Igor Brodsky
@brodskyigorlab.bsky.social
Innate immunity/host-pathogen interactions. Husband, father, former Soviet immigrant. Opinions my own.
Reposted by Igor Brodsky
Plants use cell-surface and intracellular receptors that collaborate to detect pathogens🦠. We discovered that a key #ubiquitin recognition event recruits both receptor types into an unexpected dual receptor complex that boost the translation of defence proteins and establishes robust #PlantImmunity👇🏾
February 9, 2026 at 9:57 AM
Plants use cell-surface and intracellular receptors that collaborate to detect pathogens🦠. We discovered that a key #ubiquitin recognition event recruits both receptor types into an unexpected dual receptor complex that boost the translation of defence proteins and establishes robust #PlantImmunity👇🏾
Reposted by Igor Brodsky
Don’t listen to anyone trying to suggest the FY2026 budget bill saved science.
The bill has some wins (and I am grateful to those you worked with and from within Congress for those wins).
We have a lot of work to do before we rest.
open.substack.com/pub/sciencea...
The bill has some wins (and I am grateful to those you worked with and from within Congress for those wins).
We have a lot of work to do before we rest.
open.substack.com/pub/sciencea...
We will never get more than what we celebrate
Why allowing the Trump administration to reset our expectations will harm US science
open.substack.com
February 7, 2026 at 5:38 PM
Don’t listen to anyone trying to suggest the FY2026 budget bill saved science.
The bill has some wins (and I am grateful to those you worked with and from within Congress for those wins).
We have a lot of work to do before we rest.
open.substack.com/pub/sciencea...
The bill has some wins (and I am grateful to those you worked with and from within Congress for those wins).
We have a lot of work to do before we rest.
open.substack.com/pub/sciencea...
Reposted by Igor Brodsky
Every American needs to watch this:
February 5, 2026 at 8:41 PM
Every American needs to watch this:
Reposted by Igor Brodsky
Powerful Shakespearian monologue from Ian McKellen on Colbert.
Just a bit applicable to today...
www.instagram.com/reels/DUXMaL...
Just a bit applicable to today...
www.instagram.com/reels/DUXMaL...
The Late Show on Instagram: "Leave it to Shakespeare and @ianmckellen to so eloquently speak of man’s mountainish inhumanity.
See Ian McKellen in AN ARK, a new play for mixed reality, at @theshedny ...
503K likes, 13K comments - colbertlateshow on February 4, 2026: "Leave it to Shakespeare and @ianmckellen to so eloquently speak of man’s mountainish inhumanity.
See Ian McKellen in AN ARK, a new pl...
www.instagram.com
February 6, 2026 at 12:25 AM
Powerful Shakespearian monologue from Ian McKellen on Colbert.
Just a bit applicable to today...
www.instagram.com/reels/DUXMaL...
Just a bit applicable to today...
www.instagram.com/reels/DUXMaL...
Reposted by Igor Brodsky
If you need to find a figure skater to cheer on during the Olympics, here’s a great one from my small town in CT
#TeamUSA
#TeamUSA
Maxim Naumov is ready for his Olympic debut. The 24-year-old figure skater grew up in Simsbury, Connecticut, and later moved to Norwood, Massachusetts. Here's how and when you can watch him compete. on.nbcboston.com/7QKpaPJ
How to watch figure skater Maxim Naumov compete at the Milan Cortina Olympics
Maxim Naumov will make his Olympic debut for Team USA at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games. Here's how you can watch him compete on NBC and Peacock.
on.nbcboston.com
February 6, 2026 at 1:15 AM
If you need to find a figure skater to cheer on during the Olympics, here’s a great one from my small town in CT
#TeamUSA
#TeamUSA
Reposted by Igor Brodsky
In brief, this maneuver:
- effectively converts employee status to "at-will" (meaning they can be fired for any--or no--reason),
- redirects whistleblower complaints to internal agency counsel,
& takes away these civil servants' rights to appeal adverse personnel actions.
- effectively converts employee status to "at-will" (meaning they can be fired for any--or no--reason),
- redirects whistleblower complaints to internal agency counsel,
& takes away these civil servants' rights to appeal adverse personnel actions.
Bad news today.
