Calli McMurray

The work with bats on barren, 7-acre Latham Island was Nachum Ulanovsky’s most complex undertaking yet.

By @claudia-lopez.bsky.social

#neuroskyence

www.thetransmitter.org/neuroetholog...

Check out our FlyWire anniversary piece to learn how @crezaval.bsky.social, @anitadevineni.bsky.social, Pelin Volkan, and six other researchers are using connectome data in their labs, and to read their thoughts on what new tools Drosophila neuroscience needs to move forward!

Why we need basic science to better understand the neurobiology of psychedelics Despite the many psychedelics clinical trials underway, there is still much we don’t know about how these drugs work. Preclinical studies represent our best viable avenue to answer these lingering…

@deffinger.bsky.social and @melissaherman.bsky.social argue that, though many human psychedelic clinical trials are underway, preclinical studies remain our best bet to answer fundamental questions about the neurobiology of psychedelics.

#neuroskyence

www.thetransmitter.org/psychedelics...

Quantifying funding sources across neuroscience labs We want to hear from you about the sources of funding for your research.

Hi everyone! We are taking a look at the state of funding in the neuroscience field so we are looking for PIs to answer this survey. Please feel free to fill out and share with colleagues.

Ty!

Robots marry natural neuroscience, experimental control to probe animal interactions Faux fish and birds are helping researchers decipher some of the rules that govern schooling and squawking, among other social behaviors.

Faux fish and birds are helping researchers decipher some of the rules that govern schooling and squawking, among other social behaviors.

By @callimcflurry.bsky.social

#neuroskyence

www.thetransmitter.org/social-behav...

The Transmitter’s reading list: Six upcoming neuroscience books, plus notable titles in 2025 Dig into an exploration of the fundamental aspects of intelligence, a new textbook about theoretical neuroscience and a memoir about memory research, among other new releases.

In The Transmitter's reading list, we highlight the most anticipated upcoming neuroscience books and other notable 2025 releases. Featuring titles by @okaysteve.bsky.social, @dr-brein.bsky.social, @nicolecrust.bsky.social,‬ Xiao-Jing Wang and many more.

By @franciscorr25.bsky.social
bit.ly/45MvK41

ABCD Study omits gender-identity data from latest release The removal counteracts the goals of the longitudinal study by “pretending that some aspects of adolescent brain development don’t exist,” says sex differences researcher Nicola Grissom.

NEW: The NIH removed gender identity variables from the latest ABCD study data release. This counteracts the goals of the study "by pretending that some aspects of adolescent brain development don’t exist," @nicolagrissom.bsky.social told me. Read more: www.thetransmitter.org/gender/abcd-...

Shattered Science: The Research Lost as Trump Targets NIH Funding The Trump administration cut research funding that sought cures for future pandemics, examined the causes of dementia and tried to prevent HIV transmission. More than 150 researchers shared with ProPu...

NEW: The Trump administration said their research did not "enhance health, lengthen life, or reduce illness."

Thousands of scientists disagreed.

We heard from +150 researchers impacted by the NIH grant terminations on what is being lost in the cuts. 🧵👇
projects.propublica.org/nih-cuts-res...

How developing neurons simplify their search for a synaptic mate Streamlining the problem from 3D to 1D eases the expedition—a strategy the study investigators deployed to rewire an olfactory circuit in flies.

The hunt for a soulmate can be hard work. Neurons in the developing Drosophila antennal lobe simplify the problem by turning a 3D search into a 1D one.

By @callimcflurry.bsky.social

#neuroskyence

www.thetransmitter.org/developmenta...

FlyBase funding squashed amid Harvard grant terminations The team behind the Drosophila genetics database is now requesting donations from labs to keep the resource afloat.

FlyBase, a crucial resource for drosophila research, has lost its funding because its grant is awarded to Harvard. The team is scrambling to find other sources of funds, including donations from labs. Read more: www.thetransmitter.org/community/fl... @flybase.bsky.social

NIDA shutters diversity fellowship program, axes active awards It’s unclear if the cancellation at the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse extends to the fellowships awarded by other institutes within the National Institutes of Health.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse canceled its diversity-based fellowship program, including active awards. It’s unclear if fellowships awarded by other institutes within the NIH are also implicated.

By @callimcflurry.bsky.social

#neuroskyence

www.thetransmitter.org/funding/nida...

Exclusive: Recruitment issues jeopardize ambitious plan for human brain atlas A lack of six new brain donors may stop the project from meeting its goal to pair molecular and cellular data with the functional organization of the cortex.

A forthcoming human brain atlas hopes to include the functional organization of each donor's cortex alongside the single-cell data. But the team is struggling to recruit donors, and might have to scale back their ambitious plan. My latest: www.thetransmitter.org/brain-mappin...

Five things to know if your federal grant is terminated If you want to appeal the decision, know the rules that govern terminations, as well as the specific rationale given in your notice, science policy experts say.

I hope no one ever has to use this story, but here are the key things to know if your grant is terminated: #neuroskyence www.thetransmitter.org/funding/five...

