Brad’s Update
Friends and supporters,
As we reflect on our journey of exploration and discovery at the Morgridge Institute, we are deeply grateful for your unwavering support. Your generous contributions and belief in our mission have been the cornerstone of an ecosystem where fearless science doesn’t just flourish — it redefines boundaries. We are also in the final stages of welcoming new outstanding scientists to the institute and expanding our life-changing programs in outreach and education. Both of these changes usher in the next chapter in the Morgridge Institute and are made possible by you.
I’m sure you’ve seen the term “fearless science” in our publications and across our website. But it’s far more than a mere slogan. Fearless science is our ethos and a testament to the spirit of innovation you help sustain.
Brad Schwartz
We believe that true scientific breakthroughs emerge from venturing into the unknown. Science doesn’t thrive by asking “safe questions.” And that’s why we support researchers who dare to ask questions that others might shy away from. This bold, intrepid approach is what paves the way for groundbreaking advancements in understanding our world and enhancing human health.
“Fearless science” encapsulates the essence of our culture, our attitude and our commitment to making a difference. Indeed, the Morgridge Institute encourages scientists to stay curious and to push into new frontiers of biology, rather than work around what is known.
Fearless science is what enables our scientists, like the Daniela Drummond- Barbosa Lab, to pursue innovative studies on the intersections of fertility, diet and obesity — explorations that hold the promise of unlocking new insights into complex biological phenomena.
Our scientists need the freedom, flexibility and courage to pursue transformational ideas. From the cutting-edge discoveries to the myriad of inquiries unfolding within the walls of our institute, every endeavor is a testament to what fearless science can achieve.
You make discovery and innovation happen. Please accept our heartfelt thanks for your role in this incredible journey. Your support not only propels us forward but also reinforces the foundation upon which our shared aspirations for a healthier, more curious world rest.
Here’s to our continued embrace of Fearless Science — with gratitude and anticipation for the wonders yet to come.
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.
Gitter honored with inaugural Jeanne M. Rowe Chair in Virology
Tony Gitter, a Morgridge investigator in virology and research computing and an associate professor of biostatistics and medical informatics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, has been named the Jeanne M. Rowe Chair in Virology.
Rising Sparks: Peter Ducos, Structural Biology
Peter Ducos leans on his military training to solve complex problems and collaborate with other scientists by exploring molecular structures in exquisite detail.
Morgridge helping build a multinational bio-imaging community
BioImaging North America, a project housed at the Morgridge Institute, is helping a community of more than 1,200 scientists take their imaging research and technology to new heights.
Best of the Fest: 2023 Wisconsin Science Festival in photos
We’ve collected some of our favorite moments from the 2023 Wisconsin Science Festival, which boasted a full week of over 300 events statewide.
Fruit fly research is heating up at Morgridge
The increasing impacts of climate change include the effect on fertility as a factor that could decide an organism’s survival or extinction. New research reveals how chronic exposure to warm temperatures affects sperm development in the model organism, Drosophila.
Amani Gillette: An entrepreneur’s journey to improve cancer care
Morgridge Postdoc Amani Gillette discusses her fascinating transition from bench science to entrepreneurship as she steers a new company devoted to improving personalized cancer therapies.
Searching for the biomechanical risk factors of preterm birth
Morgridge scientists have developed new imaging and engineering tools to better understand the mechanical triggers of preterm birth — a health challenge that affects more than one in 10 pregnancies nationally.
Cryo-EM studies reveal the ‘high-wire act’ of bacterial replication
Genome replication in bacteria frequently breaks down. Scientists at UW–Madison and Morgridge used Cryo-EM to precisely detail how bacterial proteins act like emergency first responders, repairing broken DNA on the fly.
Visualizing metabolic activity of tumor and immune cells with melanoma-bearing mice
A study on metabolic reprogramming in cancer and immune cells is helping scientists better understand the cell interactions surrounding cancer progression — a key to developing more effective and personalized treatments.
‘Deep proteome’ project provides atlas for human complexity
The Josh Coon Lab developed a meta-scale approach to quantifying the human proteome and the massive number of protein variants produced by the human body. Proteomics is a cornerstone of biology and a precursor to understanding how protein dysfunction contributes to disease.
CAR macrophages show promise for cancer immunotherapy treatments
Scientists use stem cells to develop CAR macrophages that can infiltrate and kill tumor cells, showing promise for cancer immunotherapy treatments.
Stunningly detailed blueprint revealed of viral genome replication machinery
Morgridge virologists have outlined in atomic detail the intricate RNA replication machines that coronaviruses create inside infected cells, giving rise to potential new strategies to fight disease.
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