ThinkResearch Podcast

Benjamin Freedman, PhD, is an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School and co-founder of Limax Biosciences. His research, which has been published in more than 65 journal articles, focuses on the design and synthesis of biomaterials for applications in orthopedic surgery, cardiovascular surgery, and neurosurgery. Currently, Freedman and his teams are working to translate the materials they’ve developed to improve tissue healing within and outside of the body. Freedman received his PhD in bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania and his BS in biomedical engineering from the University of Rochester.

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.

Michael Kurilla, MD, PhD, is the director of the Division of Clinical Innovation at the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS). In this capacity, he oversees the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Program, which supports innovative solutions to advance the efficiency, quality, and impact of translational science, with the ultimate goal of getting more treatments to more patients quickly. Prior to joining NCATS, Kurilla served as the director of the Office of Biodefense Research Resources and Translational Research within the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), where he focused on translational efforts toward infectious disease product development, including vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics, with emphasis on biodefense and emerging infectious disease threats. Kurilla received his MD and his PhD in microbiology and immunology from Duke University, and his BS in chemistry from the California Institute of Technology. He was a postdoctoral research fellow at Harvard Medical School and completed a residency in pathology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

Nile Nair, PhD, is an international postdoctoral research fellow in the Nutrition and Global Health Program at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Originally from Fiji and trained as a clinical geneticist and surgical researcher, Nair’s clinical research has primarily focused on maternal-fetal health and diet clinical trials, genetics of inflammatory bowel disease, microbiome interactions with disease, and novel biomarkers of chronic diseases. His work at Harvard University involves studying the effects of climate change and the accelerated nutrition transition on indigenous populations through the lens of dietary colonialism and the disproportionate impacts of climate change on minoritized populations. His research also examines the nexus of climate justice, human nutrition, and planetary health, advocating for more sustainable dietary guidelines to reduce the greenhouse impact of global food systems. Part of Nair’s work involves addressing the structural violence embodied in the current climate crisis and its effects on minority groups in the U.S. and around the world. Nair earned his PhD at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in population health sciences, with a focus on climate change, and planetary and human health.

Marjana Ndoci, MSc, is originally from Albania and Greece, and completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the Department of Biological Applications and Technology at the University of Ioannina in Greece. During her studies, she was awarded the Erasmus Studies Fellowship, allowing her to conduct her diploma thesis at the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing. There, she delved into the molecular mechanisms underlying ageing. In 2023, Ndoci was accepted into the Max Planck Graduate School in Germany. She established a collaboration between the labs of professor Andreas Ladurner of Ludwig Maximilians Universität München, and Nora Kory, PhD, assistant professor of molecular metabolism at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She joined the Kory Lab as a PhD student. Her research focuses on deciphering the tethering factors of mitochondrial contact sites and understanding their role in metabolic compartmentalization. By studying these intricate connections, Ndoci aims to uncover new insights into how cells maintain their metabolic balance, potentially leading to novel therapeutic strategies.

Karen Emmons is faculty lead of Community Engagement at Harvard Catalyst. She is a professor of social and behavioral science at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Emmons is a behavioral scientist with a strong track record of funded research in community-based approaches to cancer prevention in a variety of settings that serve historically disadvantaged communities, including low income housing and community health centers. Her work targets inequalities related to a range of cancer risk factors, including nutrition, physical activity, sun exposure, tobacco and second-hand smoke exposure, and cancer screening. She has particular expertise in implementation science, particularly in community health settings, and has been actively involved in national efforts to develop implementation research and training programs. She is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine, and past president of the Society of Behavioral Medicine.

Susan Adams, PMP, is vice president of health informatics for the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers. In her role, she oversees the Health Center Controlled Network and Health Informatics team, providing technology and data assistance to community health centers across the Commonwealth. Her current work focuses on various digital health tools, interoperability initiatives, and using advance data analytics for identifying and addressing disparities in healthcare for community health centers. Adams has worked in healthcare technology for 30 years, previously serving as the chief information officer for a large federally-qualified health center where she was responsible for the strategic direction and management of information technology, quality data & reporting, medical records, and referrals departments. Her strength lies in her ability to think outside the box and use technology and data to improve operational efficiencies.

Cheryl Clark, MD, ScD, is the executive director and senior vice president of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers’ Institute for Health Equity Research, Evaluation & Policy (IHE). She is also associate chief for equity research and strategic partnerships for the Division of General Internal Medicine and Primary Care at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Clark is a physician of hospital medicine and a social epidemiologist with a research focus on social determinants of health and healthcare utilization in diverse populations, including preventive care for cancer and cardiovascular disease prevention. She has extensive experience in community-based participatory research, and in the implementation and evaluation of innovative strategies to address social determinants of health and care utilization in communities with high burdens of cardiovascular and cancer risk factors. Clark is the PI of the Mass General Brigham Jackson Heart Study Vanguard Center and PI for engagement of the New England National Institutes of Health All of Us Research Program.