Laura M. Huckins
@laurahuckins.bsky.social
Psychiatric Geneticist interested in how biology and environment interact. Outside work I'm happiest with my little family, spending time outside and eating something spicy!
Reposted by Laura M. Huckins
This is the playbook, folks.
If you're not paying attention now and doing something about it, then you're going to have to sit down the rest of your life because democracy is being taken away.
Do not be quiet in this moment.
If you're not paying attention now and doing something about it, then you're going to have to sit down the rest of your life because democracy is being taken away.
Do not be quiet in this moment.
September 18, 2025 at 4:12 PM
This is the playbook, folks.
If you're not paying attention now and doing something about it, then you're going to have to sit down the rest of your life because democracy is being taken away.
Do not be quiet in this moment.
If you're not paying attention now and doing something about it, then you're going to have to sit down the rest of your life because democracy is being taken away.
Do not be quiet in this moment.
Reposted by Laura M. Huckins
The form of mercury that was used in a small proportion of flu vaccines was safe. Because not all mercury-containing compounds are the same.
September 18, 2025 at 2:38 PM
The form of mercury that was used in a small proportion of flu vaccines was safe. Because not all mercury-containing compounds are the same.
Reposted by Laura M. Huckins
Seems clear the administration’s eventual goal is no contraception, no antidepressants, no abortion and care from the fine folks at the new “fertility clinics” from the title X funding
July 23, 2025 at 12:05 AM
Seems clear the administration’s eventual goal is no contraception, no antidepressants, no abortion and care from the fine folks at the new “fertility clinics” from the title X funding
Reposted by Laura M. Huckins
Online Now! A new @genomicspc.bsky.social Spotlight:
"Psychiatric disorders: teasing apart genetic similarities and differences"
by Jiayi Xu (徐佳依) (@xujiayi.bsky.social) & Laura M. Huckins (@laurahuckins.bsky.social)
Read for FREE till Aug. 23rd at this link:
authors.elsevier.com/a/1lNROcQbJF...
"Psychiatric disorders: teasing apart genetic similarities and differences"
by Jiayi Xu (徐佳依) (@xujiayi.bsky.social) & Laura M. Huckins (@laurahuckins.bsky.social)
Read for FREE till Aug. 23rd at this link:
authors.elsevier.com/a/1lNROcQbJF...
July 7, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Online Now! A new @genomicspc.bsky.social Spotlight:
"Psychiatric disorders: teasing apart genetic similarities and differences"
by Jiayi Xu (徐佳依) (@xujiayi.bsky.social) & Laura M. Huckins (@laurahuckins.bsky.social)
Read for FREE till Aug. 23rd at this link:
authors.elsevier.com/a/1lNROcQbJF...
"Psychiatric disorders: teasing apart genetic similarities and differences"
by Jiayi Xu (徐佳依) (@xujiayi.bsky.social) & Laura M. Huckins (@laurahuckins.bsky.social)
Read for FREE till Aug. 23rd at this link:
authors.elsevier.com/a/1lNROcQbJF...
Reposted by Laura M. Huckins
A good thread on today in America with the launch of US concentration camps, and the moral dilemmas all of us are facing.
It happened slowly in 1930s Germany too; many people were tested in different ways. Will you take the moral stand when tested?
It happened slowly in 1930s Germany too; many people were tested in different ways. Will you take the moral stand when tested?
The creeping expansion of a campaign of targeted oppression creates dilemmas first and foremost for the targeted community.
Flight, if it's possible, comes with definite costs.
By comparison, the costs of staying might seem bearable, or the odds of paying them low.
Until it's too late.
Flight, if it's possible, comes with definite costs.
By comparison, the costs of staying might seem bearable, or the odds of paying them low.
Until it's too late.
And finally, my father's memoirs of being a hidden child during WWII. It includes a deeply researched account of the gradual progression of the persecution of occupied Belgium's Jewish community.
In retrospect, we know where each incremental step led. At the time each one created deep dilemmas.
In retrospect, we know where each incremental step led. At the time each one created deep dilemmas.
