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Michael Meers

@mpmeers.bsky.social

700 followers 200 following 67 posts

Assistant Prof @WashUGenetics, chromatin-mediated regulation of development. Former postdoc @fredhutch, former grad student @UNC_Biology. Views my own.

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Michael Meers @mpmeers.bsky.social · 16d

We published a detailed protocol for our Plate-CUT&Tag method on @protocolsio.bsky.social to accompany our recent preprint (www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...) give it a try! Feedback welcome! dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.n2bvjed5wgk5/v1

Plate CUT&Tag (Meers Lab version)

This protocol describes a method for carrying out CUT&Tag-Direct in 96 well microplates for high-throughput processing of samples by a single operator with only standard lab...

dx.doi.org

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Reposted by Michael Meers

Drug Monkey @drugmonkey.bsky.social · 13d

This may be the most important paper ever published about NIH funded research.

www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

What if NIH had been 40% smaller?

Replaying history with less NIH funding shows widespread impacts on drug-linked research

www.science.org

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Michael Meers @mpmeers.bsky.social · 16d

Plate CUT&Tag (Meers Lab version)

This protocol describes a method for carrying out CUT&Tag-Direct in 96 well microplates for high-throughput processing of samples by a single operator with only standard lab...

dx.doi.org

2 13 29

Michael Meers @mpmeers.bsky.social · 16d

While you're at it, check out this nice new preprint from Dave's lab that makes use of Plate-CUT&Tag data to characterize chromatin states at intermediately 5mC-methylated regions that play key roles in AML: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... 4/3

Intermediately Methylated Regions in Normal Cells Are Epimutation Hotspots in Cancer

DNA methylation is altered in all cancers, but the mechanisms responsible for these changes are not well understood. Using data from 100 primary samples, we show that regions with intermediate methyla...

www.biorxiv.org

Michael Meers @mpmeers.bsky.social · 16d

This work was spearheaded by Brittany Johnson, the very first Meers Lab member who has now moved on to a PhD at @ibisatnu.bsky.social, with big assists from Gabe Boyle and @sarthylab.bsky.social at Seattle Children's and David Spencer here at WashU. Hoping this is the first of many for the lab! 3/3

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Michael Meers @mpmeers.bsky.social · 16d

Inspired by Derek Janssens' work on AutoCUT&RUN/Tag that streamlined those methods for highly parallel sample processing on a liquid handling robot, we simplified that a bit by allowing any user to process 96 samples at once without any specialized equipment, with a nice use case for AML 2/3

Michael Meers @mpmeers.bsky.social · 16d

On our three year lab anniversary (give or take a few days!), I'm proud to share the first original work produced within the Meers Lab: Plate-CUT&Tag! Take a look: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... 1/3

A protocol for high-throughput microplate-based CUT&Tag

Cleavage Under Targets & Tagmentation (CUT&Tag) is a versatile method for measuring genomic occupancy of chromatin-associated proteins with high sensitivity and specificity. CUT&Tag has low sequencing...

www.biorxiv.org

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Michael Meers @mpmeers.bsky.social · Sep 5

Death, taxes, and "the PI is too inexperienced and requires a senior co-mentor for this student's F31" 🙃

Reposted by Michael Meers

Abby Buchwalter @abbybuch.bsky.social · Jul 22

Another paper bluetorial! Today: how does the spatial location of genes influence their function? (1/n) www.nature.com/articles/s41...

The nuclear periphery confers repression on H3K9me2-marked genes and transposons to shape cell fate - Nature Cell Biology

Marin et al. report the role of lamin proteins and the lamin B receptor (LBR) in chromatin positioning at the nuclear periphery. Knockout of all lamins and LBR in mouse embryonic stem cells leads to h...

www.nature.com

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Michael Meers @mpmeers.bsky.social · Jul 11

www.nytimes.com/2025/07/10/u...

The Surprising Scientists Hit by Trump’s D.E.I. Cuts

www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Michael Meers

Sri Kosuri @srikosuri.bsky.social · Jul 6

I wrote down some of my thoughts down on the current race to build virtual cell models. Overall, excited and wary about the work ahead. Also, it's my first post to Substack; getting more excited about it as a replacement for X and Blue Sky.

srikosuri.substack.com/p/the-elusiv...

The elusive virtual cell

Rosetta Stone or Moby Dick?

srikosuri.substack.com

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Reposted by Michael Meers

Evgeny Kvon @evgenykvon.bsky.social · Jul 2

Our paper describing the Range Extender element which is required and sufficient for long-range enhancer activation at the Shh locus is now available at @nature.com. Congrats to @gracebower.bsky.social who led the study. Below is a brief summary of the main findings www.nature.com/articles/s41... 1/

Range extender mediates long-distance enhancer activity - Nature

The REX element is associated with long-range enhancer–promoter interactions.

www.nature.com

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Michael Meers @mpmeers.bsky.social · Jun 24

This is fantastic stuff Evgeny! Great to see it come together so nicely. Congratulations!