The administration finalized a plan to remove civil service protections from about 50,000 federal workers, with no exemption for statistical or scientific agency personnel. This erodes protection of those agencies from political influence.
www.govexec.com/workforce/20... #econsky
The administration finalized a plan to remove civil service protections from about 50,000 federal workers, with no exemption for statistical or scientific agency personnel. This erodes protection of those agencies from political influence.
www.govexec.com/workforce/20... #econsky
Trump admin moves to finalize return of Schedule F
Officials estimate that around 50,000 federal workers will be stripped of their civil service protections beginning in around a month, as unions, employee associations and good government groups decry...
www.govexec.com
February 6, 2026 at 2:30 AM
In brief, this maneuver:
- effectively converts employee status to "at-will" (meaning they can be fired for any--or no--reason),
- redirects whistleblower complaints to internal agency counsel,
& takes away these civil servants' rights to appeal adverse personnel actions.
- effectively converts employee status to "at-will" (meaning they can be fired for any--or no--reason),
- redirects whistleblower complaints to internal agency counsel,
& takes away these civil servants' rights to appeal adverse personnel actions.
Reposted by Igor Brodsky
Without the Washington Post health and science team the public would have known far less about what’s been happening at NIH and CDC this year.
Post reporters have done absolutely key reporting, for example a profile on NIH cancer researcher Steve Rosenberg speaking up about damage to his work.
Post reporters have done absolutely key reporting, for example a profile on NIH cancer researcher Steve Rosenberg speaking up about damage to his work.
The Washington Post gutted the health team which I helped to lead despite our stories being among the most widely read, impactful and adept at reaching new audiences.
February 5, 2026 at 5:35 PM
Without the Washington Post health and science team the public would have known far less about what’s been happening at NIH and CDC this year.
Post reporters have done absolutely key reporting, for example a profile on NIH cancer researcher Steve Rosenberg speaking up about damage to his work.
Post reporters have done absolutely key reporting, for example a profile on NIH cancer researcher Steve Rosenberg speaking up about damage to his work.
Reposted by Igor Brodsky
Good news.
I reached out to the Internet Archive folks to let them know about the discontinuation of the NIH Record.
As I have found on numerous occasions over the past year, they are "on in".
A great organization and an increasingly important resource.
I reached out to the Internet Archive folks to let them know about the discontinuation of the NIH Record.
As I have found on numerous occasions over the past year, they are "on in".
A great organization and an increasingly important resource.
February 3, 2026 at 12:16 AM
Good news.
I reached out to the Internet Archive folks to let them know about the discontinuation of the NIH Record.
As I have found on numerous occasions over the past year, they are "on in".
A great organization and an increasingly important resource.
I reached out to the Internet Archive folks to let them know about the discontinuation of the NIH Record.
As I have found on numerous occasions over the past year, they are "on in".
A great organization and an increasingly important resource.
Reposted by Igor Brodsky
Right now, Democrats have the power to defund and abolish ICE. We should do it. This is about right and wrong—and the murder we are seeing on the streets is just plain wrong. Anyone who supports funding DHS and ICE is supporting the murder of Americans. We can stop this.
January 28, 2026 at 11:48 PM
Right now, Democrats have the power to defund and abolish ICE. We should do it. This is about right and wrong—and the murder we are seeing on the streets is just plain wrong. Anyone who supports funding DHS and ICE is supporting the murder of Americans. We can stop this.
Reposted by Igor Brodsky
“We will not be intimidated into silence.”
—Dr. Leonard Bright, AAUP Texas A&M
This fight is bigger than Texas A&M—it is about whether public universities will serve democracy or fear it.
@tamu-aaup.bsky.social
@texasaft.org
@texasaaup.bsky.social
@movetexas.bsky.social
—Dr. Leonard Bright, AAUP Texas A&M
This fight is bigger than Texas A&M—it is about whether public universities will serve democracy or fear it.
@tamu-aaup.bsky.social
@texasaft.org
@texasaaup.bsky.social
@movetexas.bsky.social
January 29, 2026 at 11:35 PM
“We will not be intimidated into silence.”
—Dr. Leonard Bright, AAUP Texas A&M
This fight is bigger than Texas A&M—it is about whether public universities will serve democracy or fear it.
@tamu-aaup.bsky.social
@texasaft.org
@texasaaup.bsky.social
@movetexas.bsky.social
—Dr. Leonard Bright, AAUP Texas A&M
This fight is bigger than Texas A&M—it is about whether public universities will serve democracy or fear it.
@tamu-aaup.bsky.social
@texasaft.org
@texasaaup.bsky.social
@movetexas.bsky.social
Reposted by Igor Brodsky
Ok people!!!
I believe we may be taking March 7th NATIONAL!
This will require financial support. Last year, nationwide, the protests cost $75,000. We need all the help we can get!
Help us fuel the fight here: www.standupforscience.net/donate
@standupforscience.bsky.social
#standupforscience
I believe we may be taking March 7th NATIONAL!
