Jason and Matthew talk with Lucia Webb, U2FP’s Operations Director. We focus on a seemingly minor aspect of our work - our racing and fundraising initiative, Team U2FP - and breakdown why it’s critical for so much of what we do, especially the legislative bills we’ve passed through our Cure Advocacy Network. We talk about the impact of Team U2FP for everyone - not just marathon racers and wheelers - as well as opportunities to become involved in and support our work.
Aug 25, 2022•45 min
Jason and Matthew interview Dr. Camillo Castillo, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physician at Frazer Rehabilitation Hospital in Louisville KY along with his Clinical SCI Navigation team: Emily Coons, Brendan Doksa and Heather Connor. We are raising a simple question about the introduction of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) to the clinic: are we ready to receive it? What will that look like? Who follows the person with the stimulator? Who sets the parameters for stimulation? How is it paid fo...
Aug 15, 2022•1 hr 16 min
Jason and Matthew interview Dr. Uzma Samadani, a neurosurgeon working in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Dr. Samadani participated in the EStand trial (https://www.estand.org/) along with David Darrow, Ann Parr and Taye Nettoff. We decided to interview Dr. Samadani based on her experience of implanting epidural stimulators in people with SCI - as part of her clinical practice - instead of the current approach, which is to limit access to only those enrolled in a relevant clinical trial. We talk about he...
Jun 07, 2022•1 hr 21 min
We are dedicating this podcast episode to Franklin Elieh, co-founder of NorCalSCI (https://norcalsci.org/news/2022/franklin). Franklin died this past month after living for decades with an SCI. He embodied the critical characteristics of empathy, systems thinking and deep connection to the community that all successful advocates share. He also lived his life on the continuum of Care and Cure. His death is a reminder of much work we have ahead of us to improve Care and deliver Cures. Quinn and Ja...
May 17, 2022•46 min
Jason and Matthew talk with Samantha Troyer, an SCI peer mentor in Wisconsin who joined up with U2FP’s Cure Advocacy Network (CAN) to become a legislative advocate there. Sam is joined by our CAN Manager, Jake Beckstrom. We talk about the current effort to pass an SCI research funding Bill in Wisconsin, its attendant ups and downs, unique challenges, the perseverance required for this work, and the power of our shared SCI story. We wanted to give you an inside look at our advocacy efforts, in a ...
Mar 18, 2022•1 hr 16 min
Jason and Matthew speak with Samuel Stupp, a Professor of Materials Science, Chemistry, Medicine, and Biomedical Engineering at Northwestern University. You may remember reading about Dr. Stupp late last year when news about his ‘dancing molecules’ used in a preclinical model of acute spinal cord injury circulated widely. We discuss Dr. Stupp’s discoveries, his commitment to researching and delivering a therapeutic for SCI and this area of study typically outside of the SCI world. --- Samuel Stu...
Mar 04, 2022•1 hr 4 min
Jason and Matthew talk with Michael Lane (Researcher at Drexel College of Medicine) and Jake Chalfin (SCI advocate and chair of the PA Spinal Cord Advisory Research Council,) as we continue with part 2 of our series on the experience of SCI community consultants in research labs. This discussion continues our exploration around the exciting and unique nature of this relationship and its impact on the research process. If you missed part 1 with Murray Blackmore and Nancy Nicholas, you can find it...
Feb 18, 2022•1 hr 20 min
Jason and Matthew interview Dr. Murray Blackmore (Marquette University) and Nancy Nichols (person with lived experience of SCI) about Nancy’s addition to the Blackmore Lab as a consultant. We talk about the relationship that developed, the impact it's had on the Blackmore Lab, and the impact relationships like this could have on the wider research landscape. If you are a scientist or a member of the SCI community who is interested in exploring this kind of relationship, please contact us or fill...
Feb 08, 2022•1 hr 2 min
Coming soon ...
Jan 20, 2022•1 hr 14 min
Jason and Matthew interview Dr. Barry Komisaruk, Neurophysiologist from the Psychology Department at Rutgers University. Barry has been researching sexuality for over 50 years and is maybe best known for the seminal work: The Science of Orgasm. We talk about the history of his research and discoveries, the historical challenges around sexual function research and ideas for how to further this area of research to benefit folks with SCI. Pay particular attention to the latter half of the podcast i...
Dec 09, 2021•1 hr 15 min
Jason and Matthew talk with Megan Detloff (SCI researcher at Drexel College of Medicine) and Bethany Kondiles (SCI researcher at ICORD). They talk about the evolution of the International Online SCI Research Seminar (IOSCIRS) in response to the pandemic and as a forum for SCI researchers to stay abreast of one another's work. But they have also begun to discuss the value of the seminar for the lay audience of people living with SCI. We talk through this development and both the challenges and op...