Reposted by Michael Meers

Evgeny Kvon @evgenykvon.bsky.social · Jun 23

How do non-coding variants in enhancers lead to disease? Happy to share our recent work, led by @ewholling.bsky.social, in which we discovered that poised chromatin sensitizes enhancers to aberrant activation by non-coding mutations, contributing to disease. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... 1/

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Reposted by Michael Meers

Carolyn Bertozzi @carolynbertozzi.bskyverified.social · Jun 21

What an amazing time to be a biomedical scientist.

www.nejm.org/doi/abs/10.1...

Stem Cell–Derived, Fully Differentiated Islets for Type 1 Diabetes | NEJM

Zimislecel is an allogeneic stem cell–derived islet-cell therapy. Data on the safety and efficacy of zimislecel in persons with type 1 diabetes are needed. We conducted a phase 1–2 study of zimisle...

www.nejm.org

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Michael Meers @mpmeers.bsky.social · Jun 3

www.nytimes.com/2025/06/03/u...

U.S. Scientists Warn That Trump’s Cuts Will Set Off a Brain Drain

www.nytimes.com

Michael Meers @mpmeers.bsky.social · May 29

Thank you @erikaberas.bsky.social for including me in this in depth @planetmoney.bsky.social piece on the mechanics of research funding at universities—I give it a 👍🏻👌👏👨‍🔬 emoji 🙃 www.npr.org/2025/05/28/1...

Why does the government fund research at universities? : Planet Money

American universities are where people go to learn and teach. They're also where research and development happens. Over the past eight decades, universities have received billions in federal dollars t...

www.npr.org

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Michael Meers @mpmeers.bsky.social · May 22

Thank you @economist.com for this important, well reasoned piece. www.economist.com/leaders/2025...

MAGA’s assault on science is an act of grievous self-harm

America will pay the price most of all

www.economist.com

Reposted by Michael Meers

Eric Topol @erictopol.bsky.social · May 22

Good cover @economist.com

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Michael Meers @mpmeers.bsky.social · May 20

With apologies to @jeremymberg.bsky.social, I borrowed directly and heavily from this thread of his to craft my comment on this policy proposal, which I'm posting here for anyone who would like to use it as a template. Please heed Jeremy's exhortation and post a comment by Friday!

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Michael Meers @mpmeers.bsky.social · May 20

Typical of this White House: a non-expert decrying all that’s wrong, using “evidence” that amounts to anecdotes, offering mealy-mouthed “solutions” (wtf is “gold standard science” anyways?) as a pretext to destroy without any strategy to build. www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-st...

Remarks by Director Kratsios at the National Academy of Sciences

Remarks by Director Kratsios at the National Academy of Sciences REINVIGORATING AMERICA’S SCIENTIFIC ENTERPRISE AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY Washington, D.C.

www.whitehouse.gov

Reposted by Michael Meers

Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · May 20

My quote of the day

My dad used to say: “Don't tell me what you value. Show me your budget, and I'll tell you what you value."

Joseph R. Biden, Jr.

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Reposted by Michael Meers

Michael Baym @baym.lol · May 13

Yesterday, the NIH R35 “Outstanding Investigator” grant to fund scientists in my lab studying antibiotic resistance was terminated for reasons not related to the content of the science, or any actions taken by me or members of my lab

A screenshot of the termination notice showing "Outstanding Investigator Grants"

A screenshot of the termination notice with "This award is terminated effective the date of this award, due to unsafe antisemitic actions that suggest the institution lacks concern for the safety and wellbeing of Jewish students." highlighted

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Reposted by Michael Meers

Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · Apr 23

ACTION ITEM-----ACTION ITEM

Implementation of Schedule F

This is what a lot of us have been worried about.

This allows for many civil service positions to replaced with political appointees. This could include NIH institute directors and even POs.

BUT THERE IS A COMMENT PERIOD...

1/n

the word alert is in a purple circle

ALT: the word alert is in a purple circle

media.tenor.com

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Michael Meers @mpmeers.bsky.social · Feb 22

Another great piece on how students at WashU are organizing to oppose the threats to biomedical research in this country www.stltoday.com/news/local/e...

WashU students ramp up efforts to stop federal cuts

Washington U. students are urging university leadership to speak out forcefully and publicly against the Donald Trump administration’s threats to research.

www.stltoday.com

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Reposted by Michael Meers

Jeremy BOO! Yoder 🎃💀🕷️ @jbyoder.org · Feb 20

So I did this today: banged out a couple hundred words of a pitch while managing lab, sent it to the opinion page editor at the newspaper my parents still somehow get in print, and got back a "yes" in, I absolutely kid you not, under 15 minutes

CantlonLab @cantlonlab.bsky.social · Feb 18

Join us! Science Homecoming helps scientists reconnect with communities by writing about the importance of science funding in their hometown newspapers. We’ve mapped every small newspaper in the U.S. and provide resources to get you started. Help science get back home 🧪🔬🧬 🏠

sciencehomecoming.com

Science Homecoming

sciencehomecoming.com

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