New preprint from collaboration with @sn-lab.bsky.social - 2p imaging of psilocybin's effects on neurovascular coupling 🧠🔬
We found that psilocybin prolongs the neurovascular response, independent of neural activity.
This would affect how we should interpret fMRI BOLD studies of psychedelics ‼️
These members of the NIH Council of Councils are voicing serious concerns about NIH grant terminations, restructure, and budget cuts
go.nature.com/46Vr8t2
Thanks for walking me through it - your work is super cool!!
Likewise!
#GRCPsychedelics - What a blast! It was great to talk science with so many incredible people in the field. Can't wait to do it all over again!
Please repost! We're hiring a postdoc to work with me and
@salagapan.bsky.social on an exciting interdisciplinary project in human neuroscience and brain-body interactions underlying effortful behavior in health and mood disorders.
siplab.gatech.edu/postdoc_ad_2...
Vought's comments set off Hill furor as shutdown threat looms
Earlier today we said everyone should oppose the current rescission package, even though it does not include #NIH provisions.
We said this bill will embolden Trump and Vought to enact massive NIH budget cuts via another rescission.
Now Vought confirms. 1/
NEW: In an unprecedented move, the NIH will soon disinvite dozens of scientists about to take positions on advisory councils that make final decisions on grant funding.
NIH staff were told to select others aligned with the Trump administration and told to expect placements by political appointees.
NIH and FDA hosted a workshop on July 7 on efforts to reduce the use of animal models in research, NIH has formally announced a policy change. The agencies have invited comments through the workshop’s webpage. PLEASE COMMENT. The portal will be open until 5pm ET on Monday, July 14 (TODAY).
Nature: US senators poised to reject Trump’s proposed massive science cuts Committee gives first hint that policymakers might preserve, rather than slash, funding for US National Science Foundation and other agencies.
DO NOT GIVE UP!
Our advocacy is working.
A key Senate committee has indicated that it will reject Trump’s proposed cuts to science agencies including NASA and the NSF.
Keep speaking up and calling your electeds 🗣️🗣️🗣️
This isn’t just a warning — it’s a call to action.
🛑 Stand against a future where facts are filtered by Trump’s ideology. Sign & share our open letter. ⬇️
actionnetwork.org/petitions/op...
Microglia are often framed as driving maladaptive behavior in stress and depression, but what if they're important for treatment as well?
In the final project from my graduate studies, we explored whether microglial BDNF supports the effects of low-dose ketamine.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
If you read one thing today, make it this:
PhD Timeline xkcd.com/3081
I am a professor at Columbia University. All of the student NIH training grants have been canceled and now there are reports that ALL funding will be frozen. Why are Universities not banding together and speaking out publicly and forcibly about governmental attacks on biomedical research?
IF YOU FIGHT, THEY BACK DOWN.
The only explanations for institutional compliance are you're cowards or you like it.
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
Effect of 2 mg/kg psilocybin on fear extinction in mice.
@samcwoodburn.bsky.social previously tested 2 mg/kg psilocybiin, among many other conditions, for fear extinction.
pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10....
The results are very close... Ours in the top, the cross-lab average in the bottom
"The consolidation/RIF plan pulls power away from scientists and puts it in the hands of political employees. It sets up Trump and Musk to kill NIH as an evidence-based science funder. We must stop this plan."
New contributed post on our blog: Please read.
It describes Orban and authoritarianism. 🧪
🚨 Over 70 graduate programs in the biological and biomedical sciences have frozen or slashed admissions.
The consequences are profound—how many brilliant minds are being shut out of research entirely? How much future discovery is being lost before it even begins?
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
“Yet, far from acting in courageous defiance, many scientists and administrators now seem to think that the best response to the war on DEI is to keep their heads low and wait out four hard years.”
Hell yes, Art Caplan. More courageous defiance, less quiet cowardice.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Justin is a phenomenal scientist and all around great person! After working together for 5 years, I seriously can't recommend him enough if you're looking for someone to tackle difficult research questions
A thank you card and magnet from my student after their trip abroad.
I feel fortunate to mentor such thoughtful students! I'm not sure if they're aware, but stuff like this makes my whole week.
It feels good to know I can have a similar impact on them as my mentors have had on me.
Can whole-brain imaging of cellular c-Fos signals be used to classify #psychedelics? 🧠🔬💊
Our study by @aboharbf.bsky.social and @pashadavoudian.bsky.social, developing an imaging and machine learning pipeline to test a panel of psychoactive drugs.
Paper here 👇
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
The current administration is doing everything it can to irreparably harm trans people and destroy their dignity and well-being.
Yet this is getting way less discussion and conversation than threats to grants.
www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-...
Academic workers across the country are organizing to call on our congressional representatives on Thursday, 1/30, at 3pm ET / 12pm PT to demand these restrictions be lifted immediately.
There will be a training over zoom at the beginning of the event.
Join us!
form.jotform.com/250226137228...
Working w/ a reporter on the consequences of the NIH/NSF freezes (e.g., training pipelines, how grants support clinical time for trials)
If you've had a grant impacted, some organizational perspective (e.g., in APPIC leadership/DCT role) + are willing to share your experience please shoot me a DM
What a great panel of basic and translational research! Also, big thank you to @mayoonthebrain.bsky.social for not hitting us with her unconditioned stimulus in the morning 🙏
I need coffee shops to realize that deciding to be vegan ≠ deciding that $11 is a good piece for toast
Scenes like this are my favorite thing about being on East Coast time #winterbrain #wcbr2025