DMartin

Jay Bhattacharya, the NIH Director, thinks that if science isn’t popular it should be abandoned.

“No matter how elegant the science, a platform that lacks credibility among the people it seeks to protect cannot fulfill its public health mission”.

He is unfit for his job in every imaginable way.

The world feels terrible these days. Glad to have this goober around to make it a bit better. Hope she makes your day a bit better too.

In his memory, Western has opened an equity-based graduate scholarship. Please consider supporting his final initiative if you are able: www.westernconnect.ca/beier ; thank you for all the time you spent and laughs you shared with him. We love and miss him so much already. - The Beiers

Can timing your meals help the brain? A new review looks at time-restricted eating (TRE) as a potential way to support brain health in Huntington’s disease. While early animal research is exciting, there are real risks to consider for people with HD.

Full Article:
en.hdbuzz.net/appetite-for...

Yup. Same with Bio-ID. Our enzymes are low copy & multi spanning transmembrane proteins. They don't show up in Bio-ID studies. Even if they state that they say we should look. Sure, give me the money & I will

a woman says " and are you starting to see the catch 22 inherent in the plan " Alt: a woman says " and are you starting to see the catch 22 inherent in the plan "

Me: We're making an shRNA knockdown library.
Grant Reviewers: Why? you should use CRISPR
Me: We're building a CRISPR knockout library.
GR: Why? You should use shRNA in case KO is toxic (names enzymes)
Upcoming me: We'll do whatever you say, but none of those enzymes are essential

Pretty cool. This is our Dean and his research.

For those that followed Frank’s battle and his legacy, our faculty has created a scholarship on his name that will support equity deserving students. Frank led by example on EDI during his chairmanship. Please support if you can.

HDF is currently accepting Letters of Intent for Postdoctoral Fellowships and Grants from researchers from around the world to advance the discovery and development of treatments for Huntington’s disease. Please visit our website: hdfoundation.org/apply/ to learn more. LOIs are due by 9/3/2025.

What our university thinks is not worth telling us versus what really happened.

Full story here. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

They updated how they notify us after the debacle after a knife attack on campus. I'm not sure this is much better than before.

I miss Philly!

E.P.A. Says It Will Eliminate Its Scientific Research Arm

I know so many dedicated and brilliant scientists who work (and I guess now worked) at EPA. The loss of expertise and ability to make science-informed decisions will have lasting damage for our health. Academics and advocates will have to try to fill the gap.

www.nytimes.com/2025/07/18/c...

Congratulations! That's awesome news.

late for #fluorescenceFriday. Here are our efforts to look at blood vessels in the 🧠 and of course Abeta plaques @touchscreencog.bsky.social @tridentpct.bsky.social

Loved the new Superman movie!

Very cool. In case @carlzimmer.com is still collecting science tattoos.

Hey folks! I got a tattoo of my beloved PIEZO ion channel on my arm! Now I can show how they activate (flatten) under pressure by flexing—Will add a bit of performance art to my science talks 🧪🧠.

You have to appreciate the little face in the window eagerly anticipating my arrival home.

Clearing out the -20C. Found this covid gem. We were looking at Spike protein palmitoylation, along with probably half a dozen other labs. The van der Goot lab published some very nice work on this.

I think it's time to toss these samples tho.

My morning got off to an interesting start. Scooped this little injured buddy from under our steps. Ruby found it, but I don't think she hurt it. Hoping the Waterloo humane society can help it further.

Nobel Laureate Dr. Adam Riess & Members of Congress speak out at the "Science Fair of Canceled Grants." They discuss loss when politics halts vital research. The budget isn't final—call your reps to demand science funding!

Will post in thread re: specific canceled projects in coming days.

No idea. I'd hope Nature Genetics is not using AI for copyediting.

An actual good thing coming from this NIH nightmare? www.nih.gov/news-events/...

I'm seeing it dropped in many journals & I'm wondering why. It's also messing up my teaching :-P

When did we stop italicizing latin phrases in science writing? Did I miss a memo?

Ugh. Can't believe we essentially got scooped on a review we were writing.

Yesterday I ran my first half marathon in 14 years (my 2nd ever) on McNab's Island in Halifax Harbour. What an amazing setting & sometimes brutal course, but so much fun. I've never been to the island. We ran thru old forts, cemeteries, & along the rocky shores. Amazing experience.
My legs hurt.

I miss Halifax. After my grant rejection, spent the afternoon relaxing and kayaking along the Dingle.

Yup. Pretty sure I'm always top for 2/3 reviewers & bottom for 1.

Sadly, I've never had a grant discussed. And almost every time I have reviewers make big statements about me missing something that is clearly in the grant (like a whole figure sometimes)