Dr Kathleen Millen
@neurodevkathy.bsky.social
Tweets about dev biol, neurodev genetics, random cool science + life; usually with typos, so many typos
Reposted by Dr Kathleen Millen
This is a huge, huge deal.
Meanwhile the Director of the National Institute for Neurological Disease and Stroke (the agency that funds this kind of work) has been dismissed and the funding for disease research is being cut.
Meanwhile the Director of the National Institute for Neurological Disease and Stroke (the agency that funds this kind of work) has been dismissed and the funding for disease research is being cut.
Epstein-Barr Virus #EBV was linked to #MultipleSclerosis - now a plausible cause has been found, misidentification by longterm memory T-cells that pick on the wrong protein, ANO2, instead of the EBV-antigen. Massive inflection towards the elimination of MS!!!
🧪🧠Cell www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
🧪🧠Cell www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
Anoctamin-2-specific T cells link Epstein-Barr virus to multiple sclerosis
Researchers identified anoctamin-2 (ANO2) as a frequent autoimmune target in multiple
sclerosis, with T cell responses against ANO2 occurring in over half of patients.
These ANO2-specific T cells shar...
www.cell.com
January 15, 2026 at 2:20 AM
This is a huge, huge deal.
Meanwhile the Director of the National Institute for Neurological Disease and Stroke (the agency that funds this kind of work) has been dismissed and the funding for disease research is being cut.
Meanwhile the Director of the National Institute for Neurological Disease and Stroke (the agency that funds this kind of work) has been dismissed and the funding for disease research is being cut.
Reposted by Dr Kathleen Millen
Just astonishing good news. We are on the way to end Multiple Sclerosis.
University research delivers. Always has. Now a cabal in the White House is shattering it.
University research delivers. Always has. Now a cabal in the White House is shattering it.
Epstein-Barr Virus #EBV was linked to #MultipleSclerosis - now a plausible cause has been found, misidentification by longterm memory T-cells that pick on the wrong protein, ANO2, instead of the EBV-antigen. Massive inflection towards the elimination of MS!!!
🧪🧠Cell www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
🧪🧠Cell www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
Anoctamin-2-specific T cells link Epstein-Barr virus to multiple sclerosis
Researchers identified anoctamin-2 (ANO2) as a frequent autoimmune target in multiple
sclerosis, with T cell responses against ANO2 occurring in over half of patients.
These ANO2-specific T cells shar...
www.cell.com
January 15, 2026 at 2:33 AM
Just astonishing good news. We are on the way to end Multiple Sclerosis.
University research delivers. Always has. Now a cabal in the White House is shattering it.
University research delivers. Always has. Now a cabal in the White House is shattering it.
Reposted by Dr Kathleen Millen
NIH funding underlies all of these advances--support fundamental science, and the bridge from there to the clinic 🧪
For the first time, the five-year survival rate for all cancers has reached 70 percent, according to a new report, a trend that reflects the effectiveness of early prevention and detection strategies, and advancements in treatment and care, experts say. https://wapo.st/45T6Zm3
January 14, 2026 at 1:24 AM
NIH funding underlies all of these advances--support fundamental science, and the bridge from there to the clinic 🧪
Waiting for an update please!......
January 14, 2026 at 8:39 PM
Waiting for an update please!......
Reposted by Dr Kathleen Millen
This the ask for the NIH budget. Multi year funding (MYF) has an important role for some funding mechanisms but this regime wants to expand MYF and that will have disastrous consequences for how many grants get funded. MYF should be limited to how it was used in 2024.
Ask: keep the senate language that limits MYF to FY2024 levels.
January 14, 2026 at 4:40 PM
This the ask for the NIH budget. Multi year funding (MYF) has an important role for some funding mechanisms but this regime wants to expand MYF and that will have disastrous consequences for how many grants get funded. MYF should be limited to how it was used in 2024.
Reposted by Dr Kathleen Millen
Last night with no warning, RFK Jr. cancelled up to $2 billion in funding for mental health and substance abuse research and programs administered through SAMHSA.
He and his minions did so because “they no longer believe the defunded programs align with the Trump administration's priorities”.
He and his minions did so because “they no longer believe the defunded programs align with the Trump administration's priorities”.
Trump administration sends letter wiping out addiction, mental health grants
The Trump administration sent hundreds of letters Tuesday terminating federal grants supporting mental health and drug addiction services.
www.npr.org
January 14, 2026 at 3:37 PM
Last night with no warning, RFK Jr. cancelled up to $2 billion in funding for mental health and substance abuse research and programs administered through SAMHSA.
He and his minions did so because “they no longer believe the defunded programs align with the Trump administration's priorities”.
He and his minions did so because “they no longer believe the defunded programs align with the Trump administration's priorities”.
