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Michelle Arbeitman @marbeitman.bsky.social · 4d

Big thanks to everyone that contributed to keep FlyBase operational. I wish our FlyBase colleagues the best navigating this challenging situation-special thank you to those that moved on. FlyBase is an essential/amazing resource for Drosophila scientist and the broader scientific community.

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Dr Sian Gramates @drglam.bsky.social · 22d

The situation with FlyBase has made the national news The FlyBase situation has made the national news www.nbcnews.com/science/scie...

Trump's Harvard cuts threaten a giant in biomedical research: A database about the tiny fruit fly

This spring, the Trump administration rescinded a grant that maintained FlyBase, a pillar of global basic research, as part of its broader $2.2 billion funding cuts at Harvard.

www.nbcnews.com

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Mark Peifer (He, him) @peiferlabunc.bsky.social · 27d

Some awesome, fundamental work here: Lucy Shapiro, on bacterial cell differentiation, Dirk Görlich and Steve McKnight on IDRs & protein gels in nuclear pores and biomolecular condensates, & Michael Welsh, Jesús González & Paul Negulescu, (overdue) for bench to bedside work on cystic fibrosis 🧪 1/2

Carl Zimmer @carlzimmer.com · 27d

This year's Lasker Awards went to scientists who studied the wiring diagram of life, a new state of biological matter, and a potent treatment for cystic fibrosis. Here's my story with Gina Kolata. Gift link: nyti.ms/4mZlH1F

nyti.ms

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Petra Levin @redrockcity.bsky.social · 27d

So great to see Lucy Shapiro — a scientific hero of mine both for her pioneering work and for her incredible communication skills —honored today www.nytimes.com/2025/09/11/h...

Major Medical Prizes Given to Cell Biology and Cystic Fibrosis Pioneers

www.nytimes.com

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Mark Peifer (He, him) @peiferlabunc.bsky.social · Aug 27

If you are a researcher whose lab uses FlyBase, consider a tax-deductible personal contribution. A lot of $100 contributions would help bridge the gap until we can set up a user fee system, and even $10 donations send the folks there the message we're behind them. Please share

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FlyBase @flybase.bsky.social · Aug 15

FlyBase needs your help! We ask that European labs continue to contribute to Cambridge, UK FlyBase, whereas US and other non-European labs can contribute to US FlyBase. For more information and how to donate: wiki.flybase.org/wiki/FlyBase...

FlyBase:Contribute to FlyBase - FlyBase Wiki

wiki.flybase.org

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Mark Peifer (He, him) @peiferlabunc.bsky.social · Aug 23

The community of Drosophila researchers is amazing, mutually supportive and collaborative. Right now a key resource for our community, @flybase.bsky.social , is threatened by the cancellation of its NIH grant and is seeking community help in raising short term funds 1/n 🧪 please share

Dear Fly Community,

In May 2025, the NIH terminated all grant funding to Harvard University, including the NHGRI grant that supported FlyBase. This grant also funded FlyBase teams at Indiana University (IU) and the University of Cambridge (UK), and as a result, their subawards were also canceled.

The Cambridge team has secured support for one to two years through generous donations from the European fly community, emergency funding from the Wellcome Trust, and support from the University of Cambridge. At IU, funding has been secured for one year thanks to reserve funds from Thom Kaufman and a supplement from ORIP/NIH to the Bloomington Drosophila Stock Center (BDSC).

Unfortunately, the situation at Harvard is far more critical. Harvard University had supported FlyBase staff since May but recently denied a request for extended bridge funding. As a result, all eight employees (four full-time and four part-time) were abruptly laid off, with termination dates ranging from August to mid-October depending on their positions. In addition, our curator at the University of New Mexico will leave her position at the end of August. This decision came as a shock, and we are urgently pursuing all possible funding options.

To put the need into perspective: although FlyBase is free to use, it is not free to make. It takes large teams of people and millions of dollars a year to create FlyBase to support fly research (the last NHGRI grant supported us with more than 2 million USD per annum).

To help sustain FlyBase operations, we have been reaching out to you to ask for your support. We have set up a donation site in Cambridge, UK, to which European labs have and can continue to contribute, and a new donation site at IU to which labs in the US and the rest of the world can contribute. We urge researchers to work with their grant administrators to contribute to FlyBase via these sites if at all possible, as more of the money will go to FlyBase. However, we appreciate that some fu…

https://wiki.flybase.org/wiki/FlyBase:Contribute_to_FlyBase

Our immediate goals are:

1. To maintain core curation activities and keep the FlyBase website online

2. To complete integration with the Alliance of Genome Resources (The Alliance).

Integration with the Alliance is essential for FlyBase’s long-term sustainability. For nearly a decade, NHGRI/NIH has supported the unification of Model Organism Databases (MODs) into the Alliance, which we aim to achieve by 2028. Therefore, securing bridge funding to sustain FlyBase over the next three years is crucial for successful integration and the long-term access to FlyBase data.

At present, our remaining funds will allow us to keep the FlyBase website online for approximately one more year. Beyond that, its future is uncertain unless new funding is secured. We will, of course, continue pursuing additional grant opportunities as they arise.

Given the uncertainty of future NIH or alternative funding sources, we are relying on the Fly community for support. Your contributions will directly help us retain the staff needed to complete this transition and to secure ongoing fly data curation into the Alliance beyond 2028.

We at FlyBase are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support from the community during this challenging time. Your encouragement has strengthened our resolve and underscores how vital this resource remains to Drosophila research worldwide.

Sincerely,
The FlyBase Team

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Dr Sian Gramates @drglam.bsky.social · Aug 11

I just got the notice that all the FlyBase people at Harvard, including me, will be laid off on October 12. I'm devastated.

