👁️ August is #ChildrensEyeHealthandSafetyMonth! Alfred Sommer won a 1997 Clinical Medical Research Lasker Award for showing that low-dose vitamin A can prevent blindness: https://ow.ly/xowl50Zs396 🏆 Who will win a Clinical Medical Research Award this year? Find out on September 9!

“I love showing up [to the lab], knowing that I’m going to have new problems to tackle every day.”🧪 We asked 2026 Lasker Video Contest winner Max Bucklan of Duke University about his favorite part of doing research. His answer? Getting to wear many different hats. 🎩 #AcademicSky #SciComm

🏆 Student presentations 🤝 Networking opportunities 🧪Alumni panels, breakout sessions, & more! #PhysicianScientists in training: Join American Physician Scientists Association on Sept 26 for its Mid-Atlantic Regional Meeting @ Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine: https://ow.ly/2jl650ZjGAJ

Science is a team effort. 🤝 We asked 2026 Lasker Video Contest winner Mark Sorin to talk about the value of collaborative science. Hear his thoughts. Mark is a graduating MD-PhD student and incoming internal medicine resident at McGill University. 🧪 Journal of Clinical Investigation

The Strengths of Collaborative Science

We asked Mark Sorin, one of the winners of the 2026 Lasker Video Contest, to tell us about collaborative science. Here is what he shared with us.

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👂Want to hear from your peers behind the most groundbreaking discoveries? 🔬Your monthly scan of biomedical science is here! 🧪 Subscribe to the Lasker newsletter. Expect the next issue in your inbox on August 18: https://laskerfoundation.org/newsletter-signup/

What are the effects of alcohol on behavior? Which regions of the brain are important for aversion? 🧪 2026 Lasker Video Contest winner Lindsey Ramirez talks about her research—and the fun she had acting it out in a video. 🎥 Journal of Clinical Investigation The University of Illinois System

Studying Alcohol's Effects—Then Acting Them Out

We asked Lindsey Ramirez, one of the winners of the 2026 Lasker Video Contest, to tell us about her video. Here is what she shared with us.

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🧪 Researchers at the Yale School of Medicine identified two molecularly distinct intrinsic cardiac neuron subtypes that differ in extrinsic inputs, projection architectures, and physiological roles, per Cell Press: https://ow.ly/rX2050Zu28R #SciSky #MedSky

A scientist, a family member, or all of the above? 🚀 Find out who inspires 2026 Lasker Video Contest winner Dimitri Seneviratne. Dimitri is a first-year medical student at the KU | The University of Kansas School of Medicine with interests in ophthalmology and aerospace medicine. 🧪

Passion for Research Runs in the Family

We asked Dimitri Seneviratne, one of the winners of the 2026 Lasker Video Contest, "Who inspires you as a scientist?" Here is what he shared with us.

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John F. Mahoney was born #OTD in 1889. He won the Clinical Medical Research Lasker Award in 1946 for pioneering the treatment of syphilis with penicillin. 🧪 🏆 Now, eight decades later, who’ll win a Clinical Medical Research Award? Find out on Sept. 9! #PublicHealth #Lasker2026

A city needs to have both red and green traffic lights to prevent chaos—and so does your brain.🚦 We asked 2026 Lasker Video Contest winner Sai Krishna Bhamidipati to tell us about the inspiration behind his winning video & the research question he's exploring. 🧪 Journal of Clinical Investigation

Inside Your Brain's Traffic Control System

We asked Sai Krishna Bhamidipati, one of the winners of the 2026 Lasker Video Contest, to tell us about his video. Here is what he shared with us.

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🧪 In Nature, Sebastian Cachero, Erika Donà et al. present a high-resolution developmental transcriptional atlas for the Drosophila melanogaster nerve cord and identify a global molecular code for birth order and neuronal identity. #SciSky #MedSky

A global molecular code for birth order and neuronal identity in Drosophila | Nature

The assembly of functional neural circuits relies on the generation of diverse neural types with precise molecular identity and connectivity. Unlocking general principles of neuronal specification and wiring across the nervous system requires a systematic and high-resolution characterization of its diversity, recently enabled by advances in single-cell transcriptomics and connectomics. However, linking the molecular identity of neurons to circuit architecture remains a key challenge. Here we present a high-resolution developmental transcriptional atlas for the Drosophila melanogaster nerve...