July 3, 2025 at 1:03 PM
A good thread on today in America with the launch of US concentration camps, and the moral dilemmas all of us are facing.
It happened slowly in 1930s Germany too; many people were tested in different ways. Will you take the moral stand when tested?
It happened slowly in 1930s Germany too; many people were tested in different ways. Will you take the moral stand when tested?
Reposted by Laura M. Huckins
“My counsel says we were not aware of the extermination of the millions. He would give you the excuse: We were only aware of the extermination of the hundreds. Does that make us any the less guilty? Maybe we didn't know the details. But if we didn't know, it was because we didn't want to know.”
"There was a fever over the land, a fever of disgrace, of indignity, of hunger. We had a democracy, yes, but it was torn by elements within."
- Janning's Testimony, Judgment at Nuremberg (USA 1961):
▶️ youtu.be/DQicYslxGgE
- Janning's Testimony, Judgment at Nuremberg (USA 1961):
▶️ youtu.be/DQicYslxGgE
JUDGMENT AT NUREMBERG (1961) | Dr. Janning's Testimony | MGM
YouTube video by Amazon MGM Studios
youtu.be
July 2, 2025 at 12:41 AM
“My counsel says we were not aware of the extermination of the millions. He would give you the excuse: We were only aware of the extermination of the hundreds. Does that make us any the less guilty? Maybe we didn't know the details. But if we didn't know, it was because we didn't want to know.”
Reposted by Laura M. Huckins
The. Republican. Party. Wants. To. End. American. Science.
NEW: NSF will be kicked out of their building. Announcement will be made tomorrow by HUD Sec. and Governor of VA. HUD will take over the NSF building over the next two years.
NSF staffer: "There is no planning for NSF, no identified future location, appropriation for a new building or a move."
NSF staffer: "There is no planning for NSF, no identified future location, appropriation for a new building or a move."
June 25, 2025 at 1:36 AM
The. Republican. Party. Wants. To. End. American. Science.
Reposted by Laura M. Huckins
On brand. Disaster relief will now be a personal favor from the President to communities that pledge loyalty. Be grateful if you're from a (relatively) non-disaster prone part of the country.
President Trump says he plans to start “phasing out” FEMA after the hurricane season, and that he also plans to distribute disaster relief funds directly from the president’s office.
Trump says FEMA to be wound down after hurricane season
Trump also said he planned to distribute disaster relief funds directly from the president’s office.
nbcnews.to
June 11, 2025 at 3:03 PM
On brand. Disaster relief will now be a personal favor from the President to communities that pledge loyalty. Be grateful if you're from a (relatively) non-disaster prone part of the country.
Reposted by Laura M. Huckins
Feeling a lot like I did in early days of the pandemic these days. It is so clear what’s coming: The people that will die because of cuts in global health, because of cuts to research, because of the concerted anti-vaccine push.
It’s clear what’s coming, but we will have to wait to count the dead.🧪
It’s clear what’s coming, but we will have to wait to count the dead.🧪
June 11, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Feeling a lot like I did in early days of the pandemic these days. It is so clear what’s coming: The people that will die because of cuts in global health, because of cuts to research, because of the concerted anti-vaccine push.
It’s clear what’s coming, but we will have to wait to count the dead.🧪
It’s clear what’s coming, but we will have to wait to count the dead.🧪
Reposted by Laura M. Huckins
This panel is never approving another vaccine.
8 new ACIP members. Malone, Kulldorff, several others I'm not as familiar with. Meissner I believe also went contrarian during COVID?
Secretary Kennedy on X: "On Monday, I took a major step towards restoring public trust in vaccines by reconstituting the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP). I retired the 17 current members of the committee. I’m now repopulating ACIP with the eight new members who will attend ACIP’s" / X
On Monday, I took a major step towards restoring public trust in vaccines by reconstituting the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP). I retired the 17 current members of the committee. I’m now repopulating ACIP with the eight new members who will attend ACIP’s
x.com
June 11, 2025 at 9:39 PM
This panel is never approving another vaccine.
