TLR7/8 don't "just" detect viral RNA: they also have an antagonist site to prevent activation by self RNA! Understanding and controlling this system is key to immunotherapy for cancer and autoimmunity. Definitely one of the coolest papers I've read in a long while.
The implications are profound, and go beyond TLR7/8: TLR9 uses the same basic design to discriminate self/nonself DNA. Together, TLR7/8/9 must be the key system to distinguish between retroviral particles and normal exosomes: evolution HAD to come up with a way to do this.
Every now and then I read a paper that opens my eyes to see an aspect of biology in a new way. This paper blew my mind - TLR7/8 have agonist sites to bind viral RNA, and antagonist sites to bind endogenous RNA degrad. products, enabling self/nonself discrimination: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
As a someone with a 33 year NIH-funded lab whose grant is supposed to be reviewed this week, shut NIH down if that is what's needed to end ICE terrorism. Innocent lives are more important 🧪
Point blank.
10-shots.
Execution.
A US citizen, a VA ICU Nurse.
Then lying.
Blocking a real investigation.
GOP
#vjaybombs
The story is not that there are two conflicting versions of what happened.
The story is that the federal government is lying about what happened.
There is plenty of evidence.
Your job, our job, is to sift that evidence and describe what actually happened ffs.
May we all be Alex. Our government murdered him, lied about it, and are trying to obstruct justice. We the people demand justice.
Just got my poster set up at #SITC2025 and walking my first visitor through our data. If you’re here, stop by poster 919 to learn about the unique biology of TLR7/8/9!
Delighted that Luke Timmerman invited me on his Long Run podcast to tell Zola's story. It's been a long run for me, from discovering CpG DNA (TLR9) 30 yrs ago, to now discovering RNA/DNA TLR7/8/9 agonists, which may transform cancer immunotherapy!
timmermanreport.com/2025/10/inna...
Nature Conferences. Cracking the Code: Nucleic Acid Medicines Coming of Age. December 8 - 10, Boston, MA, United States. Organized by Alnylam, Ionis, HSCI, Boston Children’s Hospital, and Nature Portfolio
Speakers include: Anna Pyle (Yale),’Arthur Krieg (Zola Therapeutics), Mano Manoharan (Alnylam), Grace Chen (Yale), Howard Chang (Stanford), Maria Barna (Stanford) - picture shows their portraits.
Join us for the 3rd Nature Conference on Nucleic Acid Medicines in Boston (Dec 8-10) with an amazing lineup of speakers. 4 weeks left 4 early bird registration! natureconferences.streamgo.live/cracking-the...
@natureportfolio.nature.com @nature.com @natbiotech.nature.com @natrevdrugdiscov.nature.com
My new review article covers key points I have not seen in any other review of cancer immunotherapy: i) the difference between IFN-a and IFN-b; ii) the unique role of P1 pDC among all DC subsets; iii) the unique role of TLR7/8/9 among TLRs
nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=http%3A%...
If you are an academic innovator interested in learning more about translating your research to real-world impact, apply to be a Termeer Scholar! Get your application in by Friday, August 29th at Midnight EST to be considered for this incredible opportunity!
www.linkedin.com/posts/termee...
I recently had the pleasure of joining
The Pharmaverse podcast - it released today. We discussed the parallels between running marathons (and ultras) and my >30 yrs of efforts activating immunity to fight cancer, culminating in founding Zola Rx, starting a biotech is harder! youtu.be/FX9MLqv9PBQ
Like most immunologists, I tend to use a lot of jargon when talking about cancer immunotherapy - so complex! A patient in one of our prior clinical trials asked me to explain our new approach with TLR7/8/9 agonists, and I made this video on the history, which he liked. youtu.be/KLgCU5Gm3pA
Congratulations to you and the whole team for another successful event!
Thank you Brad Loncar for hosting us on Biotech TV - Jim and I appreciated the chance to explain how a deeper understanding of type one IFNs can propel cancer immunotherapy forward to greater success! RNA/DNA hybrids costimulate TLR7/8/9, inducing a novel IFN-a response without inflammation!
Can Cambridge biotech evolve with the times? I’m an optimist, but the challenges we face are clear and growing…
Tickets are SOLD OUT for the TR10 East Coast anniversary party Mar. 6 in Cambridge, Mass. Tickets still available for TR10 West Coast party Mar. 13. Register here. www.eventbrite.com/e/tr10-west-...
He might have been getting hypothermic, the windchill was -40 when he finally accepted my “offer”!
Cold day going up Mount Washington today with Doug Fambrough, Dave Melville, Jim Ellis, and friends! On the way up, Doug agreed to join me on the board of my new company, Zola therapeutics, getting work done while having fun!
A drug comprising 8 defined live bacterial strains reduces C diff. by >80%, cool!
I joined 75+ @nobelprize.bsky.social laureates urging US Senators to oppose RFK Jr.'s confirmation as DHHS Secretary. If you’re in a state with GOP senators, PLEASE reach out to them! I’d deeply appreciate it if you amplified this post! 🙏
www.nytimes.com/2024/12/09/h...
Mount Lafayette and Franconia Ridge are completely different in the winter, my favorite time of year to be up here!#AnotherGreatDayInTheMountains
It’s another great day to be in the mountains! Heading up the Old Bridle Path in Franconia notch…
It’s full on winter on Mount Washington, but the Lake of the Clouds hut still provides a nice wind break for hot coffee and a snack. Excellent conditions snowshoeing up ammo. Just past the hut, the trail disappears under deep drifts and there’s no visibility with blowing snow. Back down ammo!
In startups I’m always optimistic, thinking we are going to create enormous value in a couple of years. To reduce dilution, I don’t want to raise more cash than I think I’m going to need to get to a big value inflection point. But I’ve learnt you always need more cash than you expect!
There’s still time before winter, but it’s nice in the snow too!
Sunset right now in the blue Hills, the rocks are still a bit wet from the recent rain, so I’m taking it easy, enjoying the views!
