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Kristen Kwan

@blockintheback.bsky.social

2.1K followers 1.7K following 4.8K posts

Professor, U of Utah. Biology, family, sports, food. Knitter, musician, aspiring weaver. SLC, via LA, the Bay Area, and Boston. Views are my own.

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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · Nov 11

Since I'm finally moving here, here's a bit about me: my lab studies the cellular and molecular basis of vertebrate eye morphogenesis using zebrafish as a model system, combining multidimensional imaging, computational approaches, and molecular genetics. Excited to see you all!

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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · 15d

Article on research cuts beginning to affect the University of Utah (gift link):
“At this point, [University President] Randall noted, the U hasn’t felt the full effects of the Trump administration’s research cuts. ‘What will happen next year,’ he said, ‘we will see.’”
www.sltrib.com/news/educati...

How the University of Utah is scrambling to cover the millions lost from Trump’s research cuts

University of Utah President Taylor Randall has worked to provide "bridge funding" to keep the U.'s research going despite federal cuts. But there have still been some layoffs.

www.sltrib.com

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Reposted by Kristen Kwan

Carl Zimmer @carlzimmer.com · 26d

A deep dive into the destruction of US cancer research by @jonathanmahler.bsky.social “It’s an absolutely unmitigated disaster,” a former top official at NIH told him. “It will take decades to recover from this, if we ever do.” Gift link: nyti.ms/48iH3Cr

nyti.ms

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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · Aug 23

I’ve been thinking of you and Andres all week as I’ve given the first two lectures of the imaging course! Wish you were still here - you are welcome back ANY TIME

Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · Aug 23

Le Pas Espagnol Op. 56, No. 6 by Fauré
Super-fun performing with my son (17) despite the near-disaster of our music being blown off of the piano in the drafty recital hall - we were saved by my daughter (13)!

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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · Aug 8

Snapshots from end-of-summer travels: NYC and Woods Hole
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Woods Hole: This village runs on science

Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · Aug 8

Snapshots from end-of-summer travels: Pennsylvania
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Sunset on Gold Key Lake through the trees

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Reposted by Kristen Kwan

Maureen Barr @barrlab.bsky.social · Aug 1

We need a new microscope objective. A $1.6k tariff for something that you can hold in your hand and that is only manufactured in Germany

Quote for a 63x objective. The objective is $12,784. The tariff is $1,661.92

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Reposted by Kristen Kwan

Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · Jul 30

STAT Story

www.statnews.com/2025/07/29/t...

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Trump administration blocks NIH from awarding any research grants and contracts

The order applies to the entirety of new and, possibly, ongoing research grant dollars that go to universities and academic medical centers.

www.statnews.com

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Reposted by Kristen Kwan

Prasad Jallepalli, MD, PhD @prasad.bsky.social · Jul 30

www.statnews.com/2025/07/29/t...

“[OMB’s rule on NIH spending] constitutes the entirety of new and, possibly, ongoing research grant dollars that go from the NIH out to universities, academic medical centers, and other research institutions.”

e.g., noncompeting awards are in jeopardy

The White House Office of Management and Budget has limited National Institutes of Health spending, according to a memo sent to the institute and center directors on Tuesday afternoon that directed them to immediately halt the issuing of research grants, research and development contracts, and training awards during a “pause” of unspecified duration.

That constitutes the entirety of new and, possibly, ongoing research grant dollars that go from the NIH out to universities, academic medical centers, and other research institutions. The four-sentence email, which STAT obtained, refers to a footnote included with OMB’s apportionment of NIH funding, its allocation of congressionally appropriated dollars for the final two months of the fiscal year.

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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · Jul 24

Oh Bryan, I’m so sorry 😞

Reposted by Kristen Kwan

Craig Kaplan @triggerloop.bsky.social · Jul 9

Op-Ed from Dana Carroll and my father Jerry Kaplan highlighting some amazing history of publicly funded science at the U. of Utah and how this is in grave jeopardy. First NIH grant ever was to U of U!

The Salt Lake Tribune @sltrib.com · Jul 8

Proposed cuts to the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation “would cause immense and largely irreversible damage to the successful American scientific enterprise,” write Jerry Kaplan and Dana Carroll in an op-ed.

Voices: Federal funding cuts to genetic research will be devastating for years to come

www.sltrib.com

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Reposted by Kristen Kwan

Julie Kiefer @julieckiefer.bsky.social · Jul 21

The University of Utah could be in danger of losing $100+ million annually

School leaders worry Trump administration’s court-contested grant policies could severely impact local research, jobs
www.deseret.com/utah/2025/07...

An existential research crisis at the University of Utah?

School leaders sound the alarms of the possibly heavy costs that would be exacted by proposed grant policies proposed by the Trump administration.

www.deseret.com

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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · Jul 19

Summer storm

Reposted by Kristen Kwan

Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · Jul 18

New story about CBO analysis of the effects of NIH cuts and FDA changes on drug development.

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[Gift link]

www.nytimes.com/2025/07/18/h...

Health Cuts Would Result in Fewer Drugs for Americans, Budget Office Reports

www.nytimes.com

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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · Jul 16

❤️

Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · Jul 13

Scenes from Madison #IZFC2025

Mocha macchiato ice cream from the Daily Scoop

Very bold birds angling for a bit of my breakfast burrito

View of the state Capitol from inside the rooftop bar Camp Trippalindee

Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · Jul 13

Huge congratulations to Sarah LaPotin from the lab for winning a poster prize at #IZFC2025!!

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Reposted by Kristen Kwan

Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · Jul 12

IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IMPORTANT

Please watch the workshop video and COMMENT by 5:00 Monday 7/14

This is the source of the "no more model organism only grants in NIH-funded research" decree.

@LaBonneLaB @labonnelab.bsky.social · Jul 11

Dear all, PLEASE add comments on the importance of model organism research at this link:

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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · Jul 11

The winners of the 2025 George Streisinger Award are the Course Directors of the Zebrafish Development and Genetics course at MBL, for their tremendous contributions to our amazing community for >25 years! #izfc2025

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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · Jul 10

So very, very happy to be back in Madison for #IZFC2025!

Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · Jul 7

Thank you for your patience! I’m sorry it took so long!

Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · Jul 7

🚨🚨🚨 Tol2kit announcement! We have rebuilt the wiki that was corrupted a few months ago! We’re in the process of also linking it to the original address. Please visit us here:
tol2kitkwan.genetics.utah.edu
Thank you for your patience!!
#zebrafish #transgenesis #plasmids #sharing

tol2kit for kwan lab

tol2kitkwan.genetics.utah.edu

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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · Jul 6

SARAH!! This is your victory too!!! I would love to celebrate this week - let’s definitely get together!!! I want to catch up and hear everything - I’m so excited to see you!!

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Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · Jul 6

Congratulations!!! So well deserved!!

Kristen Kwan @blockintheback.bsky.social · Jul 4

Thank you so much, Debi! I am so grateful to Jim and so many others in the community - I wouldn’t have been able to do it without them!