July 20, 2026 Posted by AHW Endowment
The Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment (AHW) has selected 43 new projects for its 2026 Momentum Grants. Grants of up to $250,000 went to community-based nonprofits and Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) faculty through a competitive review process. All proposals underwent a rigorous review before final approval by AHW's three oversight bodies: the MCW Consortium on Public and Community Health, the AHW Research and Education Advisory Committee, and the MCW Board of Trustees.
This year's awards also mark a milestone for AHW: Since its founding in 2004, AHW has now funded more than 1,000 projects aimed at improving health in Wisconsin. And with this round of grants, AHW community-funded work has touched every one of Wisconsin's 72 counties. Browse the full history of AHW's investments on our funded projects page.
Community organizations received 24 grants totaling $5,905,563. Twelve of these focus on health improvement work in urban areas, while three benefit populations in rural communities. Nine projects have a statewide reach. The work ranges from strengthening the rural health workforce and expanding mental health access to combating substance use disorders and improving childhood mental and behavioral health support.
MCW faculty are leading 19 research projects backed by $4,725,497 in AHW funding. These efforts include expanding influenza vaccination, treating respiratory conditions in premature infants, improving HIV prevention and treatment, increasing advance care planning for low-income populations, developing new treatments for vision loss, addressing mid-life obesity, and improving how sex trafficking is identified and addressed.
"These Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment Momentum Grants reflect the power of partnership, research, and community-centered work to improve health across Wisconsin," said AHW Interim Executive Director Cheryl Maurana, PhD. "We are grateful for the opportunity to support these outstanding projects at the Medical College of Wisconsin and in communities throughout the state, all in service of advancing health and well-being for the people of Wisconsin."
AHW funding covers eligible project expenses over a 24-month period starting July 1, 2026.
Use the links below to visit each project's summary page and learn more.
2026 AHW Momentum Grant Recipients
Health-Focused Research
Advancing Resilient and Equitable HIV Viral Load Monitoring through Home Testing with Feedback
Principal Investigator: Jennifer Walsh, PhD, Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine
An MRI Pilot Study of Bariatric Surgery to Reduce Risk of Alzheimer's Disease
Principal Investigator: Tammy Kindel, MD, PhD, Surgery
Child Motor Vehicle Injuries in Wisconsin Communities: A Data-Driven Safety Testing Approach
Principal Investigator: Karthik Somasundaram, PhD, Biomedical Engineering
Creating a Collaborative Plan for Computing, Data, and Innovation Infrastructure Across the MRMC
Principal Investigator: William Hogan, MD, Data Science Institute
Defining Microenvironmental Drivers of CAR T-Cell Exhaustion Using Human Spleen Organoids
Principal Investigator: Guangbo Chen, PhD, Obstetrics & Gynecology
Defining Novel Regulatory Mechanisms of Macrophage CD36 to Inhibit Atherosclerosis
Principal Investigator: Yiliang Chen, PhD, Medicine
Development of Mobile Health Application to Detect Aortic Stenosis
Principal Investigator: Michael Widlansky, MD, MPH, Medicine
Enhancing the Impact of the MKE Trauma Recovery Center for Survivors of Violence
Principal Investigator: Terri deRoon-Cassini, PhD, Surgery
Exploring a Novel Atheroprotective Role of FFAR4
Principal Investigator: Daisy Sahoo, PhD, Medicine
Fluorescence Imaging and PBPK Modeling of Liver Viability during Normothermic Machine Perfusion
Principal Investigator: Ranjan Dash, PhD, Biomedical Engineering
Mechanisms of Hypertranscription-Mediated Nerve Regeneration in Fish and Mammals
Principal Investigator: Matthew Veldman, PhD, Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy
Novel Therapeutic Strategy for Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia in Premature Infants
Principal Investigator: Girija Konduri, MD, MS, Pediatrics
Preparing for Anal Cancer Screening Implementation in Wisconsin
Principal Investigator: Alan Nyitray, PhD, Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine
Refining a Community-Based Strategy to Engage Difficult-to-Reach Populations in PrEP Care
Principal Investigator: Jack Keegan, MD, Medicine
The Clinical Course of Low Back Pain in Adolescents: A Prognostic Study at Children's Wisconsin
Principal Investigator: Jeff King, DC, MS, Neurosurgery
Validation of a Novel Non-Invasive Tool to Measure White Blood Cells in Children
Principal Investigator: Megan Schultz, MD, MA, Pediatrics
Public and Community Health Improvement
A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of Perinatal IPV Screening Practices for Women Veterans
Primary Community Organization: Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center
Primary Academic Partner: Amy Farkas, MD, MS, Medicine
Addressing and Assessing Rural Youth Mental Health via School-Based Partnerships
Primary Community Organization: Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance
Primary Academic Partner: Wendi Ehrman, MD, Pediatrics
