“It’s intriguing because it’s from one place, and it’s spreading in another place,” Anne Pringle, a mycologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, told NPR in September, pointing to Northern California as a death cap “hot spot.”
Rich Hartel, a food science professor at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, studies chocolate for a living. He said one of the most common ways manufacturers cut costs is removing a key ingredient from their chocolate.
“Cocoa butter’s probably the most expensive component in chocolate. So if you can replace some of the cocoa butter with a different, cheaper fat, then you’re saving money,” he said.
“I really saw a turning point during the pandemic when parents were really struggling, and moms in particular were really struggling,” said Allison Daminger, a sociologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison who studies the division of labor in adult romantic relationships.
Daminger’s book, “What’s on Her Mind: The Mental Workload of Family Life,” examines how gender shapes household duties and why women are more likely to carry the mental load.
Anne Pringle, a professor of mycology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said there is a litany of poisoning cases in which people misidentify something because their experience is not relevant to a new region: “That’s a story that comes up over and over again.”
Rudolph Johnson, a toxicologist with experience working for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, started in the top role at the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene in November, the UW-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health announced Monday.
Supporters of isocycloseram said it could help with a pest that’s long shown resistance to insecticides. Russ Groves, an entomology professor and Extension specialist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said the insecticide has been evaluated in Wisconsin to gauge its effectiveness at controlling the Colorado potato beetle. The pest eats the leaves off potato plants, resulting in serious yield losses.
“We’ve evaluated this tool alongside others, and we see that it’s a very good fit,” Groves said. “It performs well in controlling the insect.”
The Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene announced its new director, Rudolph Johnson, who brings national leadership experience to the role.
The laboratory, established in 1903, serves as Wisconsin’s public laboratory focused on clinical, environmental, and occupational health, as well as genetic testing, forensic toxicology, cytology, outbreaks, emergency preparedness, and epidemics. It is a key partner of the University of Wisconsin–Madison and reports to the UW School of Medicine and Public Health.
The technology is ready to treat at least some of these diseases, though. “There’s a whole toolbox now that can target arguably any part of the genome pretty precisely,” said Krishanu Saha, a gene-editing researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Researchers with a few more years of experience are more protected, but still facing setbacks. Fátima Sancheznieto is an associate researcher at the University of Wisconsin who studied biomedical sciences for her Ph.D., but now focuses on education and social science research. Before the Trump administration began cutting federal research funding, she was looking for faculty positions as an assistant professor — now she’s put that search on hold.
“You always have the — I don’t want to call it imposter syndrome, but — imposter phenomenon of, ‘Do I really belong here?’” Sancheznieto said. “When you start to notice maybe that you’re not getting as many job offers or career advancement opportunities and things like that — is it because I’m out and transgender?”
Leonard Polzin, dairy markets and policy outreach specialist for the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Division of Extension, said whole milk has benefited from the diet craze around protein, driven in large part by health and fitness influencers online.
“The more protein, the better. Consumers are all about that,” he said. “The other portion is kind of a shift towards healthy fats too. So for example, cottage cheese is having a real moment right now.”
Dr. Jonathan Temte, associate dean of public health and community engagement at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, said Friday’s vote was not based on new scientific evidence. And he believes it will have consequences for people’s health care.
“This creates a great deal of confusion for parents, for clinicians, for public health providers, for vaccine managers,” Temte said. “I believe there have been purposeful approaches to create as much havoc and a great deal of parental concern over safety when none of this is necessary.”
The University of Wisconsin-Madison won the Big Ten “We Give Blood Drive” competition, earning $1 million that will go toward student or community health initiatives.
The competition, sponsored by Abbott, challenged all Big Ten schools to collect the most blood donations to help address the nationwide blood shortage.
The University of Wisconsin won in the second season of Abbott and the Big Ten’s We Give Blood Drive, overcoming Nebraska in a close contest.
Running from Aug. 27 through Dec. 5, the “We Give Blood” competition, was announced at the 2025 Discover Big Ten Football Championship Game in Indianapolis.
Dominique Brossard, a professor of life science communications at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and principal investigator at the Morgridge Institute for Research, says it’s likely the people who get the flu vaccine every year likely did so again this year but the public confusion might have dissuaded those who were undecided.
“People that are hesitant might actually become reluctant,” she said.
Rich Hartel, a professor of food engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison who teaches candy science to his students, wonders if freeze-dried candy “will just be a fad, but you never know if long-time customers will continue to come back to a type of sweet they didn’t really enjoy when it was chewy.”
he University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health has used improv classes to help medical students develop their interpersonal skills, combining performing arts and health-related fields into a six-week course.
