Research Renaissance: Exploring the Future of Brain Science

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Research Renaissance: Exploring the Future of Brain Science

Karen Toffler Charitable Trust

59 episodes

2 months ago

In this episode of Research Renaissance, host Deborah Westphal sits down with Dr. Wendy Ellis, Assistant Professor of Global Health at George Washington University and Founding Director of the Center for Community Resilience. Together, they explore how resilience science and systems-level thinking can drive lasting change for communities impacted by adversity. Dr. Ellis shares her groundbreaking Pair of ACEs Framework, which connects adverse childhood experiences to adverse community environm...

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In this episode of Research Renaissance, host Deborah Westphal sits down with Dr. Wendy Ellis, Assistant Professor of Global Health at George Washington University and Founding Director of the Center for Community Resilience. Together, they explore how resilience science and systems-level thinking can drive lasting change for communities impacted by adversity. Dr. Ellis shares her groundbreaking Pair of ACEs Framework, which connects adverse childhood experiences to adverse community environm...

Show more...

Health & Fitness,

Episodes (20/59)

Research Renaissance: Exploring the Future of Brain Science

Transforming Communities Through Resilience Science with Dr. Wendy Ellis

In this episode of Research Renaissance, host Deborah Westphal sits down with Dr. Wendy Ellis, Assistant Professor of Global Health at George Washington University and Founding Director of the Center for Community Resilience. Together, they explore how resilience science and systems-level thinking can drive lasting change for communities impacted by adversity. Dr. Ellis shares her groundbreaking Pair of ACEs Framework, which connects adverse childhood experiences to adverse community environm...

2 months ago

47 minutes

Research Renaissance: Exploring the Future of Brain Science

Ataxia, Advocacy, and Accelerating Research: Inside the National Ataxia Foundation

Welcome back to Research Renaissance, presented by the Karen Toffler Charitable Trust. In this episode, host Deborah Westphal explores the cutting edge of rare disease research with special guests Andrew Rosen, CEO of the National Ataxia Foundation (NAF), and Dr. Lauren Moore, NAF’s Chief Scientific Officer. Together, they unpack how the NAF has evolved from a small support-focused nonprofit into a strategic, science-driven organization that’s advancing treatments and reshaping what’s possibl...

3 months ago

51 minutes

Research Renaissance: Exploring the Future of Brain Science

Unlocking Parkinson’s Potential: The Brain-Immune Link with Dr. Adithya Gopinath

In this groundbreaking episode of Research Renaissance, host Deborah Westphal reconnects with Dr. Adithya Gopinath, University of Florida, to explore a game-changing discovery in Parkinson’s research: a direct connection between dopamine neurons in the brain and the peripheral immune system, specifically the spleen. Dr. Gopinath shares how his lab’s findings could reshape the future of Parkinson’s diagnosis and treatment—potentially identifying the disease earlier and opening new therapeutic ...

3 months ago

35 minutes

Research Renaissance: Exploring the Future of Brain Science

The AI Cure: How Drug Repurposing is Saving Lives

In this episode of Research Renaissance, Deborah Westphal sits down with Dr. Grant Mitchell, co-founder and CEO of Every Cure — a nonprofit revolutionizing how we treat disease using artificial intelligence and drug repurposing. You’ll hear the incredible true story behind the organization’s founding: a rare disease, a near-death diagnosis, and the life-saving power of finding the right drug at the right time — one that was already FDA-approved but never intended for that disease. Dr. Mitchel...

3 months ago

51 minutes

Research Renaissance: Exploring the Future of Brain Science

Unlocking Sex-Based Differences in Alzheimer’s Risk with Dr. Rachel Buckley

In this powerful episode of Research Renaissance, host Deborah Westphal sits down with Dr. Rachel Buckley, Associate Professor of Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Together, they explore a growing body of research that challenges long-standing assumptions about sex differences in Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Buckley shares her unexpected journey from skepticism to advocacy in studying how biological sex and hormonal changes—particularly around menopause—can i...

3 months ago

48 minutes

Research Renaissance: Exploring the Future of Brain Science

How Regenerative Biology Could Help Treat Alzheimer’s with Dr. Prabesh Bhattarai

In this episode of Research Renaissance, host Deborah Westphal sits down with Dr. Prabesh Bhattarai, Associate Research Scientist - The Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease, the aging Brain, Columbia University Irving Medical Center and a 2024 Toffler Scholar. Dr. Bhattarai shares his groundbreaking work on regenerative biology and how understanding the remarkable ability of certain fish to regrow neurons could eventually lead to new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases lik...