Jul 20, 2021•1 hr 18 min
Jason and Matthew have a conversation in response to the last two conversations on sex after SCI. They talk about where the conversation seemed to be going and after some reflection, where it ought to go. Listen in and don’t forget to check out the information about this year’s Annual Science and Advocacy Symposium in Salt Lake City at u2fp.org AND, send a message to curecast@u2fp.org for comments, suggestions and questions. Bumper music: House Song by SCI artist Freaque, findable on Spotify
Jul 07, 2021•31 min
Jason and Matthew continue the conversation from episode 52 with SCI community members, Quinn Brett, Kelsey Peterson and Thomas Cloyd. They discuss each guest’s experience with sex after injury, where they got their information and what they’ve learned and continue to learn. This conversation starts to set the stage for our upcoming episodes with SCI researchers focused on sexual function for pleasure. Once again, this is a frank conversation with language and themes to match. We’d love to get y...
Jun 21, 2021•1 hr 27 min
Episode 52 begins our series on Sex, sex and SCI and the research into restoring sexual function. Matthew and Jason start by talking with Kelsey Peterson, Quinn Brett, and Thomas Cloyd about their experiences with sex after injury: their partners, perceptions, feelings and explorations. This is a frank and explicit conversation, so be prepared. We plan to continue the conversation with multiple interviews and guests. So please send us your comments and questions in order to steer our discussion ...
May 20, 2021•1 hr 12 min
Jimmy Anderson is a state representative in the Wisconsin general Assembly who also lives with an SCI. Jason and Matthew talk with Jimmy about his education, injury and how they led him into politics. They also discuss the effort Jimmy is championing to create a $3 million Wisconsin SCI research program. This push for smart SCI research funding is modeled after similar legislation U2FP’s Cure Advocacy Network has helped pass in other states. Jimmy gives an update on the current status of this pr...
May 12, 2021•1 hr 16 min
Jason and Matthew talk with U2FP's Scientific Advisory Board Director, Sam Maddox about U2FP’s new Headline Patrol and how to read the news about SCI research. Headlines and media coverage of research can often be misleading. Sam talks about his years following and covering the research. He provides a number of suggestions for what to look for, what terms are critical to understand in order to have a better grasp of what the announcement really means for those of us in the SCI community. You can...
Mar 30, 2021•1 hr 11 min
Jason and Matthew speak with Dr. Melissa Miller and Jacqueline Roche from the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program’s SCIRP (Spinal Cord Injury Research Program). SCIRP is a $40 million per year funding program for SCI that is of specific interest because they include people with SCI in the scientific review process. We talk about the program, its funding strategies and most importantly...how much they want to hear from you! So check out the various links below and reach out to them:...
Feb 26, 2021•1 hr 19 min
Jason and Matthew talk with Dr. Richard Toselli, the President, CEO and CMO at Invivo Therapeutics. Invivo has developed and is trialing its Neuro Spinal Scaffold for the treatment of Spinal Cord Injury in the acute setting. We talk with Dr. Toselli about its development, current testing and potential future uses and applications. Dr. Richard Toselli (M.D., M.B.A.), serves as InVivo’s President, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Medical Officer, as well as a Director. A board-certified neurologi...
Dec 18, 2020•1 hr 1 min
Jason and Matthew speak with Leon Ford about his advocacy and activism in Pittsburgh and across the United States. The conversation weaves in and through the wisdom that Leon has earned through tragedy, pain and self reflection...and its relationship to our work of protest and partnership. --- Leon Ford, a native of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania born on March 16, 1993, has accomplished so much in such a short period of time. The well-known author, International speaker, and 2019 City Council candidate...
Nov 02, 2020•1 hr 8 min
Jason and Matthew interview professional climber and passionate spinal cord injury advocate, Quinn Brett. We talk with Quinn about her career as a climber, the 100 foot fall from the face of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park that dropped her into our SCI community, and how she’s navigating the ascents of advocacy. Let us know what you think of the conversation by emailing us at curecast@u2fp.org. Enjoy. -- Born in Minnesota, Quinn Brett somehow was drawn to mountain running and climbing. Her ...
Sep 28, 2020•1 hr 8 min
In episode 45 Jason and Matthew speak with long time activists and twins, Jason and David Carmel. David was injured over two decades ago while vacationing in Mexico. He has gone on to achieve a successful career in biotech. Jason is a PhD / MD researcher at Columbia University researching activity based therapies and electrical stimulation. Their unique connection as twins weaves in and through the conversation for a unique perspective on their journey, work and activism after SCI. -- David A. C...