Amy Zelenski, a professor of medicine at the school, teaches an elective class in improvisational theater. She is no stranger to the performing arts scene, as she has a background in theater.
A study led by Andrea Hicks, the director of sustainability education and research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, yielded similar results, concluding that single-serve coffee pods have a similar environmental impact to drip-filter and French press coffee.
“I was surprised when we first found this, after reading all of the popular press saying that single serve coffee pods were terrible for the planet,” Dr. Hicks said. “It seems the public has a hard time believing this, as well.”
Public schools must provide disabled students with equal opportunities to participate in athletics. But how schools meet that requirement can be complicated, according to Julie Mead, a professor emerita at the University of Wisconsin-Madison who specializes in special education law.
Early results of a new study show landfill runoff contained the highest levels of PFAS among liquid wastes sampled statewide in Wisconsin.
Since 2023, researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have been collecting and analyzing samples from four waste materials that could be potential sources of PFAS in groundwater, which provides drinking water to two-thirds of state residents. It’s also a source of drinking water for around 800,000 private wells.
Musicians in the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s School of Medicine and Public Health perform classical music with surgical precision as part of the Medical Sciences Orchestra. Founded in 2018 by fourth-year medical student Joohee Son, the orchestra provides a chance for new operations for students, faculty and alumni in the medical field.
The holidays are always exciting, but they can also be incredibly stressful. Our Leigh Mills sat down with psychologist Dr. Shilagh Mirgain to discuss ways to keep your mental health in check during the cold, dark winter months.
Early results of a new study show landfill runoff contained the highest levels of PFAS among liquid wastes sampled statewide in Wisconsin.
Since 2023, researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have been collecting and analyzing samples from four waste materials that could be potential sources of PFAS in groundwater, which provides drinking water to two-thirds of state residents. It’s also a source of drinking water for around 800,000 private wells.
Ash Engel and Dante Lucchesi work together as collegiate recovery specialists in UW-Madison’s Badger Recovery program. They provide one-on-one coaching, weekly meetings and social events for students in recovery from substance use, disordered eating and addictive behaviors.
‘Lab culture: A recipe for innovation in science’ by Dr. Ahna Renee Skop, Crystal Xin Qing, Hareem Rauf, Dr. Diana Chu
This cookbook — written in-part by a University of Wisconsin-Madison professor, a student and an alumnus — is a collection of more than 75 recipes and stories from more than 120 scientists from around the globe who are connected with the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s IF/THEN Ambassadors program.
When Camp Randall Stadium started selling alcohol last fall during Badger football games, University of Wisconsin-Madison leaders said a portion of the revenue would go to campus.
They said the money would support “efforts to promote student wellness and to encourage responsible behavior around the use of alcohol, such as offering alcohol-free programming for students and supporting students experiencing challenges related to high-risk behaviors.”
So far, nearly $500,000 in revenue from alcohol sales at athletic events has been distributed for this purpose, said Gillian Drummond, a campus spokesperson. The university’s Student Affairs division received $442,000 last school year and University Housing received $50,000, she said.
Years living with an autoimmune disease meant it was a matter of when, not if, Adam Barnes would need a liver transplant. That time was approaching after he was hospitalized for a blocked bile duct in 2024. The idea of seeking a living donor came up but there was something about it that turned him off.
Barnes, the University of Wisconsin senior associate athletic director for business operations, initially didn’t want someone else to go through the danger of elective surgery and a painful recovery to benefit him.
Dr. Jim Conway, medical director of UW Health’s immunization program, said he thinks health care providers and public health officials have done a good job communicating the risks of flu and other respiratory illnesses for seniors.
“But it is a little bit troubling that they do seem to be, even for that group, a little bit behind,” he said.
Extending enhanced tax credits for Affordable Care Act Health Insurance Marketplace plans was what Democrats were holding out for in the government shutdown that ended on Nov. 12. The continuing resolution put forth by Republican lawmakers ended up passing without that extension, and ACA policyholders are girding for premium hikes that could more than double.
“There’s really no uncertainty about that — it’s basically pretty straightforward, simple math,” said Justin Sydnor, a professor of risk and insurance at the Wisconsin School of Business. “The way the tax credits work is that they’re tied to a share of the percent of your income, and the enhanced tax credits increased or decreased the share you would have to pay, and increase the income range for people who are eligible. So they’ll definitely go up. The share that you’re responsible for paying goes up if those subsidies expire — how much depends a lot on your income level.
Student Affairs along with other campus organizations held the semesterly Swipe Out Hunger Drive Nov. 24 to raise funds to help ensure all Badgers have access to affordable and nutritious food.
