Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF)

09/04/2026

We're hosting a Red Cross Blood Drive at the WARF building on Walnut St. between 9 and 2 on October 13. Join us!

Join us for our October Red Cross blood drive! To donate, sign up online; walk-ins are also welcome.

09/02/2026

Looking for your next licensing opportunity?

WARF connects companies, investors and entrepreneurs with innovations from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, including:

✳️ AI-driven software
✳️ Quantum technologies
✳️ Fusion energy innovations
✳️Cancer diagnostics
✳️T cell immunotherapies
✳️Medical imaging technologies
✳️Plastic recycling solutions
✳️Agricultural technologies
✳️Advanced materials

Looking for your next breakthrough product or platform? WARF offers a robust pipeline of licensable innovations, from AI-driven software and cancer diagnostics to sustainable agriculture and advanced materials.

09/01/2026

Welcome to Wisconsin, Eric Perreault!

We're excited to see the Morgridge Institute for Research's next chapter unfold under Eric's leadership and look forward to continuing our partnership.

“Eric Perreault embodies a core ethos of the Morgridge Institute: rigorous science paired with a genuine drive to see it have significant impact outside the lab,” says Erik Iverson, CEO of WARF. “His work bridging neuroscience, biomechanics and rehabilitation technologies is a model for the interdisciplinary, curiosity-driven research Morgridge was built to advance and he understands the institute’s vital role in complementing UW-Madison’s excellence.”

Please join us in welcoming Eric Perrault as the next CEO of the Morgridge Institute for Research!

Perreault comes to Morgridge from Northwestern University, where he recently completed a three-year term as vice president for research. Across more than two decades at Northwestern, Perreault served as faculty in the McCormick School of Engineering, with joint appointments in the Department of Medicine and Rehabilitation and the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab.

Perreault's career as both engineer and research executive has been defined by interdisciplinary collaboration. He says he sees that same spirit at work across Morgridge, and is inspired by the institute’s extensive research partnerships with University of Wisconsin–Madison and the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation.

“The science done at Morgridge and the resources that enable it are outstanding. I look forward to building on the strong foundation that Brad Schwartz and the Morgridge team have established and working to expand collaborations with the university for mutual benefit and impact.”

Hear more from Eric and other leaders in our full story: https://morgridge.org/story/eric-perreault-named-new-ceo-of-morgridge-institute-for-research

08/31/2026

Meet Giri Venkataramanan from UW-Madison ECE in the UW-Madison College of Engineering whose research covers the major aspects of electrical power conversion systems in different application areas including solar energy, wind energy, battery energy storage, transportation systems, industrial drives and processes, microgrids and utility power transmission and distribution. The research group focuses on pragmatic design and practice-oriented analytical studies, coupled with experimental work that is rooted in the Wisconsin Idea, with a deep commitment to technology equity.

"Professor Venkataramanan's leadership and research advances the entire field of power electronics. It is a privilege to work with Giri and to promote their technologies within industry," says Michael Carey, WARF licensing manager.

“Professor Venkataramanan’s leadership and research advances the entire field of power electronics. It is a privilege to work with Giri and to promote their technologies within industry.”

08/28/2026

The Launch Wisconsin Conference will bring together entrepreneurs, investors, technology professionals and business leaders from across the state to explore emerging technologies, discover promising startups and strengthen Wisconsin's innovation economy.

Formerly the Early Stage Symposium, the Wisconsin Technology Council event, held October 6 at Marquette University in Milwaukee, includes:

✳️ A plenary discussion on Frontier Technology in Wisconsin, exploring areas such as AI, advanced manufacturing, energy and quantum technology.

✳️ Live presentations from some of Wisconsin's most promising early-stage companies through the Launch Wisconsin competition.

✳️ Investor Intros, providing entrepreneurs with opportunities for one-on-one meetings with investors.

✳️ Breakout sessions and discussions designed for entrepreneurs, investors and others supporting Wisconsin's startup ecosystem.

✳️ Opportunities to connect with business leaders, mentors, investors and innovators from across Wisconsin.

Founders and entrepreneurs can attend free.

Learn more and register: https://www.wisconsintechnologycouncil.com/event/2026-launch-wisconsin-1844365

08/27/2026

What if a pacemaker could power itself?

University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers have developed a battery-free pacemaker that's charged by a patient's own heartbeat. The technology could one day eliminate the need for battery replacements, reducing risks and helping devices last a lifetime.

A team of University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers has developed an implantable, battery-free pacemaker that's charged by a patient’s heartbeat. The device has the potential to last an entire lifetime, reducing the risks and costs associated...

08/26/2026

A newly patented injectable gel developed by Dai Yamanouchi and Shaoqin Gong could help improve treatment for abdominal aortic aneurysms. UW-Madison Department of Surgery

Dr. Dai Yamanouchi, professor in the Division of Vascular Surgery, recently received a patent for a shear-thinning gel that can be used in combination with a previously patented delivery device to treat abdominal aortic aneurysms …

08/25/2026

Meet Marianne Fairbanks from the UW-Madison School of Human Ecology. In her 20 years of experience, three threads of practice have emerged: solo work, research into emerging textile technology and social practice work. While distinctly different in intentions and outcomes, each thread informs and supports the others. Whether engaging poetic and aesthetic pleasures, utilitarian applications or political and critical discourse, the unified focus of Fairbanks' work is textiles and the role they will play in the future of our society.

"Marianne is a joy to work with. Their expertise with woven materials is impressive. We are excited about the creative materials and processes they have innovated on over the years," says Michael Carey, WARF licensing manager.

“Marianne is a joy to work with. Their expertise with woven materials is impressive. We are excited about the creative materials and processes they have innovated on over the years.”

08/24/2026

Targeted cancer therapies are transforming medicine, but manufacturing them consistently remains a challenge.

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, led by University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Pharmacy professor Weiping Tang, have developed a streamlined approach for producing antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) that improves consistency and simplifies manufacturing.

The innovation has already led to the launch of GlycoBridge Biosciences, a startup that licensed the technology through WARF and is working to advance the platform toward broader use.

A new technique for creating antibody-drug conjugates has already led to a startup company aimed at advancing the technology.

08/21/2026

Cancer treatment technology developed by University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers and patented by WARF has benefited thousands of patients, including longtime UW-Madison ECE educator Eric Hoffman.

"Microwave ablation is a powerful example of how engineering at UW-Madison can move from fundamental theory to global clinical impact," says Daniel van der Weide. "The pathway from lab to market was made possible by a culture of collaboration across engineering and medicine—and by a strong institutional commitment to real-world translation."

Reflecting on his more than 20 years as a member of the teaching faculty in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Eric Hoffman is grateful for the opportunity...