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Calli McMurray

@callimcflurry.bsky.social

760 followers 920 following 13 posts

neuroscience reporter at The Transmitter covering brain-body physiology, scientific misconduct and the structural and regulatory issues that affect research signal: cmcmurray.82 my work: https://www.thetransmitter.org/contributor/calli-mcmurray/

www.thetransmitter.org

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Reposted by Calli McMurray

Francisco Rivera Rosario @franciscorr25.bsky.social · 1d

Check out our FlyWire anniversary piece to learn how @crezaval.bsky.social, @anitadevineni.bsky.social, Pelin Volkan, and six other researchers are using connectome data in their labs, and to read their thoughts on what new tools Drosophila neuroscience needs to move forward!

The Transmitter @thetransmitter.bsky.social · 1d

To celebrate the first anniversary of the release of FlyWire, we asked nine neuroscientists to share how they are using connectome data in their research and what they hope is in store for the future of fly connectomics.

By @franciscorr25.bsky.social

#neuroskyence

bit.ly/3Wx5nt3

How FlyWire is redefining Drosophila research, one year in

Nine Drosophila researchers share how the connectome transformed the field and what additional new tools they would like to see.

Reposted by Calli McMurray

The Transmitter @thetransmitter.bsky.social · 7d

@deffinger.bsky.social and @melissaherman.bsky.social argue that, though many human psychedelic clinical trials are underway, preclinical studies remain our best bet to answer fundamental questions about the neurobiology of psychedelics.

#neuroskyence

www.thetransmitter.org/psychedelics...

Why we need basic science to better understand the neurobiology of psychedelics

Despite the many psychedelics clinical trials underway, there is still much we don’t know about how these drugs work. Preclinical studies represent our best viable avenue to answer these lingering…

www.thetransmitter.org

Reposted by Calli McMurray

Claudia Lopez Lloreda @claudia-lopez.bsky.social · 14d

Hi everyone! We are taking a look at the state of funding in the neuroscience field so we are looking for PIs to answer this survey. Please feel free to fill out and share with colleagues.

Ty!

Quantifying funding sources across neuroscience labs

We want to hear from you about the sources of funding for your research.

www.thetransmitter.org

Reposted by Calli McMurray

The Transmitter @thetransmitter.bsky.social · 19d

Faux fish and birds are helping researchers decipher some of the rules that govern schooling and squawking, among other social behaviors.

By @callimcflurry.bsky.social

#neuroskyence

www.thetransmitter.org/social-behav...

Robots marry natural neuroscience, experimental control to probe animal interactions

Faux fish and birds are helping researchers decipher some of the rules that govern schooling and squawking, among other social behaviors.

www.thetransmitter.org

Reposted by Calli McMurray

The Transmitter @thetransmitter.bsky.social · Aug 27

In The Transmitter's reading list, we highlight the most anticipated upcoming neuroscience books and other notable 2025 releases. Featuring titles by @okaysteve.bsky.social, @dr-brein.bsky.social, @nicolecrust.bsky.social,‬ Xiao-Jing Wang and many more.

By @franciscorr25.bsky.social
bit.ly/45MvK41

The Transmitter’s reading list: Six upcoming neuroscience books, plus notable titles in 2025

Dig into an exploration of the fundamental aspects of intelligence, a new textbook about theoretical neuroscience and a memoir about memory research, among other new releases.

Calli McMurray @callimcflurry.bsky.social · Jul 11

NEW: The NIH removed gender identity variables from the latest ABCD study data release. This counteracts the goals of the study "by pretending that some aspects of adolescent brain development don’t exist," @nicolagrissom.bsky.social told me. Read more: www.thetransmitter.org/gender/abcd-...

ABCD Study omits gender-identity data from latest release

The removal counteracts the goals of the longitudinal study by “pretending that some aspects of adolescent brain development don’t exist,” says sex differences researcher Nicola Grissom.

www.thetransmitter.org

Reposted by Calli McMurray

Annie Waldman @anniewaldman.bsky.social · Jun 12

NEW: The Trump administration said their research did not "enhance health, lengthen life, or reduce illness."

Thousands of scientists disagreed.

We heard from +150 researchers impacted by the NIH grant terminations on what is being lost in the cuts. 🧵👇
projects.propublica.org/nih-cuts-res...

