Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

David Cabrera @cabreradm.bsky.social · 27d

Rally For Medical Research Hill visit with #michigan contingent and Rep. Hillary Scholten #RallyMedRes @theaacr.bsky.social @glcaspet.bsky.social @vai.org #RallyForNIHH

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David Cabrera @cabreradm.bsky.social · 27d

Rally For Medical Research Hill visit with #michigan contingent and Elissa Slotkin Office #RallyMedRes @theaacr.bsky.social #ASPET @vai.org

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David Cabrera @cabreradm.bsky.social · 27d

Rally For Medical Research Hill visit with #michigan contingent and Sen. Gary Peters office RallyMedRes @theaacr.bsky.social #aspet @vai.org

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David Cabrera @cabreradm.bsky.social · 27d

Rally For Medical Research Hill visit with #michigan delegation #RallyMedRes @AACR @ASPET @VAInstitute

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David Cabrera @cabreradm.bsky.social · 28d

Rally For Medical Research walk to reception #RallyMedRes @AACR @ASPET @VAInstitute @lempradllab.bsky.social

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David Cabrera @cabreradm.bsky.social · 28d

Rally For Medical Research begins at National Press Club with networking and talks #RallyMedRes @AACR @ASPET @VAInstitute @lempradllab.bsky.social

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David Cabrera @cabreradm.bsky.social · Aug 8

This new Executive Order is concerning. Inserting political oversight over what scientists can study and underfunding research is not a way to keep this country’s science strong. www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...

Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and to improve the process of Federal

www.whitehouse.gov

David Cabrera @cabreradm.bsky.social · Apr 6

I had the opportunity to speak about careers in science policy at #ASPET2025 Career Connections. Great questions and discussion with the audience! #sciencepolicy @ASPET @VAInstitute

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David Cabrera @cabreradm.bsky.social · Apr 5

I took the big stage again to co-chair A Tour of the Dopamine Receptors #ASPET2025 #pharmacology #dopamine #basicresearch #fundbasicresearch

David Cabrera @cabreradm.bsky.social · Apr 5

#ASPET2025 Opening Session Director of Government Affairs and Science Policy Carter Alleman and I updated the membership on the current Federal environment for pharmacology and biomedical research and translation. We shared tools policy, advocacy and with Congress. #pharmacology #sciencepolicy

David Cabrera @cabreradm.bsky.social · Apr 3

About to take the big stage at #aspet2025 to talk about our current science policy environment. Because biomedical research is important for our country #aspet #pharmacology #science

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Reposted by David Cabrera

Carl Zimmer @carlzimmer.com · Apr 1

"This will go down as one of the darkest days in modern scientific history." Story on the decimation of NIH by @maxkozlov.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/d41...?

‘One of the darkest days’: NIH purges agency leadership amid mass layoffs

In shock move, four institute directors at the US biomedical agency are removed from their posts.

www.nature.com

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Reposted by David Cabrera

Nick Burton @nickburton.bsky.social · Mar 21

We are three people away from 100 registrations for Midwest worm meeting! We can do this worm community! (Also thanks so much for signing up all, a big year!)

Nick Burton @nickburton.bsky.social · Nov 19

Website and registration for the 11th annual Midwest Worm Meeting on April 18th is now live. Great opportunity for trainees who might not be able to attend the bigger meetings. Also if you'd like to visit VAI or see a great Keynote by Prof. Frank Schroeder this year. - www.vai.org/event/2025-m...

2025 Midwest C. elegans Meeting

Join us for 2025 Midwest C. elegans Meeting at Van Andel Institute Stay informed about exciting upcoming events and activities.

www.vai.org

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David Cabrera @cabreradm.bsky.social · Mar 8

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

This is the fellowship program I went through at NIH (specifically the NIH partner program to PMF). What this administration is doing is removing good people and destroying opportunities for the next generation.

