Brittany "Never Tell Me The Odds" Lasseigne, PhD
@bnlasse.bsky.social
Assistant Professor & Scientist (www.lasseigne.org) | Genomics kidney & brain research & education | #BecauseScience | 💚 my family, travel, the outdoors, & books | she/her
Reposted by Brittany "Never Tell Me The Odds" Lasseigne, PhD
A summary of NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya's comments during his visit to UAB today for a town hall style presentation:
-Important for scientific work addressing our nation's health problems to be done in the same communities where those problems are concentrated
-Important for scientific work addressing our nation's health problems to be done in the same communities where those problems are concentrated
August 15, 2025 at 12:05 AM
A summary of NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya's comments during his visit to UAB today for a town hall style presentation:
-Important for scientific work addressing our nation's health problems to be done in the same communities where those problems are concentrated
-Important for scientific work addressing our nation's health problems to be done in the same communities where those problems are concentrated
Reposted by Brittany "Never Tell Me The Odds" Lasseigne, PhD
My department @utoronto.ca (www.utm.utoronto.ca/biology/) is hiring a molecular biologist in any field (e.g., ecology, evolutionary biology, etc.). Please encourage any excellent finishing PhD students, postdocs or assistant professor to apply here:
jobs.utoronto.ca/job/Mississa...
jobs.utoronto.ca/job/Mississa...
www.utm.utoronto.ca
July 30, 2025 at 2:55 PM
My department @utoronto.ca (www.utm.utoronto.ca/biology/) is hiring a molecular biologist in any field (e.g., ecology, evolutionary biology, etc.). Please encourage any excellent finishing PhD students, postdocs or assistant professor to apply here:
jobs.utoronto.ca/job/Mississa...
jobs.utoronto.ca/job/Mississa...
Reposted by Brittany "Never Tell Me The Odds" Lasseigne, PhD
Great thread, worth a read.
1/ The Senate Appropriations Committee just approved key FY2026 spending bills 🧪 including the one that funds the NIH, CDC, and public education. ✅
But don’t breathe a sigh of relief yet. This is just the first step, and a shutdown showdown is looking likely. 🧵
But don’t breathe a sigh of relief yet. This is just the first step, and a shutdown showdown is looking likely. 🧵
Here are some of the highlights of the appropriations bill that the Senate appropriations committee just approved:
$48.7 billion for NIH, an increase of $400 million
Rejects the proposal to cap
indirect cost rates at 15%
Includes a provision to prevent MYF that would reduce the number of grants
$48.7 billion for NIH, an increase of $400 million
Rejects the proposal to cap
indirect cost rates at 15%
Includes a provision to prevent MYF that would reduce the number of grants
August 1, 2025 at 3:57 AM
Great thread, worth a read.
Reposted by Brittany "Never Tell Me The Odds" Lasseigne, PhD
New from DOJ.
This is as close to a definition of "DEI" for purposes of grant terminations that the Trump Admin / Republicans have offered so far.
In short: they claim any consideration of race or sex (or religion or nationality)--**or proxies for them**--is unlawful.
This is as close to a definition of "DEI" for purposes of grant terminations that the Trump Admin / Republicans have offered so far.
In short: they claim any consideration of race or sex (or religion or nationality)--**or proxies for them**--is unlawful.
Justice Department Releases Guidance for Recipients of Federal Funding Regarding Unlawful Discrimination
WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Justice released Guidance to ensure that recipients of federal funding do not engage in unlawful discrimination. In particular, it clarifies that federal antidis...
www.justice.gov
July 30, 2025 at 5:34 PM
New from DOJ.
This is as close to a definition of "DEI" for purposes of grant terminations that the Trump Admin / Republicans have offered so far.
In short: they claim any consideration of race or sex (or religion or nationality)--**or proxies for them**--is unlawful.
This is as close to a definition of "DEI" for purposes of grant terminations that the Trump Admin / Republicans have offered so far.
In short: they claim any consideration of race or sex (or religion or nationality)--**or proxies for them**--is unlawful.
