Nick Silva
@nicholasjsilva.bsky.social
Assistant Professor at San Francisco State University (SFSU). Neuroscientist & glia lover. 🐟🧠🏳️🌈 nicholassilvalab.org
Pinned
Microglial cathepsin B promotes neuronal efferocytosis during brain development https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.12.03.626596v1
Microglial cathepsin B promotes neuronal efferocytosis during brain development https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.12.03.626596v1
Half of all newborn neurons in the developing brain are removed via efferocytosis - the phagocytic c
www.biorxiv.org
Excited to share my 2nd first author work from @annamolofskylab.bsky.social. We show that microglial cathepsin B promotes neuronal efferocytosis in 🐟&🐁 🧠 Possible w/ amazing lab members, Dr. Anderson, Dr. Escoubas, Sunny Mula, & Dr. Nakajo. 🙏🏽 More later.
Reposted by Nick Silva
Latest from the lab, led by @ara-donia.bsky.social and @juliavdkorput.bsky.social
Huge team effort, with immense contributions by friends from nearby and around the globe.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Huge team effort, with immense contributions by friends from nearby and around the globe.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Myelin sheaths in the central nervous system can withstand damage and dynamically remodel
Myelin damage is a hallmark of several neurological disorders, but how it occurs remains to be fully understood. In this study, we found that early damage in zebrafish and rodent demyelination models ...
www.science.org
February 12, 2026 at 8:17 PM
Latest from the lab, led by @ara-donia.bsky.social and @juliavdkorput.bsky.social
Huge team effort, with immense contributions by friends from nearby and around the globe.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Huge team effort, with immense contributions by friends from nearby and around the globe.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Nick Silva
#fluorescencefriday distribution of microglia in the whole brain
February 6, 2026 at 7:28 PM
#fluorescencefriday distribution of microglia in the whole brain
Reposted by Nick Silva
I am SO incredibly excited to announce the launch of a global list of Inspiring Black Scientists. You can use this list to nominate and connect with researchers. Please share and join us in highlighting these outstanding scientists for #BlackHistoryMonth and beyond!
www.wiley.com/en-us/resear...
www.wiley.com/en-us/resear...
February 5, 2026 at 5:36 PM
I am SO incredibly excited to announce the launch of a global list of Inspiring Black Scientists. You can use this list to nominate and connect with researchers. Please share and join us in highlighting these outstanding scientists for #BlackHistoryMonth and beyond!
www.wiley.com/en-us/resear...
www.wiley.com/en-us/resear...
Reposted by Nick Silva
A lifelong passion for writing helped rising star @doctheagrif.bsky.social land a book deal and publish 15 chapter books for early readers, covering topics ranging from what the cerebellum does to how a cake bakes.
By @avaskham.bsky.social
www.thetransmitter.org/craft-and-ca...
By @avaskham.bsky.social
www.thetransmitter.org/craft-and-ca...
Crafting tales of science with Theanne Griffith
A lifelong passion for writing helped the neuroscientist land a book deal and publish 15 chapter books for early readers, covering topics ranging from what the cerebellum does to how a cake bakes.
www.thetransmitter.org
February 4, 2026 at 6:45 PM
A lifelong passion for writing helped rising star @doctheagrif.bsky.social land a book deal and publish 15 chapter books for early readers, covering topics ranging from what the cerebellum does to how a cake bakes.
By @avaskham.bsky.social
www.thetransmitter.org/craft-and-ca...
By @avaskham.bsky.social
www.thetransmitter.org/craft-and-ca...
Reposted by Nick Silva
Our paper is (finally) out in Cell today!
CRISPR screens in iPSC-derived neurons reveal principles of tau proteostasis
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
Great collaborative effort - read more from first author @asamelson.bsky.social below:
CRISPR screens in iPSC-derived neurons reveal principles of tau proteostasis
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
Great collaborative effort - read more from first author @asamelson.bsky.social below:
January 28, 2026 at 5:24 PM
Our paper is (finally) out in Cell today!
