Lena Steckelberg

@lenasteckelberg.bsky.social

RNA biologist and virologist @Columbia. Studying how viruses use RNA structure to manipulate cellular processes. She/her www.steckelberglab.org

So excited to see our newest study out in print! Led by the brilliant @jgezelle.bsky.social and @sophiekorn.bsky.social, we discovered how viruses from highly divergent families converge on a shared RNA structure mechanism to inhibit cellular nucleases. #RNAsky #LoveVirology

Jeanine Gezelle@jgezelle.bsky.social · 11mo ago

Our study from the Steckelberg lab is out now in @narjournal.bsky.social !! We dove into a new nuclease-blocking viral #RNA structure important for viral infection, which provided evidence of similar structure-based strategies across diverse viral families. academic.oup.com/nar/article/...

Our study from the Steckelberg lab is out now in @narjournal.bsky.social !! We dove into a new nuclease-blocking viral #RNA structure important for viral infection, which provided evidence of similar structure-based strategies across diverse viral families. academic.oup.com/nar/article/...

A conserved viral RNA fold enables nuclease resistance across kingdoms of life

Abstract. Viral exoribonuclease-resistant RNA (xrRNA) structures block cellular nucleases to produce subgenomic viral RNAs during infection. High sequence

academic.oup.com

Out in today's @science.org: Rallying for US science! I wrote about speaking at Stand Up for Science in DC. "Science delivers breakthroughs even though its path is unpredictable. I emphasized the importance of investing in science & warned that trust in science is under threat.

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Working with an interdisciplinary team, we have developed a website to communicate how the White House's proposed cuts to health research would cause losses of $16B and 68,500 jobs. Find out how your community may be impacted. Explore more at SCIMaP: scienceimpacts.org a 🧵

US map via scienceimpacts.org visualization of economic loss due to IDC cuts to 15% as part of Feb 7, 2025 executive order, with shading denoting intensity of cuts.

Sobering portraits of some of the people facing the dire consequences of disruptions to HIV treatment as a fall out in cuts to US foreign aid. It's easy to erase dehumanize human lives when framed as "DOGE cuts and reducing the size of government". www.npr.org/sections/goa...

Portraits: A 10-year-old, a house painter and a mom who are running out of HIV pills

HIV medications were supposed to be exempt from U.S. aid cuts. In Zambia, for example, those on the ground say otherwise.

npr.org

What an incredibly good idea! At UNC alone PhD students come from hundreds of hometowns across the nation. If you're a scientist help your home community see the value of your work & the importance of supporting the next generation of scientists by bring it home to them. Happy to share an example RT

Cornell Advancing Science and Policy Club (ASAP)@cornellasap.bsky.social · last yr.

Federal research cuts impact local economies, and stall progress. Publish an opinion piece in your hometown paper on June 16th to SPREAD THE WORD about how scientific research contributes to the everyday health and wealth of the general public. #McClintockLetters blogs.cornell.edu/asap/events-...

New report shows that NIH grants fueled $95 billion in economic activity and 407,782 jobs in 2024. That's not to mention the countless lives that biomedical research has saved. Show me a better investment than that. www.forbes.com/sites/michae...

NIH Grants Fueled $95 Billion In FY 2024 Economic Activity, Finds New Report

National Institutes of Health grants generated almost $95 billion in economic activity nationwide in FY 2024 according to a new report by United for Medical Research.

forbes.com

I wonder if spreading extremely encouraging experimental results on helping treat pancreatic cancer with *gasp* mRNA vaccines may help people who have villainized them come around. This is a good press release on the study and links to the Nature paper. www.mskcc.org/news/can-mrn...

In Early-Phase Pancreatic Cancer Clinical Trial, Investigational mRNA Vaccine Induces Sustained Immune Activity in Small Patient Group

Learn how MSK researchers are deploying mRNA vaccines against pancreatic cancer.

mskcc.org

Only one more week until the abstract submission deadline of RNA2025! I’m looking forward to chairing a session on „Viral RNA and innate immune responses“. If you have some exciting new science to share, don’t forget to submit your abstracts! #RNAsky #lovevirology

AAnita Corbett@acorbe2.bsky.social · 2y ago

Check it out! The RNA Society 2025 Meeting Site is now live! Registration will open in January RNASociety Note the fabulous artwork by former EmoryBCDB student Dr. Carly Lancaster- make your plans now to join us in San Diego May 27-June 1, 2025