EJVallender
@ejvallender.bsky.social
Comparative/Evolutionary/Neuro Genetics (he/him) - Personal opinions only
Barbara Finlay, who died on 12 September, championed the idea that developmental constraints dictate how evolution sculpts brains, which she used to model the timing of hundreds of events and align them across mammalian species. By @callimcflurry.bsky.social www.thetransmitter.org/evolution/re...
Barbara Finlay, ‘maverick’ of evolutionary neuroscience
Finlay, who died on 12 September, championed the idea that developmental constraints dictate how evolution sculpts brains.
thetransmitter.org
The U.S. primate centers were meant to last 100 years. Four decades shy of that mark, amid flatlined funds and mounting political pressure, their directors are trying to find a path forward. By @callimcflurry.bsky.social www.thetransmitter.org/what-if-nonh...
U.S. national primate research centers face an uncertain future
The facilities were meant to last 100 years. Four decades shy of that mark, amid flatlined funds and mounting political pressure, their directors are trying to find a path forward.
thetransmitter.org
In the second story out today, @thetransmitter.bsky.social asked 17 neuroscientists what questions could remain unanswered if support for nonhuman primate research continues to decline. Their answers span cognition and other subfields. By Alissa de Chassey www.thetransmitter.org/what-if-nonh...
The neuroscience questions that need nonhuman primates
The Transmitter asked 17 neuroscientists what questions might remain unanswered if support for nonhuman primate research continues to decline.
thetransmitter.org
The first story tracks the history and role of the U.S. national primate research centers. After decades of flat funding, and amid mounting political pressure, their directors are trying to find a path forward. By @callimcflurry.bsky.social www.thetransmitter.org/what-if-nonh...
U.S. national primate research centers face an uncertain future
The facilities were meant to last 100 years. Four decades shy of that mark, amid flatlined funds and mounting political pressure, their directors are trying to find a path forward.
thetransmitter.org
Everytime you think the writers have well and truly jumped the shark, they find another twist. The new Director of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research has published a case report on…. wait for it…. Leopards eating faces #ISYN www.joms.org/article/S027...
Head and neck injury from a leopard attack: case report and review of the literature
Animal bites are frequently encountered in a trauma center and result in injuries ranging from innocuous to life threatening. In the United States, more than 10,000 patients are hospitalized each year...
joms.org
"I'm too talented to need shortcuts" goes so fucking hard.
We're hiring! PNI is recruiting an assistant professor of neuroscience working with non-human primates in any area. Review begins Oct 19: apply.interfolio.com/192521 #NeuroJobs #Neuroskyence
Trump’s DoD is reportedly working to divert billions of dollars in federal funding from the National Institutes of Health to the Pentagon. The Pentagon secretly signed an agreement that could give them “access to billions of dollars that Congress provided to NIH for critical biomedical research.”
Trump Admin Secretly Working to Divert Billions From NIH Budget to Fund Iran War
An interagency agreement would give the Pentagon access to the health agency’s coffers on top of its own massive budget.
truthout.org
There are many uses for AI in science - modeling, data analysis, certain diagnostics - none of those are LLMs and frankly not even really “AI” as we’ve come to know it at all and TBH we need a different name for this kind of “AI” so the science stuff can stop getting dragged into this argument.
A House Democrat on Thursday introduced articles of impeachment against White House budget chief Russell Vought, accusing the Project 2025 architect & far-right ideologue of unlawfully terminating federal funds appropriated by Congress & putting the Trump regime’s political priorities over the law.
Impeachment Articles Filed Against 'Unelected Shadow President' Russell Vought | Common Dreams
"Vought’s blatant abuse of power and complete disregard for the Constitution warrants immediate removal by Congress," said Democratic Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove.
commondreams.org
Elnahal cited the thousands of scientists who contacted him from around the globe as indicating that OHSU has something special in terms or resources. You did. It was a primate center. With the new plan & colony reduction, you lose it. You reap what you sow. In this case, mediocrity & uncertainty
The Transmitter @thetransmitter.bsky.social · 3mo agoThe board of directors at Oregon Health & Science University has voted unanimously to develop a plan to scale down the university’s primate research center and pivot its focus to new approach methodologies. #neuroskyence By @callimcflurry.bsky.social www.thetransmitter.org/nonhuman-pri...
