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Behavioral Science Consortium (BSC)

The Behavioral Science Consortium (BSC) investigates how psychological, social, cultural and environmental factors shape behaviors and health outcomes. By collaborating with global experts in disciplines such as psychology, anthropology, sociology or behavioral economics, the BSC tackles the key challenges patients and caregivers face, such as understanding treatment options, managing symptoms or navigating communication with healthcare providers. This interdisciplinary approach also examines provider behaviors and decision-making to gain a comprehensive view of the human dynamics in the healthcare ecosystem. The BSC’s insights inform practical, patient-centric solutions across Astellas, such as tools to support shared decision-making, resources for patient education or interventions designed to improve care delivery – empowering patients and caregivers to achieve the health outcomes they desire.

Working with the Faculty and teams across Astellas, the BSC translates behavioral science into VALUE for patients through curriculum and projects.

Astellas graphic depicting Behavioral Science curriculum and projects.

Meet the Team

BSC Team

Head

Lisa Mattle

Lisa joined Astellas in 2012. With over 20 years in the pharmaceutical industry and passionate about doing even more for patients and their families, Lisa built the Behavioral Science Consortium to provide Astellas with insights into the factors that prevent patients from getting the outcomes they desire. Five years later and with an amazing team of experts, the BSC continues to provide the critical insights necessary to deliver effective patient solutions.

Ph.D., Lead

Laura de Ruiter

Laura joined Astellas in 2021. After many years in academic research, she realized that she wanted to apply her knowledge of human behavior where it can truly make a difference: in people’s health. At the BSC, Laura explores how psychological, social and systemic factors affect health outcomes. Her aim is to use that understanding to help Astellas create solutions that improve patient lives.

Ph.D., Fellow

Caroline Smith

Caroline earned a PhD in Biological Anthropology and joined Astellas as a Fellow in 2024. She spent her academic career studying the interactions between health and human behavior and was eager to translate her knowledge to tangible health outcomes. In her role at the Behavioral Science Consortium, she applies her expertise in human behavior and passion for improving well-being to the Astellas mission of delivering value to patients.

Meet the Team

Faculty Bios

M.B.ChB., Ph.D.

Ichiro Kawachi

Social epidemiologist
Professor, Harvard School of Public Health
Publications include (as co-editor) the first textbook on Social Epidemiology (Oxford University Press, 2000 and 2014) and Behavioral Economic and Public Health (co-edited with Christina Roberto, (Oxford University Press, 2016).
M.D. and Ph.D. in epidemiology, University of Otago, New Zealand

MD, MPH, DMSc

Kyoko Nomura

Epidemiologist and physician – board certified in internal medicine
Professor of Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, and Chair, Department of Environmental Health Science and Public Health at Akita University, Japan
Professor of Medicine, Department of Hygiene and Public Health at Teikyo University School of Medicine and Teikyo Postgraduate School of Public Health, Japan
Publications include gender disparity in medicine and health promotion for women
M.D., Japan; training in epidemiology and biostatistics, Harvard School of Public Health

Ph.D.

Rene Almeling

Sociologist
Associate Professor of Sociology, Yale University
Appointments in Gender Studies, the School of Public Health (Department of Health Policy and Management), and the School of Medicine at Yale University
Publications include award-winning books GUYnecology: The Missing Science of Men’s Reproductive Health (2020) and Sex Cells: The Medical Market for Eggs and Sperm (2011), as well as in American Sociological Review, Annual Review of Sociology, Journal of Health and Social Behavior, and Gender & Society

MPH, Ph.D.

Lisa Goldman Rosas

Epidemiologist
Associate Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Population Health and Department of Medicine (Division of Primary Care and Population Health)
Director, Stanford Medicine Office of Community Engagement
Associate Director Center for Cancer Health Equity and Community Engagement, Stanford Cancer Institute
Expertise in community-based participatory research approaches to addressing chronic disease inequities in primary care and community-based settings

Ph.D.

Daniele Mascia

Organizational Sociologist
Professor of Organization and Human Resource Management, Luiss University
Research fellow, Foundation IMIT—Institute for Management of Innovation and Technology (Sweden).
Publications include more than 100 peer-reviewed papers on topics ranging from organizational social networks, the analysis of leadership and team processes, and the study of organizational change

M.D., Ph.D.

Orkideh Behrouzan

Medical Anthropologist, Anthropologist of Science and Technology and physician
Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology, SOAS University of London
Publications include Prozak Diaries: Psychiatry and Generational Memory in Iran (2016, Stanford University Press), an analysis of emerging psychiatric discourses in post-1980's Iran, and articles in American Anthropology, Social Science and Medicine, Medicine, Anthropology, Theory, and multiple book chapters
Ph.D., History and Anthropology of Science, Technology and Society, MIT; M.D., University of Tehran

Ph.D.

Sherry Pagoto

Clinical psychologist and social media researcher
Professor, Department of Allied Health Sciences, University of Connecticut
Director of the UConn Center for mHealth and Social Media, University of Connecticut
Has published over 200 papers in peer-reviewed journals
Received several awards for her work, including The Obesity Society Pioneer in mHealth/eHealth Award in 2014
Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, Western Michigan University

RGN, RMN, CPsychol, Ph.D

Judith Dyson

Implementation Scientist
Professor, Healthcare Research & Implementation Science, Health and Related Research, Birmingham City University
Registered general and mental health nurse
Chartered psychologist
Expertise in the translation of research findings into clinical practice

Ph.D.

Miwako Hosoda

Sociologist
Professor, Seisa University, School of Education
Project Researcher, University of Tokyo, Institute of Medical Sciences
President of International Sociological Association’s Research Committee of Sociology of Health (2018-2023)
Vice President of the Asia Pacific Sociological Association
Expertise in digitalization of healthcare, PPI, vaccination, immunization, stroke rehabilitation, vaccine development, poliomyelitis and nuclear safety
Recipient of the Abe Fellowship
Ph.D., Sociology, The University of Tokyo

D. Bioethics, HEC-C

Lori Bruce

Bioethicist and policy analyst
Associate Director at Yale University’s Interdisciplinary Center for Bioethics
Founder and Chair of the Community Bioethics Forum, Yale School of Medicine
Key Researcher, Centre for Neuroethics and Society at Oxford University
Affiliated Faculty, Solomon Center for Health Law and Policy at Yale Law School
Spearheaded revisions in federal and state laws on informed consent and health policies related to prescription drug use, end-of-life, and organ allocation
Expertise in clinical ethics, research ethics, and ethical policymaking, on topics ranging from the ethics of psychedelic medicine, reproductive medicine, and end-of-life issues
Doctorate in Bioethics from Stritch School of Medicine at Loyola University Chicago; nationally certified hospital ethics consultant

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Behavioral Science Consortium (BSC)

Meet the Team

BSC Team

Lisa Mattle

Laura de Ruiter

Caroline Smith

Meet the Team

Faculty Bios

Ichiro Kawachi

Kyoko Nomura

Rene Almeling

Lisa Goldman Rosas

Daniele Mascia

Orkideh Behrouzan

Sherry Pagoto

Judith Dyson

Miwako Hosoda

Lori Bruce