Beth Pollack Email & Phone Number

Boston, Ma, Us

Cambridge, Ma, Us

I’m a research scientist at MIT, and lead research on a group of complex chronic illnesses and the connections between them. I have a particular focus on mechanisms of Long COVID and ME/CFS, and an interest in illness overlaps, less studied pathologies, and potential therapeautics. I also spearhead our MIT lab’s expansion into ME/CFS, connective tissue disorders, and other associated conditions. I am building a cross-illness initiative encompassing multiple research projects and studies that map shared pathologies, pathomechanisms, and comorbidity in overlapping infection-associated and multi-system chronic diseases. My goal is to conduct impactful translational research that advances knowledge of how and why these illnesses co-occur, and that helps patients and physicians improve diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. Illnesses I study in the Tal Research Group at MIT include ME/CFS, Long COVID, long Lyme, mast cell activation disorders, dysautonomia/POTS, ehlers-danlos syndrome, fibromyalgia, endometriosis - and their associations with autoimmune, gastrointestinal, spinal, reproductive health, neuropathic, and sleep disorders.I also contribute to our immunoengineering lab’s multiple studies, grant writing, and fundraising. I contributed to the study design and survey writing of the MAESTRO clinical study, the largest clinical study in MIT history. MAESTRO conducts neurological, pathogen, and immune profiling to predict and better understand disease trajectories, phenotypes, and who recovers from infection and who develops chronic illness. There’s incredible value and insight to be gained from examining the relationships between this group of illnesses. Historically, they have often been siloed and their connections have been overlooked, contributing to research and clinical setbacks, and lengthy diagnostic delays.

Cambridge, Ma, Us

Proud to be an inaugural member of the new Tal Research Group at MIT. We’re building an immunoengineering lab to study infection associated chronic illnesses, including Lyme disease, Long COVID, and ME/CFS. We develop new research and technologies to better diagnose and improve clinical treatments for invisible chronic diseases. Our vision is to better understand, solve, and treat chronic disease, and to illuminate risk factors including why these illnesses disproportionately impact women.https://talresearchgroup.mit.edu

I am a research collaborator with PLRC. Through PLRC, I collaborate and advise on Janet Mullington’s Long COVID and ME/CFS sleep study at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. The study examines patterns and mechanisms of sleep dysfunction in Long Covid and ME/CFS patients. I have provided advice and feedback to PLRC on various projects, and co-authored multiple papers on Long COVID and infection-associated chronic illnesses with PLRC. I was selected to serve on a scientific panel where we allocated nearly $5 million in grant funding to support innovative research on Long Covid, ME/CFS, and associated illnesses. (2022-23)As part of my work on the panel, I helped to:• co-author the RFA and define research priorities• design grant evaluation criteria • review and score many grants• develop new research protocols for grantees, including mandatory screening for common comorbid illnesses and lumbar puncture safety protocols for higher risk patients. https://patientresearchcovid19.com/projects/patient-led-research-fund/

Boston, Ma, Us

I lead environmental health/sustainability and health initiatives for GRITS. This is volunteer work. GRITS is a web platform for managing sustainability projects and tracking related data. Over 800+ institutions in the US and internationally currently use GRITS to manage and track sustainability, energy efficiency, and carbon emissions projects spanning over 12,000 buildings. Through using GRITS, institutions have tracked and generated over $550,000,000 in cumulative energy efficiency savings. GRITS is a project of the Sustainable Endowments Institute, whom I advise on matters related to general strategy as well as public health and environmental health.

Bethesda, Md, Us

• Chair, Less Studied Pathologies Subgroup• Member, Circulation Subgroup• Member, NIH ME/CFS Working Group• Invited/selected by the NIH to join this NIH Working Group to establish a Research Roadmap for the illness ME/CFS. Our goal is to collaboratively write a comprehensive strategic plan to advance the field towards clinical trials and therapeutics research for ME/CFS. We also define and advise the NIH on research priorities for ME/CFS. This is all volunteer work. • As Chair of the Less Studied Pathologies Subgroup, I organized and led a 4 hour NIH webinar on the current state of research, research gaps, and potential therapeutics related to less studied topics including: mast cell activation disorders, connective tissue disorders, spinal conditions, GI conditions, neuroendocrine dysfunction, and reproductive health in ME/CFS - all issues that greatly impact many patients but are under-researched. I proposed this webinar, gave three research talks during the webinar, and co-moderated the webinar. • I wrote the sections on Less Studied Pathologies for our NIH Research Roadmap Report (to be published in 2024). This includes a scientific review of the research and topics discussed in the Less Studied Pathologies webinar, and a list of research priorities for these topics for the field.

Cambridge, Massachusetts, Us

Led environmental health research and policy projects. Research focused on improving public health and the health of indoor environments through safer products and by limiting exposures to chemicals of concern.Conducted multiple studies and environmental health research on consumer product safety and transparency; chemical and health policies in the private and public sectors; and the use of chemicals of concern in consumer products. Developed expertise in environmental health and health policy. Researched differences in formulation and the use of chemicals of concern in the same products sold in the US and Europe. Interested in how safety and ingredient transparency for the same products varied across regulatory environments. Built and analyzed databases of product formulations and health and ingredient policies. Researched and compared industry and government practices regarding the health of consumer products and related chemical and ingredient policies.Responsibilities included managing a team of research assistants. Gave research presentations and lectured about my work across Harvard institutions and conferences.