This will require financial support. Last year, nationwide, the protests cost $75,000. We need all the help we can get!
Help us fuel the fight here: www.standupforscience.net/donate
@standupforscience.bsky.social
#standupforscience
Fuel the fight! — STAND UP FOR SCIENCE
www.standupforscience.net
January 29, 2026 at 9:06 PM
Ok people!!!
I believe we may be taking March 7th NATIONAL!
This will require financial support. Last year, nationwide, the protests cost $75,000. We need all the help we can get!
Help us fuel the fight here: www.standupforscience.net/donate
@standupforscience.bsky.social
#standupforscience
I believe we may be taking March 7th NATIONAL!
This will require financial support. Last year, nationwide, the protests cost $75,000. We need all the help we can get!
Help us fuel the fight here: www.standupforscience.net/donate
@standupforscience.bsky.social
#standupforscience
Reposted by Igor Brodsky
Incredible self own for the US. The damage being done to the US scientific enterprise is generational. We will look back on this as a tipping point where the US chose all on its own to stop leading the world in science.
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
U.S. government has lost more than 10,000 STEM Ph.D.s since Trump took office
A Science analysis reveals how many were fired, retired, or quit across 14 agencies
www.science.org
January 28, 2026 at 11:46 AM
Incredible self own for the US. The damage being done to the US scientific enterprise is generational. We will look back on this as a tipping point where the US chose all on its own to stop leading the world in science.
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Igor Brodsky
US science after a year of Trump
A series of graphics reveals how the Trump administration has sought historic cuts to science and the research workforce.
www.nature.com/immer...
1/4
A series of graphics reveals how the Trump administration has sought historic cuts to science and the research workforce.
www.nature.com/immer...
1/4
US science after a year of Trump: what has been lost and what remains
A series of graphics reveals how the Trump administration has sought historic cuts to science and the research workforce.
www.nature.com
January 28, 2026 at 1:03 PM
US science after a year of Trump
A series of graphics reveals how the Trump administration has sought historic cuts to science and the research workforce.
www.nature.com/immer...
1/4
A series of graphics reveals how the Trump administration has sought historic cuts to science and the research workforce.
www.nature.com/immer...
1/4
Reposted by Igor Brodsky
A prophage-encoded abortive infection protein preserves host and prophage spread www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A prophage-encoded abortive infection protein preserves host and prophage spread - Nature
A Gifsy-1 prophage–encoded higher eukaryotes and prokaryotes nucleotide-binding protein, HepS, senses Siphoviridae infection, activates abortive defence by cleaving host transfer RNAs, blocks rival ph...
www.nature.com
January 28, 2026 at 7:13 PM
A prophage-encoded abortive infection protein preserves host and prophage spread www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Igor Brodsky
William Herbert Foege .... you should know him: one of the foremost persons responsible for eradicating smallpox. He died yesterday, January 24, 2026 ..... the day the USA pulled out of the WHO. It is all so terrible sad and stupid.
www.nytimes.com/2026...
1/3
www.nytimes.com/2026...
1/3
William H. Foege, Key Figure in the Eradication of Smallpox, Dies at 89
His containment strategy helped wipe out the disease in the 1970s, one of the world’s greatest public health triumphs. He also led the C.D.C. and promoted childhood vaccination worldwide.
www.nytimes.com
January 25, 2026 at 4:40 PM
William Herbert Foege .... you should know him: one of the foremost persons responsible for eradicating smallpox. He died yesterday, January 24, 2026 ..... the day the USA pulled out of the WHO. It is all so terrible sad and stupid.
www.nytimes.com/2026...
1/3
www.nytimes.com/2026...
1/3
Reposted by Igor Brodsky
Today’s retreat is absolutely an attempt to take pressure off of Congress to rein in ICE so that a funding package can get through.
That pressure has been effective. We can celebrate Minneapolis’ win but we need to keep the pressure on. They’re not going to stop forever.
That pressure has been effective. We can celebrate Minneapolis’ win but we need to keep the pressure on. They’re not going to stop forever.
January 26, 2026 at 9:05 PM
Today’s retreat is absolutely an attempt to take pressure off of Congress to rein in ICE so that a funding package can get through.
That pressure has been effective. We can celebrate Minneapolis’ win but we need to keep the pressure on. They’re not going to stop forever.
That pressure has been effective. We can celebrate Minneapolis’ win but we need to keep the pressure on. They’re not going to stop forever.
