NCATS’ Division of Preclinical Innovation is hosting a two-day DPI Outreach to Outstanding Research Scholars event in spring 2026!
Late-stage doctoral students and early-stage postdocs are invited to a pre-application webinar on Jan. 6, 2026. Register today: nih.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?...
A graphic with a quote and modified figure from the linked Nature Communications paper, “Limitations of acyclovir and identification of potent HSV antivirals using 3D bioprinted human skin equivalents” (doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-64245-w). It features Figure 2A, a schematic illustrating the following: “Dermis equivalents were 3D printed onto the apical side of transwell inserts...Keratinocytes were pipetted onto the apical surface of the dermis. In the submerged model, the tissues were infected at the apical surface. In the ALI model, tissues were brought to ALI and then infected at the basolateral surface.” Also a quote from a NCATS article published on January 27, 2026: “This collaborative research showed that the bioprinted 3-D skin tissue model closely replicates the structure and layered organization of human skin and that HSV infects these cells the same way it infects people.”
There is currently no cure for #HSV, and patients can develop resistance to the drug used to manage symptoms.
But thanks to NCATS' 3D Tissue Bioprinting Program, scientists now have the best model yet for testing new treatments.
ncats.nih.gov/news-events/...
#3Dprinting #bioprinting #virosky 🧪
Love this from Samuel Johnson:
“In lexicographers, as in many other arts, naked science is too delicate for the purposes of life”
Today we are hosting Dr Barbara Slusher from John’s Hopkins speaking about her drug discovery research programs - amazing scientist and a full house for her seminar !
This made me happy. And happy new year!
It’s buzzing like the first day of school!!!
How did we get to a place where lower-case ‘l’ is an acceptable symbol for liter/litre?
So much for another relic from my childhood:
cordcuttersnews.com/mtv-is-shutt...
Online now! Discovery of a tau-aggregate clearing compound that covalently targets P4HB #chembiol
MOFs are pretty darn cool. Here's our story, in @cenmag.bsky.social cen.acs.org/people/nobel...
Our new PNAS paper "Enhanced PIEZO1 function contributes to the pathogenesis of sickle cell disease" is out: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/... 1/3
Scientists believe factors like diet and chemical exposure could play a role in a condition largely driven by genetics
www.statnews.com/2025/10/03/n...
Ice freshly ejected from Enceladus contains complex organics
Reanalyzing data from Cassini's 2008 flyby reveals new, complex organic molecules in the spray from Saturn’s icy moon. cen.acs.org/physical-che... #chemsky 🧪
This October I’m drawing one molecule a day inspired by proteins in pdb @rcsbpdb.bsky.social
Day 2/31
Prompt WEAVE
N-terminal domain of a Fibrion - a building block of silk fiber produced by silkworms.
Pdb: 3UA0
Next prompt is CROWN and I would love your suggestions!
As a little boy, my grandparents gave me this book. This story of Pasteur is the one that made me want to be a scientist. And it doesn’t even mention optical activity!!
Who will win the #ChemNobel? cen.acs.org/people/nobel... #chemsky 🧪
As a little boy, my grandparents gave me this book. This story of Pasteur is the one that made me want to be a scientist. And it doesn’t even mention optical activity!!
President Trump announced on Tuesday that Pfizer has agreed to offer lower prices on its drugs to the Medicaid program and directly to patients
www.statnews.com/2025/09/30/t...
I rarely post about work, but in writing this email today asking how to be reimbursed for the cost of hosting a scientific visitor I wrote this explainer. This is not a complaint - but shows how we have to use our own salaries to enrich our environment and the commitment that takes
We want to congratulate our President, Dr. Tony Letai, on his appointment as Director of the NCI. This announcement marks an historic moment for cancer research. Dr. Letai has been a tireless advocate and visionary leader for functional precision medicine 🧵
www.nih.gov/news-events/...
“dad can you can get me one of those retro digital cameras?”
It reminds me of this banger:
"Revised Estimates for the Number of Human and Bacteria Cells in the Body"
- We estimate the total # of bacteria in the 70 kg "reference man" to be 3.8X10^13.
- # of bacteria in the body is actually of the same order as the # of human cells, & total mass is ~0.2 kg.
I missed this paper at the time but love this kind of study:
"The total mass, number, and distribution of immune cells in the human body"
"an average individual’s immune system consists of approximately 1.8 trillion cells, weighing around 1.2 kg"
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
I rarely post about work, but in writing this email today asking how to be reimbursed for the cost of hosting a scientific visitor I wrote this explainer. This is not a complaint - but shows how we have to use our own salaries to enrich our environment and the commitment that takes
When the day is done
Meeting my trainee for coffee and project strategizing in the amazing NIH Clinical Center. Inspiring.
Merch!
One of the posters from my group was on a drug discovery strategy for inhibitors of biliverdin reductase - a target relevant for several rare diseases. Our postbac Christa did an amazing job presenting her work - it’s a collab with scientists at Einstein.
