DREF Research Matters

🌟 SAVE THE DATE! 🌟 Join The DREF Research Working Group as we wrap up our programmatic year with the 4th National Research Symposium! 🗓️: June 10, 2026 ⏰: 11 AM ET 💬: Representation Matters Get ready to hear from industry experts, leading healthcare researchers, and powerful community voices as we explain how data can be leveraged to promote the health and wellbeing of individuals 👤 and communities 👥. 👩🏽‍🔬👨🏿‍⚕️👩🏻‍🏫 Whether you’re a healthcare professional, passionate community member, or just curious - This is a conversation you don’t want to miss! Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details 📌 #researchmatters #savethedate

It’s #worldhealthday & today we’re celebrating “Together for Health, Stand with Science”, a campaign celebrating the power of scientific collaboration to protect the health of people 👥, animals 🐻, plants 🌱, and the planet 🌎 Wondering what it means to stand with science? It means fact checking information you read, listening to science-based institutions, supporting health workers and researchers, and making informed health decisions for you and your family. There’s so much more progress to made in health science around the world 🗺️ but science can only protect us when we stand with it & stand together. So, let’s commemorate today by educating someone you know on the importance of supporting science! 🧑🏾‍🏫🩺 #researchmatters #worldhealth

Hey there, Houston👀 DREF Research Matters & All of Us Journey are heading your way 💙❤️💜 Come aboard this traveling educational exhibit to learn how you can help shape the future of health for yourself, your family, your community, and generations to come. Visit us at New Covenant Christian Church during the date and times shown! The Journey exhibit features interactive activities, videos, games, quizzes, and more – all designed to demonstrate the power of your participation in health research. You can even enroll in the health research during your visit. 🩺🔬 Visit linktr.ee/DREFRM to see more upcoming events & learn why #researchmatters for all of us. We can’t wait to see you!

#dyk Autism now affects 1 in 31 children in the United States 🤔 A lot has changed in the last few years and part of the rise we’re seeing is attributed to increased awareness, broader diagnostic criteria, and more consistent, standardized screening tools. Simply put, more awareness 🟰 more testing 🟰 more children being identified earlier and more accurately. However, we still need your help! The steady increase in prevalence calls for deeper, sustained investment in autism research to understand its causes and support the growing number of people being diagnosed today 🫂🔬 In honor of #worldautismday & #autismawarenessmonth , we’re sharing a quick guide on the basics of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Read through, share this information, and click the link in our bio to see how you can make a difference in biomedical research for causes such as ASD ❤️🧡💚💙 #autism #researchmatters

Throughout history, women have been at the forefront of medicine, overcoming obstacles and pushing boundaries to make groundbreaking contributions. From pioneering researchers 👩🏽‍🔬 to everyday heroes🦸🏾‍♀️, women have continuously fought for their place in a field that has often overlooked them. As #womenshistorymonth ends, we’re concluding our brief timeline that has chronicled women’s breakthroughs in medicine & healthcare. This comes at a critical time where the education , celebration & championing of women’s contributions to culture and history has never been more important. Let’s give it up for all the trailblazers, the innovators, and those who continue to break barriers for future generations 🫱🏿‍🫲🏾✨ We’ve come a long way, but we know the journey is far from over… #womenshistory #researchmatters

Today, Red is Going Purple for Epilepsy! 💜✨ DREF Research Matters is standing tall with millions of warriors worldwide for #purpleday 📣 #dyk Epilepsy is actually one of the world’s most common neurological diseases? 🧠🌍 It affects around 50 million people globally, making it more prevalent than many realize! That is exactly why we need your energy and your voice to help break the stigma and increase visibility. Looking to make a difference? First, we want to see that color—snap a photo of your best purple outfit and share it right now to show your solidarity with the community! 📸 Then, take it a step further by fueling the future of medicine! 🧪 You can play a massive role by participating in health research to help uncover the next big breakthrough in seizure treatment 🧬🙌 Find out more at the link in our bio 😉 Let’s go purple and change lives together! 🫶🏽😃 #researchmatters #epilepsyawareness