The board of directors at Oregon Health & Science University has voted unanimously to develop a plan to scale down the university’s primate research center and pivot its focus to new approach methodologies. #neuroskyence By @callimcflurry.bsky.social www.thetransmitter.org/nonhuman-pri...
Oregon primate research center to downsize monkey colony
The plan, approved today, follows talks about converting the center into a sanctuary and preserves some of the nonhuman primate studies.
thetransmitter.org
On this, Emmit Tills birthday, I want to share one of my favorite speculative Poems “I saw Emmett Till this week at the grocery store” by Eve L. Ewing share.google/mWtwTI9NvriN...
“I saw Emmett Till this week at the grocery store” by Eve L. Ewing
Terrance Hayes explores how Emmett Till has become a haunting, powerful figure in Black poetry.
share.google
Astonishing. RFK Jr. adds 8 members to a 6 member FDA advisory panel. 6 of them were sellers of peptides, and the 7th a compounding pharmacist. In an 8-6 vote with all 8 votes coming from these new panel members, the panel approved 4 peptides against the objections of FDA scientists.
FDA Panel Supports Lifting Restrictions on Four Peptides (Gift Article)
In an all-day hearing, the agency’s scientists argued against allowing broad access to unproven drugs that the agency had banned three years ago.
nytimes.com
I just went 82-0, think you can go 82-0? www.82-0.com/share?id=cQy...
82-0
Build the ultimate NBA all-time team and see if you can go 82-0
82-0.com
Well, well, well, look at who finally has a complete set of the Graphic Canon series thanks to the sale at @sevenstories.bsky.social!! They join Gilgamesh (not pictured, but beloved) and the top two religion-y ones (also newly arrived).
Callo, y entiendo, y me quito La pompa del rimador: Cuelgo de un árbol marchito Mi muceta de doctor.
Researchers at a national primate center in Oregon have formed a grassroots nonprofit to argue against the center becoming an animal sanctuary, a transition the facility’s host university has been exploring since February. By @callimcflurry.bsky.social www.thetransmitter.org/nonhuman-pri...
Oregon primate center scientists fight proposed sanctuary transition
A group of employees have launched a series of campaigns to advocate for their work and argue against the center’s potential transition to an animal sanctuary.
thetransmitter.org
“Normally, a junior faculty would just need to focus on writing grants and publishing papers, and instead, I’m fighting for the right to still be a scientist.”
The Transmitter @thetransmitter.bsky.social · 6mo agoResearchers at a national primate center in Oregon have formed a grassroots nonprofit to argue against the center becoming an animal sanctuary, a transition the facility’s host university has been exploring since February. By @callimcflurry.bsky.social www.thetransmitter.org/nonhuman-pri...
Critics say the proposal was made without consulting experts, does not specify how the transfer or lifetime care of the animals would be funded, and could endanger the monkeys if they’re not carefully integrated into their new home. My latest for @science.org
CDC plan to retire lab monkeys to Texas sanctuary draws ire
Critics say proposal was rushed and could endanger the animals
science.org
A gene-therapy approach to thwart the AIDS virus that has long struggled to gain traction may have new momentum after a study found it could “functionally cure” at least some monkeys. https://scim.ag/4upKfnQ
A novel gene-therapy approach to ‘functionally cure’ HIV succeeds in some monkeys
Six animals suppressed AIDS virus after one shot of treatment that makes cell-receptor antibody
science.org
He also noted that funding announcements will have sections where institutes can articulate their particular interests to help encourage applications relevant to key topics key to the institute missions. This is ironic given that NIH and the administration has largely blocked targeted NOFOs. 13/30
In addition, after last year, many institutions no longer assume that a noncompetitive renewal will be forthcoming if it is substantially delayed. This represents a lack of trust between institutions/investigators and the NIH that is both understandable and different than I have seen before. 21/30
Interesting new approach by blusky to encourage alt text.