Harnessing Neurodivergence for Scientific Discovery

Let's sit down with Jeff Karp, professor of medicine and co-director of Regenerative Therapeutics at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. We've got him on the couch, coffee cups in hand, ready to dive into what makes this guy tick.

Me: Alright Jeff, thanks for having me over! I have to ask – your article about how ADHD wired you for scientific discovery is... wow, pretty incredible stuff. Can you tell us more?

Jeff Karp: Sure thing! (chuckles) Yeah, it's been quite the journey. People often think of ADHD as a hindrance, but honestly, my brain has always worked in ways that have allowed me to thrive – even when others thought I was... less than capable.

Me: Your experience with ADHD is just so relatable. The struggles in school, the labels and negativity... it's striking how those experiences ultimately led you to tap into your own energy as a coder of sorts? How did you arrive at that realization?

Jeff Karp: Ah, yeah! That 'aha' moment came around when I was about 8 years old – an incredibly empowering time. Realizing I could regulate my focus and interest helped me find ways to harness this creative potential within myself.

Me: And now your lab is dedicated to developing technologies like tissue regeneration and targeted therapies... it's all coming from that same hyperfocus you mentioned! You talk about asking those 'high-impact questions' in science. How do you cultivate curiosity?

Jeff Karp (smirks): Well, I'm big on reframing the "so what?" question – knowing my work needs to push beyond incremental progress. If it doesn't resonate with others... then maybe it's not worth doing! But for real though? We meet regularly with entrepreneurs and people outside our lab just so we're constantly pushing ourselves.

Me: The way you talk about ADHD, it feels like there are moments of magic where creativity flows in unexpectedly – but also, as an asset that brings emotional sensitivity. Was this always a struggle?

Jeff Karp (reflects): Actually yeah! I had to learn how to interpret those intense emotions and not get swept up by them... shift from reaction to reflection took work, but now it's actually valuable input in my decision-making.

Me: This mindset of embracing neurodiversity resonates so deeply with readers – especially the emphasis on finding your unique strengths as opposed to masking what makes you different. Can we explore this book "LIT" and Life Ignition Tools? How does that fit into all this?

Jeff Karp (gets animated): That's all about harnessing our individual way of seeing the world! So many people assume there's just one 'right' path, but with LIT, I'm empowering young minds to find their own spark.