Reposted by Laura M. Huckins
Hey, fellow Asian So. Cal Fam: ICE is visiting local Asian grocery stores like HMart and 99 Ranch - just heard this from a local contact.
Please be careful AND please take this as a sign - this impacts us too. Call. Protest. Donate.
Please be careful AND please take this as a sign - this impacts us too. Call. Protest. Donate.
June 11, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Hey, fellow Asian So. Cal Fam: ICE is visiting local Asian grocery stores like HMart and 99 Ranch - just heard this from a local contact.
Please be careful AND please take this as a sign - this impacts us too. Call. Protest. Donate.
Please be careful AND please take this as a sign - this impacts us too. Call. Protest. Donate.
Reposted by Laura M. Huckins
Seems bad
Today RFK Jr took the single biggest step towards destroying childhood vaccines
When @nytimes asked me in December whether RFK could kill the vaccine program - I said he’d have to remove CDCs ACIP
And… that’s exactly what he just did today
Not good-just like that we cannot trust CDC on vaccines
When @nytimes asked me in December whether RFK could kill the vaccine program - I said he’d have to remove CDCs ACIP
And… that’s exactly what he just did today
Not good-just like that we cannot trust CDC on vaccines
June 11, 2025 at 2:42 AM
Seems bad
Reposted by Laura M. Huckins
I am hopeful of this too, but it can't wait. If things continue like this for the next 18 months, we will lose huge swaths of our biomedical (and I assume other fields) workforce, including me
I am an early stage investigator, and if I don't get grant funding in the next 2 years, I can't continue 🧪
I am an early stage investigator, and if I don't get grant funding in the next 2 years, I can't continue 🧪
We have 435 representatives and 30 or so Senators up for reelection.
I imagine we will see a massive changing of the guard at midterms, and will get a functional government back.
I imagine we will see a massive changing of the guard at midterms, and will get a functional government back.
June 9, 2025 at 10:12 PM
I am hopeful of this too, but it can't wait. If things continue like this for the next 18 months, we will lose huge swaths of our biomedical (and I assume other fields) workforce, including me
I am an early stage investigator, and if I don't get grant funding in the next 2 years, I can't continue 🧪
I am an early stage investigator, and if I don't get grant funding in the next 2 years, I can't continue 🧪
Reposted by Laura M. Huckins
Tip for PhD applicants reaching out to prospective advisors: Don’t use an LLM to write these emails. It’s not a great first impression to express your admiration for a recent paper the faculty member published if that paper does not exist.
June 5, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Tip for PhD applicants reaching out to prospective advisors: Don’t use an LLM to write these emails. It’s not a great first impression to express your admiration for a recent paper the faculty member published if that paper does not exist.
Reposted by Laura M. Huckins
Against all odds, Joni Ernst has made it worse
May 31, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Against all odds, Joni Ernst has made it worse
Reposted by Laura M. Huckins
It’s Mary Anning’s birthday, so time to share @katebeaton.bsky.social’s brilliant cartoon again.
May 21, 2025 at 11:31 AM
It’s Mary Anning’s birthday, so time to share @katebeaton.bsky.social’s brilliant cartoon again.
Reposted by Laura M. Huckins
Multiple recent studies, including 3 impressive natural experiments, consistently show a link between Shingles vaccines and reduced dementia. This week a nationwide S Korea study added a reduction of cardiovascular events
My summary Table. More here on dementia erictopol.substack.com/p/the-shingl...
My summary Table. More here on dementia erictopol.substack.com/p/the-shingl...
May 11, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Multiple recent studies, including 3 impressive natural experiments, consistently show a link between Shingles vaccines and reduced dementia. This week a nationwide S Korea study added a reduction of cardiovascular events
My summary Table. More here on dementia erictopol.substack.com/p/the-shingl...
My summary Table. More here on dementia erictopol.substack.com/p/the-shingl...
Delighted to be back at the New York Academy of Medicine celebrating the achievements of Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai MD/PhD students!
