Matt Sikora

Sometimes I think about how from 1935-1975ish, Bell Labs produced an insane amount of revolutionary science and technology, including 11 Nobel Prizes, the transistor, UNIX, C, the laser, the solar cell, information theory, etc. The secret? Provide scientists with ample, steady, no-strings funding.

I am just so fucking proud of her.

F.D.A. Approves Generic Abortion Pill as Opponents Push Trump for New Restrictions

NEWS: The F.D.A. approved a new generic version of the abortion pill mifepristone. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/h...

Trump Administration Asks Colleges to Sign ‘Compact’ to Get Funding Preference Demands sent to nine top schools included pledging to freeze tuition for five years and to commit to strict definitions of gender.

Donald Trump is conditioning federal funding to universities on the signing of a loyalty pledge to his agenda.

This reeks of authoritarianism, and the universities should reject this hostage-taking of their funding.

The Jane Goodall Institute of Canada has learned this morning, Wednesday, October 1st, 2025, that Dr. Jane Goodall DBE, UN Messenger of Peace and Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute, has passed away due to natural causes.

She was in California as part of her speaking tour in the United States.

Email introduction reading: "At the University of Colorado School of Medicine, your well-being is a top priority. To better support you, we need your insight. We invite you to take 10–15 minutes to complete the Faculty Well-Being & Climate Survey. Your feedback will directly shape efforts to improve the work environment and professional well-being across the School of Medicine."

This is going to be the most unhinged well-being survey ever.

“The Founders understood that without education, the ability to repeat tyranny was too great. They pushed—whether it was Franklin, Washington, Madison, or Jefferson—in their writings for education, for critical thinking, & for an understanding of its role.”
— @rweingarten.bsky.social

This is right up there with interviewing Peter Navarro the other day - pandering to MAGA isn't going to get your funding back, NPR.

There is no 'both sides' to acetaminophen and autism, it's a safe drug during pregnancy.

I often get this question from non-scientists I meet when I travel, "why haven't we cured cancer yet?" and it does reveal a true disconnect between reality and public perception. You know who never asks me that question? Breast cancer patients and advocates I work with /1

"STAT’s analysis of NIH Reporter data reveals that the agency will still fund far fewer new projects this year, due to a change in how it awards grants...the number of R grants issued has dropped much more precipitously — from 5,633 to
3,758 newly funded projects."

Sigh. Our 8th percentile R21 officially misses the crazy 7%ile payline at NCI. At the same time, my R01 gets Y4-5 funded together, when instead of that multi-year funding, they could've funded new work on the R21!

Wary of RFK Jr., Colorado started revamping its vaccine policies last spring While Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., dismantles the federal institutions that set vaccine policy, states like Colorado are changing laws and regulations in an effort to preserve access to vaccines.

While Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., dismantles the federal institutions that set vaccine policy, states like Colorado are changing laws and regulations in an effort to preserve access to vaccines.

NIH's NOSI on Women's Health Research was edited to expire as of yesterday, in case you were worried that the clowns in charge were finished axing research that they don't understand.
grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...

YouTube video by Elle Cordova For our scientists

This is awesome.

@ellecordova.bsky.social

Can you get a COVID vaccine this year in Colorado? Here’s what to know. Can you get a COVID vaccine in 2025? Here are answers to all your questions about how to get a COVID vaccine in Colorado and who is eligible.

Can you get a COVID vaccine this year in Colorado? Here’s what to know.

“Numbers always tend to benefit the left” is kinda a stunning admission.

The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.
George Orwell, 1984

My wife and I are both PhDs and both at U. Colorado - I'm faculty and she's in admin. Most of our work convos about each other's roles end something like "lolz no thanks, better you than me".

a woman in a red shirt says you get a shot you get a shot Alt: a woman in a red shirt says you get a shot you get a shot

⛰️💪💉

www.cpr.org/2025/09/03/e...

Ep #17: Dr. Matt Sikora on breast cancer research with patients at the center Podcast Episode · The Science Bridge · 09/03/2025 · 1h 2m

Also up on Apple Podcasts:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

Ep #17: Dr. Matt Sikora on breast cancer research with patients at the center

I had the amazing opportunity to chat w @projbridgeco.bsky.social to talk about the lab, my career, studying #lobular breast cancer, and working w patient advocates. Loved talking re where I've been & talk about what's important to me as a PI and mentor!

Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0NBd...

COMMENTARY: If this was happening in another nation, we'd call it by name. It's authoritarianism.

#worklifebalance

While other politicians talk, @philweiser.bsky.social delivers

This group of state AGs has created something that should give us all hope; state leaders working together for the benefit of all of us

Except maybe if @stinasieg.bsky.social joined the interview too. I don't know if I could such a pleasant sounding conversation.

A Ryan Warner interview with Mike Lamp, though sad for Mike's sign off, might be the greatest audio-based therapy ever conceived. @cprnews.bsky.social

a man is carrying a suitcase through a living room . Alt: man laying down in exhaustion

In today's soul-sucking waste of time tasks brought on by the current administration, I had to write a budget consolidation request and proposal to re-allocate funds intended for foreign collaborators on my R01, to comply with NOT-OD-25-104. We either end the foreign sub, or end the R01.

It must be nice when you can just "find" whatever conclusions you want, rather than have to rely on rigorous study and data analysis.

YouTube video by The Company of Biologists Why is Biology Open's Fast & Fair peer review initiative exciting?

Can peer review be done faster, without compromising on quality? Biology Open has embarked on an exciting experiment to find out - Editor-in-Chief Dan Gorelick @danielgorelick.bsky.social explains.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt5h...

🦆