Aug 19, 2020•1 hr 3 min
Jason and Matthew interview Dr. Gregoire Courtine, the Chief Science Officer of GTX Medical and Professor at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. Dr. Courtine has been researching spinal cord stimulation for over 20 years and is hoping to bring that research to clinical relevance with emerging clinical trials with GTX’s LIFT (non-invasive electrical spinal cord stimulation) and GO2 (targeted epidural spinal stimulation). We will continue the conversation in an upcoming Part 2 with Dr. Cour...
Aug 07, 2020•35 min
Jason and Matthew have a conversation with Bob Yant, 39 years into a spinal cord injury and longtime advocate for spinal cord injury research. Bob founded Cure Medical, a catheter company based in California that donates 10% of its net income to medical research. He is also the founder and president of Axonis Therapeutics, a company committed to delivering a therapeutic for the treatment of SCI. BIO: Following a 1981 accident from which Bob became a quadriplegic, Bob has dedicated himself to rai...
Jul 23, 2020•1 hr 10 min
Jason and Matthew interview Dr. Ethan Perlstein, formerly the Chief Science Officer at the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation and Founder of Perlara. We talk about Ethan’s work to develop a ‘roadmap to cures for paralysis’, along with his experience, reception and impressions for where the cure movement can and should go next. BIO: Over the course of the last decade, first as a graduate student at Harvard University in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology with PhD advisor Professor St...
Jul 10, 2020•1 hr 12 min
Jason and Matthew interview Dr. Susan Harkema, from the University of Louisville. We discuss her long standing research using the strategy of neuromodulation, neuroplasticity and locomotor training to discover and understand the potential for functional recovery after Spinal Cord Injury. For more information about Dr. Harkema and the full complement of her work and research activities, click here: https://louisville.edu/kscirc/basic-research/faculty-1/susan-harkema
Jun 26, 2020•1 hr 37 min
Jason and Matthew interview Drs. Kelly and Roy Cho to discuss COVID-19, their practical understanding of the virus, developing treatment practices and how that intersects with folks who have impairments as a result of disability in general and SCI specifically. Here are some online resources they provided for more information: - http://www.academyscipro.org/covid-19-resources-for-sci-professionals/ - https://www.aacpdm.org/UserFiles/file/covid-19-disability-briefing.pdf Dr. Kelly Cho is a practi...
Jun 11, 2020•51 min
"What is the goal here? What are we trying to do?...and to me it still is and has always been to basically restore near normal function to people that have chronic spinal cord injury…that’s what I wanna talk about….what I’ve learned is that I have to start with that. And I have to start with the following sentence, which is: I believe that’s possible and what I wanna do is to be a part of making that happen.” This is an excerpt from Jason and Matthew’s interview with Dr. Murray Blackmore from Ma...
May 08, 2020•1 hr 11 min
Jason and Matthew interview Dr. Harold Punnett (co-founder and member of the Board of Directors) and Paul Brennan (President and CEO) from NervGen Pharma. They discuss how Dr. Punnett’s daughter-in-law’s Spinal Cord Injury led to the connection with Dr. Jerry Silver (click the link to hear more about the science from episode 19 with Dr. Jerry Silver) and eventually the founding of the company, their proprietary NVG291 (also known as intracellular sigma peptide or ISP) and their hopes for its use...
Apr 24, 2020•1 hr 18 min
Jason and Matthew interview Dr. Sasha Rabchevsky from the University of Kentucky and Dr. Michael Lane from the Drexel College of Medicine. They are both Spinal Cord Injury researchers, and if interested in the specifics of their research you can find earlier podcast interviews with them here. In this interview we talk about how the COVID-19 shutdown has affected the research effort and how researchers and institutions are adapting. We then explore some ideas about what we might see or anticipate...
Apr 10, 2020•1 hr 4 min
Matthew talks with Kelsey Peterson, the woman behind the documentary film SUBMERGED - formerly titled “The Cure Map”. Matthew and Kelsey talk about her pathway to advocacy and the genesis of the Cure Map project, the recent announcement of being the recipient of the highly competitive ITVS Open Call award, the effects of the COVID-19 troubles and lots more. Follow Kelsey on social media here: https://www.facebook.com/submergeddocumentaryfilm/ https://www.instagram.com/submergedfilm/ https://www....
Apr 03, 2020•1 hr 12 min
