U2FP CureCast

Today we welcome back our friend Jen Dulin from Texas A&M University. We interviewed Dr. Dulin not too long ago about the research funding analysis project that she did in partnership with us. If you haven't listened to that, please check it out. Because that interview wasn’t central to what Jen works on in her lab, we promised her we'd have her back to talk about the scientific work she’s been pursuing for the last 20 years or so. Jen is working on neural stem cells, neural progenitor cells, for the purpose of regeneration, to graft cells into the injured cord in an effort to promote regeneration and restore function of a variety of kinds: motor, sensory, autonomic. This is a great discussion, so let's get into it.

In this episode of Curecast, Matthew Rodreick and Quinn Brett sit down with award winning hip-hop artist Brother Ali, who shares roots in Minnesota with Quinn. The conversation traces his journey from Minneapolis to Istanbul, reflecting on cultural identity, disability, and the power of community. He discusses the challenges and perspectives that come with living with albinism, the importance of art in expressing personal experiences, and the need for informed hope in the face of adversity. The conversation emphasizes the value of communication, the complexities of community, and the shared human experience of loss and resilience. More info: https://u2fp.org/get-educated/curecast/episode-139.html

This conversation explores U2FP's upcoming 20th Annual Science and Advocacy Symposium, reflecting on the past, present, and future of spinal cord injury research and advocacy. Jason and Matthew discuss the significance of this event, the importance of community engagement, and the need for legislative action to restore funding for spinal cord injury research. They describe some of the key speakers, sessions, and the unique opportunity for attendees to participate in advocacy efforts, starting with our in a Roll On The Capital happening on the last day of the conference. More info: https://u2fp.org/get-educated/curecast/episode-138.html

Today we are chatting with Dr. Michael Kilgard, a Researcher and Professor at the University of Texas and the Director of the Texas Biomedical Device Center. Michael is a leading voice in the field of neuroplasticity, our body’s ability to structurally and functionally adapt its nervous system throughout our lifetime. We discuss the potential and limitations of neuroplasticity for functional improvement after spinal cord injury and the role of Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS), in particular. We also cover the... More info: https://u2fp.org/get-educated/curecast/episode-137.html

Today we are talking with Dr. Nathan Makowski, a researcher at the VA Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, and the MetroHealth System in Cleveland, Ohio. Nathan's research specializes in the development of neuroprosthetics and the evaluation of their capacity to improve mobility outcomes after paralysis. Separate from his research roles at those institutions, Nathan is also the board chair for the non-profit organization, GiveAHand.tech. We discussed the idea of using an open-source mechanism to... More info: https://u2fp.org/get-educated/curecast/episode-136.html

Today, we're talking to Dr. David Darrow for a second time. Check out episode 30 for our first discussion. David is a neurosurgeon and assistant professor in the departments of neurosurgery and psychiatry at the University of Minnesota. Many of you will also know that he is a researcher and the primary investigator of the successful and ongoing E-Stand trial, which uses epidural stimulation and optimization protocols for delivering functional outcomes for the SCI community. We discussed the E-Stand trial, how it's progressing, and highlights from its now eight years of running. We also talk about the FDA and the quandary of determining what is meaningful in the eyes of research participants, as well as with regulators. And we get into spinal cord stimulation data sharing, the exciting horizon of combinatorial therapies, and much, much more. As you will hear on this call, David is a smart, innovative, forward-thinking ally of the SCI community. More info: https://u2fp.org/get-educated/curecast/episode-135.html

In this conversation, Dr. Michael Fehlings discusses his journey into neurosurgery, focusing on spinal cord injury and the challenges of balancing clinical practice with research. He emphasizes the importance of community collaboration and innovative approaches in clinical trials, particularly in the context of regenerative medicine. Dr. Fehlings also highlights the significance of understanding secondary injuries and the impact of Riluzole in spinal cord injury treatment. He advocates for a global statistical framework to... More info: https://u2fp.org/get-educated/curecast/episode-134.html

In this episode, we reflect on the power of showing up—not just physically, but with purpose, passion, and skill. We're just getting back from Madison, Wisconsin, where our incredible advocates continue to show up for spinal cord injury legislation there. Our guest today is Adrien Cohen, the head of SCI Ventures - a philanthropic venture fund for spinal cord injury. Adrien dove into this work after his brother sustained a spinal cord injury, bringing his unique expertise in... More info: https://u2fp.org/get-educated/curecast/episode-133.html

Today we are talking to Mason Branstrator in the second of a two-part series on supporting general wellness while living with a Spinal Cord Injury. Quinn Brett, U2FP’s Development and fellow wellness pursuer is joining me for the discussion. Mason Branstrator is a dynamic and influential personality in the world of Spinal Cord Injury and his mission is to improve life for our community in any way that he can. Mason’s social media presence is one platform that he uses to accomplish this goal. His reels grace my Instagram feed from time to time and I am consistently impressed with his content, especially as it pertains to health and wellness. In light of the wear and tear that full time advocacy can have on our population, it is important to remember to take care of ourselves so that we can keep showing up to the front lines and maintain our general quality of life. In these two episodes we discuss low-cost or free, accessible tools for self care that have been staples for myself, Quinn and Mason. We frame this discussion using the 6 Pillars of Lifestyle Medicine, which are: Nutrition, Exercise, Sleep, Stress Management, Substance Management and Relationships or Purpose. In this episode we cover the last three pillars.

