Ardem Patapoutian
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ardemp.bskyverified.social
Ardem Patapoutian
@ardemp.bskyverified.social
Scripps Research Professor. HHMI Investigator. Nobel Prize Physiology or Medicine 2021. Opinions are my own and do not reflect those of my employer.
Pinned
Hey folks! I got a tattoo of my beloved PIEZO ion channel on my arm! Now I can show how they activate (flatten) under pressure by flexing—Will add a bit of performance art to my science talks 🧪🧠.
Have we lost some of the academic magic in the US? A true privilege to give the Sherrington Prize Lecture at Oxford. A wonderful audience, a fantastic dinner at Merton College, and even the Merton Choir. Special for me since Sherrington coined proprioception and interoception.
December 4, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Reposted by Ardem Patapoutian
Our story on mechanosensation in baroreceptor cells of the kidney is finally out! Well worth the wait on this project we began in 2020 that turned into a massive collaborative effort within the kidney field. 🫘 www.sciencedirect.com:5037/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com
December 4, 2025 at 4:42 PM
A long delay between pre print and publication means this paper only got better and better. Congrats @rose-hill.bsky.social and all collaborators, including many in renal physiology. A role for PIEZO2 in sensing pressure in the kidney and regulating the renin pathway. www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
Renal PIEZO2 is an essential regulator of renin
The force-sensing ion channel PIEZO2 is an essential regulator of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), a pathway that controls blood volume. Loss of PIEZO2 in the kidney cells that produce...
www.cell.com
December 4, 2025 at 11:27 PM
Reposted by Ardem Patapoutian
Finally getting some theological clarity on the ethics of reclining in one’s plane seat
November 29, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Reposted by Ardem Patapoutian
This is great to hear, and I hope encouraging to other institutions
November 29, 2025 at 1:10 PM
I was one of those immigrants, and we commit fewer crimes than people born here.

“Trump says he wants to “permanently pause migration” from poorer nations and is promising to seek to expel millions of immigrants from the US by revoking their legal status.”

apnews.com/article/trum...
Trump says he wants to 'permanently pause' migration to the US from poorer countries
President Donald Trump says he wants to “permanently pause migration” from poorer nations and is promising to seek to expel millions of immigrants from the United States by revoking their legal status...
apnews.com
November 28, 2025 at 3:19 PM
#PIEZO hat trick. OG grey, the 2021 one with the dynamite sign, and the new 25th anniversary edition. Given mostly to lab members, alumni, and a few colleagues.
November 27, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Shakespeare: “love is blind, and lovers cannot see…”
This hairdo doesn't just help male pheasants woo females--it also obscures their vision, making them more vulnerable to predators. Fun story at @science.org
Love practically makes these birds go blind
Unusually obstructive plumage compromises the vision of two types of pheasants—a first in birds
www.science.org
November 26, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Great story by @carlzimmer.com in @nytimes.com that nicely conveys the excitement for the emerging field of interoception. @dulaclab.bsky.social and others are featured, including my tattoo 😳!