3 months ago

45 minutes

Research Renaissance: Exploring the Future of Brain Science

Decoding Alzheimer’s: Breakthroughs in Neural Recording using and Biostatistics & Machine Learning

In this exciting episode of Research Renaissance, host Deborah Westphal speaks with Dr. Ted Zwang, Assistant Professor of neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Dr. Andrew Holbrook, Assistant Professor at UCLA and Jasen Zhang, PhD student in biostatistics in Holbrook’s lab. Together, they share how novel neural recording devices and advanced machine learning techniques are transforming the study of Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Ted and Jasen discuss their collabora...

4 months ago

49 minutes

Research Renaissance: Exploring the Future of Brain Science

How Childhood Stress Shapes the Brain with Dr. Heather Brenhouse

In this fascinating episode of Research Renaissance, host Deborah Westphal sits down with Dr. Heather Brenhouse, professor of psychology and director of the Developmental Neuropsychobiology Lab at Northeastern University—and a 2024 Toffler Scholar. Together, they explore the deep connections between childhood adversity, brain development, and long-term mental health. Dr. Brenhouse discusses why early life stress impacts some individuals more than others, how adversity can alter the timing of ...

4 months ago

53 minutes

Research Renaissance: Exploring the Future of Brain Science

Engineering the Brain—In the Lab and in Space

In this fascinating episode of Research Renaissance, host Deborah Westphall welcomes Dr. Alysson Muotri, a professor in the Departments of Pediatrics and Cellular & Molecular Medicine at the University of California, San Diego., for a deep dive into what makes the human brain unique—and how understanding that uniqueness might unlock new treatments for neurological disorders. From stem cell brain models grown in the lab to sending "mini-brains" into space, Dr. Muotri shares his bold,...

4 months ago

40 minutes

Research Renaissance: Exploring the Future of Brain Science

Microscopic Conversations: How Organelles Communicate and What It Means for Curing Neurological Disease

In this episode of Research Renaissance, host Deborah Westphal welcomes Dr. Yvette Wong, Assistant Professor of Neurology at Northwestern University and 2024 Toffler Scholar, for a deep dive into the dynamic inner world of cells—and how her lab is uncovering new clues about neurodegenerative diseases by studying the microscopic interactions between organelles. Dr. Wong discusses how organelles like mitochondria and lysosomes don’t just function in isolation—they actually “talk” to each other ...

4 months ago

45 minutes

Research Renaissance: Exploring the Future of Brain Science

Aging with Dignity: Advancing Equity, Access, and Brain Health

In this compelling episode of Research Renaissance, host Deborah Westphal sits down with Sue Peschin, President and CEO of the Alliance for Aging Research, for a candid conversation about the intersection of science, policy, and aging. From Alzheimer’s drug coverage to the future of stem cell research, they unpack what it truly means to age with dignity—and how equity, access, and advocacy play a critical role. Sue shares her personal journey into aging research, her leadership transition at ...

5 months ago

53 minutes

Research Renaissance: Exploring the Future of Brain Science

Rewiring Brain Research—Why Networks Matter as Much as Genes

In this eye-opening episode of Research Renaissance, Dr. Rod Scott takes us on a journey through the emerging science of brain networks, complex adaptive systems, and why rethinking how we treat neurological conditions like epilepsy and autism might be the key to improving outcomes—especially in children. Dr. Scott explains why he views the brain not as a collection of isolated parts, but as a dynamic, self-organizing system. From his clinical experience to his cutting-edge lab work on neural...

5 months ago

54 minutes

Research Renaissance: Exploring the Future of Brain Science

Inside the Mind of Brain Cancer: Modeling Glioblastoma with Dr. Frank Furnari

In this episode of Research Renaissance, host Deborah Westphal sits down with Dr. Frank Furnari, professor of medicine at UC San Diego and co-director of the Brain Tumor Program at the Sanford Stem Cell Institute. Together, they explore one of the most aggressive and complex cancers known to medicine—glioblastoma—and the innovative tools his team is developing to study and treat it. 🔬 Topics Covered: Why glioblastoma is so resistant to treatment—and what makes it uniqueThe role of tumor heter...