Cambridge, Massachusetts, Us

Co-created Harvard’s first cross-discipline symposium series on business and the public good as a research associate at Harvard Business School. Brought together top academic and business leaders to discuss research on social impact in the private sector, and to identify new pathways for innovative, cross-disciplinary research collaboration. The series developed into a Harvard Business School project partnering with businesses and academics to evaluate societal and environmental impacts of corporate responsibility and sustainability programs. Conducted extensive interviews with many academic leaders across issue areas to inform the design of the series. Researched and wrote reports on topics pertaining to the health, social, and environmental impacts of business, highlighting ways in which academic research intersects. Built knowledge of ESG, CSR, and conscious capitalism/business responsibility topics, and created an intellectual map of the academic field. Worked for Professor Rebecca Henderson.

Cambridge, Massachusetts, Us

I worked on FoodSmart Advisors projects from 2017-2022 (While it is health policy based, it is less related to my current research work, so moved it below the line break.)ESG and food policy consultancy that advises clients on strategies to improve the health and environmental impacts of food and food industries. Develops successful health-oriented business and policy projects and strategies delivering bottom line and social impact results. Clients have included food retailers, CPG companies, nonprofits, and private investors in Europe, the US, and Australia.Consulting projects for clients have included: • Setting company-wide health and nutrition targets and KPIs.• Incorporating the health of products into ESG strategy.• Designing and implementing comprehensive, science-based, ingredients/additives/E numbers policies.• Authoring research reports on international food policy landscapes and markets.• Expanding programming for NGOs.• Developing health metrics and criteria for impact investors, including building detailed health-related ESG screens and identifying opportunities for investment.• Creating product innovation strategies and advising on new product lines, and analyzing and forecasting food and product trends.

1506 Ma Zaandam, Nl

Advised one of the world's largest food retailers on setting new, comprehensive global health and ESG policies and strategies, including the at-the-time landmark policy that one-third of food sales worldwide be healthy. New policies affected core business and were implemented across all subsidiary companies including Stop & Shop and more than 3,000 retail stores throughout the United States and Europe.Detailed work involved projects on health KPIs, nutrition and additives/ingredient policies, product and sales analysis, behavioral economics strategies, labeling systems, and product health and nutrition evaluation metrics. Analyzed and sought to improve upon the health policies, ingredient lists and nutrition guidelines used by other international retailers industry-wide. Wrote speeches, strategy and messaging about Ahold's new food and health vision for the CEO. Reported directly to the global VP of Responsibility, worked with the Responsible Retailing division, and collaborated with KPMG's sustainability consulting practice. (And had the time of my life moving to The Netherlands to work on this project.)

Worked on Elizabeth Warren’s successful first senate campaign’s small business outreach strategy, which garnered 900 business endorsements for the candidate. Conducted research on locally-owned community banks, financial institutions, and chambers of commerce, leading to small-business support. Wrote Elizabeth Warren’s business briefs to prep her for meetings and calls.

Consulted on project development and communications strategy for the Billion Dollar Green Challenge initiative, leading to the successful launch of a campaign raising $100 million in institutional commitments to climate investment funds / green revolving funds in its first year. The program increases energy efficiency investments in academia, healthcare, and government through research, sharing project data, and pioneering an innovative revolving fund financing model that has now been adopted by over 150 institutions across the US.

Campaign ManagerDebbie Silberstein State Senate CampaignDirected and built the campaign from the ground up, including political strategy, fundraising, campaign structure, and an active volunteer team. In just two weeks, organized one of the top most attended State Senate campaign launches in that MA election cycle.Field DirectorDenise Simmons State Senate CampaignBuilt and directed a robust, data-driven grassroots field operation from scratch, including targeted phone banking, canvassing, campaign events, and community relations. My work increased active volunteer roster tenfold. The campaign achieved the best dollar-per-vote tally in the election with 25% of the funding of leading candidates.

Fellow and AlumThe New Leaders Council Boston, MA · 2010Fellow of an organization that selects and trains cross-sector public service and civic leaders and changemakers. Volunteered on the Massachusetts NLC board and selection committee after fellowship.FellowThe Center for Progressive LeadershipColumbus, OH · 2009-2010Selected as a fellow for an organization that identified and trained progressive political, nonprofit, and public service leaders. FellowResource GenerationNew York, NY · 2006-2007Conducted research to develop a strategic growth plan for the philanthropy organization. Interviewed philanthropic leaders, members, and alumni to assess the NGO’s areas for growth and key obstacles as it planned for national programmatic expansion.

Chicago, Illinois, Us

•Co-led, designed and built a robust and high-impact regional field campaign for President Obama’s first presidential campaign. Worked in Northern Ohio, a key swing state in the election. -Recruited and organized more than 1,000 volunteers, tripling the number of active volunteers, leading to record voter turnout and over 2,000 new voter registrations. • Coordinated several large campaign speaker events and rallies in Ohio. • My team’s Election Day organizing strategy yielded 13,209 conversations at a 15,000 student Kent State University campus, which contributed to winning the county. • Mentored and led a core group of over 20 student leaders running campus organizations.• Worked with the Ohio Youth Corps, a special project of the Obama for America presidential campaign and the Ohio Democratic Party.

Master Of Public Policy - Harvard Kennedy School. (Health Science Policy And Environmental Health)

Courses: Marketing; Creating Shared Value; Strategies Beyond The Market; Reimagining Capitalism

Bachelor Of Science - Bs (Honors)

Study Abroad (Summer)

International Exchange / Study Abroad