Reposted by Dr Kathleen Millen
NEW: Last night, the Trump administration made huge DOGE-like cuts to the grants from the federal agency that works on substance abuse and mental health issues. (Mind you, this is an agency for which the administration already cut the staff in half last year.)
www.thebulwark.com/p/trump-take...
www.thebulwark.com/p/trump-take...
Trump Takes Another Blowtorch to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service
Potentially $2b was just cut from a key HHS agency with bipartisan support.
www.thebulwark.com
January 14, 2026 at 4:19 PM
NEW: Last night, the Trump administration made huge DOGE-like cuts to the grants from the federal agency that works on substance abuse and mental health issues. (Mind you, this is an agency for which the administration already cut the staff in half last year.)
www.thebulwark.com/p/trump-take...
www.thebulwark.com/p/trump-take...
Reposted by Dr Kathleen Millen
I don't want Greenland. I just want healthcare. Thanks.
January 14, 2026 at 4:08 PM
I don't want Greenland. I just want healthcare. Thanks.
Reposted by Dr Kathleen Millen
There has been at least 7,400 deaths from the flu, this season alone according to CDC data: www.cdc.gov/fluview/surv...
Get yer vaccines. They are not perfect, but this is carnage.
2025 was the worst flu season so far in a decade in many communities in America.
Get yer vaccines. They are not perfect, but this is carnage.
2025 was the worst flu season so far in a decade in many communities in America.
Weekly US Influenza Surveillance Report: Key Updates for Week 53, ending January 3, 2026
Seasonal influenza activity is low.
www.cdc.gov
January 14, 2026 at 3:47 PM
There has been at least 7,400 deaths from the flu, this season alone according to CDC data: www.cdc.gov/fluview/surv...
Get yer vaccines. They are not perfect, but this is carnage.
2025 was the worst flu season so far in a decade in many communities in America.
Get yer vaccines. They are not perfect, but this is carnage.
2025 was the worst flu season so far in a decade in many communities in America.
Reposted by Dr Kathleen Millen
🔍 #AskZebrafish: Does anyone in the US or Canada have any of the following mutant #zebrafish lines and would be willing to share?
tert, klotho, cxcl12a, cxcl12b, cxcr4a and cxcr4b
Any leads would be appreciated! (Yes, we know ZIRC has some frozen but trying to find live)
tert, klotho, cxcl12a, cxcl12b, cxcr4a and cxcr4b
Any leads would be appreciated! (Yes, we know ZIRC has some frozen but trying to find live)
January 14, 2026 at 3:02 PM
🔍 #AskZebrafish: Does anyone in the US or Canada have any of the following mutant #zebrafish lines and would be willing to share?
tert, klotho, cxcl12a, cxcl12b, cxcr4a and cxcr4b
Any leads would be appreciated! (Yes, we know ZIRC has some frozen but trying to find live)
tert, klotho, cxcl12a, cxcl12b, cxcr4a and cxcr4b
Any leads would be appreciated! (Yes, we know ZIRC has some frozen but trying to find live)
Reposted by Dr Kathleen Millen
Zapiro today. www.dailymaverick.co.za/cartoon/2026...
Northern bloc
www.dailymaverick.co.za
January 14, 2026 at 6:09 AM
Zapiro today. www.dailymaverick.co.za/cartoon/2026...
Reposted by Dr Kathleen Millen
I really want ppl w/o Minneapolis connections to understand
You might've heard that Mpls public schools went hybrid bc so many families are in hiding. Well, a coworker just told me that today, during his kid's hybrid class, a kid's apt building was raided onscreen
*Everyone has stories like this*
You might've heard that Mpls public schools went hybrid bc so many families are in hiding. Well, a coworker just told me that today, during his kid's hybrid class, a kid's apt building was raided onscreen
*Everyone has stories like this*
January 13, 2026 at 6:06 PM
I really want ppl w/o Minneapolis connections to understand
You might've heard that Mpls public schools went hybrid bc so many families are in hiding. Well, a coworker just told me that today, during his kid's hybrid class, a kid's apt building was raided onscreen
*Everyone has stories like this*
You might've heard that Mpls public schools went hybrid bc so many families are in hiding. Well, a coworker just told me that today, during his kid's hybrid class, a kid's apt building was raided onscreen
*Everyone has stories like this*
Reposted by Dr Kathleen Millen
I think the Pezzulo paper basically gets it right. Generative AI can do new stuff out of dumb recombination, but they don't *understand* anything that they're doing, because *understanding* requires active engagement with a specific (biological, material, social) context
But, it does raise questions that relate to @fluffycyborgii.bsky.social second point about biological grounding: LLMs seem to primarily do conceptually interesting things when we hold their hands. They seem to lack any independent means of accomplishing it.