Today we are talking to Mason Branstrator in the first of a two-part series on supporting general wellness while living with a Spinal Cord Injury. Quinn Brett, U2FP’s Development and fellow wellness pursuer is joining me for the discussion. Mason Branstrator is a dynamic and influential personality in the world of Spinal Cord Injury and his mission is to improve life for our community in any way that he can. Mason’s social media presence is one platform that he uses to accomplish this goal... More info: https://u2fp.org/get-educated/curecast/episode-131.html

Today, we’re joined by Dr. Evan Joiner from Columbia University for a truly fascinating conversation about spinal cord stimulation—but we start somewhere completely unexpected. Before becoming a neurosurgeon, Evan actually began his career as a soap opera actor. Yep, you heard that right. We dive into how that unlikely path led him into medicine, and ultimately, to neurosurgery. Along the way... More info: https://u2fp.org/get-educated/curecast/episode-130.html

Today we are talking with Dr. Chase Cornelison, an Assistant Professor in the department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Chase brings his unique perspective as a chemical and biomolecular engineer to the problem of spinal cord injury. The Cornelison lab investigates how... More info: https://u2fp.org/get-educated/curecast/episode-129.html

Today we are having a conversation with Alexander “Sasha” Rabchevsky. Sasha is many things: a professor, a researcher, a paraplegic, and a U2FP board member. He is also one of the old guard of research advocates. And he is frustrated... More info: https://u2fp.org/get-educated/curecast/episode-128.html

Today we are talking to Drs. Dimitry Sayenko and Adam Thrasher about their SCI humanitarian project in Tanzania called “Peak to Peak.” Dimitry is an MD, PhD and an associate professor in Neuromodulation and Neurosurgery at Houston Methodist Hospital, in Houston, Texas. We interviewed him previously about his work in episode 93, which I encourage you to check out. Adam is a PhD Researcher, Associate Professor and Associate Chair of the Department of Health and Human Performance at the University of Houston, in Houston, TX. Dimitry and Adam are long time friends and colleagues, and they saw Adam’s sabbatical at the Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology in Tanzania as an opportunity to More info: https://u2fp.org/get-educated/curecast/episode-127.html

In this episode, we have another insightful conversation with Dave Marver, CEO of ONWARD Medical. We discuss their FDA cleared transcutaneous stimulation device, the ARC-EX, as well as their other devices in the pipeline. Additionally... More info: https://u2fp.org/get-educated/curecast/episode-126.html

Today we are talking about bioinformatics with Dr. Abel Torres Espin. Abel is an Assistant Professor and Director of the health data DRIVEN lab at the School of Public Health Sciences at the University of Waterloo in Canada. He has worked with... More info: https://u2fp.org/get-educated/curecast/episode-125.html

Today’s guest is Dr. James Krause. James is a Distinguished University Professor and Director of the Center for Rehabilitation Research in Neurologic Conditions at the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Krause has worked in the field of spinal cord injury throughout his career focusing on research designed to improve health, employment, and participation for people with SCI and other disabilities... More info: https://u2fp.org/get-educated/curecast/episode-124.html

Today’s guest is Dr. Chet Moritz. Chet is the CJ and Elizabeth Hwang endowed professor in the departments Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rehabilitation Medicine and Neurobiology & Biophysics at the University of Washington (UW) in Seattle. He also serves as the Co-director for the Center for Neurotechnology. Chet’s work in Transcutaneous Spinal Stimulation (TSS) heavily contributed to the Onward Medical Arc-EX device which recently gained FDA approval. More info: https://u2fp.org/get-educated/curecast/episode-123.html

Today we are re-airing another episode of the Unexpected Journey Podcast. This is such a great, quick little interview with my friend, colleague and Development Director at U2FP, Quinn Brett. In this episode... More info: https://u2fp.org/get-educated/curecast/episode-122.html

On today’s episode, we are re-airing an episode of The Unexpected Journey podcast. This one is an interview of yours truly. It focuses on my journey to SCI advocacy after my accident in 2017. We talk about my life before and immediately after my wreck, and why I became active in this effort for more and better research outcomes. I also talk about the mission, passion and initiatives here at U2FP. More info: https://u2fp.org/get-educated/curecast/episode-121.html