The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) is the patent and license agent for the University of Wisconsin-Madison. WARF has assumed responsibility for patenting, licensing, and distribution of human embryo stem cells, which are the result of research by Dr. James Thomson. Although certain rights have been granted to Geron Corporation, WARF has retained rights involving the research use of human embryonic stem cells. WARF is currently working on a mechanism to support the supply of cells to academic and non-academic researchers that it expects to have finalized in October 1999. WARF intends to provide the cells to academic researchers for a nominal fee.