January 12, 2026 at 6:46 PM
I think the Pezzulo paper basically gets it right. Generative AI can do new stuff out of dumb recombination, but they don't *understand* anything that they're doing, because *understanding* requires active engagement with a specific (biological, material, social) context
Just realizing how messed up this is for making resubmissions for Feb/March deadlines. 😔
January 12, 2026 at 7:16 PM
Just realizing how messed up this is for making resubmissions for Feb/March deadlines. 😔
Reposted by Dr Kathleen Millen
Reposted by Dr Kathleen Millen
Immunology peeps.. Question. Why is amoxicillin rash NOT considered an allergy? Rash responds to antihistamines. What am I missing? Explain to me like I'm not an immunologist (because I'm really not!)
a woman in a white shirt is holding her neck with her hands
Alt: a woman in a white shirt is holding her neck with her hands and itching.
media.tenor.com
January 11, 2026 at 3:29 AM
Immunology peeps.. Question. Why is amoxicillin rash NOT considered an allergy? Rash responds to antihistamines. What am I missing? Explain to me like I'm not an immunologist (because I'm really not!)
Great idea! I'm here for it!
January 11, 2026 at 11:27 PM
Great idea! I'm here for it!
Immunology peeps.. Question. Why is amoxicillin rash NOT considered an allergy? Rash responds to antihistamines. What am I missing? Explain to me like I'm not an immunologist (because I'm really not!)
a woman in a white shirt is holding her neck with her hands
Alt: a woman in a white shirt is holding her neck with her hands and itching.
media.tenor.com
January 11, 2026 at 3:29 AM
Immunology peeps.. Question. Why is amoxicillin rash NOT considered an allergy? Rash responds to antihistamines. What am I missing? Explain to me like I'm not an immunologist (because I'm really not!)
Reposted by Dr Kathleen Millen
We've already lost. Those of us submitting grants to NIH feel as if we are writing into the wind. Who knows who will be there on the other side to receive it 6 months from now when it's reviewed. And months after that when "council" decides if it meets "administration priorities."
January 10, 2026 at 1:57 PM
We've already lost. Those of us submitting grants to NIH feel as if we are writing into the wind. Who knows who will be there on the other side to receive it 6 months from now when it's reviewed. And months after that when "council" decides if it meets "administration priorities."
This week starting the new year at work has felt like a month long already.
a penguin is sitting at a desk with a sign that says help on it
Alt: a penguin is sitting at a desk with a sign that says help on it. Piles of paperwork are everywhere.
media.tenor.com
January 9, 2026 at 6:22 PM
This week starting the new year at work has felt like a month long already.
Reposted by Dr Kathleen Millen
I am a one issue voter, and that one issue is "tear it all down and put all of these fuckers in prison for life."
January 9, 2026 at 4:36 PM
I am a one issue voter, and that one issue is "tear it all down and put all of these fuckers in prison for life."
Reposted by Dr Kathleen Millen
Important to note that whatever is happening with management and ownership at CBS News, they still have good journalists doing good work.
So a CBS Evening News reporter actually did a pretty solid breakdown of the ICE murder video, talking to a former agent who details all the ways Ross messed up. And yet: It didn’t air on the actual show tonight. CBS did post it to YouTube—and it has nearly 800k views already youtu.be/6ywLEESFDu0?...
Retired ICE agent breaks down deadly Minneapolis shooting
YouTube video by CBS Evening News
youtu.be
January 9, 2026 at 4:28 PM
Important to note that whatever is happening with management and ownership at CBS News, they still have good journalists doing good work.
Reposted by Dr Kathleen Millen
"There is “no rational justification remaining for prioritising or using” the surgical masks that are ubiquitous in hospitals and clinics globally, given their “inadequate protection against airborne pathogens”, they said in a letter to WHO chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus."
Face masks ‘inadequate’ and should be swapped for respirators, WHO is advised
Experts are urging guideline changes on what health professionals should wear to protect against flu-like illnesses including Covid
www.theguardian.com
January 9, 2026 at 4:27 PM
"There is “no rational justification remaining for prioritising or using” the surgical masks that are ubiquitous in hospitals and clinics globally, given their “inadequate protection against airborne pathogens”, they said in a letter to WHO chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus."
Reposted by Dr Kathleen Millen
I think, every so often, about how the student protesters in South Korea figured out there was a finite supply of tear gas, and then staged retreating marches that caused police to burn off most of it, before the big "bring your auntie and kids" marches that ultimately toppled the dictatorship.
September 18, 2025 at 5:03 AM
I think, every so often, about how the student protesters in South Korea figured out there was a finite supply of tear gas, and then staged retreating marches that caused police to burn off most of it, before the big "bring your auntie and kids" marches that ultimately toppled the dictatorship.