UW Stem Cell Advocate Wins National Recognition

The UW-Madison's stem cell program is the envy of universities worldwide because it has combined the two elements academe and the surrounding communities crave:

Scientific breakthrough, and economic development.

Through the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, Dr. James Thomson and his team of researchers have advanced the stem cell science, but they have been aided by others who have worked tirelessly in more arcane administrative arenas that help WARF protect its advantages for the school and the economy.

Without, for example, the license, patent and so-called technology transfer protections won for WARF through lawyering and lobbying, the scientists, and the businesses and jobs their work is spinning off, would be less successful.

As wonderful and exciting and promising as are stem cell and related health sciences, there have to be smart and capable people on the team that navigate the legal, political and business worlds so the full social benefits can migrate from campus to commerce to consumers.

The universities around the country involved in such endeavors each year give an award for work that helps the entire field, and this year's recognition went to Andrew Cohn, WARF's director of government and association relations.

Those of us who are lucky enough to know Andy are not surprised that his peers have given him their accolade.

I'm just happy to pass the news along.