Marion Pepper
@marionpepper.bsky.social
Immunologist. Immune memory.π©π»βπ¬
Reposted by Marion Pepper
A bad thing is unfolding at NIH this week: It looks like the Trump administration is trying to replace key civil servant scientific leaders, the Institute Directors, with political hires. These directors control the NIH budget, tens of billions.
A bit of a video explainer here: 1/ π§ͺ
A bit of a video explainer here: 1/ π§ͺ
November 13, 2025 at 10:31 PM
A bad thing is unfolding at NIH this week: It looks like the Trump administration is trying to replace key civil servant scientific leaders, the Institute Directors, with political hires. These directors control the NIH budget, tens of billions.
A bit of a video explainer here: 1/ π§ͺ
A bit of a video explainer here: 1/ π§ͺ
Reposted by Marion Pepper
Congratulations to Karel Svoboda and @jshendure.bsky.social on their election to the National Academy of Medicine (@nam.edu)! Election to the Academy is one of the highest honors in health and medicine. #NAMmtg
More on their journeys to this achievement: alleninstitute.org/news/karel-s...
More on their journeys to this achievement: alleninstitute.org/news/karel-s...
Karel Svoboda and Jay Shendure elected to National Academy of Medicine
The honor recognizes leaders who have demonstrated outstanding achievement and made lasting contributions to the advancement of the medical sciences, health care, and public health
alleninstitute.org
October 20, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Congratulations to Karel Svoboda and @jshendure.bsky.social on their election to the National Academy of Medicine (@nam.edu)! Election to the Academy is one of the highest honors in health and medicine. #NAMmtg
More on their journeys to this achievement: alleninstitute.org/news/karel-s...
More on their journeys to this achievement: alleninstitute.org/news/karel-s...
Reposted by Marion Pepper
Super excited about first Shendure/Baker Lab collaboration & preprint on a multiplex sequencing-based strategy for screening de novo proteome editors in mammalian cells. Kudos to the brilliant Chase Suiter (not here) & @greenahn.bsky.social on the work! Preprint here:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
October 14, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Super excited about first Shendure/Baker Lab collaboration & preprint on a multiplex sequencing-based strategy for screening de novo proteome editors in mammalian cells. Kudos to the brilliant Chase Suiter (not here) & @greenahn.bsky.social on the work! Preprint here:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Marion Pepper
Nobel Prize given for showing the importance of investing in science for innovation and long-term economic growth. Basically the opposite of what the US is doing. π
Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion and Pewter Howitt share economics prize for work that underlines the importance of investing in research and development.
go.nature.com/4hj9NNV
go.nature.com/4hj9NNV
Economics Nobel prize won by researchers who showed how science boosts growth
Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion and Pewter Howitt share economics prize for work that underlines the importance of investing in research and development.
go.nature.com
October 13, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Nobel Prize given for showing the importance of investing in science for innovation and long-term economic growth. Basically the opposite of what the US is doing. π
Our findings argue that modulating TCF1+ Trm will be important for either suppressing chronic inflammatory diseases or boosting long-lived immune protection. Huge thanks to the many people who contributing to this beast and the NIH-funding that supported it.
October 10, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Our findings argue that modulating TCF1+ Trm will be important for either suppressing chronic inflammatory diseases or boosting long-lived immune protection. Huge thanks to the many people who contributing to this beast and the NIH-funding that supported it.
TCF1+ cells in the tissue and highlight the TLS core as an important inhibitory niche otherwise absent in the lung tissue. Additional data from our lab and others supports that these two CD4+ Trm populations exist in multiple tissues in multiple diseases and inflammatory conditions.
October 10, 2025 at 7:22 PM
TCF1+ cells in the tissue and highlight the TLS core as an important inhibitory niche otherwise absent in the lung tissue. Additional data from our lab and others supports that these two CD4+ Trm populations exist in multiple tissues in multiple diseases and inflammatory conditions.
we could see differences in core signatures at the center of the TLS compared to the outer ring of the TLS, with inhibitory receptor-ligand pairs (PD1/PDL1/PDL2) predominantly expressed in the core. Experiments using PD1 blockade highlight the significant role of PD1 signaling in maintaining...
October 10, 2025 at 7:22 PM
we could see differences in core signatures at the center of the TLS compared to the outer ring of the TLS, with inhibitory receptor-ligand pairs (PD1/PDL1/PDL2) predominantly expressed in the core. Experiments using PD1 blockade highlight the significant role of PD1 signaling in maintaining...
Citeseq data acquired with the ImmGenT consortium (@immgen.bsky.social) and spatial transcriptomics acquired with the @alleninstitute.org, which allowed for the visualization of transcriptional programs expressed by CD4+ Trm across distance from the TLS to the airways. Even cooler...
October 10, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Citeseq data acquired with the ImmGenT consortium (@immgen.bsky.social) and spatial transcriptomics acquired with the @alleninstitute.org, which allowed for the visualization of transcriptional programs expressed by CD4+ Trm across distance from the TLS to the airways. Even cooler...
a TCF1+ population that resides in tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) and serves as a memory progenitor population for pathological Th2 effectors that reside at the airway interface. Through a collaborative tour de force, we integrated....