Reposted by Brittany "Never Tell Me The Odds" Lasseigne, PhD
Lawmakers to NIH: Use it or lose it.
14 Republican Senators—including key appropriators—are urging the White House to release NIH FY25 funds without delay, warning that stalled spending could harm future research budgets.
Read more: www.ascb.org/science-poli...
14 Republican Senators—including key appropriators—are urging the White House to release NIH FY25 funds without delay, warning that stalled spending could harm future research budgets.
Read more: www.ascb.org/science-poli...
“Use It or Lose It!” - ASCB
Fourteen Republican Senators have written to Russell Vought, Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB)—the agency responsible for developing the President’s annual budget propo...
www.ascb.org
July 30, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Lawmakers to NIH: Use it or lose it.
14 Republican Senators—including key appropriators—are urging the White House to release NIH FY25 funds without delay, warning that stalled spending could harm future research budgets.
Read more: www.ascb.org/science-poli...
14 Republican Senators—including key appropriators—are urging the White House to release NIH FY25 funds without delay, warning that stalled spending could harm future research budgets.
Read more: www.ascb.org/science-poli...
Reposted by Brittany "Never Tell Me The Odds" Lasseigne, PhD
To all post-docs: The Genome Biology dept @embl.org
has an Independent faculty position. Fantastic place to set up your lab –great package: core funding, fantastic Ph.D. students, cutting edge core facilities & great colleagues. Closing date Sept 19th
embl.wd103.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/EMBL/j...
has an Independent faculty position. Fantastic place to set up your lab –great package: core funding, fantastic Ph.D. students, cutting edge core facilities & great colleagues. Closing date Sept 19th
embl.wd103.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/EMBL/j...
Group Leader - Genome Biology Unit
Are you ready to lead groundbreaking research in Genome Biology? Join us at EMBL! We are seeking a motivated scientist to lead an independent research group addressing exciting and original biological...
embl.wd103.myworkdayjobs.com
July 30, 2025 at 1:41 PM
To all post-docs: The Genome Biology dept @embl.org
has an Independent faculty position. Fantastic place to set up your lab –great package: core funding, fantastic Ph.D. students, cutting edge core facilities & great colleagues. Closing date Sept 19th
embl.wd103.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/EMBL/j...
has an Independent faculty position. Fantastic place to set up your lab –great package: core funding, fantastic Ph.D. students, cutting edge core facilities & great colleagues. Closing date Sept 19th
embl.wd103.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/EMBL/j...
Reposted by Brittany "Never Tell Me The Odds" Lasseigne, PhD
Are you an early-career biologist or ecologist who would benefit from an invited seminar? Would you like to come to UMaine next fall or spring to give a talk? Leave a brief comment with some info about what you do. I'm co-hosting our seminar series again, and am filling out our rosters.
July 30, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Are you an early-career biologist or ecologist who would benefit from an invited seminar? Would you like to come to UMaine next fall or spring to give a talk? Leave a brief comment with some info about what you do. I'm co-hosting our seminar series again, and am filling out our rosters.
Reposted by Brittany "Never Tell Me The Odds" Lasseigne, PhD
A senior leader at one NIH institute said: “At my level we are legitimately trying to figure out how to keep funding high-impact science given what we expect will happen.”
The senior leader added: “Our grants people are barely holding it together because they are at the center of this chaos.”
The senior leader added: “Our grants people are barely holding it together because they are at the center of this chaos.”
Trump administration halts, then releases, NIH research funding
The decision temporarily froze $15 billion in federal funding, according to one senator. It came as Trump officials wrestle over federal spending levels.
www.washingtonpost.com
July 30, 2025 at 10:49 AM
A senior leader at one NIH institute said: “At my level we are legitimately trying to figure out how to keep funding high-impact science given what we expect will happen.”
The senior leader added: “Our grants people are barely holding it together because they are at the center of this chaos.”
The senior leader added: “Our grants people are barely holding it together because they are at the center of this chaos.”
