Claim OwnershipResearch Renaissance: Exploring the Future of Brain Science
Subscribed: 2Played: 8
Subscribe
© 2026 Karen Toffler Charitable Trust
Description
Welcome to Research Renaissance, presented by the Karen Toffler Charitable Trust. We invite you into the stories, struggles, and breakthroughs shaping the future of human health. From cutting-edge brain science to discoveries transforming how we heal, adapt, and thrive, we explore the ideas that matter and the people behind them.
Each episode features early-career researchers driven by curiosity, entrepreneurs turning bold ideas into lifesaving innovations, and leaders in investment, policy, and research who help move discoveries into the real world.
Together, we look across diseases, technologies, and research fields to understand not just what is changing, but why it matters—for patients, families, and the future we all share.
Join us as we uncover new insights, spark collaboration, and illuminate the science that can improve lives.
66 Episodes
Reverse
For decades, Parkinson’s disease has been viewed primarily as a disorder of dopamine-producing brain cells. But what if that’s only part of the story? In this episode of Research Renaissance, host Deborah Westphal sits down with Dr. Rebecca Wallings, Assistant Professor of Neurology at Indiana University’s Stark Neuroscience Research Institute, to explore a groundbreaking shift in how we understand Parkinson’s. Dr. Wallings explains why the immune system — and specifically immune cell exhaust...
In this episode of Research Renaissance, host Deborah Westphal sits down with neuroscientist Micaelly Alves, PhD candidate at Temple University and a 2025 Toffler Scholar supported by the Karen Toffler Charitable Trust. Micaelly shares her personal journey into neuroscience, inspired by watching her grandmother’s battle with Alzheimer’s disease, and dives into groundbreaking research on microRNAs, tiny molecules that may hold the key to earlier diagnosis and more personalized treatment for Al...
How does neuroscience shape state policy? And what happens when scientists step inside government? In this episode of Research Renaissance, Deborah Westphal sits down with Dr. Julianne McCall, CEO of the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST), to explore how scientific thinking informs public policy in one of the world’s largest economies. From spinal cord injury research in Germany to advising California’s Governor during COVID-19, Dr. McCall shares how scientists can help gov...
In this episode of Research Renaissance, host Deborah Westphal sits down with Dr. Şiyar Bahadır, neurosurgeon and Elmezzi Scholar at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, to explore the cutting edge of neuroscience, bioelectronic medicine, and the powerful role of the vagus nerve in regulating nearly every organ system in the body. Dr. Bahadır shares his journey from the operating room to advanced research, explains how mapping the brain and nervous system is revolutionizing patient o...
In this episode of Research Renaissance, host Deborah Westphal speaks with Katie Pizzone, Senior Director of Philanthropy at the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF). They discuss the critical role of philanthropy in advancing Alzheimer's research, the groundbreaking venture philanthropy model that ADDF employs, and the innovative treatments and diagnostics shaping the future of Alzheimer’s care. Katie shares her personal journey into philanthropy, her early experiences in healthcare ...
In this episode of Research Renaissance, Dr. Vijaya Kolachalama, associate professor at Boston University and a Toffler Scholar, discusses his pioneering work in developing software frameworks that assist neurologists in dementia screening. This engaging discussion delves into how Dr. Kolachalama's team is integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning to improve the diagnostic process in neurology. Key Points Discussed: Creating Custom Methods for Science: Dr. Kolachalama explains ...
In this episode of Research Renaissance, host Deborah Westphal sits down with Dr. Andrew Holbrook, an Assistant Professor of Biostatistics at UCLA and a 2023 Toffler Scholar. Dr. Holbrook shares his fascinating journey from studying ancient languages and teaching in China to pioneering research in biostatistics and Alzheimer's disease. Together, they delve into the intersection of artificial intelligence, advanced algorithms, and brain science, exploring how these tools are revolu...
In this insightful episode of Research Renaissance, Dr. Alexandra Touroutoglou shares her extensive work on brain imaging and non-invasive brain stimulation techniques to treat Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Discover the cutting-edge technologies and methods being employed to understand and combat neurodegenerative diseases. Key Points Discussed: Academic Journey:Dr. Touroutoglou's transition from studying in Greece to pioneering neuroscience research at Harvard, highlighting the ...
In this insightful episode of the Research Renaissance podcast, hosted by Deborah Westphal, Dr. Elena Barbereri, Research Assistant Professor at Northwestern University and a 2023 Toffler Scholar, sheds light on primary progressive aphasia (PPA). This rare neurological disorder progressively impairs the ability to speak and understand language while other cognitive functions remain relatively intact. Key Topics Discussed: Understanding Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA): Dr. Barbereri discusse...
In this episode, Dr. Adithya Gopinath shares his inspiring journey from a medical mystery patient to a pioneering researcher at the crossroads of neuroscience and immunology. The discussion centers on his current research exploring the interconnected roles of the central nervous system and the immune system in Parkinson's disease. Highlights: Personal Journey into Research: Dr. Gopinath's transition from a medical student to a researcher after a personal health crisis led to a passion for...
In this compelling episode of Research Renaissance, host Deborah Westphal is joined by Dr. Ignaty Leshchiner, Associate Professor of Medicine at Boston University School of Medicine and a 2024 Toffler Scholar. Dr. Leshchiner, a pioneer in computational biology and cancer bioinformatics, explores the intricate relationship between cancer research and brain disease studies. His insights delve into groundbreaking methodologies for non-invasive cancer detection, the challenges in treating b...
Healthcare today runs on data, but few people understand how deeply information systems shape patient outcomes, clinician workflows, and long-term public health. In this episode of Research Renaissance, host Deborah Westphal sits down with Dr. Caterina (Cat) Lasome, a nationally recognized leader in health informatics and digital health transformation. Drawing from 23 years as an Army nurse and decades working across the Department of Defense, VA, NIH, and federal health systems, Cat explains...
For decades, Alzheimer’s disease was treated as an unavoidable consequence of aging. In this episode of Research Renaissance, Dr. Jessica Rexach explains why that framing is no longer true. Drawing on 20 years at the intersection of clinical neurology, genetics, and experimental neuroscience, Dr. Rexach walks us through a profound shift in the field. Today, scientists can model human brain circuits, measure Alzheimer’s pathology through blood-based biomarkers, and study why some brains remain...
In this powerful episode of Research Renaissance, Arushi Raina and John Chernesky from the Praxis Spinal Cord Institute pull back the curtain on what it really takes to innovate in spinal cord injury—and why the future of neurological care depends on integrating technology, science, and most importantly, lived experience. Rather than treating individuals as patients or passive recipients of care, Praxis centers their entire innovation pipeline around those living with spinal cord injury (SCI)...
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...
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...
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 ...
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...
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...
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...
Comments
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States