🔦 Health Spotlight: How Diabetes and Kidney Disease are Connected 💚 #dyk 🤔 Diabetes is actually the no.1 leading cause of kidney disease? Around 40 million Americans are living with diabetes, and 1️⃣ out of 3️⃣ will experience some form of kidney failure and/or disease. The scariest part? Kidney disease often has no early signs, meaning that as many as 9️⃣ out of 🔟 people don’t even realize they have it! This is why research is such a big deal - Research allows for us to identify more risk factors 📋 and test new treatments. It plays such a crucial role in bringing more resources, more access, and more solutions to our communities who are suffering from diabetes and kidney failure. In order to continue improving lives, research needs you 🫵🏽 Click the link 🔗 in our bio to see how your participation in health research makes a difference for all of us. #kidneyhealth #researchmatters

#dyk You’re always using 100% of your brain, even when you’re sleeping? 🧠❗️ As #brainawarenessweek comes to a close, we really want to drive home the importance of the brain. Understanding our gray matter is the key 🔑 unlocking a better future. Why does this really mean? Studying the brain means studying everything that makes you ✨you. It’s the bridge to solving mental health disorders, boosting our cognitive performance, and finding the much-needed cures for conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Ready to get involved? Great! Help us bridge the gap by advocating for brain research to continue 🔬 Lead by example & click the link 🔗 in our bio to see how your participation in research creates a healthier future for all of us ❤️ #neuroscience #brainhealth #researchmatters

#dyk Your brain is the only organ that named itself? And it deserves the credit for doing so! 🧠❗️ It’s #brainawarenessweek , the global celebration of the most vital “supercomputer” we own. Founded by the Dana Foundation, this week is all about highlighting the incredible progress in brain research and why understanding our gray matter is the key 🔑 to unlocking a better future. Why should we care about neuroscience? Neuroscience is the study of everything that makes you ✨you. It’s the bridge to solving mental health disorders, boosting our cognitive performance, and finding the much-needed cures for conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Ready to get involved? Great! Feed your curiosity by learning one new fact about how your brain works—whether it’s the science of sleep 💤 or the power of habit. Next, give your neurons a workout by trying something new, like a puzzle 🧩 , a new language, or even a different route on your daily walk 🚶🏽. Don’t forget to protect your “hardware” by prioritizing rest and hydration. Finally, help us bridge the gap by sharing posts advocating for the importance of brain research funding! 🔬❤️ Your brain does everything for you. What are you doing for it today? 🤔 #neuroscience #brainhealth #researchmatters

Throughout history, women have been at the forefront of shaping the world of medicine, overcoming obstacles and pushing boundaries to make groundbreaking contributions ⚕️🏥 From pioneering researchers to modern-day heroes, women have continuously fought for their place in a field that overlooks them. We’re continuing to share our brief timeline chronicling women’s breakthroughs in medicine & healthcare. This comes at a critical time where the celebration 🎊, championing 🏆, and education 👩🏾‍🏫 of women’s contributions to history and culture has never been more important. This #womenshistorymonth let’s give it up for all the trailblazers, innovators, and all those who continue to break barriers for future generations 🫱🏿‍🫲🏾✨ #womenshistory #researchmatters

#dyk The reason the screening age for colorectal cancer lowered was because it’s the only population with a rising incidence rate? 😳 Colorectal cancer has unfortunately become a reality for more and more people under the age of 50 & surprisingly, it’s affecting both men and women equally 🧔🏾‍♂️👩🏾 That’s why the new recommended age for screening is now 45 and the more at-risk you are, the earlier it gets! How do we know this? Because of research! Screening options have doubled over the years, and while colonoscopies are still the gold standard ⭐️, you can now take the best test based on your age, family history, and ethnicity. Take charge of your colorectal health by knowing the signs, getting tested, spreading awareness & participating in research (like the ones found in our bio 😉💙) #colorectalcancer #researchmatters

We would like to give a special thank you to all of our partners (@easternregdst @DST1913Midwest ), the attendees, special visitors, and the entire DREF Research Matters team for making this cluster season one to remember 🫶🏽 We can’t wait to do it again during conference! Visit the link in our bio to see our upcoming events & learn about why #researchmatters for all of us 🩺🔬 #dst #dst1913 #throwback

Blast From the Past 💥❗️ We had such a good time during the ‘25 - ‘26 cluster cycle that we’re still recovering months later 🤭 Swipe to see highlights from this year’s clusters where we participated as an exhibitor and sponsor ♥️

