In 1960, a pregnant mother walked into Providence Lying-In Hospital for a routine checkup and sat down in a marked chair. That simple act enrolled her — and her child — in a groundbreaking research project known as the New England Family Study.

Decades later, the data collected from those marked chairs continues to transform how we understand brain development, spinal cord health,and human lifespan. In this episode, host Megan Hall speaks with principal investigator Dr. Steve Buka, Professor of Epidemiology at the Brown University School of Public Health. Together, they trace the origins of this ambitious study, explore its modern-day impact and examine how public health research subtly shapes our everyday lives.

Show Notes & Credits:

• Learn More: Visit nefsstudy.com to explore the New England Family Study.
• Production: Produced by Nat Hardy and recorded at the Upward and Onward studio at CIC Providence.
• Music & Audio: Sound effects recorded by Andrzej Maciejewski (CC-BY-NC); music recorded at the Jazz Club de Dunkerque by Jean-François Carvo.

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