Neuroendocrinology and Behavior lab at UCLA
@alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social
330 followers 360 following 28 posts
Our lab pursues questions on the molecular and neural mechanisms of steroid-modulated social behavior using genetics and neurobiological tools. On this account we share and discuss work from our lab and others. alwardlab.com
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alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social
We're losing scientific progress in real-time. Call your house rep and senators, and spread the word that real people are losing their jobs and having their futures upended because of these suspended funds. We can't afford not to fund science-there is too much at stake. 9/9
alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social
postdoc learning the new cutting-edge technology to apply it to today's and the future diseases; a junior Pl who has the next big idea in biomedicine: they are all wondering if they will have a job in the next couple of months. 8/9
alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social
please speak out against penalizing researchers who just want to do their job for the good of humanity, because that is precisely what's happening.
The country's future medical doctors who gain research experience in a UCLA lab as an undergraduate; the graduate student or 7/9
alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social
Many of my colleagues are not as lucky as I am. They perform cutting-edge world-changing research and were supported entirely by NIH and/or NSF funds that are now suspended. No matter what you think of the politics of this or your views on punishing universities 6/9
alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social
During these challenging times, that is one thing nobody will take away from us: our curiosity and spirit to work together in pursuit of knowledge to improve the human condition will NEVER cease. 5/9
alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social
I have funds to pay team members in the short term, but I don't know how long I can support them without NIH funds. What I do know is that we won't stop doing our research, and you can't stop our curiosity for discovery. 4/9
alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social
undergrads, grad students, techs, and postdocs researching the molecular regulation of gene expression in the brain and social behavior. What has been a passion of mine for years, NIH funds allowed me to share with future doctors and early career scientists. 3/9
alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social
have to wonder if their research can continue. I am sharing my thoughts now in hopes that you can spread the word on the human side of these suspensions. Obtaining an NIH grant is a difficult but rewarding achievement. With my funds, I was able to support 2/9
alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social
*Please read and share!* My NIH funds at UCLA were suspended last week.
It's hard to find the words to describe the impact of these grant suspensions. I have felt speechless and heartbroken that people in my lab, my friends, colleagues, researchers, trainees, and undergrads 1/9
alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social
So a $1 billion ransom now? It’s to scare us into submitting; To lose hope. Still not gonna stop us: Even in the face of this my lab remains committed to doing meaningful, impactful science, now more than ever. We won’t stop. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/08/u...
Trump Wants U.C.L.A. to Pay $1 Billion to Restore Its Research Funding
www.nytimes.com
alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social
If hired, you will gain experience performing CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, behavioral analysis, and spatial transcriptiomics using our 10X Genomcis Xenium. Position is for 1-2 years. Official posting coming soon. Reach out or spread the word to others please. Thanks! 2/2
alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social
We’re looking to hire a research tech. Come join our team to sink your teeth into experiments on the hormonal and cellular basis of social behavior. Strong candidates should be proficient in immunohistochemostry/fluorescence, in situ hybridization/HCR/RNAscope, and microscopy. 1/2
alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social
Thank you to the Allard lab on summarizing the importance of NIH and why this administration’s recent cuts hurt not only biomedical reseadch, but also jobs and the potential for developing cures for human diseases.
allard-lab-ucla.bsky.social
1/3 Why does the US lead the world in the number of clinical trials? How come americans are given the unique chance to get the latest treatment and a fighting chance against often incurable diseases?

That's all thanks to research and the support from the NIH!
alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social
This is terrible, Troy. I’m so sorry. Your work is important for advancing knowledge in general and for neuroendocrinology!
alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social
Congrats, and it’s a relief some are still getting positive news on their NIH funding.
alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social
Check out the papers to learn more! In our ongoing work we continue to do experiments to figure out the hormonal regulation of social behavior in both sexes. We’re looking to recruit grad students and a postdoc for these projects, so email if interested! @sbn-bsky.bsky.social 5/5
alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social
Finally, male and female brains looked very different after this assay: males showed an elevation of neural activity in the VMH, an aggression node, while females showed inhibition of neural activity in social brain regions. 3/5
alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
We used a mirror assay to study aggression and the brain. Lillian found males and females do both sex-typical and the same behaviors. Females performed quivers during this assay, which is surprising because males do this during courtship but not aggression! 2/5
www.nature
alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social
Lillian Jackson from our lab published two papers recently on sex differences in the molecular and neural basis of aggression in cichlids. Below are links to both papers with short summaries. 1/5
alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social
Add this to your #SICB2025 itinerary!
thefishiedoc.bsky.social
I am on my way to #SICB2025 in Atlanta! If you're interested in hearing about how androgens regulate social subordination and seeing some fascinating single-nucleus RNA seq data from CRISPR/Cas9 mutant fish (!!), come to my talk tomorrow morning! 🐟🧠🧬 @alwardlab-ucla.bsky.social @sicb-dab.bsky.social