Education and Events
Team Science Education Translated into Practice
Periodical workshops led by Dr. K. Ravid with participation of ARC directors
1. Review reputable published data documenting the value of teamwork in creating new and greater knowledge, and how team structure and collaboration enhance performance in complex environments, informing the design and development of resilient and creative teams, drawing on network science; 2. Introduction of new ways of applying theories of team-based science to practice through building novel Affinity Research Collaboratives (ARCs), anchored in five core principles–Capability; Cooperation; Communication; Coaching; Conditions–leading to cohesive, collaborative teams, whose members typically speak different “scientific languages. ARC principles are described in our published papers (see below) and in: https://www.bumc.bu.edu/evanscenteribr/the-arcs/process /; 3. Review and learn from published methods, and, importantly, from our own ARC experiential challenges and opportunities, granted by practicing interdisciplinary science in general and in context of biomedical research.
Examples of literature and data analyzed during educational workshops:
From our own experience:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23269301/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23874035/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28445220/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28720207/
Examples of recent and past articles reviewed in workshops:
> Artificial intelligence in biomedical team science: perceptions, practices, and training needs (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41646907/)
> Team Science evaluation (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK617876/)
> A framework for developing team science expertise using a reflective-reflexive design method (R2DM) (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-023-02298-2)
> Moving the Science of Team Science Forward: Collaboration and Creativity (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18619406/)
Upcoming ARC Events: Symposia, Synopsis 5′, Seminars & Workshops
New ARC Initiative to present:
Connect with Boston University’s aging research community at this fast-paced event featuring 15 interdisciplinary speakers sharing innovative research, followed by a networking reception.
Explore new collaborations, exchange ideas, and help shape the future of interdisciplinary aging research at BU.
Monday 10/26/26: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Aging Research: Synopsis 5′
12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
650 Albany St (MED), room X714/715
Speakers & Topics
Tuesday 10/13/26: B4D ARC monthly research seminar
1:00 – 2:00 pm 650 Albany St, W528 or Zoom
Sarah Mazzilli, Ph.D.: “Airway Injury & Lung Squamous Precancerous Lesions to Inform Early Lung Cancer Intervention”
Thursday 10/15/26: Shining Light on Interdisciplinary Collaborative Research
part of DoM Evans Research Days
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
72 East Concord St, Keefer Auditorium
“Redefining Cognitive Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease Through Next-Generation Digital Cognitive Biomarkers.”
(supported by the ARC program and the Hariri Institute)
Presenters:
Stacy Andersen, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Co-director, New England Centenarian Study &
Katherine A. Gifford, PsyD, Associate Professor of Anatomy & Neurobiology; FHS- Brain Aging Program Precision Brain Health Initiative
David L. Coleman, MD, Junior Faculty Prize Presentation & Talks
Awardees:
Kostas Alysandratos, MD, PHD
Simeon Kimmel, MD, MA
Pranay Sinha, MD
September 2026
Wednesday 9/9/26: Musculoskeletal Health (MHet) ARC September Invited Lecture
(Virtual)
9:00 am – 10:00 am
“A precision medicine approach for treatment of low bone mass in Klinefelter Syndrome.”
Dr. Rene’ St- Arnaud
Professor Pediatric Musculoskeletal Research
McGill University
Tuesday 9/15/26: B4D-ARC September 2026 monthly research seminar by Dr. Qian Zhong
(Virtual)
1:00 pm – 2:oo pm
“The Lung-to-Body Pathway: Inhaled Biosensors for Noninvasive Profiling of Extrapulmonary Protease Activity.”
