Savage-Dunn lab

A line graph showing the number of NIH new and competitive renewal awards funded in fiscal year 2026 compared to fiscal years 2020-2025. The fiscal year 2026 curve lies below the other curves and appears to be flattening out somewhat. A total of 840 awards have been made in fiscal year 2026.

New and competitive renewal awards

Fewer than 40 new awards were made in the past week, compared to over 100 the previous week.

5/9

A photo of Doc Brown from Back to the Future holding jumper cables labelled "Deranged Activist" with a grant of NIH funding curves below it.

My weekly update on NIH funding

This includes awards made through 2/27/26

Warning: This thread contains data compiled by a known deranged_activist™. Do not read while operating heavy machinery.

1/9

Woman in cap surrounded by colleagues at rally

Selfie of colleagues at rally

More sightings of @cuny.edu science faculty at #standupforscience rally in NYC

Thanks!

Thanks to the organizers and speakers who reminded us

🧪 Standing up for Science means standing up for scientists

🧪Science is critical to our national security

🧪We can say NO together

#standupforscience by

Four scientists pose outside of City Hall park at the Stand Up for Science rally. One holds a poster saying “An attack on scientists is an attack on everyone”

@queenscollegecuny.bsky.social scientists at the @standupforscience.bsky.social rally today!

Standing up for science in NYC! #StandUpforScience

TODAY IS THE DAY.
NATIONWIDE rallies in your local city are kicking off today to SAVE SCIENCE, PROTECT HEALTH, and DEFEND DEMOCRACY.
Visit standupforscience.net/march7 to find your local rally!

GET OUT THERE SCIENCE ACTIVISTS!!!

#March7
#standupforscience
#science
#rally
#savescience

Please check out our new preprint! Using single cell analysis paired with HCR to visualize transcript localization we have identified cell and tissue-specific expression of various genes encoding tubulins, kifs, and dyneins during neural crest development!

Hoping for a big turnout tomorrow!

Hope to see my NYC science friends tomorrow at City Hall Park!

NATIONAL DAY of ACTION VIRTUAL ONLINE SATURDAY, MARCH 7TH, 12:00PM - 3:00PM

We're hosting a virtual rally for those who are not able to attend a March 7th National Day of Action event in person. We don't think structural barriers should prevent anyone from being able to participate in a movement that directly impacts their lives.
(1/2🧵)

Also, reframe "leading with conclusions" to "bottom line up front" or BLUF. With BLUF they know what you proposal is about first, then dive into the evidence and feasibility.

Advice from Judith Kimble: At the top of every page, in the header, put WHO CARES? Every page should clearly spell this out.

Miriam's Goodman's supper suggestion on Specific Aims. Write 2-3 versions w/different angles. Get feedback from diverse colleagues 🤌

@wormsense.bsky.social

Opinion | I’m an Immunologist. I Grew Up Unvaccinated.

So proud to see this guest essay in the NYTimes from @sciencewhizliz.bsky.social on growing up unvaccinated and what it taught her about science and trust. Liz was a postdoc with us ('16-'20) and is an exceptional science communicator. Also, her old desk is empty - open postdoc position (pls share).

I started in 1997 and received my first major NIH award in 2024.

White House stalls release of approved US science budgets The US Congress rejected sweeping cuts to science agencies. But the NIH, the NSF and NASA have had their spending slowed.

Congress rejected massive cuts to US science budgets for 2026, but much of the money still isn’t flowing to researchers.

The culprit? The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is quietly slow-walking the release of funds. 🧵👇

Line graph of the number of NIH projects funded by NIH in fiscal year 2026 through February 20, compared to fiscal years 2020-2025. The fiscal year 2026 is following the curve for fiscal year 2025 but offset due to the government shutdown that occurred at the beginning of the fiscal year.

My weekly update on NIH

All projects

1/4

Check out the global speaker line up. several travel awards and slots
for short talks open. Don’t miss this summer @faseborg.bsky.social events.faseb.org/event/TGF-B/...

Maybe science organizations don’t want to play outside game. FINE. 1. Apologize to your people for not responding well & 2. Support some activists who are doing the dirty work you can’t be bothered to do.

Not a SINGLE science org or society has donated to @standupforscience.bsky.social

Statement on 2026 BAFTA Awards When Tourette Syndrome involves racial slurs, it is deeply traumatic for those who hear them and that hurt cannot be minimized. It is also traumatic for those who utter them. Tourette Syndrome is a genetic neurodevelopmental disorder that begins in childhood and is characterized by involuntary movements and sounds called tics. Of the millions of individuals living with Tourette Syndrome and Tic Disorders, approximately 10% experience coprolalia: the involuntary vocalization of obscene or socially inappropriate words or phrases. Coprolalia occurs in response to the social context of a situation, and individuals often report ticcing “the worst thing at the worst time.” Importantly, these vocal tics are not reflective of the beliefs or values of the person experiencing them. The public discourse surrounding this moment underscores the continued need for greater awareness and understanding of Tourette Syndrome. We encourage the public to approach this moment with empathy and a commitment to learning, understanding, and inclusion. Every day, the Tourette Association of America supports and advocates for individuals and families with Tourette Syndrome in their schools, workplaces, and lives. To learn more please visit tourette.org

From the Tourette Association of America.

🪱Worm-friends! Join us this summer in Madison for the C. elegans topic meeting(s) - MAPSS *and* DevCell 🪱

Early birds get the you-know-what, and the early registration deadline is THIS FRI: conferences.union.wisc.edu/ceaging/

It's buy-one-get-one, and who out there doesn't love a deal?? 🙌

This afternoon I took my mom to the ballet. She was as a dancer and choreographer for decades & has been in memory care for 8 years. She can’t recall many details of her past but dance—and her identity as a dancer—lives in her soul 1/
#alzheimers

Thank you for this post 🙏

Let's try this again 👋

Hi Bluesky - I'm Massachusetts' Attorney General. You might know me from suing President Trump nearly 50 times, beating Uber and Lyft in court, or being the first woman of color elected to statewide office in MA.

I officially left X today - help me find my MA people?

NATIONAL DAY of ACTION Take back our science, health, and democracy! Join us MARCH 7TH, 2026 NEW YORK CITY, NY and nationwide! Register, volunteer, and donate! standupforscience.net/march7

NEW YORK CITY! Join your local March 7th rally to take back our science! Learn more at standupforscience.net/march7

#rally
#March7
#ImpeachRFKJr
#science
#standupforscience

A line graph shown the number of NIH new and competitive awards funded for fiscal year 2026 (through 2/13/26) compared with fiscal years 2021-2025. The fiscal year 2026 is lagging well behind with only 569 awards made through 2/13/26 compared to >2000 for previous fiscal years.

New and competitive renewal awards.

The number of awards is 569 compared with more than 2200 through the same date in earlier fiscal years.

All ICs have now made awards except for NIAAA, NCCIH, NLM, FIC, and OD. NEI (Eye Institute) made its first award during the new period.

3/4

Are you a student interested in science policy, or want to make a difference? Are you fed up with how this administration has treated federal science funding and pushed pseudoscience policies?

JOIN US this president’s day (Monday!) for an info session to learn about how YOU can make an impact! 🧬🧪

Congrats! Look forward to reading!

😭😭😭😭😭 the worm community is the best. welp, holler at ya girl if you want a Riddle strain not in the CGC 🙏