Gift article link: www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/s...
November 25, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Reposted by Ardem Patapoutian
After immigrating to the U.S. from Lebanon, neuroscientist @ardemp.bskyverified.social found belonging in science—and did Nobel-winning work on the sense of touch: buff.ly/boCE6ZY
November 24, 2025 at 1:07 PM
🌶️🌶️🌶️
November 24, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Worked in a Drosophila genetics lab for the sole purpose of getting a letter of recommendation from the lab head for medical school. I loved being in the lab so much that I gave up on medical school and went to graduate school instead.
What’s the lore behind choosing your career path ?
November 23, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Reposted by Ardem Patapoutian
Rising junior and senior undergrads: this is a terrific opportunity for a 9 weeks summer internship as a Cech Fellow in an HHMI lab: deadline for applications is December 22!
Calling all rising juniors & seniors: Interested in biological or biomedical research? Applications for our ’26 Summer Undergraduate Research Experience Program are now open! Nine weeks, hands-on research, & mentorship from some of the nation’s top scientists — learn more: bit.ly/CechFellows
Summer Undergraduate Research Experience | HHMI
The Cech Fellows Program is a paid, nine-week summer research experience empowering the next generation of scientific leaders.
bit.ly
November 21, 2025 at 7:18 PM
We had the most amazing 25 year lab anniversary today. Blown away by the science from my alumni and very proud of the current members. The community they have built is remarkable and it felt like a family reunion. The tacos, drinks, cake, and jazz were pretty great too.
November 21, 2025 at 6:19 AM
Reposted by Ardem Patapoutian
A beautiful paper on the role of Piezos in uterine biology. I have known first author Yunxiao Zhang since 2012. Yunxiao is rare talent (and a wonderfully kind human being) now on the job market!
And here is the story after peer review. This work highlights our current approach, which is to use Piezo channels to uncover new areas of biology that are shaped by mechanical forces: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
November 20, 2025 at 2:35 PM
So looking forward to our 25 year lab anniversary celebrations tomorrow. I love seeing alumni and current lab members mix and exchange ideas and stories. It will be an awesome day.
November 19, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Love this quote from Mauricio Pochettino, USA National Team coach: “Let’s be realistic, and do the impossible.”
November 19, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Reposted by Ardem Patapoutian
New @science.org study from @ardemp.bskyverified.social’s lab, co-authored by @yunxiao-dr.bsky.social, shows how PIEZO proteins sense stretch and pressure in the uterus to help coordinate labor, while connexin 43 synchronizes muscle activity across cells.
Scripps Research study reveals how uterine contractions are regulated by stretch and pressure during childbirth
www.scripps.edu
November 17, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Personal apologies to everyone who came to “sunny” San Diego for #SfN2025.🌧️😱
November 15, 2025 at 5:05 PM
And here is the story after peer review. This work highlights our current approach, which is to use Piezo channels to uncover new areas of biology that are shaped by mechanical forces: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
November 13, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Reposted by Ardem Patapoutian
If you’re coming to #SfN2025, check out the San Diego Symphony while you’re here in their gorgeous renovated hall close to the convention Ctr. Great programs! I’ll be at the concerts on Nov 15, 22, and 23 (w labbies). Come say hi if you spot me there.

www.sandiegosymphony.org/tickets-even...
Upcoming San Diego Symphony Performances
www.sandiegosymphony.org
October 11, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Reposted by Ardem Patapoutian
Scripps Research Nobel Prize–winning neuroscientist @ardemp.bskyverified.social was featured on @scifri.bsky.social, where he reflected on the biology of touch, his early career path in science, and why he believes great scientists are practical dreamers who balance bold ideas with scientific rigor.
Even Nobel Prize Winners Deal With Imposter Syndrome
Neuroscientist Ardem Patapoutian immigrated to the US, found belonging in science, and did groundbreaking work on sense of touch.
ow.ly
November 13, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Interesting to compare the “Big spenders”. www.science.org/content/arti...
Also this quote: Bargmann “recounts that when she took the CZI job in 2016, HHMI head Erin O’Shea offered a warning. “She said, ‘I just want you to know that my job is easier than your job, because Howard Hughes is dead.’”
November 13, 2025 at 2:52 PM
"Even Nobel Prize Winners Deal With Imposter Syndrome": Check this out @scifri.bsky.social: www.sciencefriday.com/segments/ard...
Even Nobel Prize Winners Deal With Imposter Syndrome
Neuroscientist Ardem Patapoutian immigrated to the US, found belonging in science, and did groundbreaking work on sense of touch.
www.sciencefriday.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Giving a lecture tomorrow at #AHA25 in New Orleans. Making sure some of my other senses are well taken care of tonight!
November 9, 2025 at 5:55 AM