Reposted by Igor Brodsky
Join us in Amsterdam for a FEBS advanced course on "Functional Imaging of cellular dynamics" from 31st of May - 6th of June 2026
Info: microscopy2026.febsevents.org
Info: microscopy2026.febsevents.org
January 27, 2026 at 11:06 AM
Join us in Amsterdam for a FEBS advanced course on "Functional Imaging of cellular dynamics" from 31st of May - 6th of June 2026
Info: microscopy2026.febsevents.org
Info: microscopy2026.febsevents.org
Reposted by Igor Brodsky
“Instead, build your reputation on substance. Do good work that matters to you and can be explained to others. The format and funding will change. The value of your genuine contribution won't…the quality of your thinking and your approach will always matter.”
Not exactly advice I give, but I believe this period is shaping the next gen of scientific leaders with unique skillsets. I wrote a bit about it here: uncultured.carinilab.com/p/an-open-le...
An Open Letter to Graduating PhDs in a Post-Federal Science World
July 15, 2025
uncultured.carinilab.com
January 27, 2026 at 5:09 AM
“Instead, build your reputation on substance. Do good work that matters to you and can be explained to others. The format and funding will change. The value of your genuine contribution won't…the quality of your thinking and your approach will always matter.”
Nearly 15% (over 10,000 people) of the total number of Ph.D.s in science, technology, engineering, and math or health fields employed at the end of 2024 left their jobs in 2025. This is a science extinction event in the US. Rebuilding the lost expertise will take decades
January 27, 2026 at 4:34 AM
Nearly 15% (over 10,000 people) of the total number of Ph.D.s in science, technology, engineering, and math or health fields employed at the end of 2024 left their jobs in 2025. This is a science extinction event in the US. Rebuilding the lost expertise will take decades
Reposted by Igor Brodsky
TONIGHT: Join the mass call on documenting and recording law enforcement encounters. We’ll discuss how you can keep taking action as federal agents terrorize our communities. Using our constitutional right to document and record ICE & CBP is more important than ever: www.mobilize.us/nokings/even...
January 26, 2026 at 1:27 PM
TONIGHT: Join the mass call on documenting and recording law enforcement encounters. We’ll discuss how you can keep taking action as federal agents terrorize our communities. Using our constitutional right to document and record ICE & CBP is more important than ever: www.mobilize.us/nokings/even...
Reposted by Igor Brodsky
This is one of the things that I find is most shocking to people outside Minnesota who don’t realize it yet—the scale at which everyone who isn’t white has been forced into a spectrum of hiding.
Very good article drawing out the Tahrir Square comparison.
Very good article drawing out the Tahrir Square comparison.
January 26, 2026 at 4:01 AM
This is one of the things that I find is most shocking to people outside Minnesota who don’t realize it yet—the scale at which everyone who isn’t white has been forced into a spectrum of hiding.
Very good article drawing out the Tahrir Square comparison.
Very good article drawing out the Tahrir Square comparison.
Reposted by Igor Brodsky
Bill Foege, a health giant who led the eradication of smallpox and then led the CDC, has died. Bill's commitment to humanity and to selfless leadership contrasts with the fecklessness of today's health leaders who try to undermine vaccines. RIP, Bill. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/24/u...
William H. Foege, Key Figure in the Eradication of Smallpox, Dies at 89
www.nytimes.com
January 25, 2026 at 2:26 PM
Bill Foege, a health giant who led the eradication of smallpox and then led the CDC, has died. Bill's commitment to humanity and to selfless leadership contrasts with the fecklessness of today's health leaders who try to undermine vaccines. RIP, Bill. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/24/u...
Reposted by Igor Brodsky
January 24, 2026
January 24, 2026
This morning, on a street in Minneapolis, at least seven federal agents tackled and then shot and killed Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse for the local VA hospital.
heathercoxrichardson.substack.com
January 25, 2026 at 6:01 AM
January 24, 2026
Reposted by Igor Brodsky
AOC IS 💯 CORRECT.......
January 25, 2026 at 8:32 AM
AOC IS 💯 CORRECT.......
Reposted by Igor Brodsky
Since you may be stuck inside due to the blizzard, today would be a good day to call your senators & tell them how pissed off you are
The Senate Switch Board Number is: (202)224-3121.
We are calling our senators right now and demanding that they vote no on the omnibus with DHS funding
We are explicitly mentioning ICE’s murder in cold blood of a man on the streets of Minneapolis this morning
We are explicitly mentioning ICE’s murder in cold blood of a man on the streets of Minneapolis this morning
January 25, 2026 at 1:23 PM
Since you may be stuck inside due to the blizzard, today would be a good day to call your senators & tell them how pissed off you are