Waisman Center

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.

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

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

• Developmental disabilities research
• Clinical research services
• Brain imaging
• GMP biomanufacturing
• Neurodevelopmental clinical care

Headquarters

HQ city

Madison

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core 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.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• UW HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe 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)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-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 HygieneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration 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

Direct 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

• Xx.com/UWWaismanCenter
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/WaismanCenterVideo
• Facebookfacebook.com/WaismanCenter
• Instagraminstagram.com/waismancenter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Waisman Center