CRISPR screens in iPSC-derived neurons reveal principles of tau proteostasis
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
Great collaborative effort - read more from first author @asamelson.bsky.social below:
CRISPR screens in iPSC-derived neurons reveal principles of tau proteostasis
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
Great collaborative effort - read more from first author @asamelson.bsky.social below:
Reposted by Nick Silva
A landmark discovery in cancer neuroscience! Why is the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) lower in patients with a history of cancer? CELL: Peripheral cancer attenuates amyloid pathology in Alzheimer’s disease via cystatin-c activation of TREM2 www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
Peripheral cancer attenuates amyloid pathology in Alzheimer’s disease via cystatin-c activation of TREM2
Peripheral cancer inhibits amyloid pathology and rescues cognition of Alzheimer’s
disease through secretion of cystatin-c (Cyst-C), which binds amyloid oligomers and
activates TREM2 in microglia and e...
www.cell.com
January 22, 2026 at 10:16 PM
A landmark discovery in cancer neuroscience! Why is the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) lower in patients with a history of cancer? CELL: Peripheral cancer attenuates amyloid pathology in Alzheimer’s disease via cystatin-c activation of TREM2 www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
Reposted by Nick Silva
We’re delighted to see this out today! Latest work from the lab reveals insights into the evolution of brain immunity and the developmental and evolutionary plasticity of lymphatic endothelial cells.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Convergent evolution of scavenger cell development at brain borders - Nature
Transcription factor osr2 is identified as a specific marker and regulator of mural lymphatic endothelial cell (muLEC) differentiation and maintenance, and muLECs and border-associated macrophages sha...
www.nature.com
January 21, 2026 at 8:42 PM
We’re delighted to see this out today! Latest work from the lab reveals insights into the evolution of brain immunity and the developmental and evolutionary plasticity of lymphatic endothelial cells.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Nick Silva
Ageing promotes microglial accumulation of slow-degrading synaptic proteins @nature.com
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
January 21, 2026 at 4:32 PM
Ageing promotes microglial accumulation of slow-degrading synaptic proteins @nature.com
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Nick Silva
Proud to announce our collaboration with @blurtonjoneslab.bsky.social & the Paz lab showing that transplanted human iPSC-derived microglia in a PGRN KO mouse model restores progranulin in microglia and rescues pathology, circuitry, and behavior. Preprint out now: www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
Transplantation of Human IPSC-derived Microglia Ameliorates Neuropathology and Circuit Dysfunction in Progranulin-Deficient Mice
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a major cause of early-onset neurodegeneration characterized by progressive behavioral, emotional, and cognitive decline. Progranulin haploinsufficiency, a leading gen...
www.biorxiv.org
January 14, 2026 at 6:57 PM
Proud to announce our collaboration with @blurtonjoneslab.bsky.social & the Paz lab showing that transplanted human iPSC-derived microglia in a PGRN KO mouse model restores progranulin in microglia and rescues pathology, circuitry, and behavior. Preprint out now: www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
Reposted by Nick Silva
IFN-brite: A new interferon reporter from our lab designed by Dr. Sarah Anderson is bright and pan cellular
@biorxivpreprint.bsky.social A genetically encoded reporter reveals interferon responses in multiple cell lineages
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... @annamolofskylab.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... @annamolofskylab.bsky.social
January 12, 2026 at 7:58 PM
IFN-brite: A new interferon reporter from our lab designed by Dr. Sarah Anderson is bright and pan cellular
Reposted by Nick Silva
New discoveries are reshaping how scientists understand the molecular connections between the extracellular matrix and lysosomes—and the resulting implications for research and therapeutics for neurodegenerative disorders.
Learn more in this #ScienceSignaling Review: https://scim.ag/3Yi2sFS
Learn more in this #ScienceSignaling Review: https://scim.ag/3Yi2sFS
Decoding extracellular matrix–lysosome cross-talk and its implications for neurodegenerative diseases
Reciprocal signaling between intracellular lysosomes and the extracellular matrix supports brain health.
scim.ag
January 2, 2026 at 4:14 PM
New discoveries are reshaping how scientists understand the molecular connections between the extracellular matrix and lysosomes—and the resulting implications for research and therapeutics for neurodegenerative disorders.
Learn more in this #ScienceSignaling Review: https://scim.ag/3Yi2sFS
Learn more in this #ScienceSignaling Review: https://scim.ag/3Yi2sFS
Reposted by Nick Silva
Maspardin/SPG21 controls #lysosome motility and TFEB phosphorylation through RAB7 positioning, say Thomas Jacqmin, Marielle Boonen and colleagues (University of Namur): rupress.org/jcb/article/...
