Member Highlight: Dr. Drew Helmer, CEC Director and CEET Co-Lead
The Gulf Coast Center for Precision Environmental Health (GC-CPEH) is pleased to announce the launch of a new podcast, Between Service & Science: The Veterans’ Health Podcast.
Led by Dr. Drew Helmer, Co-Director of the Community Engagement Core (CEC), this podcast brings together researchers, clinicians, veterans, and community voices to explore emerging research on environmental exposures and their effects on veteran health.
Each episode highlights a recent study and translates complex science into clear, practical insights for veterans and their families. The series reflects the CEC’s commitment to making research accessible, building trust with communities, and ensuring that scientific findings inform real-world health decisions.
The inaugural episode, “Problems in the Powerhouse: Gulf War Illness and the Mitochondria,” features Dr. Dane B. Cook of the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The discussion explores how mitochondrial dysfunction may contribute to Gulf War Illness and what these findings could mean for future research and care.
A second episode, “Can OEA Reduce Fatigue in Gulf War Veterans?”, features Dr. Laila Abdullah and examines the potential of oleoylethanolamide (OEA) as a novel approach to addressing fatigue and related symptoms.
This podcast represents an important step in expanding GC-CPEH’s translational efforts – connecting scientific discovery with lived experience and strengthening engagement with veteran communities.