Addressing Disparities in Latinx Mental Health Needs: Health and Wellness Program at St. Adalbert
Primary Community Organization: St. Adalbert Parish
Primary Academic Partner: Courtney Barry, PsyD, MS, Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine
Primary Community Organization: SSM Health
Primary Academic Partner: David Cipriano, PhD, Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine
Black Men in Bloom: Research and Restoration through History and the Arts
Primary Community Organization: Mahogany Black Arts & Cultural Center
Primary Academic Partner: Dr. Zeno Franco, PhD, Emergency Medicine
Primary Community Organization: Milwaukee Health Care Partnership (fiscal agent Columbia St. Mary's)
Primary Academic Partner: Jennifer Zaspel, MD, DFAACAP, Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine
Community-Based Education & Support for Black Mothers and Families During the Postpartum Period
Primary Community Organization: Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, Inc. (PPWI)
Primary Academic Partner: Allison Linton, MD, MPH, Obstetrics & Gynecology
Coordinated Care for Refugee Health
Primary Community Organization: Community Center for Immigrants (CCI)
Primary Academic Partner: Christopher Simenz, PhD, MS, Institute for Health & Humanity
Efficacy of Peer Recovery Support in Hospitals
Primary Community Organization: Mooring Programs dba Apricity
Primary Academic Partner: Kelly Gagnon, PhD, Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine
Enhancing the Lives of PwMS through Creative Arts
Primary Community Organization: Danceworks
Primary Academic Partner: Ahmed Obeidat, MD, PhD, Neurology
Hmong American Suicide Prevention Pathways: A Community-Led Model for Early Identification and Care
Primary Community Organization: Hmong Cultural & Community Center (HCCC)
Primary Academic Partner: Sara Kohlbeck, PhD, MPH, Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine
Implementing a Culturally-Informed Postpartum Prevention Program for Birthing People in Milwaukee
Primary Community Organization: Marquette University
Primary Academic Partner: Kristin Dowe, PhD, Obstetrics & Gynecology
Improving Quality Care for Vulnerable Populations through Free and Charitable Clinics (FCCs)
Primary Community Organization: Wisconsin Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (WAFCC)
Primary Academic Partner: Staci Young, PhD, Family Medicine
Med Wise Rx: Improving Medication Safety and Reducing Risk Among Wisconsin Older Adults
Primary Community Organization: Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging
Primary Academic Partner: Rachele Harrison, PharmD, MEd, School of Pharmacy
Running for Our Lives: Real-Time Air Quality Monitoring for Healthier Communities
Primary Community Organization: FreshAir Collective, Inc
Primary Academic Partner: Laura Hawks, MD, MPH, Medicine
Scaling the Solutions Peer Response Team: A Peer-Led Model for Overdose Prevention
Primary Community Organization: Solutions Recovery, Inc.
Primary Academic Partner: Julia Dickson-Gomez, PhD, Institute for Health & Humanity
Service Deserts: Measuring & Evaluating Equitable Care Across Wisconsin
Primary Community Organization: HIR Wellness Institute
Primary Academic Partner: Courtney Barry, PsyD, MS, Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine
Sustaining Milwaukee Early Childhood Education: Data, Voices, and Policy
Primary Community Organization: Milwaukee Succeeds
Primary Academic Partner: David Nelson, PhD, Family Medicine
Wisconsin Health Literacy Assessment Modernization Project
Primary Community Organization: Wisconsin Literacy, Inc.
Primary Academic Partner: Corina Norrbom, MD, Regional Campus-Central Wisconsin
Primary Community Organization: Froedtert ThedaCare Health
Primary Academic Partner: Anthony DeFranco, MD, Cardiovascular Research Center
Health Workforce Education and Development
Addressing Hesitancy and Expanding Access, Strategies to Equitably Improve Influenza Vaccination
Principal Investigator: Shannon Baumer-Mouradian, MD, Pediatrics
Catalpa Health Post-Doctoral Fellowship Program
Primary Academic Partner: Julie Janecek, PhD, ABPP-CN, Neurology
CESA 3 - MCW Rural Health Careers Academy
Primary Academic Partner: Erin Lee, EdD, MS, Family Medicine
CLEAR: Community-Led Education for Advanced Care Readiness
Principal Investigator: Christopher Simenz, PhD, MS, Institute for Health & Humanity
Collaborative Care for SUDs: Development of a Statewide Technical Assistance Program
Primary Academic Partner: David Songco, PsyD, Family Medicine
Expanding Thyroid Care: Exploring Minimally Invasive Treatment with Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)
Principal Investigator: Catherine McManus, MD, MS, FACS, Surgery
Implementing and Scaling a RE-AIM-Guided Workforce Model for Second-Stage Cesarean Delivery
Principal Investigator: Brock Polnaszek, MD, MPH, Obstetrics & Gynecology
Partnerships for Success: Innovative Health Support for Young Parents in Schools
Primary Academic Partner: Mochamad Nataliansyah, PhD, MD, MPH, Surgery
Principal Investigator: Kelly Gagnon, PhD, Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine
Sex Trafficking Education, Identification, and Response (STEIR) Project
Principal Investigator: Taylor Sonnenberg, MD, MSGH, Emergency Medicine
Wisconsin Maternal Care Education Program Expansion
Primary Academic Partner: Abbey Kruper, PsyD, ABPP, Obstetrics & Gynecology
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