Throughout history, women have been at the forefront of shaping the world of medicine ⚕️🏥 overcoming obstacles and pushing boundaries to make groundbreaking contributions. From pioneering researchers to modern-day heroes, women have continuously fought for their place in a field that often overlooked them. This #womenshistorymonth we’re sharing a timeline chronicling women’s breakthroughs in medicine & healthcare. This comes at a critical time where the celebration 🎊, championing 🏆, and education 👩🏾‍🏫 of women’s contributions to history and culture has never been more important. Join us as we celebrate women’s voices 🗣️, stories 📖, and contributions 👏🏾 - Here’s to the trailblazers, the innovators, and all those who continue to break barriers for future generations 🫱🏿‍🫲🏾✨ #womenshistory #researchmatters

Today, March 6, is Dress in Blue Day 👕👖 A day we’re taking to turn awareness into action Colorectal cancer has impacted over 1.5 million survivors in the U.S. alone, yet it remains one of the most under-researched major cancers 🧐 Despite being the #1️⃣ cause of cancer death in men under 50 and the #2️⃣ cause in women of the same age, it lacks the dedicated research seen for other top-tier cancers. Why wear blue today? To honor those that have survived & those we’ve lost, to educate on the importance of early screening, and to advocate for greater research efforts. Research starts with you! Visit linktr.ee/DREFRM to learn how you can contribute to expanding health research 💙🔬 #colorectalcancer #dressinblueday #researchmatters

Today is HPV Awareness Day, and it’s time to have a real conversation about a virus that affects nearly everyone at some point in their lives. We talk a lot about wellness, but true wellness is about protecting our future and looking out for one another 👀🤞🏽 #dyk HPV causes nearly all cases of cervical cancer? 😳 What’s even worse is that Black women are diagnosed with cervical cancer at higher rates and are significantly more likely to die from it. The good news is that we have a powerful shield: the HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccine. Research shows that HPV vaccination can prevent over 9️⃣0️⃣% of cancers caused by the virus. It is one of the most effective tools we have to change the narrative for the next generation. Awareness is a start, but representation in research is what makes the difference. We need more clinical data that specifically prioritizes women’s health outcomes to ensure treatments work for all of us. Help us change the data! Visit the link 🔗 in our bio to learn how you can contribute to health research, prevention, and treatments that saves lives. #hpv #hpvawareness #researchmatters

This #womenshistorymonth celebration comes at a critical time ⏳ The education 👩🏾‍🏫, acknowledgment 🎊 & championing 🏆 of women’s contributions to history and culture has never been more important. Since 1987, the United States has observed Women’s History Month annually in the month of March. The 2026 theme, “Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future,” recognizes women who have been and are at the forefront of championing sustainability issues around the world, leading critical conversations & empowering future generations. Join us in celebrating women’s voices 🗣️, stories 📖, and contributions 👏🏾! When we teach and learn about women’s struggles and triumphs, we’re making investments into our collective future 🫱🏿‍🫲🏾✨ Happy Women’s History Month, from all of us at DREF Research Matters. ❤️💜 #womenshistory #researchmatters

On this second to last day of #blackhistorymonth , let us remember those who have sacrificed so we may be where we are today. Black History is American History & deserves to be celebrated every day of the year. Our journey is far from over, but the promise of brighter, healthier generations fuels our hope ♥️💫 #blackhistory #researchmatters

Today, we reflect on the painful history of medical research and the scars it has left on the Black community ❤️💚💛 For hundreds of years, countless unethical and immoral experiments were carried out in the name of “science”, forever shaping our difficult relationships with healthcare. As we honor the struggles of the past, we also look ahead to a future of equity, innovation, and healing in health research. The path forward is one that acknowledges, uplifts, and cherishes Black voices in research, while protecting and prioritizing all of our communities.🫱🏿‍🫲🏾🔬 #blackhistory #researchmatters

This #heartmonth let’s raise awareness of the risks of heart disease, highlight steps we can all take to save the lives & address the burden of heart disease in our communities 🫱🏿‍🫲🏾🫶🏽 #researchmatters #hearthealth

#dyk Heart disease is the leading cause of death for people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States? 🫀🤔 Swipe for 5 simple steps everyone can take to help their their ticker keep tickin’ on ♥️💪🏾 By living a healthy & mindful lifestyle, you can help keep your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels normal, which lowers your risk for heart disease and heart attack. #researchmatters #hearthealth