#Trafficking #Organelles #Disease
#Trafficking #Organelles #Disease
December 23, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Maspardin/SPG21 controls #lysosome motility and TFEB phosphorylation through RAB7 positioning, say Thomas Jacqmin, Marielle Boonen and colleagues (University of Namur): rupress.org/jcb/article/...
#Trafficking #Organelles #Disease
#Trafficking #Organelles #Disease
Reposted by Nick Silva
Did you know the last common ancestor of #zebrafish and humans was ~450 million years ago? A whole genome duplication event (3R) occurred early in the teleost fish phylogeny. Despite this event, zebrafish and humans have about the same number of chromosomes. #ZebrafishFunFacts 🧪
December 17, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Did you know the last common ancestor of #zebrafish and humans was ~450 million years ago? A whole genome duplication event (3R) occurred early in the teleost fish phylogeny. Despite this event, zebrafish and humans have about the same number of chromosomes. #ZebrafishFunFacts 🧪
Reposted by Nick Silva
Dravet Syndrome is a genetic form of epilepsy caused by mutations in SCN1A. Researchers screened a library of compounds on loss-of-function scn1Lab (Nav1.1) #zebrafish and found clemizole (EPX-100) rescued the phenotype. This drug is now in Phase 3 Clinical Trials to treat seizures. #KnowYourZDM 🧪
December 14, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Dravet Syndrome is a genetic form of epilepsy caused by mutations in SCN1A. Researchers screened a library of compounds on loss-of-function scn1Lab (Nav1.1) #zebrafish and found clemizole (EPX-100) rescued the phenotype. This drug is now in Phase 3 Clinical Trials to treat seizures. #KnowYourZDM 🧪
Reposted by Nick Silva
Time-lapse movie of mitochondria (blue) transport within neurons (green) in the tail of a transgenic #zebrafish larva. Credit to @paquetlab.bsky.social. #ZebrafishZunday 🧪
December 14, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Time-lapse movie of mitochondria (blue) transport within neurons (green) in the tail of a transgenic #zebrafish larva. Credit to @paquetlab.bsky.social. #ZebrafishZunday 🧪
Reposted by Nick Silva
Two-photon imaging of pulsating brain activity in a #zebrafish larva that's having a seizure. Credit to Dr. Dominic Burrows. #ZebrafishZunday 🧪
December 14, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Two-photon imaging of pulsating brain activity in a #zebrafish larva that's having a seizure. Credit to Dr. Dominic Burrows. #ZebrafishZunday 🧪
Reposted by Nick Silva
“The only reason I don’t have this funding is because my last name is Rodriguez.”
MOSAIC checked many of the boxes of the administration — but that didn't matter. It was terminated, and left grantees scrambling
Next installment of American Science, Shattered:
www.statnews.com/2025/12/08/t...
MOSAIC checked many of the boxes of the administration — but that didn't matter. It was terminated, and left grantees scrambling
Next installment of American Science, Shattered:
www.statnews.com/2025/12/08/t...
NIH shut out hundreds of young scientists from funding to start their own labs
Special Report: The NIH has shut out hundreds of young scientists from funding to start their own labs.
www.statnews.com
December 8, 2025 at 2:51 PM
“The only reason I don’t have this funding is because my last name is Rodriguez.”
MOSAIC checked many of the boxes of the administration — but that didn't matter. It was terminated, and left grantees scrambling
Next installment of American Science, Shattered:
www.statnews.com/2025/12/08/t...
MOSAIC checked many of the boxes of the administration — but that didn't matter. It was terminated, and left grantees scrambling
Next installment of American Science, Shattered:
www.statnews.com/2025/12/08/t...