Shattered Science: The Research Lost as Trump Targets NIH Funding

The Trump administration cut research funding that sought cures for future pandemics, examined the causes of dementia and tried to prevent HIV transmission. More than 150 researchers shared with ProPu...

projects.propublica.org

Reposted by Calli McMurray

The Transmitter @thetransmitter.bsky.social · Jun 6

The hunt for a soulmate can be hard work. Neurons in the developing Drosophila antennal lobe simplify the problem by turning a 3D search into a 1D one.

By @callimcflurry.bsky.social

#neuroskyence

www.thetransmitter.org/developmenta...

How developing neurons simplify their search for a synaptic mate

Streamlining the problem from 3D to 1D eases the expedition—a strategy the study investigators deployed to rewire an olfactory circuit in flies.

www.thetransmitter.org

Calli McMurray @callimcflurry.bsky.social · Jun 4

FlyBase, a crucial resource for drosophila research, has lost its funding because its grant is awarded to Harvard. The team is scrambling to find other sources of funds, including donations from labs. Read more: www.thetransmitter.org/community/fl... @flybase.bsky.social

FlyBase funding squashed amid Harvard grant terminations

The team behind the Drosophila genetics database is now requesting donations from labs to keep the resource afloat.

www.thetransmitter.org

Reposted by Calli McMurray

The Transmitter @thetransmitter.bsky.social · May 14

The National Institute on Drug Abuse canceled its diversity-based fellowship program, including active awards. It’s unclear if fellowships awarded by other institutes within the NIH are also implicated.

By @callimcflurry.bsky.social

#neuroskyence

www.thetransmitter.org/funding/nida...

NIDA shutters diversity fellowship program, axes active awards

It’s unclear if the cancellation at the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse extends to the fellowships awarded by other institutes within the National Institutes of Health.

www.thetransmitter.org

Calli McMurray @callimcflurry.bsky.social · May 9

A forthcoming human brain atlas hopes to include the functional organization of each donor's cortex alongside the single-cell data. But the team is struggling to recruit donors, and might have to scale back their ambitious plan. My latest: www.thetransmitter.org/brain-mappin...

Exclusive: Recruitment issues jeopardize ambitious plan for human brain atlas

A lack of six new brain donors may stop the project from meeting its goal to pair molecular and cellular data with the functional organization of the cortex.

www.thetransmitter.org

Calli McMurray @callimcflurry.bsky.social · Apr 2

I hope no one ever has to use this story, but here are the key things to know if your grant is terminated: #neuroskyence www.thetransmitter.org/funding/five...

Five things to know if your federal grant is terminated

If you want to appeal the decision, know the rules that govern terminations, as well as the specific rationale given in your notice, science policy experts say.

www.thetransmitter.org

Reposted by Calli McMurray

Angie Voyles Askham @avaskham.bsky.social · Mar 25

Three researchers who served as scientific advisers to NIMH and one to NIDA were removed from their positions this week with no explanation. @callimcflurry.bsky.social and I reported for @thetransmitter.bsky.social:

#neuroskyence 🧪

www.thetransmitter.org/science-and-...

Acting NIH director dismisses four neuroscientists from advisory boards

The letters they received this week did not include a reason for their termination.

www.thetransmitter.org

Reposted by Calli McMurray

Amy Maxmen, PhD @amymaxmen.bsky.social · Mar 21

In 15 yrs of reporting, I've never had so many health & biomed researchers & outreach orgs tell me they're afraid to talk w/press or barred from speaking bc of new comms policies.

I understand the fear of losing funds. I don't know if silence does more harm than good. If you can speak up, pls do.

Calli McMurray @callimcflurry.bsky.social · Mar 20

Big big thank you to @tristansyates.bsky.social @camerontellis.bsky.social @rebeccasaxe.bsky.social @rhodricusack.bsky.social and others for guiding me through their work and this growing subfield!