October 10, 2025 at 7:22 PM
a TCF1+ population that resides in tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) and serves as a memory progenitor population for pathological Th2 effectors that reside at the airway interface. Through a collaborative tour de force, we integrated....
What Derek Bangs PhD and colleagues found reveals important insights for treating diseases of chronic inflammation in the tissues. Allergen-specific CD4+ Trm were comprised of two functionally and geographically distinct populations:
October 10, 2025 at 7:22 PM
What Derek Bangs PhD and colleagues found reveals important insights for treating diseases of chronic inflammation in the tissues. Allergen-specific CD4+ Trm were comprised of two functionally and geographically distinct populations:
Asthma is a chronic disease characterized by acute, intermittent, recurrent episodes of airway inflammation. A decade of work developing the tools, techniques and collaborations needed to figure out how CD4+ T cells in the lungs propagate disease can be found here:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Tertiary lymphoid structures support the development of allergen-specific progenitor CD4+ T cells
Tissue-resident memory CD4+ T cells (TRM) are key sentinels of the adaptive immune response that provide a rapid, robust inflammatory response upon reactivation in non-lymphoid tissues. While CD4+ TRM...
www.biorxiv.org
October 10, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Asthma is a chronic disease characterized by acute, intermittent, recurrent episodes of airway inflammation. A decade of work developing the tools, techniques and collaborations needed to figure out how CD4+ T cells in the lungs propagate disease can be found here:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
More coming on what this means but this was one of those stories that took almost a decade to come together but was well worth the time. Also check out a companion piece on @biorxiv by Patrick Brennan!
@biorxivpreprint.bsky.social Tertiary lymphoid structures support the development of allergen-specific progenitor CD4+ T cells @marionpepper.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
October 9, 2025 at 2:38 AM
More coming on what this means but this was one of those stories that took almost a decade to come together but was well worth the time. Also check out a companion piece on @biorxiv by Patrick Brennan!
Reposted by Marion Pepper
This moment from our latest episode with science writer @edyong209.bsky.social is π₯
We asked Ed β how do we talk up the benefits of science in the face of government cuts? He told us that's the wrong approach. π§ͺ
Listen wherever, or watch on Spotify π
open.spotify.com/episode/7Evh...
We asked Ed β how do we talk up the benefits of science in the face of government cuts? He told us that's the wrong approach. π§ͺ
Listen wherever, or watch on Spotify π
open.spotify.com/episode/7Evh...
October 1, 2025 at 2:56 PM
This moment from our latest episode with science writer @edyong209.bsky.social is π₯
We asked Ed β how do we talk up the benefits of science in the face of government cuts? He told us that's the wrong approach. π§ͺ
Listen wherever, or watch on Spotify π
open.spotify.com/episode/7Evh...
We asked Ed β how do we talk up the benefits of science in the face of government cuts? He told us that's the wrong approach. π§ͺ
Listen wherever, or watch on Spotify π
open.spotify.com/episode/7Evh...
Reposted by Marion Pepper
Neat studyβfollowing 320 healthcare workers for almost a year, with 152 of them being infected, the authors examined whether or not COVID-19 associates with more upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs). It didn't (yay!).
But, having a kid <5 associated with a 74% increase in the risk of URTIs.
But, having a kid <5 associated with a 74% increase in the risk of URTIs.
Is COVID-19 Associated With an Increased Risk of Subsequent Upper Respiratory Tract Infections in Adults? A Prospective Cohort Study
AbstractBackground. In Autumn 2022, a surge in upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) was observed worldwide. Individuals anecdotally reported increase
academic.oup.com
September 28, 2025 at 1:56 AM
Neat studyβfollowing 320 healthcare workers for almost a year, with 152 of them being infected, the authors examined whether or not COVID-19 associates with more upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs). It didn't (yay!).
But, having a kid <5 associated with a 74% increase in the risk of URTIs.
But, having a kid <5 associated with a 74% increase in the risk of URTIs.
Excited to be here! Have to admit John Denver was running through my head as we wound our way through the country roads of West Virginia.
We are thrilled to have @marionpepper.bsky.social from @uwdeptmedicine.bsky.social joining us to give the keynote presentation!
September 25, 2025 at 3:44 AM
Excited to be here! Have to admit John Denver was running through my head as we wound our way through the country roads of West Virginia.
Reposted by Marion Pepper
If you read 1 thing today, please make it this: my so-talented colleague @ericboodman.bsky.social explains why babies in the US are vaccinated at birth against hep B β and what the human costs of changing that policy would be. www.statnews.com/2025/09/11/n...
