ONRAMP

Thomson, Kauten win achievement awards

Kathleen Gallagher
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
University of Wisconsin-Madison developmental biologist James Thomson responds to e-mails in his office in October, 2008.

Stem cell pioneer James Thomson and biotech entrepreneur Ralph Kauten received achievement awards at the 2016 Wisconsin BioHealth Summit in Madison on Tuesday.

Thomson, who won the 2016 Hector F. DeLuca Scientific Achievement Award, was the first scientist in the world in 1998 to isolate and culture human embryonic stem cells, and he has had many achievements since, said Carl Gulbrandsen, former managing director of the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, which does technology transfer for the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

"Today, 17 years since Jamie's breakthrough, we are seeing human embryonic stem cells entering clinical trials in several important areas," said Gulbrandsen to more than 300 people who attended the summit, which is organized by BioForward, a trade organization for Wisconsin's bioscience industry.

Thomson and his team at the Morgridge Institute now are working on ways to use stem cells to develop functional arteries to repair damaged tissue, Gulbrandsen said. He said Thomson's team is also investigating the mysteries of developmental clocks: Why, for example, does it take nine months for humans to develop in the womb vs. 21 days for a mouse.

"Jamie is a dedicated, focused, brilliant researcher," who also had the courage and conviction to continue his research in the early days of stem cells when his personal safety was at risk, Gulbrandsen said.

Kauten won BioForward's Business Achievement Award. Kauten has had a broad impact on the state's bioscience industry, playing pivotal roles at Promega, PanVera, Mirus Bio Corp., Quintessence Biosciences and Lucigen Corp., where he is chief executive officer, said Lisa Johnson, the trade group's chief executive officer.

Over several decades, Kauten built companies that helped bring investment dollars and talent into the state, establishing the foundation for the growth of Madison's bioscience community, Johnson said.