May 7, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Delighted to be back at the New York Academy of Medicine celebrating the achievements of Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai MD/PhD students!
Enormous congratulations to Dr. Rebecca Signer, who successfully defended her PhD thesis today!
Rebecca's thesis examines the differences between eating disorders, obesity, thinness, and depression using a case-case gwas, and then delves into how our BMI can change regulation of gene expression.
Rebecca's thesis examines the differences between eating disorders, obesity, thinness, and depression using a case-case gwas, and then delves into how our BMI can change regulation of gene expression.
April 9, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Enormous congratulations to Dr. Rebecca Signer, who successfully defended her PhD thesis today!
Rebecca's thesis examines the differences between eating disorders, obesity, thinness, and depression using a case-case gwas, and then delves into how our BMI can change regulation of gene expression.
Rebecca's thesis examines the differences between eating disorders, obesity, thinness, and depression using a case-case gwas, and then delves into how our BMI can change regulation of gene expression.
Reposted by Laura M. Huckins
🌍Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a devastating condition that affects people globally and can be chronic
But it's complex and experiences are diverse...
So how do we effectively measure severity to help inform research and best treat ALL people suffering from AN?
🧵1/6
But it's complex and experiences are diverse...
So how do we effectively measure severity to help inform research and best treat ALL people suffering from AN?
🧵1/6
April 8, 2025 at 3:28 PM
🌍Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a devastating condition that affects people globally and can be chronic
But it's complex and experiences are diverse...
So how do we effectively measure severity to help inform research and best treat ALL people suffering from AN?
🧵1/6
But it's complex and experiences are diverse...
So how do we effectively measure severity to help inform research and best treat ALL people suffering from AN?
🧵1/6
Reposted by Laura M. Huckins
✨Welcome to the PGC Eating Disorders Working Group takeover!
Over the next two weeks, we'll be filling your Bluesky with all things #eatingdisorder #genetics.
You'll be hearing from @helenadavies.bsky.social, Kylie Reed, and @natashaberthold.bsky.social 💜
1/3
Over the next two weeks, we'll be filling your Bluesky with all things #eatingdisorder #genetics.
You'll be hearing from @helenadavies.bsky.social, Kylie Reed, and @natashaberthold.bsky.social 💜
1/3
April 1, 2025 at 3:59 PM
✨Welcome to the PGC Eating Disorders Working Group takeover!
Over the next two weeks, we'll be filling your Bluesky with all things #eatingdisorder #genetics.
You'll be hearing from @helenadavies.bsky.social, Kylie Reed, and @natashaberthold.bsky.social 💜
1/3
Over the next two weeks, we'll be filling your Bluesky with all things #eatingdisorder #genetics.
You'll be hearing from @helenadavies.bsky.social, Kylie Reed, and @natashaberthold.bsky.social 💜
1/3
Reposted by Laura M. Huckins
WORLD-FIRST: Ground-breaking research published today in the Ornithologist Journal has, for the first time, translated common UK bird vocalisations into equivalent phrases in the human language.
The results tell us a lot!
Extracts below... 🧵
The results tell us a lot!
Extracts below... 🧵
April 1, 2025 at 9:40 AM
WORLD-FIRST: Ground-breaking research published today in the Ornithologist Journal has, for the first time, translated common UK bird vocalisations into equivalent phrases in the human language.
The results tell us a lot!
Extracts below... 🧵
The results tell us a lot!
Extracts below... 🧵
Reposted by Laura M. Huckins
Now that the first Advisory Council meeting will be announced in the Federal Register tomorrow (National Institute for Complementary and Integrative Health) tomorrow, I want to clarify something that has been happening for at least the past 30 days.
1/n
1/n
a woman sitting on a couch with the words " wanna know a fun fact " on her face
ALT: a woman sitting on a couch with the words " wanna know a fun fact " on her face
media.tenor.com
March 19, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Now that the first Advisory Council meeting will be announced in the Federal Register tomorrow (National Institute for Complementary and Integrative Health) tomorrow, I want to clarify something that has been happening for at least the past 30 days.
1/n
1/n