Reposted by Brittany "Never Tell Me The Odds" Lasseigne, PhD
Glad to see the update to the @wsj.com article that the plan to cancel billions in funding was cancelled. But, this science funding whiplash sure is exhausting! Keep speaking up, it is working 💪🏽
July 30, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Glad to see the update to the @wsj.com article that the plan to cancel billions in funding was cancelled. But, this science funding whiplash sure is exhausting! Keep speaking up, it is working 💪🏽
Reposted by Brittany "Never Tell Me The Odds" Lasseigne, PhD
Given that OMB is part of the Executive Office of the President, this should read
"after intervention by OTHER top White House Officials."
"after intervention by OTHER top White House Officials."
UPDATE: The pause was scrapped Tuesday evening after intervention by top White House officials. www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Trump Administration Scraps Effort to Pause Health-Research Funding
The administration halted and then restarted billions in new research grants flowing from the National Institutes of Health.
www.wsj.com
July 30, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Given that OMB is part of the Executive Office of the President, this should read
"after intervention by OTHER top White House Officials."
"after intervention by OTHER top White House Officials."
Reposted by Brittany "Never Tell Me The Odds" Lasseigne, PhD
For the life of me, I cannot fathom the rationale for any of this. Utter wanton destruction of one of the best research ecosystems in the world.
NEW
The White House is blocking the NIH from awarding new research grants for the rest of the fiscal year
Chokes off billions in research funding
Gift link www.wsj.com/politics/pol... with @nidhisubs.bsky.social
The White House is blocking the NIH from awarding new research grants for the rest of the fiscal year
Chokes off billions in research funding
Gift link www.wsj.com/politics/pol... with @nidhisubs.bsky.social
Trump Administration Puts New Chokehold on Billions in Health-Research Funding
The National Institutes of Health can’t award grants to outside researchers under a new White House restriction.
www.wsj.com
July 30, 2025 at 12:24 AM
For the life of me, I cannot fathom the rationale for any of this. Utter wanton destruction of one of the best research ecosystems in the world.
Reposted by Brittany "Never Tell Me The Odds" Lasseigne, PhD
Yet another stop to awarding research grants. This is disastrous folks
NEW
The White House is blocking the NIH from awarding new research grants for the rest of the fiscal year
Chokes off billions in research funding
Gift link www.wsj.com/politics/pol... with @nidhisubs.bsky.social
The White House is blocking the NIH from awarding new research grants for the rest of the fiscal year
Chokes off billions in research funding
Gift link www.wsj.com/politics/pol... with @nidhisubs.bsky.social
Trump Administration Puts New Chokehold on Billions in Health-Research Funding
The National Institutes of Health can’t award grants to outside researchers under a new White House restriction.
www.wsj.com
July 30, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Yet another stop to awarding research grants. This is disastrous folks
Reposted by Brittany "Never Tell Me The Odds" Lasseigne, PhD
NEW
The White House is blocking the NIH from awarding new research grants for the rest of the fiscal year
Chokes off billions in research funding
Gift link www.wsj.com/politics/pol... with @nidhisubs.bsky.social
The White House is blocking the NIH from awarding new research grants for the rest of the fiscal year
Chokes off billions in research funding
Gift link www.wsj.com/politics/pol... with @nidhisubs.bsky.social
Trump Administration Puts New Chokehold on Billions in Health-Research Funding
The National Institutes of Health can’t award grants to outside researchers under a new White House restriction.
www.wsj.com
July 29, 2025 at 11:58 PM
NEW
The White House is blocking the NIH from awarding new research grants for the rest of the fiscal year
Chokes off billions in research funding
Gift link www.wsj.com/politics/pol... with @nidhisubs.bsky.social
The White House is blocking the NIH from awarding new research grants for the rest of the fiscal year
Chokes off billions in research funding
Gift link www.wsj.com/politics/pol... with @nidhisubs.bsky.social
Reposted by Brittany "Never Tell Me The Odds" Lasseigne, PhD
Everyone call tomorrow. Vought needs to be outed as the extremist he is. Chances are those 14 republicans already knew this was coming when they addressed the letter to HIM last Friday asking him to use the appropriated funds for FY2025.
