Spinal Cast

Zebrafish Regenerate After SCI - Dr. Sam Wattrus

In this LIVE episode of Spinal Cast Peter Morton, Host and Dr. Sam Wattrus sit down to discuss Sam’s research funded by MCPF. They explore why organisms like zebrafish can regenerate their spinal cords while humans cannot. His work focuses on how immune cells called macrophages interact with injured spinal cord tissue and how the signaling molecule Calreticulin may help recruit these cells to the injury site. Dr. Wattrus also shares what other work he finds exciting in the research space. Fascinating stuff! Dr. Wattrus is a Junior Fellow in the Department of Molecular Biology (Wattrus Lab) at Massachusetts General Hospital. He received his undergraduate and PhD degree from Harvard. He is also a member of Forbes 30 Under 30 in science (2024). Special thanks to Dr. Wattrus for being our guest! This production is a collaborative effort of volunteers working to create a quality audio and visual experience around the subject of spinal cory injury research. Thanks to David Stevens for provided technical and editing support. Most important – THANK YOU for being part of the Spinal Cast audience! Interested in watching these episodes?! Check out our YouTube playlist! - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL40rLlxGS4VzgAjW8P6Pz1mVWiN0Jou3v [https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL40rLlxGS4VzgAjW8P6Pz1mVWiN0Jou3v] If you'd like to learn more about the Morton Cure Paralysis Fund you can visit our website at - https://mcpf.org/ [https://mcpf.org/] Donations are always appreciated - https://mcpf.org/you-can-help/ [https://mcpf.org/you-can-help/]

A New Direction

Transitions take some getting used to - but often they open the door to something better. Over the years, our most-listened-to episodes have been those focused on specific research breakthroughs. With that in mind, Spinal Cast will be evolving in 2026 to a quarterly format, with Peter Morton stepping into the host role. Who better to guide these conversations than Peter himself - especially as we dive deeper into the research funded by MCPF and the impact it’s having on the spinal cord injury community? These live episodes with researchers will create more opportunities for real-time engagement with individuals living with SCI, as well as their families, friends, and our supporters. While we’re excited about what’s ahead, this transition comes with a heartfelt note of gratitude and appreciation for David Stevens. David’s curiosity, thoughtfulness, and ability to ask the questions that truly mattered helped shape Spinal Cast into what it is today. His voice, perspective, humor, and steady presence will be deeply missed in this role. Join us as we begin this next chapter of Spinal Cast - honoring where we’ve been and excited about what lies ahead. If you happen to miss a live episode – no worries. You will have access on your favorite listening platforms, just like before. Thank YOU for being part of the Spinal Cast audience! Interested in watching these episodes?! Check out our YouTube playlist! - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL40rLlxGS4VzgAjW8P6Pz1mVWiN0Jou3v [https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL40rLlxGS4VzgAjW8P6Pz1mVWiN0Jou3v] If you'd like more information about the Morton Cure Paralysis Fund you can find us at - https://mcpf.org/ [https://mcpf.org/] Donations are always appreciated - https://mcpf.org/you-can-help/ [https://mcpf.org/you-can-help/]

Change Comes From Action - Jeff Toby

Meet Jeff Toby from St. Paul, Minnesota. At just 22, a motorcycle accident left him a C5 quadriplegic — but it didn’t stop his drive. Instead of following his family’s business, Jeff turned his energy toward finding a cure for paralysis. Through decades of advocacy and 26 years of organizing golf tournaments, he’s helped raise more than $500,000 for spinal cord research. In this episode of Spinal Cast, Jeff shares what it’s really like to live long-term with a spinal cord injury, why research still matters, and how community keeps hope alive. He’s honest about his frustration with the slow pace of progress, but also energized by today’s breakthroughs — because every neurological discovery brings us one step closer to cures for multiple diseases. Jeff reminds us that change takes all of us — those injured, their families, and friends — working together to keep pushing forward. We can’t take our foot off the gas. Everyone has a role to play in finding new therapies and driving the future of spinal cord injury research. Special thanks to Jeff for being our guest! This production is a collaborative effort of volunteers working to create a quality audio and visual experience around the subject of spinal cord injury. A special shout out of appreciation to Clientek for providing studio space and top-notch recording equipment. Most importantly, thank YOU for being part of the Spinal Cast audience! Interested in watching these episodes?! Check out our YouTube playlist! - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL40rLlxGS4VzgAjW8P6Pz1mVWiN0Jou3v [https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL40rLlxGS4VzgAjW8P6Pz1mVWiN0Jou3v] If you'd like to learn more about the Morton Cure Paralysis Fund you can visit our website at - https://mcpf.org/ [https://mcpf.org/] Donations are always appreciated - https://mcpf.org/you-can-help/ [https://mcpf.org/you-can-help/]