July 2026
Tuesday 7/21/26: BU Women’s Health ARC: July meeting
(Hybrid)
9:00 am – 10:00 am
610 Comm Ave (CRC), CILSE room 106B
Goal: workshopping 3 Pilot Grants in preparation for Year 2 ARC renewal
“Light, camera, action: Using high-speed speckle contrast optical spectroscopy (SCOS) to generate actionable insights into perinatal blood pressure”
Co-Is: Darren Roblyer, BME (COE); Collette Ncube, Epidemiology (SPH); Mara Murray Horwitz, General Internal Medicine (SOM); Kelly Treder, Ob/Gyn (SOM), Sheree Boulet, Ob/Gyn (SOM)
“Menstrual Cycle Bioreactor: A Feedback-Controlled Ex Vivo Platform for Sex-Specific Tissue Remodeling Research”
Co-Is: Brianne Connizzo, BME (COE); Miguel Jimenez, BME (COE); Wendy Kuohung, Ob/Gyn (SOM)
“Health Across the Lifespan: A Multi-Generational Approach to Maternal Physical Activity, Neurocognitive Resilience, and Child Development”
Co-Is: Simone V. Gill, SAR; Kathleen Corriveau; Amanda Tarullo; Edson Filho; Karin Schon; Yvette Cozier; Jungwun Lee, SPH
January 2026
Wednesday 1/14/26: VITAL Pre-ARC & Hariri Institute Focused Research Program Workshop: Driving Data-an AI PRISM workshop
10:00 am – 1:00 pm
665 Commonwealth Ave (Charles River Campus)
Hariri Building 1101
co-hosted by the VITAL Pre-ARC & the Hariri Focused Research Program
Wednesday 1/14/26: B4D ARC monthly research seminar
1:00 – 2:00 pm 650 Albany St, W528 or Zoom
Dr. Jessica Fetterman: “Creation of the Lifelong Endowment for Genomic and Cellular DiscoverY Program”
Wednesday 1/28/26: Mobile and Electronic Health ARC Seminar
(Virtual)
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Invited Speaker: Dr. Pauline Whelan, Honorary Senior Research Fellow, University of Manchester & Chief Operating Officer of CareLoop Health Ltd
“Self-Management and Remote Monitoring for People with Psychosis”
February 2026
(hybrid)
635 Comm Ave, room 236 (Charles River Campus)
8:30 am – 10 am
Presenter: Elaine Huang, MS
“Deep Learning in Histopathological Whole Slide Images (WSIs) for Breast Cancer Subtype Classification”
Health Economics in Alzheimer’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease–Related Dementias (AD/ADRD) Mini-Symposium
Format: 15 minute talks with 5 minutes for Q&A for each speaker, and then a 15 minute panel discussion at the end
Tuesday 2/24/26 (postponed, rescheduled to 5/11/26): Mobile and Electronic Health ARC Seminar
(Virtual)
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Invited Speaker: John Piette, PhD, University of Michigan
“Improving Healthcare Access, Efficiency, and Quality Using Machine Learning and NLP”
Wednesday 2/25/26 (postponed): Food as Medicine Pre-ARC mini-symposium
L403, 72 East Concord St (Medical Campus)
2:00 pm – 4:15 pm
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Fang Fang Zhang, Tufts University
Full Agenda & Registration Will Appear Here with new date
March 2026
Wednesday 3/18/26: MHet ARC Trainees Presentation
(hybrid)
635 Comm Ave, room 236 (Charles River Campus)
8:30 am – 10 am
Presenter: Nargiz Valikhanova
“Exploring role of Schwann cell precursors in fracture healing“
Presenter: Henry Brisebois
“Quantitative Raman Imaging for Label-Free Characterization of the Extracellular Matrix: Applications in Cartilage and Lung”
Thursday 3/19/26: TIARA ARC mini-symposium
L403, 72 East Concord St (Medical Campus & Zoom)
11:30 am – 2:30 pm
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Sarah Fortune, “Pursuing Tuberculosis Elimination from Genes to the Globe”
John LaPorte Given Professor of Immunology and Infectious Diseases
Chair, Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Chair of the Department of Immunology and Infectious Disease
Thursday 3/19/26: Mobile and Electronic Health ARC Seminar
(Virtual)
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Invited Speaker: Nicholas Jacobson, PhD, Dartmouth College
“Therabot: 6.5 Years and Over 100,000 Human Hours Building and Evaluating the First Generative AI Psychotherapy Chatbot“
Monday 3/23/26: B4D ARC mini-symposium
X714/715, 650 Albany St (Medical Campus)
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Shannon Stott, Chair of the BU Biomedical Engineering Department, “Microfluidics for detecting rare biomarkers in disease”
April 2026
Tuesday 4/7/26: Mobile and Electronic Health ARC Seminar
(Virtual)
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Invited Speaker: Timothy Bickmore, PhD, Northeastern University
“Embodiment, Empathy, and Engagement in Automated Health Counseling “
Friday 4/10 & Saturday 4/11/26: Medical AI Hackathon
co-sponsored by the Evans Center IBR & others
4/10: 3-6pm & 4/11: 9aa-6pm
CDS building, 665 Commonwealth Ave, 17th floor
Registration is closed; all spots are filled at this time.
contact: Dr. Vijaya Kolachalama, ARC co-director
Monday 4/13/26: 3rd Annual MHet ARC Mini-Symposium
11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Photonics Building, 8 St. Mary’s St, 906 Colloquium Room
New this year:There will be opportunities for top scoring abstracts to be selected for short talks. Abstract submissions are closed.