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Michelle Arbeitman @marbeitman.bsky.social · Aug 11

I am so sorry to hear this news.

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eric lai @lucksmith.bsky.social · Aug 6

attention 🪰folks. many of you received a survey from @genetics-gsa.bsky.social about potential future sites of the US Fly meeting. We are excited for #Dros26 Chicago, but future sites are in question, for many logistical reasons. GSA is hard at work planning, but we need to hear from you. please RT!

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FlyBase @flybase.bsky.social · Jun 25

MassLive.com recently interviewed several Harvard FlyBase people and wrote this news article about the importance of FlyBase: tinyurl.com/4chpts9f

Why a database of bug genes could be one of Trump’s most devastating cuts at Harvard

FlyBase, the world's only fruit fly database, is in the crosshairs of Trump's attack on Harvard. Here's why it could matter for your health.

tinyurl.com

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Shefali @iamshef.bsky.social · Jun 2

Hey #Drosophila folks ! #FlyCROSS is back and #Mentor surveys are open NOW ! If you're a faculty/postdoc/ equivalent in any scientific career & have #Drosophila research experience - we'd be delighted to have you as mentors to empower early career scientists in the #Dros community !

Summer 2025 Survey For Mentors : FlyCROSS Mentor Mentee Matching Program

We appreciate you taking the time and volunteering to be a mentor! Add [email protected] to your email address book or safe sender list, so that you can receive our emails. To be a participating me...

docs.google.com

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Addgene @addgene.bsky.social · Jun 3

FlyBase is in need of support. Let's help them continue to be a valued resource to the research community.

Rita Strack @ritastrack.bsky.social · Jun 3

FlyBase needs our help.

Lucas Waltzer @lucaswaltzer.bsky.social · Jun 3

#drosophila @flybase.bsky.social request emergency funding:
"As it stands, by the end of July, 2025, there will be no future updates to FlyBase, and in the worst case scenario access to the website will also be lost" => please donate!

www.philanthropy.cam.ac.uk/give-to-camb...

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Cahir O'Kane @cahirokane.bsky.social · May 23

Shit.

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Michelle Arbeitman @marbeitman.bsky.social · Apr 23

Happy to hear this news! He taught my undergraduate Developmental Biology class that inspired me to go onto graduate school in the field. Many congratulations to Ray Keller.

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Michelle Arbeitman @marbeitman.bsky.social · Apr 17

Heartbreaking day at FSU. My thoughts are with members of our community that were hurt, and their loved ones. Thanks to all the law enforcement and medical responders for working quickly to keep the campus safe. We have the all clear at FSU now. Terrible day. #FSU

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Michelle Arbeitman @marbeitman.bsky.social · Feb 12

2/2

two hearts with a picture of a fly and the words drosophila melanogaster my beloved on them

ALT: two hearts with a picture of a fly and the words drosophila melanogaster my beloved on them

media.tenor.com

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Michelle Arbeitman @marbeitman.bsky.social · Feb 12

Drosophila Research Community:
Please vote in the FlyBoard Election. Elections are open through Feb. 16, 2025. Please repost. #Drosophila,
genetics-gsa.org/2025-fly-boa...
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2025 Fly Board Election - Genetics Society of America

Visit our website to learn more.

genetics-gsa.org

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Michelle Arbeitman @marbeitman.bsky.social · Jan 16

FlyBoard elections are open through Feb. 16, 2025. Please look for Genetics Society of America email: Select future FlyBoard leadership! Here is a link to access the candidate statements and ballot: genetics-gsa.org/2025-fly-boa...
Please repost.
#Dros25 @GeneticsGSA

2025 Fly Board Election - Genetics Society of America

Visit our website to learn more.

genetics-gsa.org

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HunterLab.bsky.social @hunterlab.bsky.social · Jan 31

Sadly, our colleague and friend Scott Hawley passed away this morning. He was an irreplaceable presence and force for good in the meiosis an Drosophila communities and will be sorely missed.

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Michelle Arbeitman @marbeitman.bsky.social · Jan 16

FlyBoard elections are open through Feb. 16, 2025. Please look for Genetics Society of America email: Select future FlyBoard leadership! Here is a link to access the candidate statements and ballot: genetics-gsa.org/2025-fly-boa...
Please repost.
#Dros25 @GeneticsGSA

2025 Fly Board Election - Genetics Society of America

Visit our website to learn more.

genetics-gsa.org

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Reposted by Michelle Arbeitman

Michelle Arbeitman @marbeitman.bsky.social · Dec 10

Drosophila Sex Workshop at ADRC 2025 in San Diego. We hope to see you there! Please send your abstract if you are interested in presenting in the workshop. We hope to highlight diverse science, researchers, and career stages. #Dros25

Lydia Grmai, Ph.D. @lydiagrmai.bsky.social · Dec 9

Calling all fly biologists: submit your research for consideration in the “Everything you ever wanted to know about sex” workshop at #Dros25! We hope to highlight diverse science, researchers, and career stages. Email submission to [email protected] by Wed, Jan 15.

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Michelle Arbeitman @marbeitman.bsky.social · Jan 9

A team or small group may be recognized. Anyone may make a nomination by submitting a letter describing the contributions of the nominee(s), including the significance and impact of the work on the community. Please submit your nomination to: [email protected]

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Michelle Arbeitman @marbeitman.bsky.social · Jan 9

This is the third year of the award, with previous winners shown below. Please nominate our outstanding colleagues for this year's award.

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Michelle Arbeitman @marbeitman.bsky.social · Jan 9

A major goal of the award is to raise awareness within the Drosophila community about the depth and diversity of efforts supporting its success. Any member of the Drosophila research community is eligible, including professionals not holding traditional tenure-track positions.

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