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🧪 Harold Freeman won a Public Service Lasker Award in 2000 for addressing social determinants of health in cancer. In "Dial an Idol," Freeman shares how to bring care to those who need it most: https://ow.ly/QI3B50ZqacK 🏆 Who will win a Public Service Award this year? Find out on September 9!

“She created a world in which young girls could see themselves in science.” 🌍 When we asked 2026 Lasker Video Contest winner Colette Benko, "Who inspires you as a scientist?" she mentioned past & present mentors before sharing how #WomenInSTEM made her feel that a career in science was possible. 🧪

Representation in Science Matters

We asked Colette Benko, one of the winners of the 2026 Lasker Video Contest, "Who inspires you as a scientist?" Here is what she shared with us.

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Research advances need constant and effective communication. 📣 We asked 2026 Lasker Video Contest winner Max Bucklan why #SciComm matters. Hear what he had to say. 🧪 Max is pursuing his PhD in the The Gregory Lab @ DukeU. Duke University Journal of Clinical Investigation

The Importance of Good Science Communication

We asked Max Bucklan, one of the winners of the 2026 Lasker Video Contest, "Why do you like science communication?" Here is what he shared with us.

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🧪 In two recent studies in Nature, researchers used a peculiar CRISPR enzyme that kills cancer cells by shredding their DNA. This approach shows promise against cancer cells that have been difficult to target w/ existing therapies: https://ow.ly/fpg050Zu1RZ @jingkunzeng.bsky.social Jennifer Doudna

How do you go from doing cancer research to producing a 2026 Lasker Video Contest winning video? 🎞️ Mark Sorin reflects on the challenge of distilling his research into a two-minute animated video. 🧪 Mark is an incoming internal med resident at McGill University. Journal of Clinical Investigation

Animation Is Perfect to Show Cells Interacting

We asked Mark Sorin, one of the winners of the 2026 Lasker Video Contest, to tell us about his video. Here is what he shared with us.

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Heinz Fraenkel-Conrat was born #OTD in 1910. He received a Lasker Award for discovering the fundamental role that nucleic acid plays in the reproduction of viruses and in the transmission of inherited characteristics: http://ow.ly/Ebnk50v5WyE 🧪 ⭐ Who will win a Lasker this year? Find out on Sept 9!

Being successful in research is about more than understanding the science—2026 Lasker Video Contest winner Lindsey Ramirez believes it’s about having “grit,” too. 🌟 She reflects on how her parents inspired her strong work ethic. 🧪 Journal of Clinical Investigation The University of Illinois System

Why Lindsey Credits Her Parents for Her Work Ethic

We asked Lindsey Ramirez, one of the winners of the 2026 Lasker Video Contest, "Who inspires you as a scientist?" Here is what she shared with us.

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“Some of the most fruitful solutions I have ever found were pulled from a completely different field.” 💡 2026 Lasker Video Contest winner Dimitri Seneviratne thinks the coolest part of research is thinking outside of the box. 🧪 KU | The University of Kansas Journal of Clinical Investigation

The Coolest Part of Research? Borrowing from Another Field

We asked Dimitri Seneviratne, one of the winners of the 2026 Lasker Video Contest, "What is your favorite part of doing research?" Here is what he shared with us.

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What is next in the brain circuits field? 🧠 2026 Lasker Video Contest winner Sai Krishna Bhamidipati believes a more precise understanding of the brain will lead to precision treatments. Sai is a PhD candidate at UC San Diego. 🧪 Journal of Clinical Investigation

Making Sense of New Scientific Findings

We asked Sai Krishna Bhamidipati, one of the winners of the 2026 Lasker Video Contest, "What is next in your field?" Here is what he shared with us.

