Waisman Center
The Waisman Center is a federally designated IDDRC and UCEDD at the University of Wisconsin-Madison that integrates research, clinical care, and training for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and neurodegenerative diseases across the lifespan.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1973
- HeadquartersMadison, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Waisman Center does
The Waisman Center is a multidisciplinary research and clinical center founded in 1973 and operated by the University of Wisconsin-Madison. It is one of 52 federally designated Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Centers (IDDRCs) funded by NICHD under core grant P50HD105353, and one of 67 national University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs). The center serves individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and neurodegenerative diseases — including autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, fragile X syndrome, cerebral palsy, and related conditions — across the lifespan, alongside their families, healthcare providers, and academic researchers.
Its core infrastructure comprises four NIH-funded scientific cores (Brain Imaging Core with MRI/PET/MicroPET/EEG/fNIRS, Clinical Translational Core, Data Science Core, and IDD Models Core covering iPSC, rodent, and cellular models) plus a GMP-certified Waisman Biomanufacturing facility producing clinical-grade gene therapeutics, cell therapeutics, viral vectors, plasmid DNA, and recombinant proteins. Clinical services are delivered through 11 specialty clinics in partnership with UW Health, the Autism Treatment Programs, the Adult Autism Program, the Waisman Early Childhood Program, and Community TIES. Faculty span 25+ UW-Madison departments and include 55+ principal investigators.
The Waisman Center does not operate as a commercial enterprise; it is funded through federal grants (NICHD, NIH, CDC, HRSA), state appropriations via the Universities of Wisconsin System, UW Health clinical billing, private philanthropy (including the Eagles Autism Foundation), and fee-for-service biomanufacturing contracts with external researchers and industry partners. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is administered through grant mechanisms and UW Health referral channels.
Waisman Center firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Waisman Center
- Legal name
- Waisman Center
- Website
- https://waisman.wisc.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1973
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- The Waisman Center is a federally designated IDDRC and UCEDD at the University of Wisconsin-Madison that integrates research, clinical care, and training for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and neurodegenerative diseases across the lifespan.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Waisman Center industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Academic Biomedical Research Center
- NAICS
- Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171)
- SIC
- Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Pediatric Rehabilitation & Developmental Therapy Centers (PT/OT/SLP) (HLAFAJAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Autism Spectrum (ASD) Academic & Social-Communication Support Tutoring (EDANAFAD), Disability & Chronic Condition Care Coordination (EDALAFAI), Disability Case Management, Retention & Student Support (EDALAGAJ)
Keywords
Where Waisman Center is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Madison
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Waisman Center business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Waisman Center product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Waisman Center is a University of Wisconsin-Madison multidisciplinary research center dedicated to advancing knowledge of human development, developmental disabilities, and neurodegenerative diseases. It provides clinical services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, shared research infrastructure (cores), training programs, and GMP biomanufacturing.
Product overview
The Waisman Center is a comprehensive, multidisciplinary academic research center at UW-Madison dedicated to advancing knowledge about human development, developmental disabilities, and neurodegenerative diseases. The center operates as a unified organization combining clinical services, research infrastructure, and training programs. Its clinical offerings include 11 specialty clinics (Autism Treatment Programs, Adult Autism Program, Waisman Early Childhood Program, Communication Aids and Systems Clinic), while its research infrastructure consists of four scientific cores: Brain Imaging Core (MRI/PET), Clinical Translational Core, Data Science Core, and IDD Models Core (stem cells/animal models), plus Waisman Biomanufacturing for GMP production. The center also operates UCEDD and IDDRC programs with associated training initiatives including WI LEND, postdoctoral training, and Project ECHO. The IDDRC is funded by NICHD (P50HD105353).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Autism Treatment Programs (ATP) Clinical treatment programs providing evidence-based interventions for individuals with autism spectrum disorder.
- Adult Autism Program Program providing services and support tailored to adults on the autism spectrum.
- Waisman Center Clinics A set of specialty clinics offering diagnostic and treatment services for children and adults with developmental disabilities and related conditions.
- Waisman Early Childhood Program (WECP) An inclusive early childhood education and care program serving children with and without disabilities.
- Communication Aids and Systems Clinic (CASC) Clinic providing augmentative and alternative communication assessment and support for individuals with communication needs.
- Brain Imaging Core Shared research core providing advanced brain imaging capabilities (MRI, PET) to researchers studying development and neurological conditions.
- Clinical Translational Core (CTC) Research core supporting clinical and translational research studies across the center.
- Data Science Core Research core providing bioinformatics, data analysis, and data science support to researchers.
- IDD Models Core Research core providing cellular and animal models, including stem cell and iPSC technologies, for studying intellectual and developmental disabilities.
- Waisman Biomanufacturing GMP-compliant biomanufacturing facility producing biological products and cell therapies for clinical trials for academic and industry partners.
- Wisconsin LEND Program (WI LEND) Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities interdisciplinary training program for professionals.
- Project ECHO Telementoring program connecting specialists with community providers to build capacity in caring for people with developmental disabilities.
- Postdoctoral Training Program Research training program for postdoctoral scholars in developmental disabilities and related fields.