‼️🚨‼️ Russel Vought just locked up the entirety of the remaining extramural NIH budget for this fiscal year, and part of intramural. $15 billion. ~a third of the NIH budget. THIS IS AN ALL-OUT ASSAULT.
All $$ is iced except intramural salaries, admin expenses, and clinical center. NO MORE GRANTS.
🧪
All $$ is iced except intramural salaries, admin expenses, and clinical center. NO MORE GRANTS.
🧪
“[Vought’s] footnote stipulated that the agency’s funding for the remainder of the fiscal year could only go to staff salaries and expenses, not to new grants or certain grants that are up for renewal. Most NIH-funded research is done by outside scientists at labs across the country.”
no words
no words
July 30, 2025 at 1:13 AM
Everyone call tomorrow. Vought needs to be outed as the extremist he is. Chances are those 14 republicans already knew this was coming when they addressed the letter to HIM last Friday asking him to use the appropriated funds for FY2025.
Reposted by Brittany "Never Tell Me The Odds" Lasseigne, PhD
Tenure-track faculty search of the UCSF Biochemistry & Biophysics Department is open for applications!
We are looking for creative, innovative scientists asking fundamental questions in any area of biology.
Join our vibrant, collaborative, and supportive community!
aprecruit.ucsf.edu/JPF05702
We are looking for creative, innovative scientists asking fundamental questions in any area of biology.
Join our vibrant, collaborative, and supportive community!
aprecruit.ucsf.edu/JPF05702
July 23, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Tenure-track faculty search of the UCSF Biochemistry & Biophysics Department is open for applications!
We are looking for creative, innovative scientists asking fundamental questions in any area of biology.
Join our vibrant, collaborative, and supportive community!
aprecruit.ucsf.edu/JPF05702
We are looking for creative, innovative scientists asking fundamental questions in any area of biology.
Join our vibrant, collaborative, and supportive community!
aprecruit.ucsf.edu/JPF05702
Reposted by Brittany "Never Tell Me The Odds" Lasseigne, PhD
Question: will clinical studies be unduly impacted by the multi-year funding policy? Patient recruitment etc is monitored closely yearly at RPPR time, so NIH would presumably lose their ability to monitor clinical study progress. Just a thought.
@drugmonkey.bsky.social @jeremymberg.bsky.social
@drugmonkey.bsky.social @jeremymberg.bsky.social
July 24, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Question: will clinical studies be unduly impacted by the multi-year funding policy? Patient recruitment etc is monitored closely yearly at RPPR time, so NIH would presumably lose their ability to monitor clinical study progress. Just a thought.
@drugmonkey.bsky.social @jeremymberg.bsky.social
@drugmonkey.bsky.social @jeremymberg.bsky.social
Reposted by Brittany "Never Tell Me The Odds" Lasseigne, PhD
I’m thinking today about all the women doing DEI work in universities, and how all of our canceled grants and shuttered initiatives means that not only are we losing the time we’ve already put in, we’re now even more behind our male peers who stayed focused on their research.
July 24, 2025 at 7:15 PM
I’m thinking today about all the women doing DEI work in universities, and how all of our canceled grants and shuttered initiatives means that not only are we losing the time we’ve already put in, we’re now even more behind our male peers who stayed focused on their research.
Reposted by Brittany "Never Tell Me The Odds" Lasseigne, PhD
PO just confirmed that our 5th percentile R01 is not getting funded. Past NCI Payline at 4 percent. Cant believe it.
July 23, 2025 at 7:35 PM
PO just confirmed that our 5th percentile R01 is not getting funded. Past NCI Payline at 4 percent. Cant believe it.
Reposted by Brittany "Never Tell Me The Odds" Lasseigne, PhD
@jamesheathers.bsky.social once did an interesting model to see what payline was required for researchers to spend more of their time on research than writing grants.
From memory, it was around 11%. At 4%, you have to on average write 25 grants to get one funded.
