Kip Ludwig
@wildpiguk.bsky.social
Former NIH Program Director for Neuroengineering. Current Co-Director of Wisconsin Institute for Translational Neuroengineering (WITNe).
Opinions are official positions of the U.S Government and Lyle Lovett.
Opinions are official positions of the U.S Government and Lyle Lovett.
Pinned
Kip Ludwig
@wildpiguk.bsky.social
· Feb 9
Let me ruin the suspense for you. This isn't 3-D chess. It's not even Chutes and Ladders. This is dumb monkeys flinging their own feces at those passing by because we were stupid enough to let them.
Reposted by Kip Ludwig
No surprise the Trump NIH director doesn’t understand how science works—doesn’t get NIH has been *the* world-historic leader in innovation.
After all, he’s never actually done any science.
Even before his rightwing pundit career 2020-25, he spent his time with economists, not scientists.
After all, he’s never actually done any science.
Even before his rightwing pundit career 2020-25, he spent his time with economists, not scientists.
The NIH director told attendees the NIH doesn't do enough innovative research.
“What puts lives at risk is doing research that’s incremental,” Bhattacharya said. “All it does is advance the careers of the researchers that do it. It results in publications that don’t get used and aren’t replicable.”
“What puts lives at risk is doing research that’s incremental,” Bhattacharya said. “All it does is advance the careers of the researchers that do it. It results in publications that don’t get used and aren’t replicable.”
November 23, 2025 at 10:28 PM
No surprise the Trump NIH director doesn’t understand how science works—doesn’t get NIH has been *the* world-historic leader in innovation.
After all, he’s never actually done any science.
Even before his rightwing pundit career 2020-25, he spent his time with economists, not scientists.
After all, he’s never actually done any science.
Even before his rightwing pundit career 2020-25, he spent his time with economists, not scientists.
Reposted by Kip Ludwig
This new policy from NIH is concerning.
It looks like a way to weaponize administrative burden, one of Russell Vought's favorite moves to break gov't.
Background: Program staff / NIH institute directors can move grants around outside peer review order. 1/
It looks like a way to weaponize administrative burden, one of Russell Vought's favorite moves to break gov't.
Background: Program staff / NIH institute directors can move grants around outside peer review order. 1/
This is concerning.
NIH is changing their policy so that staff have to prepare justification for every application that is funded BUT NO DOCUMENTATION FOR APPLICATIONS THAT ARE SKIPPED (BASED ON PERCENTILES).
1/2
NIH is changing their policy so that staff have to prepare justification for every application that is funded BUT NO DOCUMENTATION FOR APPLICATIONS THAT ARE SKIPPED (BASED ON PERCENTILES).
1/2
November 24, 2025 at 3:41 AM
This new policy from NIH is concerning.
It looks like a way to weaponize administrative burden, one of Russell Vought's favorite moves to break gov't.
Background: Program staff / NIH institute directors can move grants around outside peer review order. 1/
It looks like a way to weaponize administrative burden, one of Russell Vought's favorite moves to break gov't.
Background: Program staff / NIH institute directors can move grants around outside peer review order. 1/
Reposted by Kip Ludwig
As we were saying :/
November 21, 2025 at 8:30 PM
As we were saying :/
Reposted by Kip Ludwig
Driving meaningful progress in neurotechnology requires careful clinical work that bridges scientific discovery & patient care. WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute recently completed its first extended in-human study with Precision’s Layer 7™. Read the news below.
wvumedicine.org/news-feed/ne...
wvumedicine.org/news-feed/ne...
WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, Precision Neuroscience expand partnership on next generation brain-computer interface technology
The WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute (RNI), in partnership with Precision Neuroscience Corporation (Precision), has advanced its pioneering work in brain-computer interface (BCI) technology with...
wvumedicine.org
November 21, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Driving meaningful progress in neurotechnology requires careful clinical work that bridges scientific discovery & patient care. WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute recently completed its first extended in-human study with Precision’s Layer 7™. Read the news below.
wvumedicine.org/news-feed/ne...
wvumedicine.org/news-feed/ne...
