Dr. Sarah Gaffen

Capitol Punishment Anyone who has ever tried to train a cat knows that positive reinforcement works much better than negative reinforcement.

My latest post on the fear in academia.

open.substack.com/pub/profkap/...

Mark your calendars Cytokines 2025 Westin Seattle! Abstract submission is opening soon. Make sure to note these important deadlines:
-Abstract Submission deadline: Wednesday 18 June
-Early-Bird Registration Deadline: Friday 25 July
Group room rate $236 seattle.cytokinesociety.org for more details

There are enough GOP senators opposed to the cuts to NIH indirects to stop them, but they need to act. Keep writing and calling your representatives 🧪⚕️

Scratching promotes allergic inflammation and host defense via neurogenic mast cell activation Itch is a dominant symptom in dermatitis, and scratching promotes cutaneous inflammation, thereby worsening disease. However, the mechanisms through which scratching exacerbates inflammation and wheth...

Why scratching makes a rash worse and a potential benefit to scratching--it reduced S. aureus on skin. Andrew Liu's paper from our lab is out now at #science #neuroimmune #immunology www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

"Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”

Fred Rogers

Without question, Mr. Rogers was speaking about people like him.

Did you call your senator and congressman yesterday?
Call them again today!
Oppose the confirmation of
#RFKJr. He is dangerous for public health.
U.S. Capitol Switchboard operator can also connect you directly with their office: (202) 224-3121

Crick Crash Course: your immune system Our series of morning lectures sharing science from across the Crick in a simple and accessible way continues.

If you happen to be in London on February 12th and have nothing better to do…

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/crick-cras...

I’m ready for whatever storms come my way, cytokine or otherwise). Thanks Scott Canna @cytokinesociety.bsky.social

It's not too late to sign up for this week's #MycoTalks with @teresaomeara.bsky.social and Chad Rappleye.
📅Thursday 30 January
🕓16:00 GMT

Register here: universityofexeter.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

A fantastic GRC on the Immunology of Fungal Infections. Gordon Brown, @slg1717.bsky.social, Bernie Hube, Mihai Netea, Ilse Jacobsen, Jay Vyas, Rob Wheeler, @lableibundgut.bsky.social - missing former/future 🪑 Luigina Romani, Rebecca Drummond, Bruce Klein, Neil Gow& George Deepe #MicroSky #ImmunoSky

🚨 We also have a "Scientist" position in my lab at St. Jude. The position is financially stable and with a very competitive salary range.

📝 If you have Postdoctoral experience and want to develop a steady research career this one is for you!

➡️ Apply here:
talent.stjude.org/careers/jobs...

OOO-topsy Anatomy of an out-of-office reply

Have you seen too many out of office replies lately? Have they left you feeling bored and dejected? The cure is here in my latest post.

profkap.substack.com/p/ooo-topsy

Congratulations to all the well deserved AAI Fellows. Includes two former @cytokinesociety.bsky.social Presidents! (Chris Hunter, Warren Leonard)

Eugenie Clark (1922-2015) was an American marine biologist and ichthyologist of mixed Japanese and European descent. After earning her B.A. in zoology from Hunter College in 1942, she completed her M.A. and Ph.D. in biology at New York University in 1950. Clark was a pioneer in scuba diving for research and became an authority in marine biology. Her research on shark behavior earned her the nickname "Shark Lady." In 1955, she founded the Cape Haze Marine Laboratory (later renamed the Mote Marine Laboratory), where she conducted groundbreaking research on fish behavior, ecology, and conservation. Clark's work challenged misconceptions about sharks, revealing their intelligence and complex behaviors. Throughout her career, she advocated for ocean conservation and inspired generations of marine scientists, particularly women. Her numerous honors include the Explorers Club's Medal for Exploration and the Royal Order of the Polar Star from Sweden.