Acting NIH director dismisses four neuroscientists from advisory boards The letters they received this week did not include a reason for their termination.

Three researchers who served as scientific advisers to NIMH and one to NIDA were removed from their positions this week with no explanation. @callimcflurry.bsky.social and I reported for @thetransmitter.bsky.social:

#neuroskyence 🧪

www.thetransmitter.org/science-and-...

In 15 yrs of reporting, I've never had so many health & biomed researchers & outreach orgs tell me they're afraid to talk w/press or barred from speaking bc of new comms policies.

I understand the fear of losing funds. I don't know if silence does more harm than good. If you can speak up, pls do.

Big big thank you to @tristansyates.bsky.social @camerontellis.bsky.social @rebeccasaxe.bsky.social @rhodricusack.bsky.social and others for guiding me through their work and this growing subfield!

What infant fMRI is revealing about the developing mind Cognitive neuroscientists have finally clocked how to perform task-based fMRI experiments in awake babies. Now they want watch cognition take shape.

A brave (and patient) group of neuroscientists have figured out how to do task-based fMRI in babies and toddlers. They aim to uncover how the infant mind takes shape—and the method has already provided new insight into infantile amnesia. My latest www.thetransmitter.org/cognitive-ne... #neuroskyence

The Transmitter’s ‘Rising stars in neuroscience’ 2025 Recognize early-career researchers who have made outstanding contributions to the field. Selected nominees will be featured on our website and in our annual book.

We are excited to announce that nominations are open for our “Rising stars in neuroscience” 2025 report. We seek to feature early-career researchers who have made outstanding scientific contributions and demonstrated a commitment to community-building. Submit a nominee here:
bit.ly/4bsoBXD

Neuro Ph.D. programs adjust admissions over funding unease Some neuroscience departments plan to shrink class size by 25 to 40 percent; others may inadvertently take more students than they can afford.

NEW: @claudia-lopez.bsky.social and I asked 50 US #neuroskyence PhD programs if they're reducing admissions this year due to funding concerns. 20 got back to us: 8 are making cuts, 8 are not, and the other 4 have more complex situations. Read the story: www.thetransmitter.org/academia/neu...

Inside the Collapse at the NIH Administration officials pressured the NIH to avoid clear advice from the agency’s own lawyers to restart grant funding now.

This new Atlantic piece on the timeline of the NIH shutdown reads like the script to a new Soderbergh film. It is so, so dark and perfectly captures the evil and intentional chaos behind everything we've experienced over the last month www.theatlantic.com/health/archi...

‘A gut punch:’ How U.S. neuroscience trainees are grappling with diversity-based funding flux Ten trainees spoke with The Transmitter about how the precarious state of U.S. federal funding is affecting their research and career plans.

The Trump administration's chaotic changes to diversity-based funding have left trainees in limbo. My colleagues and I at @thetransmitter.bsky.social spoke to ten neuroscience trainees about what the uncertainty means for them, their research and their futures: www.thetransmitter.org/funding/a-gu...

The non-model organism “renaissance” has arrived Meet 10 neuroscientists bringing model diversity back with the funky animals they study.

Meet 10 neuroscientists bringing model diversity back with the funky animals they study.

By @callimcflurry.bsky.social, @avaskham.bsky.social, @claudia-lopez.bsky.social, @shaena.bsky.social

#neuroskyence

www.thetransmitter.org/animal-model...

listening to the interstellar soundtrack while writing a story about the wonders of the octopus brain feels very right!!

I'm excited to share another project we've been working on: The Transmitter's first book, which includes some of our favorite essays from our first ~9 months. Download a copy here: www.thetransmitter.org/transmitter-...

If you're interested in thermoregulation, you don't want to miss our home page on @thetransmitter.bsky.social today! We have a package of five stories, including one on @jansiemens.bsky.social's new paper about the neuronal plasticity that drives heat tolerance. Check it out: www.thetransmitter.org

Neuroscientists are flocking to Bluesky, but X still has ten times more users. My story on the migration, featuring @nicolecrust.bsky.social @russpoldrack.bsky.social @charan-neuro.bsky.social @therealdrdukes.bsky.social @wiringthebrain.bsky.social + more! www.thetransmitter.org/community/hu...

In today's House appropriations committee hearing on the HHS budget, NIH director Monica Bertagnolli defended the BRAIN initiative, along with the other programs funded by 21st century cures, as "critical": "We cannot let them die."

Now that a lot more neuroscientists are here at Bluesky...at The Transmitter we'd love to hear about your new work! Feel free to reach out to me (email in bio). I'm interested in neuroethology, the evolution of the nervous system, sensory systems and almost anything else brain-related.

love when I get to put on my data journalist hat 🤓

hello neuroscientists! I am working on a story for @thetransmitter.bsky.social about the X to Bluesky migration and I would love to hear why you switched platforms (and what you make of bluesky so far). DM me or email me calli@thetransmitter.org if you'd like to comment for the piece. Thank you!