It’s live!! Listen now to my conversation with the @stemcellpodcast team about planarian flatworms, their stem cells, and using cool new methods to address big questions in regeneration.

Ok scientists & those who love science: here is another exhortation. Call Congress TODAY about the freeze on NIH Council/Study Sections. Emphasize this means NO new grants are funded & labs will soon start to shut down & fire employees. Phone numbers at:

Abrupt Dismissal of NIH and NSF Staff Undermines Government Efficiency

Stand Up For Science 2025 Announces National Day of Action: March 7, 2025 👇👇👇

Research Triangle Park in North Carolina is one of the most important biomedical innovation hubs in the country. Crown Jewel of North Carolina! The cuts to NIH are jeopardizing $150M+ in research and jobs. The economic benefits are 2x ($300M+).

Cuts in NIH research grants will have a lasting negative impact on science and medicine in the U.S. Grants will continue to fund specific research costs, but essential infrastructure like labs, advanced equipment and support staff are crucial for groundbreaking work.

Massive respect for my institution using its platform to lay bare the real impact of NIH indirect cuts. This isn’t just numbers—it’s research, jobs, and innovation on the line. #FundScience #NIHcuts

Please join my cell biology colleagues and CALL Congress. emails are not as impactful. Here is a simple sample script

If you are worried about how @NIH’s proposed 15% cap on research support will impact American competitiveness and biomedical innovation, call your reps! The more they hear from us as constituents and private citizens, the more likely they are to fight for science.

Next Thurs Feb 15 ⁦@bcmhouston⁩ I’ll give personal reflections on the future of life sciences/biomedicine in U.S., if and how how we navigate reduced govt commitment to S&T, if we can compete with Europe/Asia, potential advantages of Texas, what it means for your career

NIH grants drive more than $92.89 billion in economic activity across all 50 U.S. states and DC. It is estimated that every dollar of NIH funding generates $2.46 dollars of economic activity. So what you are bragging about is a more than $22 B hit to local economies across the US

Some of the things supported by the overhead on NIH grants: - Building and laboratory maintenance (repairs, cleaning, security, electricity, water, heating, and cooling) - IT and communications infrastructure - Grants administration - Financial, HR, legal, regulatory, tech

if this holds, this will cripple US science, with ramifications that cant be easily reversed

There are many solutions for NIH reform to address bureaucratic waste and bad incentives, but I don’t think a flat 15% IDC rate overnight is the best one. Source for endowment statistics:

The median college/university endowment is $42 Million, not 42 billion like Yale. Those will be the schools forced to limit or cut their research departments because it costs >15% to provide good science infrastructure (e.g. IT, HVAC, gas lines, waste disposal, shared equipment)

Honored to be selected as a @TAMESTX protégé finalist along with my fantastic colleague @BlairBenhamPyle! @bcmgenetics

It was an honor to be nominated by @Goodell_Lab as a @tamesttx protege and an even bigger honor to be selected as the ‘Science’ finalist for our work @CAGTHouston . Texas has a rich history of supporting medicine, engineering, science, and technology. Let’s keep it up!

How to write a grant? 1. Write it for the reviewer, not you, the applicant. 2. Communicate in stories. 3. Make your story cohesive—leave no puzzling gaps. 4. Make your story resonate to keep the reviewer reading. 5. Accept chance and noise in peer-review. https://t.co/wHZ065DNlm

MCB department tradition! #Halloween party w pumpkin and costume contests. #newPI wins!

We won third place at the molecular and cellular biology department Halloween party!!