Oral Histories
Read inspiring stories from NHLBI researchers who have uncovered new ways to improve our health.
Dr. Sean Agbor-Enoh:Dr. Sean Agbor-Enoh uses cell-free DNA to study COVID-19. His work has improved patients’ lives and helped with planning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read Dr. Sean Agbor-Enoh’s oral history.
Dr. Nihal Altan-Bonnet: Dr. Nihal Altan-Bonnet is uncovering how coronaviruses leave cells and is learning more about how COVID-19 might affect our immune system.Read Dr. Nihal Altan-Bonnet’s oral history.
Captain Julie Erb-Alvarez: Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, Captain Julie Erb-Alvarez helped Americans on the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan and led important research for COVID-19 treatments. Read Captain Julie Erb-Alvarez’s oral history.
Dr. Simone Glynn: Dr. Simone Glynn’s work for the Recipient Epidemiology and Donor Evaluation Study (REDS) looked at how blood donors play an important role in helping to combat COVID-19. Read Dr. Simone Glynn’s oral history.
Dr. Yogen Kanthi: Dr. Yogen Kanthi studies neutrophil extracellular traps (NET) and calprotectin in the blood. NET and calprotectin could help predict how severe a person’s COVID-19 symptoms might become. Read Dr. Yogen Kanthi’s oral history.
Dr. Han Wen: Dr. Han Wen improved magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), specifically for scanning chests and hearts. Read Dr. Han Wen’s oral history.
Dr. Clarice Reid: Dr. Clarice Reid’s work and leadership has made a lasting impact on the sickle cell disease program at the NHLBI. Read Dr. Clarice Reid’s oral history.
The NHLBI’s 70th Anniversary Lectures
The NHLBI’s 70th Anniversary Lectures, which were recorded in 2018, highlight well-respected experts and leaders in heart, lung, and blood research. Listen to their experiences.
“Unraveling the Mysteries of Cardiovascular Disease: Lessons from the NHLBI’s Framingham Heart Study”: Learn about the Framingham Heart Study, one of the first long-term population studies. For 75 years, this research has helped us better understand what can cause heart problems and has changed how we think about heart health. The study has also led to new discoveries in our genes that could help improve medicine for heart disease. The lecture is archived in the NIH Record and via video recording.
“Hearts, Spiders, and Relaxation: Voyages in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy”: Hear from Dr. Christine Seidman, who discovered the genes that play a role in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Her work moves us toward new treatments and ways to prevent these heart conditions in the future. The lecture is archived in the NIH Record and via video recording.
“Understanding the Journey: The Past, Present, and Future of Cardiovascular Disease in Women”: Explore the trailblazing efforts of Dr. Nanette Wenger, a pioneer in studying heart disease in women. She talks about how women are not included enough in research studies and advocates for more inclusive research and better health campaigns. The lecture is archived in the NIH Record and via video recording.
“Clinical Cardiovascular Research Inspired by the NHLBI: A Personal Odyssey”: Dr. Eugene Braunwald is a leader in heart medicine. His work has changed how we monitor hearts and conduct heart surgeries and has helped more people survive heart attacks. He believes that by using precise medicine and studying genes, we can make big changes in how we care for patients. The lecture is archived in the NIH Record and via video recording.
“The NHLBI, Tobacco, and Health: 70 Years of Progress”: Dr. Jonathan Samet, an expert on the health risks of smoking, shares insights from his studies on e-cigarettes. He outlines the ongoing effort to keep young and diverse people safe. The lecture is archived in the NIH Record and via video recording.
“Hematopoietic Stem Cell Derivation From Pluripotent Stem Cells”: Discover the groundbreaking work of Dr. George Q. Daley, a top scientist who studies blood and cells. He has pushed the boundaries of science to create stem cells that can live forever and be copied. Learn about the potential future of blood manufacturing and the exciting possibilities it holds for medical advancements. The lecture is archived in the NIH Record and via video recording.
Division of Lung Diseases’ 50th Anniversary Live Discussions
Listen to Division of Lung Diseases experts in a series of live discussions from 2019. They talk about new and creative technologies, treatments, and plans to tackle different lung conditions.
Dr. Sara Lin: When Dr. Sara Lin began working at the NHLBI in 2010, there was no lung regeneration program. Learn how the NHLBI has since advanced lung regeneration research and has accelerated programs to impact the lung research and lung disease community. Watch via video recording.
Dr. Lora Reineck: Dr. Lora Reineck talks about the value of studying effective methods to put good ideas into action. Learn how the NHLBI has increased support for implementation research over the years. Watch via video recording.
Dr. Lisa Postow: Dr. Lisa Postow highlights the importance of prevention research in lung disease and lung health. Learn how the NHLBI continues to expand support for lung disease prevention research and programming. Watch via video recording.
Dr. Tom Croxton and Dr. Josh Fessel: Dr. Tom Croxton and Dr. Josh Fessel discuss the future directions of precision medicine in lung disease and lung health. Learn how the NHLBI continues to expand support for precision health research and how you can get involved. Watch via video recording.