Reposted by Kip Ludwig
President of the United States: my political opponents should be put to death
Paper of record:
Paper of record:
November 20, 2025 at 4:03 PM
President of the United States: my political opponents should be put to death
Paper of record:
Paper of record:
Reposted by Kip Ludwig
A race to the brain 🧠
Paradromics has just received FDA IDE approval to implant their micro-electrode array in human participants. The neuralink competitor will soon start recruiting patients with speech/motor impairments at UC Davis, Mass General Hospital and U Michigan
#neuroskyence
Paradromics has just received FDA IDE approval to implant their micro-electrode array in human participants. The neuralink competitor will soon start recruiting patients with speech/motor impairments at UC Davis, Mass General Hospital and U Michigan
#neuroskyence
Paradromics Gets FDA Approval to Trial Its Brain Implant in People
The Austin-based startup will test its high-bandwidth device to help restore speech in people with extremely limited movement.
www.wired.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:56 PM
A race to the brain 🧠
Paradromics has just received FDA IDE approval to implant their micro-electrode array in human participants. The neuralink competitor will soon start recruiting patients with speech/motor impairments at UC Davis, Mass General Hospital and U Michigan
#neuroskyence
Paradromics has just received FDA IDE approval to implant their micro-electrode array in human participants. The neuralink competitor will soon start recruiting patients with speech/motor impairments at UC Davis, Mass General Hospital and U Michigan
#neuroskyence
Reposted by Kip Ludwig
NIH posted 14 executive leadership jobs with only 2-week windows.
SES roles normally stay open 30–45 days for real competition. Two weeks is far below standard practice and often signals a preselected candidate or rushed appointment.
Taxpayers deserve transparency. www.instagram.com/reel/DQ-xWIe...
SES roles normally stay open 30–45 days for real competition. Two weeks is far below standard practice and often signals a preselected candidate or rushed appointment.
Taxpayers deserve transparency. www.instagram.com/reel/DQ-xWIe...
Login • Instagram
Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.
www.instagram.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:01 PM
NIH posted 14 executive leadership jobs with only 2-week windows.
SES roles normally stay open 30–45 days for real competition. Two weeks is far below standard practice and often signals a preselected candidate or rushed appointment.
Taxpayers deserve transparency. www.instagram.com/reel/DQ-xWIe...
SES roles normally stay open 30–45 days for real competition. Two weeks is far below standard practice and often signals a preselected candidate or rushed appointment.
Taxpayers deserve transparency. www.instagram.com/reel/DQ-xWIe...
Reposted by Kip Ludwig
Fierce Biotech recently highlighted Precision Neuroscience’s new partnership with SCI Ventures, the Christopher & Dana
Reeve Foundation, and other leading spinal cord injury organizations. Read the full article below.
www.fiercebiotech.com/medtech/prec...
Reeve Foundation, and other leading spinal cord injury organizations. Read the full article below.
www.fiercebiotech.com/medtech/prec...
Precision Neuroscience inks partnership with venture fund backed by spinal cord injury advocates
Precision Neuroscience’s brain-computer interface—a wireless device that aims to restore function to people with paralysis—is getting a boost from SCI Ventures. | Precision Neuroscience’s brain-comput...
www.fiercebiotech.com
November 12, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Fierce Biotech recently highlighted Precision Neuroscience’s new partnership with SCI Ventures, the Christopher & Dana
Reeve Foundation, and other leading spinal cord injury organizations. Read the full article below.
www.fiercebiotech.com/medtech/prec...
Reeve Foundation, and other leading spinal cord injury organizations. Read the full article below.
www.fiercebiotech.com/medtech/prec...
Reposted by Kip Ludwig
Analogy here to scientists too. Scientist organizing is now a thing, as scientists are realizing under Trump 2.0 that avoiding discussions of power isn’t tenable
Worked in legal organizing for the last few years, and I never would have thought a movement of lawyers was possible until I had the displeasure of doing this job under Trump 2.0. Attacks on the rule of law are so blatant that even usually nonpartisan lawyers are done newrepublic.com/article/2026...
