Why is UWMadison a significant center of embryonic stem cell research?
The worlds first human embryonic stem cell lines were created at UWMadison in 1998. The patents that govern embryonic stem cell technology are held by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, a private, non-profit supporting organization of the UWMadison. Because of Wisconsins traditional strength in the biological sciences, the fact that the initial breakthrough occurred here, and the patents are held by WARF, the UWMadison is arguably the world leader in human embryonic stem cell research.