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It’s #WorldHepatitisDay, which seeks to raise global awareness of viral hepatitis. ❤️‍🩹 🧪 In this episode of “We Ask a Scientist,” 2016 Lasker Award winner Charles Rice recounts his 25-year journey studying hepatitis C virus to develop a cure for hepatitis C infections: https://youtu.be/EiSVTJZrwGc

🧪Miriam Merad et al. found a key role for type 1 conventional dendritic cells (cDC1s) in development of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) in human cancer. Early formation of TLSs relied on T cells primed by cDC1s in tumor-draining lymph nodes, per Science Magazine: https://ow.ly/8Chy50Zqh4f

July is #SarcomaAwarenessMonth, which is dedicated to educating the public about a rare group of cancers affecting connective tissues. 🧪 Discover how Lasker Laureates have contributed to cancer research, from developing a theory of cancer to deploying immunotherapy.

Deciphering Cancer - The Lasker Foundation

Lasker Laureates shed light on "The Big C": from developing a theory of cancer to deploying immunotherapy and targeted molecular therapies

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How does a PowerPoint presentation become a winning video? 🤔 2026 Lasker Video Contest winner Colette Benko tells us how slides and a fun cartoon evolved into her entry. Colette is a fourth-year PhD candidate in Stanford University’s Developmental Biology program. 🧪

Showing How Cells Post "Cellfies" to the Immune System

We asked Colette Benko, one of the winners of the 2026 Lasker Video Contest, to tell us about her video. Here is what she shared with us.

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Lasker Laureate Raymond P. Ahlquist, who developed the theory of alpha and beta adrenergic receptors in the cardiovascular system, was born #OTD. ❤️‍🩹🧪Ahlquist’s work laid the foundation for the development of the drug propranolol, which is used to treat heart disease: http://ow.ly/7QFT30oHqeq

Happy birthday, Napoleone Ferrara!🎉 🧪Ferrara discovered vascular endothelial growth factor, a key signaling protein in blood vessel formation. He used this knowledge to devise an effective treatment for wet age-related macular degeneration, earning him a 2010 Clinical Medical Research Lasker Award.

Napoleone Ferrara on Curiosity, Persistence, and Motorcycle Rides

Ferrara discovered vascular endothelial growth factor, a key signaling protein in blood vessel formation. He used this knowledge to devise an effective treatment for wet age-related macular degeneration.

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Behind every researcher are those who inspire them—other scientists, educators, & sometimes even cartoon characters. Here’s what 2026 Lasker Video Contest winner Max Bucklan had to say about Ms. Frizzle & the “real-life Ms. Frizzles” that influenced his scientific journey.🧪 The Gregory Lab @ DukeU

How Ms. Frizzle Inspired a Scientific Journey

We asked Max Bucklan, one of the winners of the 2026 Lasker Video Contest, "Who inspires you as a scientist?" Here is what he shared with us.

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Persistent and transient senescent cells contribute to brain-barrier development in mice, UC San Diego researchers report in Cell Press. These findings reframe the prevailing view of persistent senescence beyond solely a pathological state: https://ow.ly/ETFs50Zqh2W #MedSky #SciSky 🧪

“You feel like you’re a part of something that’s bigger than yourself.” 🌎 From bouncing off ideas to putting the pieces of the puzzle together, 2026 Lasker Video Contest winner Mark Sorin shares his favorite parts of doing research. Mark is an incoming internal med resident @ McGill University. 🧪

The Most Exciting Part of Research? Piecing the Puzzle Together

We asked Mark Sorin, one of the winners of the 2026 Lasker Video Contest, "What is your favorite part of doing research?" Here is what he shared with us.

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Advice for the next generation of physician-scientists? 🤝 2026 Lasker Video Contest winner Lindsey Ramirez shares insights for researchers just beginning their careers. Lindsey is a postdoctoral scientist at the University of Illinois College of Medicine. 🧪 Journal of Clinical Investigation

Be Kind to Yourself: Handling Imposter Syndrome

We asked Lindsey Ramirez, one of the winners of the 2026 Lasker Video Contest, "What is your advice for early-career physician-scientists?" Here is what she shared with us.

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