#18 from my Women in STEM series: Eugenie Clarke

#WomeninSTEM
#SharkLady
#NewYorkUniversity
#marinebiology
#sharks #sharkbiology
#academicsky

some earlier lab shirts

🥼We are recruiting!
Exciting opportunity for a Postdoctoral Research Associate/Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join the newly-funded MRC Programme Fungi-CARE (Combinations Against Resistance Emergence).
Find out more and apply here: jobs.exeter.ac.uk/hrpr_webrecr...

A lot of things are better underwater. Fabulous dive adventure with Interferon/virologist bestie Karen Mossman. Friends like this are just one of the many benefits of being a member of the Intl Cytokine & Interferon Society @cytokinesociety.bsky.social

Tunnel to Canada is looking pretty good right about now

"What is it guv?”
"Chickpea. Squashed”
"An accident?”
"Afraid not. Looks like hummuside"

My book is out today - buy it (please)

HHMI Names the 2024 Hanna Gray Fellows | HHMI The cohort includes early career scientists working in research areas ranging from treatment-resistant cancers to how animals evolved to live on land. The HHMI Hanna H. Gray Fellows Program provides e...

Incredibly proud of Gaffen Lab alum Dr. Tiffany Taylor (in lab of Dr. Tim Hand, Children's Hosp UPMC), named a Howard Hughes Medical Inst. Hanna Gray Fellow. Congrats to all the Fellows. www.hhmi.org/news/hhmi-na...

Type III interferons induce pyroptosis in gut epithelial cells and impair mucosal repair Intestinal damage following colitis or irradiation induces type III interferons (IFNs), which delay the healing of the intestinal epithelium. IFN-λ directs the sensing of Z-form nucleic acids generated during gut injury and repair, triggering cell death and altering healthy epithelial regeneration.

#EveryCellIsAnImmuneCell!💥Thrilled for the final version of our paper @cp-cell.bsky.social! We show that type III #interferons control ZBP1 activation driving gasdermin C cleavage & delaying gut repair by inducing #pyroptosis in intestinal epithelial cells! 1/n www.cell.com/cell/abstrac...

Syphilis microbe circulated in the Americas thousands of years before European contact But ancient DNA from bony lesions suggests original bacterial strains may not have spread sexually

The origins of syphilis are one of epidemiology’s most enduring mysteries.

#IDsky #Medsky

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

Here's us during our internal Christmas party, being competitive with our Secret Santa pub-quiz game (in case you didn't notice - yes, we are nerds). Our PhD Student Carolin Moosmann, as usual, came up with an amazing gift - this year a self-made T cell immunology memory game.

An ongoing passion project of mine at work: making small info placards about women in STEM that hang in our campus biology building. Their stories give me strength & hope especially now when we face 4 years of darkness. Here is the 1st of many I'll be sharing. #WomeninSTEM #academicsky #skystorians

Cellular RNA interacts with MAVS to promote antiviral signaling Antiviral signaling downstream of RIG-I–like receptors (RLRs) proceeds through a multi-protein complex organized around the adaptor protein mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein (MAVS). Protein co...

Nandan’s @nandangokhale.bsky.social work from our lab highlights the importance of cellular RNA in enhancing MAVS signalosome function, crucial for antiviral signaling initiated by RLRs.

buff.ly/4grnf18

This work is summarized by Sonja Best and Adam Hage.

buff.ly/4fxVMcx

#Science #immunology

Click here to donate: buff.ly/3VaQxYZ

Thanks to my hosts at the Stryker School of Medicine in Kalamazoo for a fun day of science and this beautiful memento. (The TSA agents were so impressed that they inspected my luggage to see it for themselves 🤣).

Cellular RNA interacts with MAVS to promote antiviral signaling Antiviral signaling downstream of RIG-I–like receptors (RLRs) proceeds through a multi-protein complex organized around the adaptor protein mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein (MAVS). Protein co...

#InterferonPower! Fantastic @science.org by @nandangokhale.bsky.social @ramlabuw.bsky.social &co! MAVS is intrinsically capable to sense via an unstructured region the 3’ UTRs of self mRNA (ISGs too!) to potentiate the response to viral RNA via phosphorylation of IRF3 & NFkB!

The kind of meme that should go viral.
#VaccinesWork