Dropping hepatitis B shots for newborns would ignore history and endanger children, scientists warn
People who study, treat, or have hepatitis B say ending routine vaccination at birth - as some vaccine critics want - could lead to a resurgence of the virus.
www.statnews.com
September 11, 2025 at 12:28 PM
If you read 1 thing today, please make it this: my so-talented colleague @ericboodman.bsky.social explains why babies in the US are vaccinated at birth against hep B β and what the human costs of changing that policy would be. www.statnews.com/2025/09/11/n...
Reposted by Marion Pepper
In a post on Truth Social, the president suggested that the CDC was being βripped apartβ over a question that was answered long ago β whether Covid vaccines work.
(Gift article)
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/02/h...
(Gift article)
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/02/h...
Trump Wants Proof That Covid Vaccines Work. Itβs Easy to Find.
www.nytimes.com
September 2, 2025 at 9:20 PM
In a post on Truth Social, the president suggested that the CDC was being βripped apartβ over a question that was answered long ago β whether Covid vaccines work.
(Gift article)
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/02/h...
(Gift article)
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/02/h...
Reposted by Marion Pepper
Yesterday the president demanded that evidence about Covid vaccines be shown to the public. Today @apoorvanyt.bsky.social & I run through some of the studies made public over the past 4+ years that show that the vaccines work. Gift link: nyti.ms/46k17Tq
nyti.ms
September 2, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Yesterday the president demanded that evidence about Covid vaccines be shown to the public. Today @apoorvanyt.bsky.social & I run through some of the studies made public over the past 4+ years that show that the vaccines work. Gift link: nyti.ms/46k17Tq
Enormous thanks to @immunologyking.bsky.social and @maurogaya.bsky.social for organizing a vibrant, invigorating #EMBObarriertissues workshop. A poignant reminder of how critical
immunological studies are for ameliorating human disease. And a lot of fun people. π #wickelfisch
immunological studies are for ameliorating human disease. And a lot of fun people. π #wickelfisch
August 30, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Enormous thanks to @immunologyking.bsky.social and @maurogaya.bsky.social for organizing a vibrant, invigorating #EMBObarriertissues workshop. A poignant reminder of how critical
immunological studies are for ameliorating human disease. And a lot of fun people. π #wickelfisch
immunological studies are for ameliorating human disease. And a lot of fun people. π #wickelfisch
π he did this for so many of us.
August 30, 2025 at 7:26 AM
π he did this for so many of us.
Reposted by Marion Pepper
I only heard tonight that Mike is no longer with us. All credit to him in setting me on this path as an immunologist. The description of his teaching brings back such warm memories. I recognize so many of the scientists on his
collage. What a gift to the world he was.
www.cell.com/immunity/ful...
collage. What a gift to the world he was.
www.cell.com/immunity/ful...
Michael Cancro (1949β2025)
Just a few weeks ago, researchers and educators connected to immunology lost a wonderful
friend and colleague: Michael Cancro, professor of pathology and lab medicine at the
University of Pennsylvania...
www.cell.com
August 26, 2025 at 8:13 PM
I only heard tonight that Mike is no longer with us. All credit to him in setting me on this path as an immunologist. The description of his teaching brings back such warm memories. I recognize so many of the scientists on his
collage. What a gift to the world he was.
www.cell.com/immunity/ful...
collage. What a gift to the world he was.
www.cell.com/immunity/ful...
Reposted by Marion Pepper
We mostly rely on Bayesian guesswork to predict how long antibodies will be produced for new vaccines/infections. Here, we find that some of the key programs are set *really* early. We hope early signatures can be used to predict and engineer durable vaccine immunity. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Early, adjuvant-responsive epigenetic programs in B cells imprint subsequent plasma cell survival and the duration of humoral immunity
The duration of antibody production varies across different infections and vaccines. To define molecular programs that promote durable humoral immunity, we used mice deficient in ZBTB20, a transcripti...
www.biorxiv.org
August 19, 2025 at 7:28 PM
We mostly rely on Bayesian guesswork to predict how long antibodies will be produced for new vaccines/infections. Here, we find that some of the key programs are set *really* early. We hope early signatures can be used to predict and engineer durable vaccine immunity. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Marion Pepper
The ousting of Dr. Susan Monarez as CDC Director, followed within hours by the resignations of Dr. Deb Houry, Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, and Dr. Daniel Jernigan, mark a collapse of public health leadership with consequences that reach every American household.
August 27, 2025 at 11:26 PM
The ousting of Dr. Susan Monarez as CDC Director, followed within hours by the resignations of Dr. Deb Houry, Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, and Dr. Daniel Jernigan, mark a collapse of public health leadership with consequences that reach every American household.
Reposted by Marion Pepper
Applications are now open! We are recruiting 20 Assistant Professors in a wide range of subject areas. We're looking for early-career researchers with strong scientific merits and future potential.
π All positions: ki.se/en/about-ki/...
π All positions: ki.se/en/about-ki/...
June 25, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Applications are now open! We are recruiting 20 Assistant Professors in a wide range of subject areas. We're looking for early-career researchers with strong scientific merits and future potential.
π All positions: ki.se/en/about-ki/...
π All positions: ki.se/en/about-ki/...