From memory, it was around 11%. At 4%, you have to on average write 25 grants to get one funded.
It’s also important to note that non-researchers don’t know what a payline is. A payline of 4% means only 4% of submitted grants will be funded. Researchers spent months putting together a grant application so when it is not funded all that work is lost.
July 24, 2025 at 12:40 AM
@jamesheathers.bsky.social once did an interesting model to see what payline was required for researchers to spend more of their time on research than writing grants.
From memory, it was around 11%. At 4%, you have to on average write 25 grants to get one funded.
From memory, it was around 11%. At 4%, you have to on average write 25 grants to get one funded.
Reposted by Brittany "Never Tell Me The Odds" Lasseigne, PhD
Reposted by Brittany "Never Tell Me The Odds" Lasseigne, PhD
This 4th percentile funding cutoff for the NCI is so very catastrophic. Assuming a 4th percentile payline corresponds to a ~5% success rate, it would take 27 grant submissions to have an 80% chance of getting just one funded. At the current submission cap of 6 apps as PI/year that means 4.5 years
July 24, 2025 at 1:32 AM
This 4th percentile funding cutoff for the NCI is so very catastrophic. Assuming a 4th percentile payline corresponds to a ~5% success rate, it would take 27 grant submissions to have an 80% chance of getting just one funded. At the current submission cap of 6 apps as PI/year that means 4.5 years
Reposted by Brittany "Never Tell Me The Odds" Lasseigne, PhD
"to run a contest that you end up not funding as a private organization at this time is… both extremely wasteful of these people’s time, and just devastating in terms of morale."
I spoke with @aniloza.bsky.social at STAT today about HHMI's decision not to fund this round of Hanna Gray applicants.
I spoke with @aniloza.bsky.social at STAT today about HHMI's decision not to fund this round of Hanna Gray applicants.
Private funder HHMI pauses postdoc fellowship
As HHMI pauses Hanna Gray fellowship applications, opportunities for young scientists shrink further, making them look overseas.
www.statnews.com
May 19, 2025 at 10:36 PM
"to run a contest that you end up not funding as a private organization at this time is… both extremely wasteful of these people’s time, and just devastating in terms of morale."
I spoke with @aniloza.bsky.social at STAT today about HHMI's decision not to fund this round of Hanna Gray applicants.
I spoke with @aniloza.bsky.social at STAT today about HHMI's decision not to fund this round of Hanna Gray applicants.
Reposted by Brittany "Never Tell Me The Odds" Lasseigne, PhD
Are you an Indigenous woman in an undergraduate degree program in a computing-related field? Are you able to demonstrate financial need? The Fellowship For Indigenous Women in Tech is the program for you!
www.lastmile-ed.org/fellowship-i...
www.lastmile-ed.org/fellowship-i...
Fellowship For Indigenous Women in Tech — Last Mile Education Fund
www.lastmile-ed.org
January 31, 2024 at 11:24 AM
Are you an Indigenous woman in an undergraduate degree program in a computing-related field? Are you able to demonstrate financial need? The Fellowship For Indigenous Women in Tech is the program for you!
www.lastmile-ed.org/fellowship-i...
www.lastmile-ed.org/fellowship-i...
Reposted by Brittany "Never Tell Me The Odds" Lasseigne, PhD
Hey, science folks of Bluesky! Addgene has announced that it is fully committing to leaving X. They are taking a hit in their social media visibility to do this, but they have good reasons (blog.addgene.org/addgene-is-s...), as many of us do. Please give them a follow: @addgene.bsky.social
Addgene is Stopping Use of X (formerly Twitter)
Addgene will no longer be posting, monitoring, or responding to posts on X. You can find us as @addgene.bsky.social on Bluesky or as @addgene on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
blog.addgene.org
January 11, 2024 at 2:48 PM
Hey, science folks of Bluesky! Addgene has announced that it is fully committing to leaving X. They are taking a hit in their social media visibility to do this, but they have good reasons (blog.addgene.org/addgene-is-s...), as many of us do. Please give them a follow: @addgene.bsky.social