Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine members will receive four of the nine Research Forward grants hosted by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research (OVCR) and sponsored by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF).
These competitive grants facilitate groundbreaking, collaborative, high-risk, high-impact, and transformative research at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Research teams will receive funding for one to two years, depending on the needs and scope of the project. Learn more about the four SCRMC-related projects below.
Biomimetic minerals to expand the therapeutic potential of mRNA vaccines
SCRMC member: William Murphy, professor of biomedical engineering
This project will formulate more effective mRNA vaccines that can be stored indefinitely at room temperature and accessed by patients worldwide in a simple pill form. The research team will initially address two urgent societal needs: vaccines to treat prostate cancer and vaccines against the spread of H5N1 influenza.
Identifying therapeutic peptides for autophagy-mediated degradation of pathogenic protein aggregates
SCRMC member: Anjon Audhya, professor of biomolecular chemistry
Accumulation of protein aggregates in neuronal cells disrupts their function, leading to neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s Disease. Methods for targeted degradation of these aggregates have therapeutical potential for delaying disease onset and progression. Therapeutics that target degradation via the proteasome have had clinical success for soluble protein targets but are inefficient for degrading insoluble protein aggregates. Identifying peptides capable of targeted autophagy and demonstrating success in an ex vivo model is critical for this project.
Precision evolution: Adapting agriculture at the speed of change
SCRMC member: Sushmita Roy, professor of biostatistics and medical informatics
This project aims to advance agricultural systems by addressing the urgent need to meet growing global demands while minimizing environmental impacts. By creating a feedback loop between plant modifications, animal performance, and environmental outcomes, this initiative will provide practical solutions while training the next generation of scientists in machine learning and genomics.
SCRMC member: Wan-Ju Li, associate professor of orthopedics and rehabilitation
Osteoarthritis is a common and debilitating disease that affects more than 32 million Americans. It causes chronic pain, reduced mobility and often leads to depression. While joint replacement surgery can help, it involves removing damaged cartilage and bone, then implanting metal and plastic prostheses to restore joint function. The procedure is invasive, expensive and carries risks such as infection, implant failure and extended recovery time. This research team is developing a groundbreaking new approach. Using advanced ultrasound technology, the team can bioprint engineered cartilage implants directly inside the body without open surgery.