The Securing American Funding and Expertise from Adversarial Research Exploitation (SAFE) Act would deny federal funding to any U.S. scientist who collaborates with anyone "affiliated with a hostile foreign entity," a category that includes four countries: China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. The prohibited activities would include joint research, co-authorship on papers, and advising a foreign graduate student or postdoctoral fellow. The language is retroactive, meaning any interactions during the previous 5 years could make a scientist ineligible for future federal funding.

Yikes. Banning people for activities such as co-authorship and advising a graduate student is completely unreasonable in a modern research environment. And a retroactive 5 year ban is wildly unfair.

This has gotten surprisingly little attention — it's not even on the front page of @science.org right now — but it's really hard to describe what the SAFE Research Act would do to US science and scientists without sounding insane

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

One thing that's abundantly clear: passing the SAFE Research Act would permanently end the United States' ability to be competitive in any area of advanced technology. Just straight up suicidal policy-making.

Super excited about the project and for awesome collaborators spanning the country! Shout out to co-I's: leading expert on parenting behaviors @bjmarlin.bsky.social and pioneers in Peromyscus Californicus endocrinology and social behavior @cmarler.bsky.social and @briantrainor.bsky.social!

FDA-NIH Workshop: Reducing Animal Testing The FDA is hosting a workshop on reducing animal testing. The workshop is open to current FDA and NIH employees.

Science peeps action alert - time for comments at this link. Let FDA/NIH know that NAMS are not ready for prime time.... #Neuroskyence #MedSky #academicsky

www.fda.gov/news-events/...

Dear all, PLEASE add comments on the importance of model organism research at this link:

Migraine and depression can often arise in the same individuals- why? Is one disorder a cause of the other? Check out our new review examining shared mechanisms from genes to brain networks to whole body physiology! rdcu.be/evACa

Opinion | It Isn’t Freedom if It’s Not for Everyone

My win-a-trip winner, Sofia Barnett, wrote this excellent piece from our West Africa trip, arguing that American feminism should show more concern for global issues for women and girls: www.nytimes.com/2025/07/05/o... She's right.

On Independence Day let’s ask: what do we today need independence from now? I’d suggest a system that tells us there are only two ways to think!

Powerful story about NIH and cancer to start Sunday Morning on CBS

Here is one of the two cases they examined: pancreatic cancer.

Part 1 of 4

Five things to remember about war:

Looking forward to sharing some of our work on brain mechanisms of stress and migraine this afternoon! #AHSAM

Want to talk corruption? Look right here in Des Moines.

After another brutal week of science funding news it felt great to join other scientists for the #NAMIwalk Johnson County (IA) and hear important stories about ways science has saved lives and what peoples' hopes are for research breakthroughs in the future. We won't stop fighting for cures!

I have previously posted about the slow issuance of NIH award in fiscal year 2025 compared to fiscal year 2024.

jeremymberg.github.io/jeremyberg.g...

These data were across all of the institutes and centers at NIH.

The results can be examined for each institute and center.

1/n

NIH grants plummeted $2.3 billion in Trump’s first months, as federal-academia partnership crumbles The NIH has scaled back its awards of new grants by at least $2.3 billion since the beginning of the year, a STAT analysis shows.

The result below. My tireless colleagues are so amazing. @mmolteni.bsky.social @jonathanwosen.bsky.social @jaspar.bsky.social www.statnews.com/2025/04/24/t...

Stand up for science march at Sacramento! if you see yourself or anyone you recognize tag them! #standupforscience2025 #facesofscience #thisiswhatascientistlookslike #marchforscience #research #lab #n... TikTok video by trainor lab

See what a scientist looks like from the Sacramento @standupforscience.bsky.social march www.tiktok.com/@trainorlab/...

From Labs to Lives: Theanne Griffith, Ph.D. YouTube video by UC Davis

@doctheagrif.bsky.social explains how federal funding is supporting research to discover new ways to treat pain in related to cancer youtu.be/53OLgx6ycnY

This is a huge hit to the health of rural America 😔

Woo!!! CONGRATS!!!!!!👏🎉

Raise your hand if you’re an assistant professor who has now had to journey through a global pandemic AND a constitutional crisis, all while trying to obtain tenure 🙋🏻‍♀️

I’m tired.

Call to End Freeze on Federal Grants

The White House's pause on federal grants threatens our nation’s scientific progress. Read SfN's full statement urging this Administration to lift the freeze to protect the health and security of our nation: bit.ly/4gq9i2I

Know a talented undergraduate who wants to pursue a PhD in neuroscience but has had limited research opportunities? Our 2-year postbacc program, iDREAM (Iowa: Diversifying Research Experiences And Mentorship) is accepting applications now! idream.sites.uiowa.edu (Review begins Feb.3)

So thankful for mentors with patience during my undergraduate days. We celebrate our excellent undergrad researchers in the lab!