About - Morgridge Institute for Research

The Morgridge Institute for Research is a nonprofit biomedical research institute deepening the fundamental understanding of biology to drive the next advances in human health.

Building on the visionary support of our founders in 2006, we have created a powerful research model we call “Fearless Science.” Our researchers harness freedom and flexibility to tackle some of the biggest questions in biomedicine and develop the transformational tools needed to answer them. We think beyond short-term metrics by giving our scientists the support and the time needed to do great science — and the freedom to go where the science takes them.

Today we are home to 20 research groups and more than 200 scientists. Located at the heart of the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus, we collaborate with the world-class researchers at our doorstep to maximize our impact on science and society.

Our Mission

Improve human health through innovative, interdisciplinary biomedical discoveries, spark scientific curiosity and serve society through translational outcomes, in partnership with the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Learn more about our mission

Fearless Science

Science doesn’t thrive by asking “safe” questions. We support researchers who take reasoned risks that may yield greater rewards to human health.

We asked our scientists to define what is distinctive about our approach to research, and they coalesced around the idea of “fearless science.” We are structured to help scientists push into new frontiers of biology, rather than work around the edges of what’s already known. For curiosity-driven research to thrive, our scientists must have the freedom, flexibility and courage to pursue transformational ideas.

Morgridge is about people who have their eye on the future, looking for big problems to solve or bringing creative approaches to old problems.

Anthony Gitter

Investigator, Virology

At Morgridge, I’m able to pursue high-risk projects and I’m given the time to do what I feel is important. I tell people Morgridge is like a utopia for research.

Melissa Skala

Investigator, Biomedical Imaging

One analogy would be that Morgridge can be like the stem cells of the research world. We have the flexibility and potential to become almost anything.

Jing Fan

Investigator, Metabolism

Basic science allows scientists to ask questions about how the world works. And when you do that, you don’t know what you’re going to find. Most of the major breakthroughs in our understanding of human health came from looking at unexpected places.

Phil Newmark

Investigator, Regenerative Biology

Morgridge has all the benefits of being that private, agile research institute, but still sitting in the middle of a billion-dollar thriving campus. And that makes it incredibly unique.

Brian Bockelman

Investigator, Research Computing

It’s harder today to do curiosity-driven research. If you say, 'I want to try something that has huge potential but may not work,' almost no one will fund it. Morgridge is a place that will support more high-risk pursuits.

Tim Grant

Investigator, Virology

Science is about what we don’t know. The most exciting science is about forging new directions and discovering things that haven’t been imagined before.

Paul Ahlquist

Investigator, Virology

Leadership

CEO
Brad Schwartz, MD

As CEO and Carl E. Gulbrandsen Chair at the Morgridge Institute for Research, Schwartz leads a team of scientific and executive leaders who together create and sustain a culture of discovery to bring about biomedical breakthroughs. Schwartz is responsible for charting and executing our mission and core values. Since his tenure began in 2013, he has overseen substantial growth of the institute’s basic research footprint and established several high-impact initiatives with campus partners.

Schwartz is also a physician-scientist and a UW–Madison professor of Medicine and Biomolecular Chemistry. He has been a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science since 2024.

Scientific Leadership

The Morgridge Institute is home to a team of principal investigators who establish our overall research directions and lead talented teams of early-career and staff scientists. Together we push at the edges of what’s known in biology, what’s possible with cutting-edge imaging and computational technologies, and what a future society strengthened by science can be. Our investigators embrace the role that basic long-term research plays in improving human health and welfare. Most of our investigators also share a tenure home at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

A Unique Model for Biomedical Research

As a nimble private research institute deeply connected to UW–Madison, we accelerate discovery by:

Building community and collaboration across diverse areas of science

Accelerating strategic campus directions

Attracting and training the next generation of scientific leaders

History of the Morgridge Institute for Research

The Morgridge Institute was born from a unique partnership between the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, UW–Madison leadership and alumni John and Tashia Morgridge. In 2004, the partners began developing the innovative private research institute model and laid the foundation for the institute’s charter in 2006. The Morgridges and WARF provided the lead gifts that made the institute possible.

Amidst a national push for emerging interdisciplinary research platforms, John, CEO of Cisco Systems, believed a similar initiative fostering the collision of ideas at Wisconsin would give UW–Madison an exceptional competitive advantage. And epic early discoveries in stem cell research had just been made at the university, but required a different funding model to foster. Tashia, a former teacher, also envisioned the building fostering unique science education opportunities for the community.

Learn more about our history

Our Mission

Fearless Science

Leadership

CEO Brad Schwartz, MD

Scientific Leadership

A Unique Model for Biomedical Research

History of the Morgridge Institute for Research

CEO
Brad Schwartz, MD