Reposted by Nick Silva
“By performing longitudinal live imaging of intubated adult fish we observe vascular regrowth and immune responses to [meningeal cerebrovascular injuries] over time in the same animal with unprecedented resolution”
New work from #WeinsteinLab at NIH
New work from #WeinsteinLab at NIH
Live longitudinal imaging of meningeal cerebrovascular injury and its sequelae in adult zebrafish https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.14.688311v1
November 17, 2025 at 8:11 PM
“By performing longitudinal live imaging of intubated adult fish we observe vascular regrowth and immune responses to [meningeal cerebrovascular injuries] over time in the same animal with unprecedented resolution”
New work from #WeinsteinLab at NIH
New work from #WeinsteinLab at NIH
Reposted by Nick Silva
#ZebrafishFunFacts: Known to hobbyists as the leopard Danio, TL or Tüpfel longfin #zebrafish consist of two alleles (leo and lof). leo is a gap junction protein (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles...), while lof is caused by upregulation of a K+ channel (journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...). 🧪 1/2
November 13, 2025 at 9:03 AM
#ZebrafishFunFacts: Known to hobbyists as the leopard Danio, TL or Tüpfel longfin #zebrafish consist of two alleles (leo and lof). leo is a gap junction protein (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles...), while lof is caused by upregulation of a K+ channel (journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...). 🧪 1/2
Reposted by Nick Silva
November 2, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Reposted by Nick Silva
Zara Weinberg passed away earlier this week. She joined my lab earlier this year when her postdoc lab formally closed.
She was a brilliant scientist, supportive mentor, dear friend, avid music fan, rabid believer in public transit, open science champion, and above all just an amazing human.
She was a brilliant scientist, supportive mentor, dear friend, avid music fan, rabid believer in public transit, open science champion, and above all just an amazing human.
October 31, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Zara Weinberg passed away earlier this week. She joined my lab earlier this year when her postdoc lab formally closed.
She was a brilliant scientist, supportive mentor, dear friend, avid music fan, rabid believer in public transit, open science champion, and above all just an amazing human.
She was a brilliant scientist, supportive mentor, dear friend, avid music fan, rabid believer in public transit, open science champion, and above all just an amazing human.
Reposted by Nick Silva
Applications for the Neuroscience Scholars Program close tomorrow!
Don't miss the opportunity to join a growing network that provides guidance for today's challenges & connections for your future.
🚨Deadline: Tuesday, October 21, 5 p.m. EDT
Apply now: vist.ly/4b3np
Don't miss the opportunity to join a growing network that provides guidance for today's challenges & connections for your future.
🚨Deadline: Tuesday, October 21, 5 p.m. EDT
Apply now: vist.ly/4b3np
October 20, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Applications for the Neuroscience Scholars Program close tomorrow!
Don't miss the opportunity to join a growing network that provides guidance for today's challenges & connections for your future.
🚨Deadline: Tuesday, October 21, 5 p.m. EDT
Apply now: vist.ly/4b3np
Don't miss the opportunity to join a growing network that provides guidance for today's challenges & connections for your future.
🚨Deadline: Tuesday, October 21, 5 p.m. EDT
Apply now: vist.ly/4b3np
Reposted by Nick Silva
Congrats to Mary Brunkow from @isbscience.org on winning the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine! Brunkow was honored with collaborators Ramsdell and Sakaguchi for their groundbreaking work on immune system regulation.
A proud moment for science and Seattle!
🔗 www.nytimes.com/2025/10/06/h...
A proud moment for science and Seattle!
🔗 www.nytimes.com/2025/10/06/h...
Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine Is Awarded for Work on Immune Systems
www.nytimes.com
October 6, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Congrats to Mary Brunkow from @isbscience.org on winning the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine! Brunkow was honored with collaborators Ramsdell and Sakaguchi for their groundbreaking work on immune system regulation.
A proud moment for science and Seattle!
🔗 www.nytimes.com/2025/10/06/h...
A proud moment for science and Seattle!
🔗 www.nytimes.com/2025/10/06/h...
Reposted by Nick Silva
Celebrating #PostdocAppreciationWeek2025 🎉Meet Amanda Iglesias, Ph.D., postdoc in the Fioravante Lab at CNS. She investigates the neural circuits underlying motivated behavior and reward-related psychopathologies. Learn more about research in the Fioravante Lab: www.fioravantelab.ucdavis.edu
September 18, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Celebrating #PostdocAppreciationWeek2025 🎉Meet Amanda Iglesias, Ph.D., postdoc in the Fioravante Lab at CNS. She investigates the neural circuits underlying motivated behavior and reward-related psychopathologies. Learn more about research in the Fioravante Lab: www.fioravantelab.ucdavis.edu