Against the Dismantling of the PMF Program- Alumni Sign On Letter

On February 19th, 2025 the current administration put forth an Executive Order “Commencing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy”. One provision is to terminate the Presidential Management Fellowsh...

docs.google.com

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Reposted by David Cabrera

Carl Zimmer @carlzimmer.com · Mar 7

DOJ, HHS, ED, and GSA Announce Initial Cancellation of Grants and Contracts to Columbia University Worth $400 Million (government press release) www.gsa.gov/about-us/new...

DOJ, HHS, ED, and GSA Announce Initial Cancellation of Grants and Contracts to Columbia University Worth $400 Million

Today, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Department of Education (ED), and the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced that through their coordinated efforts they would i...

www.gsa.gov

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David Cabrera @cabreradm.bsky.social · Feb 11

Two additional separate filings were also made by several other associations and individual societies.

www.aau.edu/newsroom/pre...

and www.courtlistener.com/docket/69626...

I and others in the field are thankful for this and are working to defend biomedical research.

Statement of Association of American Universities, Association of Public & Land-grant Universities, and American Council on Education Regarding Their Legal Challenge to the Administration’s Cut to Lif...

AAU, ACE, and APLU have jointly filed suit in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts, along with a number of impacted research university co-plaintiffs, seeking to halt the NIH's proposed cut to life-sa...

www.aau.edu

David Cabrera @cabreradm.bsky.social · Feb 11

Yesterday, the Attorneys General of 22 States filed a complaint in United District Court seeking relief from the wrongheaded NIH 15% F&A cap.
Later in the day a temporary retraining order was granted.

www.insidehighered.com/news/governm...

Federal judge temporarily blocks NIH rate cut

University officials argued in court filings that the effects of the policy change “will be immediate and devastating.”

www.insidehighered.com

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David Cabrera @cabreradm.bsky.social · Feb 8

I am telling myself many are bots or mindless amplifiers. I’m hoping to get through to the rest that this is not the way to actualize frustration with government. Putting aside the good for humankind, biomedical research is good for the economy. I and others are posed to fight this!

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David Cabrera @cabreradm.bsky.social · Feb 8

I suspect this is really what the whole TikTok thing was about.

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Reposted by David Cabrera

Carl Zimmer @carlzimmer.com · Feb 8

“I think it’s going to destroy research universities in the short term, and I don’t know after that.” Story by @by-cjewett.bsky.social on the new NIH policy that will shrivel support for research. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/07/u...

Deep Cuts to Medical Research Funds Could Hobble University Budgets (Gift Article)

Grants from the National Institutes of Health come with additional money for overhead. Proposed funding cuts would leave colleges with large budget gaps.

www.nytimes.com

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David Cabrera @cabreradm.bsky.social · Feb 8

It provides infrastructure, basic discoveries that can help pharma, derisks new technologies to hand off to industry and so much more. I know there is frustration with how the government works and the two parties work. But this is not the way.

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David Cabrera @cabreradm.bsky.social · Feb 8

Do not fall into their rhetoric. I have worked for the government (NIH) and with others at many government agencies. They work hard, they have vision, they want to help others. Government is not a business and can’t be run like one. Government is enabling for the people and for industry.

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David Cabrera @cabreradm.bsky.social · Feb 8

Not only will this decision cripple science and healthcare it will also open the door for the US falling behind China and others. It will cause unemployment and affect the economy. Elon Musk and his followers have been battering government workers and calling them lazy and listless.

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David Cabrera @cabreradm.bsky.social · Feb 8

I have worked with these people when I was in a lab and now among them supporting our science. These are people with passion to help advance cures and health and make the world a better place.

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David Cabrera @cabreradm.bsky.social · Feb 8

This is a terrible decision. While on the face of it it might seem like cost cutting, these costs are real. Scientists don’t do their work in the garage and administering science is complicated and requires skilled people in administration to support the operations of the science.

Carl Zimmer @carlzimmer.com · Feb 8

NIH plans to slash support for indirect research costs, sending shockwaves through science www.statnews.com/2025/02/07/n...

NIH plans to slash support for indirect research costs, sending shockwaves through science

The NIH said Friday night that it would slash support for indirect costs on all existing and future grants to 15%

www.statnews.com

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