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mariagcas.bsky.social
@mariagcas.bsky.social
94 followers 200 following 150 posts
Working toward a cure for brain cancer, University of Michigan Medical School, Dept of Neurosurgery and Dept of Cell and Developmental Biology. Federally funded Biomedical research saves lives.
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Reposted
Finally, someone has solved a real problem with AI! No more having to take a paper in the format for a journal that rejected you, and reformat it for a new journal. Well done!! formatmypaper.com
Is there a circuit that can anticipate future energy needs?
Reposted
A hypothalamic circuit for anticipating future changes in energy balance. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.09.27.678865v1
Reposted
Super grateful to Brad for all the support, to @walkersamuelj.bsky.social for introducing me to the wonderful worlds of systems neuroscience and feeding regulation, to @amdouglass.bsky.social for always pointing me in the right direction, and all the other co-authors for their contributions!
Great job! Beautiful paper, many congratulations 👏🏻
Reposted
Really excited to share my co-first publication together with @walkersamuelj.bsky.social from the Lowell lab @bidmcreseach.bsky.social @harvardmed.bsky.social!
A hypothalamic circuit for anticipating future changes in energy balance. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.09.27.678865v1
Reposted
Nature @nature.com · Sep 27
A one-time gene therapy can markedly slow the progression of Huntington’s disease, potentially paving the way for the first ever treatment to alter the course of this rare, inherited brain disorder.

go.nature.com/4gLO6Wz
Huntington’s disease treated for first time using gene therapy
Nature - Preliminary results from a small trial offer the clearest evidence yet that the brain disease’s progression can be slowed.
go.nature.com
Reposted
NIH issued 2,439 notices of award after 9/13/2025. Including 128 new R01. Sixteen new R01 from NIAAA (38 total Type 1 from NIAAA).
The latest news states that this doesn’t apply to current H1B visa holders, even if they’re out of the country. It only applies to new applicants that are out of the country? This is my understanding. Not clear if J1 visa holders that have secured a faculty position will be subjected to the 100k fee
The R21 have been MYF already. Nothing new here….
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This is very good news.

BUT, as we saw this year when NIH was operating under a flat budget, Trump and Russell Vought can effectively destroy NIH even if Congress holds the budget flat.

To stop Vought and make sure NIH can function, Congress must go much further than “no cuts to budget.”

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🧪 And House appropriators say: no cuts to NIH budget!

House subcommittee version just came out (link below). Holds NIH flat at $48 billion.

To be clear: this is far from over. But a good sign that science still matters across both sides of aisle.

YOUR VOICE MATTERS!!
Reposted
The House discretionary budget bill is now out for FY26, including a proposed *slight boost* in NIH funding & many other components that will take time to unpack.

Bill text:
appropriations.house.gov/sites/evo-su...

A few key points including IDC analysis in a provisional 🧵
appropriations.house.gov
Reposted
Addgene can package AAV vectors on request — but what are AAV vectors, and why should you use them? Whether you’re new to AAV or refining your knowledge, our newly updated AAV guide will help you answer your questions!
Addgene: Adeno-associated virus (AAV) Guide
Read our adeno-associated viral vector guide to learn about AAV vector components, production and common uses.
twp.ai
Agree, difficult times for so many of us 🙏🏻
I also think many at NIH are doing the best they can under the present circumstances 🙏🏻
I agree, the process of issuing NOA & getting these out the door is taking much longer. My approach is to stay the course & keep submitting the best grants I can. Good luck to us all! Also, it’s a time to collaborate more/include co-investigators with effort. Together we stand a better chance.
Reposted
Evolution is more like a tinkerer than an engineer. New things happen not by perfect engineering but by working with what's already available and repurposing existing objects through recombinations and modifications. This is a classic lesson for any kind of innovation, including that of new ideas..