Rebekah Evans
@cellularscale.bsky.social
Assistant Professor Georgetown University Department of Neuroscience
Excited to share our new findings on how chronic nicotine changes dopaminergic and cholinergic neural activity!
Chronic nicotine reduces nigral dopaminergic activity and remodels pedunculopontine cholinergic subpopulations https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.02.12.705607v1
February 14, 2026 at 6:54 PM
Excited to share our new findings on how chronic nicotine changes dopaminergic and cholinergic neural activity!
Reposted by Rebekah Evans
And another institute director... She had only been in place for 1 5-year term but no renewal.
The dismantling of the NIH leadership is painful to watch especially with the lack of clear process for replacing them and the history of hiring cronies.
The dismantling of the NIH leadership is painful to watch especially with the lack of clear process for replacing them and the history of hiring cronies.
February 12, 2026 at 5:39 PM
And another institute director... She had only been in place for 1 5-year term but no renewal.
The dismantling of the NIH leadership is painful to watch especially with the lack of clear process for replacing them and the history of hiring cronies.
The dismantling of the NIH leadership is painful to watch especially with the lack of clear process for replacing them and the history of hiring cronies.
Reposted by Rebekah Evans
Watching the systematic dismantling of the world's largest funder of biomedical research is heartbreaking and infuriating
NEW: Another NIH institute director hasn't been renewed — the director of NIAMS (arthritis, musculoskeletal and skin diseases institute).
That leaves a whopping 15 of 27 institutes and centers without a permanent director.
That leaves a whopping 15 of 27 institutes and centers without a permanent director.
February 13, 2026 at 12:30 AM
Watching the systematic dismantling of the world's largest funder of biomedical research is heartbreaking and infuriating
Looking forward to it!
Congrats to the new #GRCBasalGanglia vice-chairs! See you in Ventura, California 2028!
February 5, 2026 at 1:08 PM
Looking forward to it!
Reposted by Rebekah Evans
My (now) weekly update on 2026 NIH funding.
New and competitive renewal awards.
3 new awards (compared to ~100 expected based on recent years).
No new ICs... still just NIA, NINDS, NIDCD, and NIDCR.
1/2
New and competitive renewal awards.
3 new awards (compared to ~100 expected based on recent years).
No new ICs... still just NIA, NINDS, NIDCD, and NIDCR.
1/2
January 16, 2026 at 2:37 PM
My (now) weekly update on 2026 NIH funding.
New and competitive renewal awards.
3 new awards (compared to ~100 expected based on recent years).
No new ICs... still just NIA, NINDS, NIDCD, and NIDCR.
1/2
New and competitive renewal awards.
3 new awards (compared to ~100 expected based on recent years).
No new ICs... still just NIA, NINDS, NIDCD, and NIDCR.
1/2
Reposted by Rebekah Evans
🧪IMPORTANT! This graphic explains how science all over the US is funded. Congress approved a 2% increase in the #NIH budget for FY 26.
Buried in the bill-
Shift of ~40% of grants to MYF. This will still result in a 35% DECREASE in the NUMBER of grants funded per yr.
Russel Vought is behind this.
Buried in the bill-
Shift of ~40% of grants to MYF. This will still result in a 35% DECREASE in the NUMBER of grants funded per yr.
Russel Vought is behind this.
January 22, 2026 at 1:25 AM
🧪IMPORTANT! This graphic explains how science all over the US is funded. Congress approved a 2% increase in the #NIH budget for FY 26.
Buried in the bill-
Shift of ~40% of grants to MYF. This will still result in a 35% DECREASE in the NUMBER of grants funded per yr.
Russel Vought is behind this.
Buried in the bill-
Shift of ~40% of grants to MYF. This will still result in a 35% DECREASE in the NUMBER of grants funded per yr.
Russel Vought is behind this.
Reposted by Rebekah Evans
Dear Congresswoman @foushee.house.gov, the multi year funding (MYF) in the HHS/NIH bill is normed to 2025 - please propose an amendment to norm to 2024, like the Senate version. As it stands, ~1/4-1/3 of NIH $ will be sequestered by MYF, a big cut to the Triangle's STEM economy!
January 21, 2026 at 1:19 PM
Dear Congresswoman @foushee.house.gov, the multi year funding (MYF) in the HHS/NIH bill is normed to 2025 - please propose an amendment to norm to 2024, like the Senate version. As it stands, ~1/4-1/3 of NIH $ will be sequestered by MYF, a big cut to the Triangle's STEM economy!
Reposted by Rebekah Evans
Multi-year funding is a dirty trick by #RussellVought. This way the #Trump administration can say they're spending what Congress appropriated for research, BUT they'll only fund 1/5 the number of grants. Call your Senators/Reps now. Science hangs in the balance. H/T @jenna-m-norton.bsky.social
Don’t let Russell Vought trick Congress into destroying science by removing multiyear funding limits from the NIH funding bill.