- Wellness Inclusion Nursing (WIN) Program Program providing nursing and wellness services with a focus on inclusion for individuals with disabilities.
Companies that use Waisman Center
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Waisman Center technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability1 record
Feature5 records
Waisman Center partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- UW HealthcoreThe Waisman Center operates clinical services in collaboration with UW Hospital and Clinics and several UW-Madison academic departments. The 11 interdisciplinary specialty clinics operate jointly, with shared staff, facilities, and referral systems through UW Health.
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (Multiple Departments)coreThe center encompasses faculty from more than 20 affiliated UW departments including Anatomy, Anesthesiology, Biomedical Engineering, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Kinesiology, Medical Physics, Neurology, Neuroscience, Pediatrics, Pharmacy, Population Health Sciences, Psychiatry, Psychology, Social Work, Surgery, and more.
- Alzheimer's Biomarkers Consortium – Down Syndrome (ABC-DS)majorMulti-center NIH-funded research initiative with Waisman Center investigators Bradley Christian, PhD and Sigan Hartley, PhD participating. Focuses on finding biomarkers to track Alzheimer's disease in Down syndrome.
- Wisconsin State Laboratory of HygieneminorCollaboration with Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene for newborn screening research and Fragile X syndrome testing, led by Mei Baker, MD.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Waisman Center competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center: A NICHD-designated IDDRC and UCEDD at Vanderbilt University serving individuals with developmental disabilities through integrated research cores, specialty clinics, and LEND training — a near-structural match to Waisman's IDDRC + UCEDD + LEND configuration.
- Kennedy Krieger Institute: An affiliate of Johns Hopkins, Kennedy Krieger is a multidisciplinary pediatric center combining IDDRC-style research, specialty outpatient clinics, and training programs for children with developmental disabilities. It is the most directly analogous clinical-research hybrid to Waisman's structure.
- Baylor College of Medicine IDDRC: A federally designated IDDRC within Baylor College of Medicine, operating shared scientific cores and translational research programs for developmental disabilities. Directly comparable as one of the 52 NICHD-designated IDDRCs.
- Mailman Center for Child Development (University of Miami): A university-based IDDRC and UCEDD providing specialty clinics, research, and training for children with developmental disabilities. Shares Waisman's structural identity as a university research-clinical-training hub.
- University of Washington Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center: A NICHD-designated IDDRC delivering developmental disabilities research across multiple UW departments with shared cores. Directly comparable given the shared university-medical school structure.
- UC Davis MIND Institute: A UCEDD and IDDRC focused on autism, fragile X, ADHD, and other neurodevelopmental conditions, combining translational research with interdisciplinary clinical care. Operates the same federally designated model as Waisman.
- Marcus Autism Center (Children's Healthcare of Atlanta): A National Institutes of Health Autism Center of Excellence providing diagnostic, therapeutic, and research services for children with autism. Comparable to Waisman's autism-focused clinical and research offerings.
Others
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver NICHD (funding/designation authority): The federal institute that designates and funds the IDDRC network, including Waisman Center's P50 core grant. Not a competitor but the institutional counterpart and primary funding partner that defines Waisman's regulatory moat.
Broad incumbents
- Boston Children's Hospital - Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center: A top-tier pediatric hospital operating an IDDRC and broad developmental-disabilities clinical services. Larger and broader than Waisman but directly comparable in its IDDRC designation and multidisciplinary clinical care.
Emerging players
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia - Center for Autism Research: A dedicated autism research program embedded in a large pediatric hospital, conducting bench-to-bedside autism science. Narrower in scope than Waisman but overlapping in the autism translational research space.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Waisman Center social profiles
Digital presenceWaisman Center financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Waisman Center leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Waisman Center funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Waisman Center M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about Waisman Center
What does Waisman Center do?
The Waisman Center is a University of Wisconsin-Madison multidisciplinary research center dedicated to advancing knowledge of human development, developmental disabilities, and neurodegenerative diseases. It provides clinical services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, shared research infrastructure (cores), training programs, and GMP biomanufacturing.
Is Waisman Center a public or private company?
Waisman Center is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Waisman Center founded?
Waisman Center was founded in 1973. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Waisman Center based?
Waisman Center is headquartered in Madison, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Waisman Center's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baylor College of Medicine IDDRC, Mailman Center for Child Development (University of Miami), University of Washington Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, UC Davis MIND Institute and Marcus Autism Center (Children's Healthcare of Atlanta). Eunice Kennedy Shriver NICHD (funding/designation authority) is listed as an others. Boston Children's Hospital - Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center is listed as a broad incumbent. Children's Hospital of Philadelphia - Center for Autism Research is listed as an emerging player.
Does Waisman Center have an API?
No public API is recorded for Waisman Center.
What industry is Waisman Center in?
Waisman Center's product category is Academic Biomedical Research Center. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAFAJAL, Pediatric Rehabilitation & Developmental Therapy Centers (PT/OT/SLP), with a secondary code of EDANAFAD, Autism Spectrum (ASD) Academic & Social-Communication Support Tutoring. Its NAICS code is 62412 and its SIC code is 8093.