The NFL & Community-Engaged Research

Launched in 2014, the Football Players Health Study is the largest study of living former NFL players, with more than 4,800 participants. In this episode, Alicia Whittington, PhD, assistant director of engagement and health equity research, joins us to discus her work on the study, including a family initiative and resources for former NFL players. Transcript: http://bit.ly/47iyKpX

How does growing up with two NFL football players spark a career in research? In this re-airing of our May 2022 interview with Alicia Whittington, PhD, of the Football Players Health Study, Whittington shares how her upbringing helped lead her to her current work in health equity and community-engaged research. Transcript: http://bit.ly/3J1wlpb

In this follow up to our 2019 interview, Alex Lin, PhD, of Brigham and Women's Hospital shares updates on his research investigating brain injuries. In this episode, Lin discusses his research over the past six years, including his work studying the impact of hormones on the brain and gender differences in concussion. Transcript: http://bit.ly/4k54AJn

In case you missed it: Back in 2019, we interviewed Alex Lin, PhD, director of the Center for Clinical Spectroscopy at Brigham and Women's Hospital. In this episode, he discusses his research investigating traumatic brain injuries and how he measures brain chemistry using magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Transcript: https://bit.ly/3ZwKaRY

Bioadhesive materials have the potential to support patient care in a number of ways, from wound healing to repairing the dura to assisting with leaks of cerebral spinal fluid. In this follow-up to our 2022 interview, Ben Freedman, PhD, of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, shares technological advancements and discoveries made by his team over the past three years. Transcript: https://bit.ly/42btErk

In case you missed it: Adhesive biomaterials are used in orthopedic and cardiovascular surgery, as well as neurosurgery, to improve patient care. In this episode from 2022, Ben Freedman, PhD, of the Wyss Institute at Harvard University, discusses his research on the design and synthesis of these biomaterials. Transcript: https://bit.ly/4mIujKn

In part one of this two-part special, we take a look back at some of our interviews from 2024. In this episode, hear from Jason Vassy, MD, MPH, of Veterans Affairs (VA) Boston Healthcare System, on how patient DNA might be used to improve healthcare and prevent disease. Also hear from Mayank Chugh, PhD, of William & Mary, as he shares how social inequity dimensions such as race, gender, socioeconomic status, and citizenship impact STEM education; and Meg Simione, PhD, of Massachusetts General Hospital, as she discusses her research examining the determinants and impacts of pediatric disorders and ways to improve access to care. Transcript: https://bit.ly/3ZD5fcS

"Translational science is really general principles for how we take scientific discoveries and basic scientific information and translate that into implementable, viable, feasible health solutions for both the patient and the provider to be able to utilize," says Michael Kurilla, MD, PhD, of the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS). In this episode, Kurilla discusses his work as the director of the Division of Clinical Innovation at NCATS, and the role translational research and science plays in healthcare. Harvard Catalyst is a member of the NCATS Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Program. Transcript: https://bit.ly/3OeJta1

"Growing up in Fiji, I witnessed firsthand the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation on small island communities," says Nile Nair, PhD, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. In our latest episode, Nair shares his research studying the effects of climate change and the accelerated nutrition transition on Indigenous populations. Transcript: https://bit.ly/3YeDzu3

It’s well known that mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell, but research shows they can also offer new insights into how cells maintain their metabolic balance, potentially leading to novel therapeutic strategies to help fight diseases. Marjana Ndoci MSc, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, shares her research on this topic. Transcript: https://bit.ly/4d6Ep1i