Einstein On...

In Their Own Words: Participants Cancer survivors Dolores Nelson, Margie Pesante and Emma Pacheco describe how the drum circle and other mind-body workshops have helped them to cope with the challenges that come with diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

Drum Circle in Action Beat it!…Hear the rhythms and see the smiles in the lively drum circle, the newest offering in the workshops series for those affected by cancer.

Volunteers First-year Einstein medical students Doug Tremblay and Chelsea McGuire, drum circle leaders, talk about how volunteering has helped them to understand a different side of patient care.

The Longevity Genes Project at Einstein is a study of more than 500 healthy centenarians, near-centenarians and their children. Learn more about this exciting research project whose aim is to unlock the genetic keys to healthier, longer life. Dr. Nir Barzilai, who leads the project, explains his quest to significantly delay age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and cardiovascular disease. You’ll also meet four centenarians or near-centenarians whose stories will inspire you. To watch all of the videos in the series, please visit www.superagers.com. (Trailer runs 1:37)

Nir Barzilai, M.D., Principal Investigator The Longevity Genes Project at Einstein is a study of more than 500 healthy centenarians, near-centenarians and their children. In this video, principal investigator Dr. Nir Barzilai, director of the Institute for Aging Research and director of the Nathan Shock Center of Excellence in the Basic Biology of Aging, discusses the findings to date. Dr. Barzilai also explains his personal and professional quest for ways to significantly delay age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and to help people live longer, healthier lives. To watch all of the videos in the series, please visit www.superagers.com.

Lilly Port, Age 96, Study Participant Study participant Lilly Port’s love of adventure began early in life. She talks about leaving Vienna in 1941 to come to the United States, where she became a radio talk-show host and author of one of the first books written to empower people with disabilities. Although Lilly owns an apartment in a retirement community, she says she’s too young to live there. To watch all of the videos in the series, please visit www.superagers.com.

Harold Laufman, Age 98, Study Participant Study participant Harold Laufman, who served as professor of surgery at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and director of the Institute for Surgical Studies at Montefiore Medical Center, talks about his inexhaustible curiosity that fueled his drive to become a combat surgeon, violinist, commercial artist, entrepreneur and author. To watch all of the videos in the series, please visit www.superagers.com.

Irma Daniel, Age 103, Study Participant Study participant Irma Daniel believes that working and “never sitting still” are the best ways to stay young. She talks about fleeing Nazi Germany with her husband and five-year-old son in 1938 and her new opportunity in America. To watch all of the videos in the series, please visit www.superagers.com.

Irving Kahn, Age 104, Study Participant Study participant and investment advisor Irving Kahn began his career before the stock market crash of 1929 and is widely respected in the field of value investing. In 1978, he founded Kahn Brothers Group, Inc., where he is still chair of the firm. He says it would be foolish to retire. To watch all of the videos in the series, please visit www.superagers.com.

Harris Goldstein, M.D., director of the Einstein-Montefiore Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) discusses the global progress in HIV/AIDS research, his own research and his recent trip to South Africa, the country with the largest HIV epidemic in the world according to UNAIDS. Interviewed by Einstein’s Gordon Earle.

During an October 2010 presentation before the Einstein Faculty Senate, Allen M. Spiegel, M.D., the Marilyn and Stanley M. Katz Dean, starts by detailing a sharp increase in National Institutes of Health funding for Einstein, then describes an updated strategic research plan with new areas of focus, including platform technologies, how Einstein investigators can study the interaction of genes and the environment to cause human disease, and how to make further progress in stimulating research at the Einstein-Montefiore Medical Center interface.

Paul Frenette, M.D., professor of medicine and of cell biology and director of the Ruth L. and David S. Gottesman Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research at Einstein, discusses the promises and challenges of using and developing stem cell therapies to treat a variety of diseases. Interviewed by Einstein's Paul Moniz. Read full transcript |

How vulnerable are we to bioterrorism? Arturo Casadevall, M.D., Ph.D., chair of microbiology and immunology at Einstein and deputy director of the Northeast Biodefense Center, discusses the progress and the barriers in the perpetual fight against biological attacks—by man and by nature.

Recent studies project the number of people in the U.S. with diabetes will double to 44.1 million by 2034. Allen M. Spiegel, M.D., the Marilyn and Stanley M. Katz Dean and former director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases describes the proactive measures needed to tackle the diabetes epidemic and reduce human suffering and healthcare costs.

Michael Alderman, M.D., professor of epidemiology and population health and of medicine and the Atran Foundation Chair in Social Medicine, discusses the April 2010 announcement that the FDA is planning a far-reaching effort to reduce the amount of salt in the American diet. Dr. Alderman explains why he believes more research is needed before salt guidelines are made universal. Interviewed by Einstein’s Gordon Earle.

Mahalia Desruisseaux, M.D., assistant professor of medicine and pathology, reflects on the events during and after the earthquake that struck Haiti on February 12, 2010. Dr. Desruisseaux, a native of Haiti, lost three family members along with her childhood home during this tragedy. Immediately following the earthquake, Dr. Desruisseaux felt compelled to return to Haiti and help in the medical relief and recovery of her country. This is her story.

Pioneering cancer researchers Susan Band Horwitz, Ph.D., distinguished professor and co-chair of molecular pharmacology at Einstein, and Mina Bissell, Ph.D., distinguished scientist at Berkeley National Laboratory, discuss their research, the future of cancer treatment and life as women scientists. Interviewed by Einstein's Paul Moniz.

Richard Kitsis, M.D., professor of medicine (cardiology) and of cell biology, the Dr. Gerald and Myra Dorros Chair in Cardiovascular Disease, and director of the Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research Institute, puts this devastating killer into sharp focus, detailing the causes, costs and research underway at Einstein. Interviewed by Einstein’s Gordon Earle.

Solomon Moshe, M.D., director of the division of pediatric neurology, and Shlomo Shinnar, M.D., Ph.D., professor of neurology and pediatrics, discuss three decades of epilepsy research. Their collaboration bridges the gap between basic and clinical research. Interviewed by Einstein’s Karen Gardner.

Dan Kelly, M.D., who graduated from Einstein in 2008, discusses his experience running the global health program for an amputee community in the West African nation of Sierra Leone. Dr. Kelly is currently a resident of Baylor College of Medicine. Interviewed by Einstein’s Karen Gardner.