The Legal Professionals Planning to March Against Trump
Recent history has shown that attorneys and jurists can play a big role in bringing their nations back from the brink of autocracy. That day is coming for us as well.
newrepublic.com
November 11, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Analogy here to scientists too. Scientist organizing is now a thing, as scientists are realizing under Trump 2.0 that avoiding discussions of power isn’t tenable
Let me get this straight: If I walk outside right now and tell my neighbor “God damn Bob, I’d really love to have a grill like yours!‘, I’ve broken TWO of the Ten Commandments?
November 9, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Let me get this straight: If I walk outside right now and tell my neighbor “God damn Bob, I’d really love to have a grill like yours!‘, I’ve broken TWO of the Ten Commandments?
Reposted by Kip Ludwig
New paper alert! Published in the Journal of Neural Engineering! Focal thalamic infrared neural stimulation propagates dynamical
transformations in auditory cortex. doi.org/10.1088/1741...
transformations in auditory cortex. doi.org/10.1088/1741...
Focal thalamic infrared neural stimulation propagates dynamical transformations in auditory cortex - IOPscience
Focal thalamic infrared neural stimulation propagates dynamical transformations in auditory cortex, Coventry, Brandon Steven, Luu, Cuong Phuoc, Bartlett, Edward L
doi.org
November 6, 2025 at 4:14 PM
New paper alert! Published in the Journal of Neural Engineering! Focal thalamic infrared neural stimulation propagates dynamical
transformations in auditory cortex. doi.org/10.1088/1741...
transformations in auditory cortex. doi.org/10.1088/1741...
Reposted by Kip Ludwig
Buried in the article:
“Over a period of six months, researchers estimate that COVID-19 infections led to 2.24 extra cases of myocarditis or pericarditis per 100,000 children, while vaccinations led to 0.85 extra cases per 100,000.”
The scare tactic of the headline is what’s wrong with media today
“Over a period of six months, researchers estimate that COVID-19 infections led to 2.24 extra cases of myocarditis or pericarditis per 100,000 children, while vaccinations led to 0.85 extra cases per 100,000.”
The scare tactic of the headline is what’s wrong with media today
Study compares heart risks of COVID-19 infection and vaccination, and the results may surprise you
The risk of children developing rare but serious heart complications is higher after a COVID-19 infection than after vaccination, according to a new study.
www.ctvnews.ca
November 6, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Buried in the article:
“Over a period of six months, researchers estimate that COVID-19 infections led to 2.24 extra cases of myocarditis or pericarditis per 100,000 children, while vaccinations led to 0.85 extra cases per 100,000.”
The scare tactic of the headline is what’s wrong with media today
“Over a period of six months, researchers estimate that COVID-19 infections led to 2.24 extra cases of myocarditis or pericarditis per 100,000 children, while vaccinations led to 0.85 extra cases per 100,000.”
The scare tactic of the headline is what’s wrong with media today
Reposted by Kip Ludwig
To hell with the emperor has no clothes. The emperor has no brain cells.
October 31, 2025 at 3:36 PM
To hell with the emperor has no clothes. The emperor has no brain cells.
Reposted by Kip Ludwig
Hi all, this headline does not give the right impression of what is going on with these notices.
(HHS employee here speaking in my personal capacity about matters of public concern that have been publicly reported—I am not sharing details from inside the agency.)
🧵 1/
(HHS employee here speaking in my personal capacity about matters of public concern that have been publicly reported—I am not sharing details from inside the agency.)
🧵 1/
Scoop: Some NIH employees told they won't be paid during furlough after all.
Earlier today, some NIH employees received emails stating that they will not be paid during the shutdown. This was an unexpected, and likely unlawful, change in federal government policy.
🧵
Earlier today, some NIH employees received emails stating that they will not be paid during the shutdown. This was an unexpected, and likely unlawful, change in federal government policy.
🧵
October 30, 2025 at 4:07 AM
Hi all, this headline does not give the right impression of what is going on with these notices.
(HHS employee here speaking in my personal capacity about matters of public concern that have been publicly reported—I am not sharing details from inside the agency.)
🧵 1/
(HHS employee here speaking in my personal capacity about matters of public concern that have been publicly reported—I am not sharing details from inside the agency.)