January 18, 2026 at 12:03 PM
Multi-year funding is a dirty trick by #RussellVought. This way the #Trump administration can say they're spending what Congress appropriated for research, BUT they'll only fund 1/5 the number of grants. Call your Senators/Reps now. Science hangs in the balance. H/T @jenna-m-norton.bsky.social
Reposted by Rebekah Evans
A reminder as Congress finalizes NIH appropriations: the bill must limit multiyear funding (MYF), Vought's way of cutting the NIH budget without cutting the budget. MYF will devastate the research workforce.
@safa-science.bsky.social wrote this in July. Still relevant: substack.com/@scienceandf...
@safa-science.bsky.social wrote this in July. Still relevant: substack.com/@scienceandf...
A Quiet Policy Shift That Could Devastate American Science
Why NIH’s sudden move to multi-year grant funding should alarm every principal investigator and university
substack.com
January 14, 2026 at 4:33 AM
A reminder as Congress finalizes NIH appropriations: the bill must limit multiyear funding (MYF), Vought's way of cutting the NIH budget without cutting the budget. MYF will devastate the research workforce.
@safa-science.bsky.social wrote this in July. Still relevant: substack.com/@scienceandf...
@safa-science.bsky.social wrote this in July. Still relevant: substack.com/@scienceandf...
Reposted by Rebekah Evans
Likewise, Congressman Cole from Oklahoma is the chair of the overall House Appropriations committee.
If you can, reach out to his office as well.
It is noteworthy that OMB is willing to veto a bill over a minor-seeming NIH operational issue.
This makes me think this is part of a bigger plan...
If you can, reach out to his office as well.
It is noteworthy that OMB is willing to veto a bill over a minor-seeming NIH operational issue.
This makes me think this is part of a bigger plan...
patrick star from spongebob squarepants with his hands folded
ALT: patrick star from spongebob squarepants with his hands folded
media.tenor.com
January 14, 2026 at 1:33 PM
Likewise, Congressman Cole from Oklahoma is the chair of the overall House Appropriations committee.
If you can, reach out to his office as well.
It is noteworthy that OMB is willing to veto a bill over a minor-seeming NIH operational issue.
This makes me think this is part of a bigger plan...
If you can, reach out to his office as well.
It is noteworthy that OMB is willing to veto a bill over a minor-seeming NIH operational issue.
This makes me think this is part of a bigger plan...
Reposted by Rebekah Evans
Congressman Aderholt from Alabama is the chair and he is apparently willing to help OMB here, adding report language (which is toothless) rather than including this in the law.
If you are from Alabama, please contact his office and your Senators and share your thoughts.
2/3
If you are from Alabama, please contact his office and your Senators and share your thoughts.
2/3
January 14, 2026 at 1:33 PM
Congressman Aderholt from Alabama is the chair and he is apparently willing to help OMB here, adding report language (which is toothless) rather than including this in the law.
If you are from Alabama, please contact his office and your Senators and share your thoughts.
2/3
If you are from Alabama, please contact his office and your Senators and share your thoughts.
2/3
Reposted by Rebekah Evans
The appropriations bill that includes NIH is being finalized.
The Senate bill includes a bipartisan amendment from Senators Capito (WV) and Baldwin (WI) limiting multi-year funding of grants.
The House version does not and OMB has issued a veto threat if the House includes such language.
1/3
The Senate bill includes a bipartisan amendment from Senators Capito (WV) and Baldwin (WI) limiting multi-year funding of grants.
The House version does not and OMB has issued a veto threat if the House includes such language.
1/3
a close up of a brown surface with a few spots
ALT: a close up of a brown surface with a few spots
media.tenor.com
January 14, 2026 at 1:33 PM
The appropriations bill that includes NIH is being finalized.
The Senate bill includes a bipartisan amendment from Senators Capito (WV) and Baldwin (WI) limiting multi-year funding of grants.
The House version does not and OMB has issued a veto threat if the House includes such language.
1/3
The Senate bill includes a bipartisan amendment from Senators Capito (WV) and Baldwin (WI) limiting multi-year funding of grants.
The House version does not and OMB has issued a veto threat if the House includes such language.
1/3
Reposted by Rebekah Evans
ScienceInsider: Firing of neuroscience institute chief Walter Koroshetz adds to NIH’s leadership vacuum
by @jocelynkaiser.bsky.social
bit.ly/490XPWR @science.org
by @jocelynkaiser.bsky.social
bit.ly/490XPWR @science.org
December 30, 2025 at 1:06 AM
ScienceInsider: Firing of neuroscience institute chief Walter Koroshetz adds to NIH’s leadership vacuum
by @jocelynkaiser.bsky.social
bit.ly/490XPWR @science.org
by @jocelynkaiser.bsky.social
bit.ly/490XPWR @science.org
Reposted by Rebekah Evans
More news (not good) from NIH
The renewal request from National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke Director Walter Koroshetz has been denied.
I guess the NIH_leadership™ needed another position to fill with their time-tested recruitment process.
The renewal request from National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke Director Walter Koroshetz has been denied.
I guess the NIH_leadership™ needed another position to fill with their time-tested recruitment process.