This fall marks one year since UW Health opened its Eastpark Medical Center, and the facility’s usage is already outpacing the healthcare provider’s predictions.
The 475,000 square-foot facility, located at 4621 Eastpark Blvd., saw about 1,050 clinic visits per day in its first year. There were also about 4,600 ancillary appointments per day for services such as imaging, nutrition and rehab.
The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) announced a $206.9 million commitment on Nov. 13 to support research and innovation at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in FY26. The commitment is one of the largest annual investments in the university’s history and marks the celebration of the foundation’s centennial celebration and federal research funding uncertainty.
“The more that these drugs are stigmatized, the more that the pharmacies themselves risk becoming stigmatized simply by providing the drugs,” said R. Alta Charo, a professor emerita of law and bioethics at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, said. “At some point these pharmacies may say we don’t want to get involved in that, and they may just decide not to stock the drug.”
“If you think about seeds, like plant seeds, spores are like the same version, only produced by bacteria,” said Dr. Kristin Schill, a food microbiologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Food Research Institute. “They package their DNA and kind of like a protein shell, like a seed, that prevents them from being killed in harsh environments.”
“When it comes to skin health and appearance, the data is pretty limited,” says Dr. Apple Bodemer, an integrative dermatologist at UW Health, and professor of dermatology at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.
November is Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison is once again covered in wellness graphics, posters and reminders to slow down and take care of ourselves. The intention is good, but the timing is almost ironic, because if there’s one thing students don’t have in November, it’s the time — or bandwidth — to actually “prioritize wellness.”
UW-Madison researchers at a new federally funded center on campus will examine how aging influences diseases, such as cancer and neurodegenerative conditions like Parkinson’s.
The Wisconsin Nathan Shock Center of Excellence in the Basic Biology of Aging will fund new research that examines how metabolic changes associated with aging are linked to disease. The center’s researchers aim to develop improved treatments or methodologies that physicians can use to better address their patients’ conditions.
Dean Emerit of the School of Nursing Linda D. Scott died Monday at the age of 69, the University of Wisconsin-Madison announced Tuesday.
Scott stepped down as Dean just six days ago due to health reasons, moving her retirement up from June 2026. She was the first Black dean of the College of Nursing — and the eighth dean ever — and spent almost ten years in the role, being appointed in July 2016. She led expansions to the program as well as the school’s centennial celebration.
niversity Health Services (UHS) is celebrating Men’s Mental Health Month with a series of events advocating for male students’ mental and physical health.
The month of November is often known as ‘Movember’, a time dedicated to promoting men’s health and breaking stigmas surrounding mental health and masculinity. A recent survey from The Healthy Minds Network reported 31% of college-aged men have said they experienced depression.
UW-Madison researchers at a new federally funded center on campus will examine how aging influences diseases, such as cancer and neurodegenerative conditions like Parkinson’s.
Aging is the biggest risk factor for cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and cardiovascular disease, according to the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.
ByHeart, the company linked to a botulism outbreak in infants, shut down one of its manufacturing plants this year after federal investigators found a series of safety violations, including a leaking roof and hundreds of dead bugs where infant formula was produced.
UW-Madison School of Nursing Dean Linda Scott is stepping down effective immediately because of health reasons, the campus announced Wednesday.
Scott had announced Aug. 19 that she would leave the position in June and remain a member of the faculty. This year is Scott’s 10th in the role at the School of Nursing.
UW Health is expanding its existing Digestive Health Center on Madison’s West Side to build a four-story medical center offering patients urgent and primary care.
The construction of the estimated $122 million University Row Medical Center, at 750 University Row, marks a step toward UW Health’s plan to vacate its aging 20 S. Park St. clinic. The new clinic will offer adult and pediatric primary care, rehabilitation, urgent care, imaging and laboratory services and a pharmacy.
Cary Segall, who set out to run the Madison Marathon on Sunday, 26 days after getting a new heart valve at University Hospital, accomplished his goal of finishing in under six hours.
His time was 5:57:37 and he was the first and only man in the 75- to 79-year-old age group and the second-oldest finisher.
University Health Services released a statement Oct. 31 that said four University of Wisconsin students were diagnosed with meningitis and quickly received medical care. One student was hospitalized for a short time and has been released.
UW Health and UnityPoint Health-Meriter have opened a new training facility designed to help medical staff prepare for critical situations involving newborn babies.
The NEST, or Neonatal Education Simulation and Training Center, opened last month as a permanent space where medical professionals can practice life-saving skills using advanced technology and realistic scenarios.
