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/)
28 Dec 2025
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/)
26 Oct 2025
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/)
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 40 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
67
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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