tumor-causing viruses, including human papillomavirus — the leading cause of cervical cancer — and hepatitis B. She will work in the John W. and Jeanne M. Rowe Center for Research in Virology.
The research Ken and Megan conduct is promising, important, and fascinating. But I think the character and the attributes of these individuals are just as important as what they work on. They are individuals with a never-ending curiosity. Their addition to the Morgridge community is another important step on the pathway to being the kind of research institution we have envisioned. Thanks to your support, these scientists can launch their new labs and research endeavors at Morgridge.
Brad Schwartz
We seek out scientists who are driven by an unquenchable need to find out new things — people who get up in the morning and say, “I can’t imagine doing anything other than this.” Society distrusts celebrity for celebrity’s sake, but likes that old-fashioned idea that curiosity and persistence can trigger accomplishment. And if recognition follows, great.
That stamp of character runs through our institute, from undergraduates to postdoctoral scholars to scientists and investigators.
They all add to the vibrancy of our scientific community and help us live up to society’s highest ideals of what science should be doing.
You are an essential part of this story of commitment. Your vision and support help us attract gifted researchers and allows them to unleash their creativity as they solve the riddles that will advance human health. Just as important, your support also helps us realize our outreach and education efforts, to extend the influence and understanding of science.
You have given us your trust, your investment, and your inspiration and we work each day to make you inspired. In this report, you’ll read about some of the great work you make happen as donors.
Thank you for being part of our community,
Brad Schwartz, M.D.
CEO, Morgridge Institute for Research
As a donor, you are:
Exploring Science, Fearlessly
Donors like you help scientists pursue fearless science. Thank you for supporting biomedicine that will improve human health. With your support, you’re helping fight disease, understand the depths of biology, unlock ways to stop cancer, HIV, and many more disorders.
Changing Lives
Science is for everyone. You help many free and heavily-discounted science education and outreach programs for underserved children and families. From afterschool programs to the Summer Science Camp, these opportunities bring the wonders and joy of science to all families.
Milestones
You play an important role in pushing science forward. Thanks to private support from donors like you, the Morgridge Institute is working to improve human health. We can’t do this work without you—THANK YOU.
Here’s a look at some of the milestones made possible by you.
Rising Sparks: Raison Dsouza, structural biology
Raison Dsouza is developing new computational methods to analyze cryo-electron microscopy images, trying to find specific particles in “noisy,” corrupted data.
Students immersed in a world of discovery at Summer Science Camp
The 18th annual Morgridge Science Summer Camp took place in July 2024, welcoming 75 students from rural Wisconsin high schools for a week-long immersion into the world of science and a glimpse of college life.
Rising Sparks: Kasia Wiech, biomedical imaging
Kasia Wiech, a graduate student in biomedical engineering, is on a mission to bring science out of the lab and into public spaces to highlight the impact of science in our everyday lives.
Advanced imaging reveals how a parasitic ‘kiss’ alters cell metabolism
Morgridge researchers harness the power of optical metabolic imaging to study how the parasite Toxoplasma changes host cell metabolism over the course of infection.
New Morgridge investigator explores complex link between viruses, cancer
Viruses are responsible for nearly one in every five cases of human cancer. New Morgridge Investigator Megan Spurgeon is on the front lines of understanding the inner workings of this public health threat.
Grad student contemplates open-source conflicts with new AI software
Bryce Johnson, a graduate student in the Gitter Lab at Morgridge, published an opinion piece in Undark commenting on open-source conflicts with Google DeepMind's AI software AlphaFold 3.
Following the ‘BATT Signal’: A new signaling pathway controlling planarian germ cells
Morgridge scientists have discovered a surprising new way that the model organism planaria initiates sexual development.
Unique optical imaging approach sheds light on hidden information within cells
The Randy Bartels Lab demonstrates for the first time the use of third harmonic generation holographic microscopy to collect measurements of light intensity and phase information within biological samples.
Heart regeneration pioneer to join UW–Madison, Morgridge Institute
Kenneth Poss explores the mysteries of how some species can regenerate virtually any damaged tissue in their body — and what that could mean for repairing damaged human hearts.
All creatures great and small: Sequencing the blue whale and Etruscan shrew genomes
Researchers illustrated that size doesn't matter when they assembled sequences for two new reference genomes — one from the world’s largest mammal and one of the smallest.
Science for All
When you establish a planned gift, you help inspire the next generation of scientists. Planned gifts through an estate or annuities help support science education and outreach activities, like the Summer Science Camp.
Contact Bill Swisher, Chief Development Officer, today.
bswisher@morgridge.org
(608) 316-4364