December 27, 2025 at 4:17 PM
More news (not good) from NIH
The renewal request from National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke Director Walter Koroshetz has been denied.
I guess the NIH_leadership™ needed another position to fill with their time-tested recruitment process.
The renewal request from National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke Director Walter Koroshetz has been denied.
I guess the NIH_leadership™ needed another position to fill with their time-tested recruitment process.
Reposted by Rebekah Evans
My first funding curve post for Fiscal Year 2026
FY2026 is off to a slow start. Some of this is due to the government shut down, but some of it is likely due to the new process for "remediating" applications that are deemed not to align with "agency priorities".
FY2026 is off to a slow start. Some of this is due to the government shut down, but some of it is likely due to the new process for "remediating" applications that are deemed not to align with "agency priorities".
December 19, 2025 at 3:17 PM
My first funding curve post for Fiscal Year 2026
FY2026 is off to a slow start. Some of this is due to the government shut down, but some of it is likely due to the new process for "remediating" applications that are deemed not to align with "agency priorities".
FY2026 is off to a slow start. Some of this is due to the government shut down, but some of it is likely due to the new process for "remediating" applications that are deemed not to align with "agency priorities".
Reposted by Rebekah Evans
These are ALL renewal awards (with a few supplements).
No new or competitive renewal awards!
No new or competitive renewal awards!
December 19, 2025 at 5:59 PM
These are ALL renewal awards (with a few supplements).
No new or competitive renewal awards!
No new or competitive renewal awards!
Reposted by Rebekah Evans
Our lab has 2 great posters this year at #SfN25 and a collaborative poster making a computational modeling of the PPN. Come see us on Wednesday afternoon!
November 14, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Our lab has 2 great posters this year at #SfN25 and a collaborative poster making a computational modeling of the PPN. Come see us on Wednesday afternoon!
Reposted by Rebekah Evans
Sigh. NIH normally sends several hundred scientists to the SFN annual meeting to learn, exchange info, come up with new ideas, and advance science. (The exchange of ideas is the very core of the scientific enterprise.)
This year, no one from NIH will attend due to the gov't implosion.
This year, no one from NIH will attend due to the gov't implosion.
Enjoy a broad range of lectures and network with experts in the field at #SfN25! 🧠
Gain valuable insights and tools to enhance your research and career.
Browse through to lectures and build your itinerary in the 2025 Neuroscience Meeting Planner
🔗 vist.ly/4de72
#neurosky #neuroskyence
Gain valuable insights and tools to enhance your research and career.
Browse through to lectures and build your itinerary in the 2025 Neuroscience Meeting Planner
🔗 vist.ly/4de72
#neurosky #neuroskyence
November 7, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Sigh. NIH normally sends several hundred scientists to the SFN annual meeting to learn, exchange info, come up with new ideas, and advance science. (The exchange of ideas is the very core of the scientific enterprise.)
This year, no one from NIH will attend due to the gov't implosion.
This year, no one from NIH will attend due to the gov't implosion.
Reposted by Rebekah Evans
Seeing a lot of celebration of this as a win.
But at NIH we have seen this exact play before.
It looks like it is the Vought strategy -and to stop the lawless firings we have to see the bigger picture.
A 🧵:
But at NIH we have seen this exact play before.
It looks like it is the Vought strategy -and to stop the lawless firings we have to see the bigger picture.
A 🧵:
Trump Administration Will Rehire Scores of Experts Fired in Error
www.nytimes.com
October 11, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Seeing a lot of celebration of this as a win.
But at NIH we have seen this exact play before.
It looks like it is the Vought strategy -and to stop the lawless firings we have to see the bigger picture.
A 🧵:
But at NIH we have seen this exact play before.
It looks like it is the Vought strategy -and to stop the lawless firings we have to see the bigger picture.
A 🧵:
Reposted by Rebekah Evans
But it took weeks or months of confusion before some had their (lawless) RIF notices revoked.
As was widely reported, several NIH scientists, including a major-award-winning Parkinson’s researcher, weren't fully de-RIF’d until @durbin.senate.gov caught out RFK Jr at a Senate hearing about them.
As was widely reported, several NIH scientists, including a major-award-winning Parkinson’s researcher, weren't fully de-RIF’d until @durbin.senate.gov caught out RFK Jr at a Senate hearing about them.
RFK Jr. told Congress no working scientists were fired, but these top NIH brain scientists are still facing job cuts
"As far as I know, we have not fired any working scientists," RFK Jr. had told Congress.
www.cbsnews.com
October 11, 2025 at 11:10 PM
But it took weeks or months of confusion before some had their (lawless) RIF notices revoked.
As was widely reported, several NIH scientists, including a major-award-winning Parkinson’s researcher, weren't fully de-RIF’d until @durbin.senate.gov caught out RFK Jr at a Senate hearing about them.
As was widely reported, several NIH scientists, including a major-award-winning Parkinson’s researcher, weren't fully de-RIF’d until @durbin.senate.gov caught out RFK Jr at a Senate hearing about them.