Going Off-Road - Topher Downham

In this episode of Spinal Cast, we are joined by Topher Downham, an adventurer, educator, and quadriplegic whose happiest moments are spent in the great outdoors. Passionate about helping others with disabilities connect to nature, Topher helped create a trail guidebook for Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks, rides adaptive bikes built for every kind of terrain, travels the globe for new experiences, and started Omni Accessible, a firm that provides knowledge and expertise of outdoor accessibility world-wide. We talk about physical challenges, the thrill of trying new things, and the mutual benefit of connecting with people – especially under the open sky. Topher’s journey is as inspiring as the landscapes he explores. As Topher says: “Magic happens out there!” Topher’s bio and links to organizations are mentioned in the podcast, plus many other adaptive organizations can be found here: https://mcpf.org/topher-downham-bio/ [https://mcpf.org/topher-downham-bio/] Special thanks to Topher for being our guest! This production is a collaborative effort of volunteers working to create a quality audio and visual experience around the subject of spinal cord injury. A special shout out of appreciation to Clientek for providing studio space and top-notch recording equipment. Most importantly, thank YOU for being part of the Spinal Cast audience! Interested in watching these episodes?! Check out our YouTube playlist! - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL40rLlxGS4VzgAjW8P6Pz1mVWiN0Jou3v [https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL40rLlxGS4VzgAjW8P6Pz1mVWiN0Jou3v] If you'd like to learn more about the Morton Cure Paralysis Fund you can visit our website at - https://mcpf.org/ [https://mcpf.org/] Donations are always appreciated - https://mcpf.org/you-can-help/ [https://mcpf.org/you-can-help/]

Finding Your People - Beth Reeves & Vanessa Jewell

In this episode of Spinal Cast, we explore what it really means to meet someone where they are on their recovery journey. Our guests, Beth Reeves, a clinical social worker and Vanessa Jewell, an occupational therapist from The Institute of Rehabilitation and Research (TIRR) Memorial Herman Outpatient Rehabilitation, share how support groups and learning new skills – whether over Zoom or in person opens doors to new confidence and connection after an injury. They discuss how peer-to-peer connections spark inspiration, celebrate shared victories, and make daunting transitions feel doable. From learning new technologies to adapting to a new way of living, the friendships formed in these spaces create a community that says, “you’re not alone.” This conversation is a reminder that you don’t have to go down an unfamiliar road by yourself – you’ve got friends who’ve been there, and they’ve got your back. TIRR Memorial Hermann Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation: https://memorialhermann.org/services/treatments/spinal-cord-injury-rehabilitation [https://memorialhermann.org/services/treatments/spinal-cord-injury-rehabilitation] Bios for Beth and Vanessa can be found here: https://mcpf.org/tirr-bios/ [https://mcpf.org/tirr-bios/]. Special thanks to Beth and Vanessa for being our guests! This production is a collaborative effort of volunteers working to create a quality audio and visual experience around the subject of spinal cord injury. A special shout out of appreciation to Clientek for providing studio space and top-notch recording equipment. Most importantly, thank YOU for being part of the Spinal Cast audience! Interested in watching these episodes?! Check out our YouTube playlist! - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL40rLlxGS4VzgAjW8P6Pz1mVWiN0Jou3v [https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL40rLlxGS4VzgAjW8P6Pz1mVWiN0Jou3v] If you'd like to learn more about the Morton Cure Paralysis Fund you can visit our website at - https://mcpf.org/ [https://mcpf.org/] Donations are always appreciated - https://mcpf.org/you-can-help/ [https://mcpf.org/you-can-help/]