🧵 1/
Reposted by Kip Ludwig
Someone asked me the other day*:
How do we replace all the science that’s being lost across the US as NIH, NSF etc are being lawlessly destroyed?
The answer is: we cannot. It is impossible.
The task now is to defend #NIH and public funding for medical research.
1/ 🧪 #neuroscience
How do we replace all the science that’s being lost across the US as NIH, NSF etc are being lawlessly destroyed?
The answer is: we cannot. It is impossible.
The task now is to defend #NIH and public funding for medical research.
1/ 🧪 #neuroscience
October 29, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Someone asked me the other day*:
How do we replace all the science that’s being lost across the US as NIH, NSF etc are being lawlessly destroyed?
The answer is: we cannot. It is impossible.
The task now is to defend #NIH and public funding for medical research.
1/ 🧪 #neuroscience
How do we replace all the science that’s being lost across the US as NIH, NSF etc are being lawlessly destroyed?
The answer is: we cannot. It is impossible.
The task now is to defend #NIH and public funding for medical research.
1/ 🧪 #neuroscience
Reposted by Kip Ludwig
The NIH institute director firing last Friday is very bad.
I made a video explainer about why.
Stay for last post, w link to @science.org story from @jocelynkaiser.bsky.social
1/4
🧪
I made a video explainer about why.
Stay for last post, w link to @science.org story from @jocelynkaiser.bsky.social
1/4
🧪
October 23, 2025 at 4:02 AM
The NIH institute director firing last Friday is very bad.
I made a video explainer about why.
Stay for last post, w link to @science.org story from @jocelynkaiser.bsky.social
1/4
🧪
I made a video explainer about why.
Stay for last post, w link to @science.org story from @jocelynkaiser.bsky.social
1/4
🧪
Reposted by Kip Ludwig
In a recent Forbes article, “Brains, Gains & Growing Pains: Inside Mount Sinai’s BCI Crystal Ball,” Naveen Rao takes readers inside Mount Sinai's annual Brain–Computer Interface Symposium. Read the full article below.
www.forbes.com/sites/naveen...
www.forbes.com/sites/naveen...
Brains, Gains And Growing Pains: Inside Mount Sinai’s BCI Crystal Ball
Recap and analysis of Mount Sinai Biodesign's 2025 NY Brain-computer interface symposium, featuring Synchron, Precision, Neuralink, Paradromics and Science Corp.
www.forbes.com
October 22, 2025 at 12:13 PM
In a recent Forbes article, “Brains, Gains & Growing Pains: Inside Mount Sinai’s BCI Crystal Ball,” Naveen Rao takes readers inside Mount Sinai's annual Brain–Computer Interface Symposium. Read the full article below.
www.forbes.com/sites/naveen...
www.forbes.com/sites/naveen...
Reposted by Kip Ludwig
Astrocytes share the same electrical properties as neurons. They spread electrical signals but don’t spike. So, while only about half the cells spike occasionally, all of them continuously transmit electrical influences. Which, then, is the tail and which is the dog?
𝗘𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻??
Astrocytes in the regulation of fear memories!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#neuroskyence
h/t @claeneuro.bsky.social
Astrocytes in the regulation of fear memories!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#neuroskyence
h/t @claeneuro.bsky.social
The astrocytic ensemble acts as a multiday trace to stabilize memory - Nature
Emotional experience evokes signalling in astrocytes, which form an ensemble that is reinforced by secondary astrocytic state changes resulting from repeated experience, leading to memory stabilizatio...
www.nature.com
October 21, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Astrocytes share the same electrical properties as neurons. They spread electrical signals but don’t spike. So, while only about half the cells spike occasionally, all of them continuously transmit electrical influences. Which, then, is the tail and which is the dog?
Reposted by Kip Ludwig
Exciting new opportunity at the University of Pittsburgh Neural Engineering Cross-Translation (UP NExT) program
@mcapo.bsky.social
@mcapo.bsky.social
October 18, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Exciting new opportunity at the University of Pittsburgh Neural Engineering Cross-Translation (UP NExT) program
@mcapo.bsky.social
@mcapo.bsky.social
Reposted by Kip Ludwig
I made a video about the shutdown, and why this government worker won’t be a pawn.
