UW stem cell scientist gets prestigious honor

From today's CapTimes

UW stem cell scientist gets prestigious honor
The Capital Times — 4/29/2008 2:46 pm

UW-Madison stem cell scientist James Thomson has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences.

The announcement of Thomson's election was made Tuesday by the university.

Thomson is among 72 new fellows going into the 145-year-old academy this year, considered one of the most prestigious honors in American science.

In 1998, Thomson was the first scientist to isolate and culture human embryonic stem cells.

In 2007, Thomson and fellow UW-Madison scientist Junying Yu announced their latest discovery, genetic reprogramming of human skin cells to create cells indistinguishable from embryonic stem cells.

New Executive Director of WiCell

Erik Forsberg appointed executive director of WiCell Research Institute

April 9, 2008

by Janet Kelly

Erik Forsberg has been named to the newly created position of executive director of the WiCell Research Institute. In this position, Forsberg will direct all operations of the private, non-profit institute, a supporting organization of the University of Wisconsin-Madison that provides core services to UW-Madison stem cell researchers and operates the National Stem Cell Bank.

Forsberg most recently served as the senior director of scientific development at Pharming Group, where he directed scientific programs and established research and development agreements with academic and commercial organizations. His past positions include director of cloning technologies at Minitube of America, vice president of development at Infigen and assistant professor in the UW-Madison Department of Physiology.

He holds a doctorate in physiological and pharmacological sciences from the University of Chicago and a bachelor's degree in biology from Kalamazoo College in Michigan. He has served on the UW-Madison Master's of Science in Biotechnology Advisory Board, has presented as an invited lecturer at numerous conferences in the U.S. and abroad, is an inventor named on eight patents and has authored numerous scientific publications.

"Over the past six months, we conducted an international search for an executive director for WiCell, and are extremely fortunate to have found the best candidate right here in Madison," states Carl Gulbrandsen, president of the WiCell Research Institute. "Erik brings to WiCell impressive academic credentials, an innovative scientific background and hands-on commercial and management experience. These strengths, combined with his in-depth knowledge of UW-Madison and the international scientific community, make him an exceptional leader for WiCell."

As executive director of WiCell, Forsberg will lead strategies to enhance the core services WiCell provides to stem cell researchers at UW-Madison and ensure effective operations of the National Stem Cell Bank, which the institute hosts for the National Institutes of Health. He will continue WiCell's initiatives in developing collaborative relationships with key industry, academic and governmental partners in the local, national and international scientific communities.

The WiCell Research Institute was founded in 1999 to advance the science of stem cells. WiCell supports stem cell research at UW-Madison, operates the National Stem Cell Bank, provides training for scientists and offers educational outreach programs for K-12 students and the community.

Honor for WARF Director

Andrew Cohn has been instrumental in many hESC activities. He excels at explaining this technology in easy-to-understand terms. Kudos to Andrew Cohn. Lindaland

From the UW Wire

Association of University Technology Managers honors WARF’s Cohn

April 1, 2008

Andrew Cohn, director of government and association relations for the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), received the Bayh-Dole Award from the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM) during its annual meeting on Feb. 28 in San Diego.

Every year, the award is presented to one individual who has been an ardent supporter of the practice of technology transfer. The commendation cites Cohn's outstanding service to the profession and to AUTM through his tireless work in public policy advocacy and education. Among other issues, Cohn has been involved in efforts to improve U.S. patent law, maintain the federal Bayh-Dole Act and address global health concerns for underdeveloped countries.

"We are very proud of Andy and his accomplishments over the years," says Carl Gulbrandsen, managing director of WARF. "He has built strong relationships with our Congressional delegation and state legislators, has been instrumental in initiating collaborative advocacy activities among the Big Ten Conference universities, as well as forming mutually beneficial relationships among university associations and other technology transfer organizations across the country."

Cohn joined WARF as manager of government and media relations in 2001 and became director of government and association relations in 2007. Prior to joining WARF, he worked as the executive assistant for then-Wisconsin Attorney General Jim Doyle for eight years.

Howard Bremer, emeritus general counsel at WARF and one of the founding fathers of AUTM, was the first recipient of the award in 1980.