Calli McMurray @callimcflurry.bsky.social · Mar 20

A brave (and patient) group of neuroscientists have figured out how to do task-based fMRI in babies and toddlers. They aim to uncover how the infant mind takes shape—and the method has already provided new insight into infantile amnesia. My latest www.thetransmitter.org/cognitive-ne... #neuroskyence

What infant fMRI is revealing about the developing mind

Cognitive neuroscientists have finally clocked how to perform task-based fMRI experiments in awake babies. Now they want watch cognition take shape.

www.thetransmitter.org

Reposted by Calli McMurray

The Transmitter @thetransmitter.bsky.social · Mar 14

We are excited to announce that nominations are open for our “Rising stars in neuroscience” 2025 report. We seek to feature early-career researchers who have made outstanding scientific contributions and demonstrated a commitment to community-building. Submit a nominee here:
bit.ly/4bsoBXD

The Transmitter’s ‘Rising stars in neuroscience’ 2025

Recognize early-career researchers who have made outstanding contributions to the field. Selected nominees will be featured on our website and in our annual book.

Calli McMurray @callimcflurry.bsky.social · Mar 3

NEW: @claudia-lopez.bsky.social and I asked 50 US #neuroskyence PhD programs if they're reducing admissions this year due to funding concerns. 20 got back to us: 8 are making cuts, 8 are not, and the other 4 have more complex situations. Read the story: www.thetransmitter.org/academia/neu...

Neuro Ph.D. programs adjust admissions over funding unease

Some neuroscience departments plan to shrink class size by 25 to 40 percent; others may inadvertently take more students than they can afford.

www.thetransmitter.org

Reposted by Calli McMurray

Dr. Becca @docbecca.bsky.social · Feb 27

This new Atlantic piece on the timeline of the NIH shutdown reads like the script to a new Soderbergh film. It is so, so dark and perfectly captures the evil and intentional chaos behind everything we've experienced over the last month www.theatlantic.com/health/archi...

Inside the Collapse at the NIH

Administration officials pressured the NIH to avoid clear advice from the agency’s own lawyers to restart grant funding now.

www.theatlantic.com

Calli McMurray @callimcflurry.bsky.social · Feb 14

The Trump administration's chaotic changes to diversity-based funding have left trainees in limbo. My colleagues and I at @thetransmitter.bsky.social spoke to ten neuroscience trainees about what the uncertainty means for them, their research and their futures: www.thetransmitter.org/funding/a-gu...

‘A gut punch:’ How U.S. neuroscience trainees are grappling with diversity-based funding flux

Ten trainees spoke with The Transmitter about how the precarious state of U.S. federal funding is affecting their research and career plans.

www.thetransmitter.org

Reposted by Calli McMurray

The Transmitter @thetransmitter.bsky.social · Dec 20

Meet 10 neuroscientists bringing model diversity back with the funky animals they study.

By @callimcflurry.bsky.social, @avaskham.bsky.social, @claudia-lopez.bsky.social, @shaena.bsky.social

#neuroskyence

www.thetransmitter.org/animal-model...

The non-model organism “renaissance” has arrived

Meet 10 neuroscientists bringing model diversity back with the funky animals they study.

www.thetransmitter.org

Calli McMurray @callimcflurry.bsky.social · Dec 19

listening to the interstellar soundtrack while writing a story about the wonders of the octopus brain feels very right!!

Reposted by Calli McMurray

Emily Singer @emilysingerneuro.bsky.social · Dec 18

I'm excited to share another project we've been working on: The Transmitter's first book, which includes some of our favorite essays from our first ~9 months. Download a copy here: www.thetransmitter.org/transmitter-...

Calli McMurray @callimcflurry.bsky.social · Dec 11

If you're interested in thermoregulation, you don't want to miss our home page on @thetransmitter.bsky.social today! We have a package of five stories, including one on @jansiemens.bsky.social's new paper about the neuronal plasticity that drives heat tolerance. Check it out: www.thetransmitter.org

Calli McMurray @callimcflurry.bsky.social · Nov 21

Neuroscientists are flocking to Bluesky, but X still has ten times more users. My story on the migration, featuring @nicolecrust.bsky.social @russpoldrack.bsky.social @charan-neuro.bsky.social @therealdrdukes.bsky.social @wiringthebrain.bsky.social + more! www.thetransmitter.org/community/hu...

‘Huge influx’ of neuroscientists migrates to Bluesky

Daily neuroscience-related posts on the social-media platform this week have increased more than 400 percent, on average, compared with October.

www.thetransmitter.org