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Funded Projects

Improving NK Cell Immunotherapy through Metabolic Conditioning

Awarded in 2025
New Investigator Program
Updated Dec 1, 2025

At a Glance

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.

More Funded Projects

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New Investigator Program

Reducing Donor Kidney Discards and Improve Kidney Failure Outcomes in Wisconsin through Improved Assessment of Deceased Donor Kidneys

Awarded in 2025
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.
research icon: microscope and stethoscope
New Investigator Program

Improving Ecological Modeling and Forecasting of Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases in Wisconsin

Awarded in 2025
The project, Improving Ecological Modeling and Forecasting of Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases in Wisconsin, led by Johnny Uelmen, PhD, aims to improve how Wisconsin predicts, prevents and responds to tick-borne diseases. By integrating climate and environmental data, drone imagery and community-submitted tick samples, the team will develop advanced models to forecast when and where tick risks are highest. The project also analyzes ticks collected statewide to identify the diseases they carry and partners with local health departments and the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Epidemiology Center to provide tick-prevention kits, educational materials and community surveys, with a focus on rural and tribal communities. The goal is to give residents timely, accessible information that empowers them to protect themselves and ultimately reduce tick-borne disease incidence across Wisconsin. Collaborators include Alexandra Linz, PhD, and Jennifer Meece, PhD, of the Marshfield Clinic Research Institute.