Focus Area: Research

The project, Examining Health Policy Effects on Maternal Health Outcomes in Wisconsin and Nationally, led by research associate Taehyun Kim, PhD, examines how recent changes in reproductive health policy affect maternal health outcomes in Wisconsin and across the United States. Using a large national electronic medical records dataset, the study will compare trends across states with differing policy environments to generate new evidence on how these changes influence maternal health risks, care experiences and pregnancy-related outcomes. Findings will help inform evidence-based decision-making to support the well-being of pregnant individuals and families. Jenny Higgins, PhD, MPH, professor and director of the Population and Reproductive Health Division, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UW–Madison, serves as the supervising mentor.

The project, Policy Impacts on Children’s Health and Academic Outcomes, led by postdoctoral trainee Youngjin Stephanie Hong, PhD, MSW, examines how health and income policies influence the health and academic outcomes of children in low-income families. Using national data on school-age children, the study investigates how certain policies interact to impact indicators such as health care utilization, parental financial and time investments and broader family functioning and children’s health and academic outcomes. Understanding the effects of these policies will help inform future decisions to strengthen stability and promote the well-being of Wisconsin families and children. Maureen Durkin, PhD, DrPH, department chair and professor, Population Health Sciences, UW–Madison, serves as the supervising mentor.

The project, Development and Optimization of Cat Intestine Microphysiological Devices to Study T. Gondii Sexual Development, led by postdoctoral fellow Andrew Gale, PhD, aims to develop a miniature cat intestine in an organ-on-a-chip approach to enable the study of Toxoplasma gondii sexual reproduction outside of feline hosts. Because T. gondii can infect humans but completes its sexual cycle only in cats, research on this stage has been limited. Creating a microphysiological device that mimics the cat intestine would provide a new model for studying the parasite’s life cycle, accelerating the development of treatments and vaccines that could reduce oocyst production and prevent the spread of T. gondii. Laura Knoll, PhD, professor and associate dean, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, UW–Madison, serves as the supervising mentor.

The project, Determining the Impact of Innate Immunity on the Production of Cryptic Proteins from Defective Influenza Virus Genomes, led by research associate Elizabeth Horton, PhD, investigates how the body’s innate immune system influences the production of cryptic proteins from defective influenza virus genomes. Because influenza remains a health threat in Wisconsin and globally, and resistance to existing antiviral drugs is growing, understanding how these defective viral products naturally limit infection could reveal new therapeutic pathways. Andrew Mehle, PhD, professor, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, UW–Madison, serves as the supervising mentor.

The project, Decoding KCNJ2 Variants: Mechanistic and Therapeutic Profiling of Kir2.1 Channel Dysfunction, led by postdoctoral fellow Saba Munawar, PhD, investigates how genetic variants in KCNJ2 disrupt the Kir2.1 ion channel and contribute to heart rhythm disorders, including Anderson-Tawil Syndrome. Using advanced computer modeling, laboratory testing and stem cell-based approaches, the study aims to uncover the mechanisms driving arrhythmias and to identify potential targeted medications. By clarifying which patients may benefit from specific therapies, this work will advance personalized treatment for rare genetic arrhythmias and may also inform new options for common conditions. Lee Eckhardt, MD, professor, Department of Medicine, UW–Madison, serves as the supervising mentor.

The project, Comparing the Effectiveness of Laryngeal Swabs Versus Biopsies for Microbial Sampling in Patients in Benign Vocal Fold Lesions, led by research associate Anumitha Venkatraman, PhD, compares two microbial sampling methods – swabs vs. biopsies – to determine whether swabs can serve as an effective, less invasive alternative for patients with benign vocal fold lesions. Because the current biopsy-based approach is painful, impractical for routine care and limits who can be sampled, validating swabs could transform clinical practice by allowing safer microbiome assessment in people with voice disorders. Susan Thibeault, PhD, CCC-SLP, professor, Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, UW–Madison, serves as the supervising mentor.

The project, An In-vivo Genome Wide Screen and Validation for Influenza A Virus Host Determinant Factors, led by research associate Chris Gelbmann, MD, PhD, aims to identify the host cell factors that allow Influenza A virus to replicate and cause disease. Using a novel in-vivo genome-wide screening approach, the study will reveal how the virus interacts with host cells in a living organism. These discoveries will help uncover new therapeutic targets to combat the overall health burden of this infection. Andrew Mehle, PhD, professor, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, UW–Madison, serves as the supervising mentor.

The project, Right Care, Right Place, Right Time: Improving Emergency Care for Wisconsin’s Children with Medical Complexity, led by Jillian Gorski, MD, aims to improve emergency care for children with medical complexity across Wisconsin, particularly those living far from specialized pediatric hospitals. Using artificial intelligence and electronic health records, the team will develop a clinical decision-support tool to help emergency physicians in rural and smaller hospitals determine when a child needs transfer to a larger children’s hospital. The project will also examine current care patterns, travel distances, and gaps in access to identify the regions where improvements are most needed. Collaborator: Brian Patterson, MD, MPH, associate professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, UW–Madison.

The project, Reducing Donor Kidney Discards and Improve Kidney Failure Outcomes in Wisconsin through Improved Assessment of Deceased Donor Kidneys, led by Jennfier Philip, MD, aims to reduce the growing number of deceased donor kidneys that are discarded before transplant. With more than 12,000 people in Wisconsin living with kidney failure, improving access to viable donor organs is a critical public health need. This initiative develops and tests novel assessment tools that evaluate kidney quality during preservation, with the goal of creating a validated approach that can be translated into clinical practice. By improving how donor kidneys are assessed, the project seeks to increase the number of organs available for transplant and improve outcomes for patients statewide. Collaborators include Alejandro Roldan-Alzate, PhD, UW–Madison College of Engineering, and Jacqueline Garonzik-Wang, MD, PhD, Department of Surgery, Division of Transplantation.

The project, Improving NK Cell Immunotherapy through Metabolic Conditioning, led by Jose Ayuso, PhD, aims to develop a more scalable and cost-effective immunotherapy for advanced melanoma using memory-like Natural Killer (ML-NK) cells. With more than 2,000 new melanoma cases diagnosed annually in Wisconsin, there is an urgent need for treatments that are both effective and accessible. Current immunotherapies, while promising, are often limited by high cost and logistical challenges. This initiative focuses on improving ML-NK cell function through targeted metabolic conditioning to create an “off-the-shelf” therapy that is affordable, durable and readily deployable. Collaborators include Christian Capitini, MD, professor, Department of Pediatrics, and Nihal Ahmad, PhD, professor and vice chair for research, Department of Dermatology.