In honor of the launch of our annual Share Your Holidays campaign, our Mark McPherson sat down with Dr. Shilagh Mirgain, a distinguished psychologist with UW Health, to break down the benefits of giving and paying it forward.
Aside from helping others and brightening their day, giving is also beneficial for the giver.
UW Health encourages lung cancer screenings, as it is the leading cause of cancer death and the second most common cancer in the U.S. excluding skin cancer.
Dr. Cheryl Czerlanis, a medical oncologist and UW Health and a professor of medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, says screening is a critical tool for early cancer detection.
Four UW-Madison students were diagnosed with viral meningitis in late October, according to an official with University Health Services.
All the students, who were diagnosed from Oct. 24 to Oct. 31, received prompt medical care, UHS director of medical services Andrew O’Donnell said in an email. One student was briefly hospitalized and has been released. The other three were not hospitalized, he said.
UW Health and UnityPoint Health-Meriter rehabilitation hospital to treat patients recovering from a stroke, neurological diseases or brain or spinal cord injuries is coming to Fitchburg.
A groundbreaking was held Thursday for the estimated $45 million inpatient facility, located at 5094 Greenmarket Place in Fitchburg, which is expected to be completed in early 2027. The 58,000-square-foot hospital will offer 40 private rooms.
Migratory birds are driving up avian flu cases across the country, reviving concerns about U.S. readiness to respond to outbreaks, especially during the government shutdown.
UW Health broke its own record again this year with number of patients served and hired more than 1,200 employees, while also adding medical facilities.
The health care system cared for about 867,185 patients, hired more than 1,200 employees and reported an operating revenue of more than $6.3 billion over fiscal year 2025, which ran from July 1, 2024, through June 30, UW Health announced Wednesday.
Local pharmacies across the state are playing a bigger role in preventing people from dying from opioid overdoses, largely because of the work of a Madison-based program that started one year ago. The Wisconsin Opioid Overdose Response Center estimates it has brought more than 185,000 residents into contact with a variety of expanded services since launching last year.
A conference at the Monona Terrace in Madison focused on how to support caregivers for cancer patients.
Speakers at the annual Fall Cancer Conference touched on how families are impacted by cancer.
Kristin Litzelman, an associate professor at the UW-Madison School of Human Ecology, said family members of cancer patients may not recognize themselves as caregivers, so they may not realize they have access to resources to support them.
Last year, a U.S. Navy veteran received a lung transplant at UW Health, giving him another chance at life.
David Peabody, a former anti submarine warfare technician, began his journey when he was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in 2010. Years of declining health brought the Louisville native to Madison, where he was referred to UW Health and the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, one of only three VA hospitals performing lung transplants nationwide. Madison is home to the largest VA lung transplant program in the country.
Pop artist Alex Warren brought his Cheaper Than Therapy Tour to Madison Thursday night for the nationwide launch of Future Friends on college campuses. Future Friends, a new initiative merging live music, mental wellness programming and community action on college campuses, was created by Harris and Sabrina Schwartzberg, founders of Two Bridge and Corey McGuire.
The event opened with remarks from Schwartzberg, who thanked University Health Services for their support and emphasized the importance of mental health on college campuses.
Solace Home’s residents have a life expectancy of six months or less. Residents arrive there after living on the street, in shelters or in unstable housing situations.
Catlett, 67, had been a nurse for 16 years before she went to medical school. Much of her nursing career was part time so she could also be somewhat of a stay-at-home mom. Then she did her four years of medical school at UW-Madison over six years and did her residency at UW, too. She got her undergraduate degree at Duke University.
Older Americans are often the victims of ageist attitudes. Then, a new UW department forms to improve treatment of larynx disorders. Then, we learn about possible cures for disease coming out of cell therapy research at the UW.
Dr. Jim Conway, the medical director at UW Health’s immunization program, said some pharmacies may be concerned about a state law which generally requires a prescription before a pharmacist administers a vaccine to someone under 6 years old. Even so, Conway said the state directive was intended to clear that up, by specifying that prescriptions aren’t required for the COVID vaccine.
“It’s not just flipping a switch,” Conway said. “We had to get vaccine ordered and get it shipped in and then get it distributed to the clinics. So that was happening … and then everything was finally in place and we were ready to go. We’re very excited.”
According to University of Wisconsin-Madison professor Zachary Morris, the university has experts in nearly every area of a rising field of cancer research called theranostics.
Morris, a faculty member at the School of Medicine and Public Health and Chair of the Department of Oncology, leads the UW-Madison Initiative for Theranostics and Particle Therapy. He told The Daily Cardinal the theranostics field has quickly been gaining traction over the past decade, and UW-Madison is poised to be at the forefront.