Thursday 4/23/26: Precision Medicine for Alzheimer Disease & Related Disorders ARC Program: April Seminar
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
(Virtual)
Wednesday 4/29/26: Precision Medicine for Alzheimer’s Disease: 6th Annual FHS-BAP Symposium
12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Please register for this year’s symposium by following the instructions in the attached registration flyer
Wednesday 4/29/26: Food as Medicine Pre-ARC Mini-symposium
650 Albany St, room X714&715
2:00 pm – 4:15 pm
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Fang Fang Zhang, Tufts University
Full Agenda
May 2026
Tuesday 5/5/26: BU BIRCWH & Women’s Health Research ARC Symposium: Boston Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health Symposium
9:30 pm – 3:15 pm
665 Commonwealth Ave(Charles River Campus)
Hariri Building 1101
co-hosted by the BU Women’s Health Research ARC, Boston BIRCWH sites (BU/BMC, Tufts/Tufts Medical, MGB), Hariri Institute
Keynote Speaker: Harriette GC Van Spall, MD, MPH, FRCРС, “Opportunity and Unintended Consequences with Use of Al to Advance Women’s Health Research”
Monday 5/11/26: Mobile and Electronic Health ARC May Seminar
(Virtual)
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Invited Speaker: John Piette, PhD, University of Michigan
“Improving Healthcare Access, Efficiency, and Quality Using Machine Learning and NLP”
Tuesday 5/12/26: B4D ARC May Seminar
(Hybrid)
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Invited Speaker: Haolin (Leo) Li, PhD,BU SPH
“Improving Decision-Making in Oncology Basket Clinical Trials: Challenges of Small Sample Sizes and Heterogeneous Treatment Effects”
Wednesday 5/27/26: MHet May Seminar
(Virtual)
9:00 am – 10:00 am
Invited Speaker: Young C. Jang, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Emory Musculoskeletal Institute
Department of Orthopaedics, Emory School of Medicine
“Integrative bioengineering approaches to rejuvenate aging skeletal muscle“
June 2026
Tuesday 6/2/26: BU Women’s Health ARC: June meeting
(Hybrid)
9:00 am – 10:00 am
72 East Concord St (MED Campus), room Evans 112A
Presenter: Miguel Jimenez, PhD, Assistant Professor, BME, MSE
“Menstrual Cycle Bioreactor: An Ex Vivo System for Sex-Specific Tissue Research”
Presenters: Collette N. Ncube, DrPH MPH MS, Assistant Professor, Epidemiology, SPH
&
Ariane Garrett, PhD, Postdoctoral Researcher, Biomedical Engineering
[presenting on behalf of Darren Robyler, Professor of Biomedical Engineering & Graduate Chair, Biomedical Engineering]
“Light, camera, action: Using high-speed speckle contrast optical spectroscopy (SCOS) to generate actionable insights into perinatal blood pressures”
Presenter: Simone V. Gill, PhD, Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy, SAR
“Health Across the Lifespan: A Multi-Generational Approach to Maternal Physical Activity, Neurocognitive Resilience, and Child Development”
Tuesday 6/9/26: ARC Program on Thrombosis and Hemostasis and the CVI collaborative mini-symposium
(Hybrid)
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
650 Albany St, X715 Invited Speaker: Elisabeth Battinelli, MD, PhD, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital
“Role of platelets in cancer immunity”
Dr. Katya Ravid “Diet-Cardio-Oncology axis”
Dr. Vipul Chitalia “Diet-Cardio-Oncology axis”
Wednesday 6/24/26: MHet June Seminar
(Virtual)
9:00 am – 10:00 am
Invited Speaker: Matt Yousefzadeh, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Columbia Center for Translational Immunology and the Burch-Lodge Center for Human Longevity
Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center
“Senescent cells as a driver of aging and dysfunction”
New Talks will be announced as scheduled.
Read about the new Tech Talks! series “From Evolving Technologies to Discoveries”
