Revathi Balasubramanian

I think I have a record of some sort for my grants ending up in postponed study sections and councils (and not to mention I am in Columbia). I am so tired of this. So very tired.

a greeting card for happy diwali with fireworks and candles ALT: a greeting card for happy diwali with fireworks and candles

This Diwali I am hoping that the good truly does triumph over all evil, and soon. Happy Diwali to those celebrating!

Just tried it and very impressed. Works really well even though I fed it a single cell paper and not a wet-lab paper. Spreading the word and doing my part 😀

My department at Emory is a hiring a tenure-track neuroscientist!

Anyone who's talked to me in the last 4 years knows I cannot say enough good things about my dept and the neuroscience community here. My colleagues are so wonderfully supportive. Postdocs, please apply!

apply.interfolio.com/174371

#FluorescenceFriday
Strand and branch pericytes surround the vessels of the retina👁️🔬

color=depth
@flaumeye.bsky.social @urneuroscience.bsky.social @cvsuor.bsky.social @uofrbme.bsky.social @urochestersmd.bsky.social

Comparative single-cell multiomic analysis reveals evolutionarily conserved and species-specific cellular mechanisms mediating natural retinal aging. Biological age is a major risk factor in the development of common degenerative retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma. To systematically characterize molecular mechani...

Our latest manuscript is out, and this one tackles the problem of cellular aging in the retina, using comparative multiomic analysis of zebrafish, mouse, and humans. What led us to work on aging after studying development and regeneration? Explainer follows./1
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Single-Cell Characterization of Anterior Segment Development: Cell Types, Pathways, and Signals Driving Formation of the Trabecular Meshwork and Schlemm's Canal Morphogenesis of the anterior segment (AS) is crucial for healthy ocular physiology and vision but is only partially understood. The Schlemm's canal (SC) and trabecular meshwork (TM) are essential dra...

Excited to share this study! We created a developmental atlas of the anterior segment of the eye and provide crucial molecular information that guides the development of Schlemm’s canal and trabecular meshwork cell subtypes. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Please repost and share

The NIH was healthiest when pay lines were in the 20th percentile range.

We are headed into an environment where pay lines are in the 5% range.

In my entire career, I’ve only had 3 grants that scored better than 5%. And my lab is considered a successful one.

This is going to destroy science.

Paper alert! With co-first authors Nick Tolman and @taiboli.bsky.social , we profile trabecular meshwork cells using single-cell RNA + ATAC seq, identify mitochondrial dysfunction in an early-onset glaucoma model, and use Vitamin B3 to protect against nerve damage.
elifesciences.org/reviewed-pre...

Hi all, we got a grant for a cool project that will follow up of our paper published a few months ago (see below). We will explore how light acts as a morphogen to instruct PCP. If you are looking for a postdoc position and interested in this topic, please reach out!

Wohoooooooooo!!!! We need to celebrate this major (and completely expected) achievement!! Congratulations 🎉

On Sunday I will cycle 50 km to raise money to support research to prevent blindness. If you can, please sponsor me! fightingblindness.akaraisin.com/ui/MOVEFORSI...

In more good new for the lab.. Just heard that we got a grant from The Glaucoma Foundation for our work on early onset glaucomas! Thank you TGF.

Ok, that’s it. Here’s the link again: joinus.cuimc.columbia.edu/participant/.... I know there's a lot of chaos right now, and it’s hard to know which crisis to focus your attention on and where to devote your time/resources. So if you decided to support my lab, I really do appreciate it! 9/9

Just got word that I got the RPB career development award. It feels weird to be happy when science funding is under attack. But one small win, one more day of science (or 4 more years). Thank you, Research to Prevent Blindness foundation.

🚨 Final Reminder! 🚨
Don't miss your chance to share your research at the ISER BrightFocus Glaucoma Meeting 2025!
📅 Abstract Submission Deadline: May 27, 2025
🔗 iserbrightfocusglaucoma.org/abstract-sub...
@iser.bsky.social @brightfocus.bsky.social

The pact of the federal govt with universities was not a handout. It was a strategic decision to boost US leadership in technology, defense, and health. And it paid dividends. In tech, internet, in cancer drugs (for example), No other sector has invested in high risk high reward ideas like US govt.

We have updated our database of funding opportunities for Early-Career Researchers (private foundations, federal, international)

We have 456 entries, for which we provide $ amount, deadline, eligibility criteria, etc.

Download this massive database here for free: research.jhu.edu/rdt/funding-...

These are my people! 🫶

Heterochronic transcription factor expression drives cone-dominant retina development in 13-lined ground squirrels. Evolutionary adaptation to diurnal vision in ground squirrels has led to the development of a cone-dominant retina, in stark contrast to the rod-dominant retinas of most mammals. The molecular mechani...

Our latest manuscript (7 years in the works) tackles the question of how diurnal ground squirrels evolved a cone-dominant retina, in contrast to the ancestral rod-dominant retina retained by virtually all other mammals./1
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Deaths from heart disease down 75%, that’s NIH.

Deaths from stroke down 75%, that’s NIH.

HIV/AIDS no longer a death sentence, that’s NIH.

99% of FDA approved drugs in the last decade, that’s NIH.

Please show this video to anyone who doesn’t understand why the NIH is so important.

Will be at #ARVO next week and would love to catch up, vision science folk! I am also presenting a talk on May 6th on trascriptomics in aging and glaucoma.

Wanna grow organoids to understand human retinal development as a research assistant?

Wanna help run the lab as a lab manager?

The Johnston lab is hiring a research assistant/lab manager.

If you are interested, please apply (also please share!):

jobs.jhu.edu/job/Baltimor...

Approaches for Finding International Research Jobs (opinion) For U.S.-trained scientists searching for early-career research opportunities in other countries, Sonali Majumdar suggests some approaches to consider.

Scientists must explore R&D careers beyond U.S. in current climate. My @insidehighered.com article today outlines approaches to explore global research careers for U.S. trained early-career scientists, particularly international scientists. 1/2

www.insidehighered.com/opinion/care...

NIH freezes all research grants to Columbia University Amid negotiations with Trump, the university could risk losing nearly $700 million

Exclusive: Weeks after President Donald Trump’s administration ordered NIH to pull $250 million in biomedical research grants to Columbia University, the agency is freezing all remaining grant money owed to the university until further notice. scim.ag/4if5Rg1

NIH freezes all research grants to Columbia University Amid negotiations with Trump, the university could risk losing nearly $700 million

See, if you just cooperate with the administration and comply, it all turns out OK...

www.science.org/content/arti...

Spotted Valerie Wallace in this. Need to bring her here to bluesky. Or maybe we move to Canada? @blockintheback.bsky.social @michelcayouette.bsky.social @flyeyelab.bsky.social

Our latest manuscript on glia-to-neuron conversion in retina is out in @elife.bsky.social. We show that AAV-mediated overexpression of Oct4 induces glia-to-bipolar cell conversion in wildtype retina, and that this is greatly enhanced by loss of function of Rbpj.

elifesciences.org/reviewed-pre...

📣 Call for @iser.bsky.social Members!
Want to take on a leadership role at ISER? We're seeking volunteers for:
🟢 Members • 📣 Comms • 💰 Fundraising • 🌱 Early Career

Help shape the future of ISER—get involved!

#ISER #Volunteer #Leadership #ScienceCommunity #EarlyCareerResearchers