5 months ago

54 minutes

Research Renaissance: Exploring the Future of Brain Science

Inside the Neurodegeneration Puzzle: A Conversation with Jackson Mace

In this compelling episode of Research Renaissance, host Deborah Westphal sits down with Jackson Mace, a neuroscience PhD candidate at Johns Hopkins University and 2023 Toffler Scholar, to explore the cutting-edge research driving our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases—particularly multiple sclerosis (MS). Drawing from personal experience—his father’s MS diagnosis—and a deep academic curiosity, Jackson shares the winding path that led him from undergraduate lab work to a promising ca...

5 months ago

52 minutes

Research Renaissance: Exploring the Future of Brain Science

Exploring the Role of Astrocytes and APOE in Alzheimer's Disease with Dr. Alberto Serrano-Pozo

In this episode of Research Renaissance, host Deborah Westphal sits down with Dr. Alberto Serrano-Pozo, Assistant Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School, staff neurologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, and a 2022 Toffler Scholar. Together, they explore Dr. Serrano-Pozo’s pioneering research into the role of glial cells—specifically astrocytes—and the APOE gene in the development and progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Serrano-Pozo discusses how astrocytes, long overlooked i...

6 months ago

42 minutes

Research Renaissance: Exploring the Future of Brain Science

Rewiring the Brain: Non-Invasive Neurotech & the Future of Treatment with Ana Maiques

In this illuminating episode of Research Renaissance, host Deborah Westphal sits down with Ana Maiques, CEO and co-founder of Neuroelectrics, a groundbreaking company at the forefront of non-invasive brain stimulation technology. Together, they explore the intersection of neuroscience, entrepreneurship, and innovation, diving deep into how electrical brain stimulation is changing the future of treatment for neurological disorders like epilepsy, depression, and Alzheimer’s. Ana shares her unco...

6 months ago

48 minutes

Research Renaissance: Exploring the Future of Brain Science

How Philanthropy is Accelerating Alzheimer’s Breakthroughs with Meg Smith

In this episode of Research Renaissance, host Deborah Westphal is joined by Meg Smith, the Chief Executive Officer of Cure Alzheimer’s Fund. They dive deep into the innovative and high-impact research Cure Alzheimer’s Fund is supporting to prevent, slow, and ultimately cure Alzheimer’s disease. Meg shares her fascinating career journey from law and consulting to leading an organization that is revolutionizing brain disease research. Together, they discuss: ✅ The unique funding model of ...

6 months ago

55 minutes

Research Renaissance: Exploring the Future of Brain Science

Oxygen and Alzheimer’s: Dr. Nancy Ruiz on the Vascular Connection

Can oxygen levels in the brain help explain Alzheimer’s disease? In this episode of Research Renaissance, host Deborah Westphal sits down with Dr. Nancy E. Ruiz, a Harvard Medical School research fellow and 2023 Toffler Scholar, to explore a powerful yet underexamined piece of the Alzheimer’s puzzle: vascular dysfunction. Dr. Ruiz shares how her background in physics and biology led her to cutting-edge brain research using advanced imaging tools like two-photon phosphorescence lifetime imagin...

6 months ago

41 minutes

Research Renaissance: Exploring the Future of Brain Science

Innovation in Biotech & Leadership with Catharine Smith

In this episode of Research Renaissance, host Deborah Westphal sits down with Catharine Smith, Executive Director of the Termeer Foundation, to explore innovation in the biotech industry and the evolving role of leadership. They dive into how biotech leaders are shaping the future of healthcare, supporting emerging companies, and addressing rare diseases. Key Topics Covered Catharine Smith’s Career Journey – From health services research to leading an influential foundation supporting biotech...

7 months ago

55 minutes

Research Renaissance: Exploring the Future of Brain Science

Exploring the Future of Science Policy with Dr. Carrie Wolinetz

In this episode of Research Renaissance, host Deborah Westphal welcomes Dr. Carrie Wolinetz, a leading science and health policy expert. With an extensive background, including roles at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, Dr. Wolinetz shares her insights on the evolving landscape of medical research funding, the role of science policy, and the critical intersection between government, private sector, and research institutions. F...

7 months ago

59 minutes