When the president and Supreme Court are both acting lawlessly, Congress must stand up and stop it.
US science is collapsing and Congress needs to act.
🧪
Full video here: www.instagram.com/reel/DP1tXXE...
When the president and Supreme Court are both acting lawlessly, Congress must stand up and stop it.
US science is collapsing and Congress needs to act.
🧪
Full video here: www.instagram.com/reel/DP1tXXE...
October 16, 2025 at 11:17 PM
I made a video about the shutdown, and why this government worker won’t be a pawn.
When the president and Supreme Court are both acting lawlessly, Congress must stand up and stop it.
US science is collapsing and Congress needs to act.
🧪
Full video here: www.instagram.com/reel/DP1tXXE...
When the president and Supreme Court are both acting lawlessly, Congress must stand up and stop it.
US science is collapsing and Congress needs to act.
🧪
Full video here: www.instagram.com/reel/DP1tXXE...
Reposted by Kip Ludwig
This is a fine read about scientists, entrepreneurs, public and private money, and how all these pieces interact in the complex societal system for innovation.
No startups, no science: How the Republican Administration switched off America's most important engine of economic success.
steveblank.com/2025/10/13/n...
steveblank.com/2025/10/13/n...
Steve Blank No Science, No Startups: The Innovation Engine We’re Switching Off
Tons of words have been written about the Trump Administrations war on Science in Universities. But few people have asked what, exactly, is science? How does it work? Who are the scientists? What d…
steveblank.com
October 15, 2025 at 12:01 AM
This is a fine read about scientists, entrepreneurs, public and private money, and how all these pieces interact in the complex societal system for innovation.
Reposted by Kip Ludwig
NIH cuts save $9-10B short-term, but they’re killing 202K jobs & $46B in red-state economies (TX, FL, OH). $8T healthcare disaster loom, no cancer/Alzheimer’s cures, pricier drugs. Scientists fleeing to China? Bad deal. Fight for NIH!
www.the-scientist.com/nih-leadersh...
#AmericaFirst
www.the-scientist.com/nih-leadersh...
#AmericaFirst
NIH Leadership Is Failing Early Career Researchers
Halted training programs, funding chaos, and hiring freezes jeopardize advancement options for early career researchers.
www.the-scientist.com
October 11, 2025 at 12:31 AM
NIH cuts save $9-10B short-term, but they’re killing 202K jobs & $46B in red-state economies (TX, FL, OH). $8T healthcare disaster loom, no cancer/Alzheimer’s cures, pricier drugs. Scientists fleeing to China? Bad deal. Fight for NIH!
www.the-scientist.com/nih-leadersh...
#AmericaFirst
www.the-scientist.com/nih-leadersh...
#AmericaFirst
Reposted by Kip Ludwig
New paper on BioRXiv:
Astrocytes and neurons encode natural stimuli with partially shared but distinct composite receptive fields
Sihao Lu, Simon Schultz, Andriy Kozlov
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Astrocytes and neurons encode natural stimuli with partially shared but distinct composite receptive fields
Sihao Lu, Simon Schultz, Andriy Kozlov
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Astrocytes and neurons encode natural stimuli with partially shared but distinct composite receptive fields
Astrocytes are increasingly recognized as active participants in sensory processing, but whether they show selective responses to stimulus features, analogous to neuronal receptive fields, is not yet ...
www.biorxiv.org
October 10, 2025 at 1:39 PM
New paper on BioRXiv:
Astrocytes and neurons encode natural stimuli with partially shared but distinct composite receptive fields
Sihao Lu, Simon Schultz, Andriy Kozlov
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Astrocytes and neurons encode natural stimuli with partially shared but distinct composite receptive fields
Sihao Lu, Simon Schultz, Andriy Kozlov
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Kip Ludwig
One of the most valuable lessons I've gotten from reviewing grants and papers is deeper empathy for the reviewers. So essential.
When you’re editing your draft for the 100th time and thinking “What will the reviewers think of my manuscript?”, remember that they’ll be reading it in this position.
October 8, 2025 at 10:09 PM
One of the most valuable lessons I've gotten from reviewing grants and papers is deeper empathy for the reviewers. So essential.