Nina Friedman
@ngfriedman.bsky.social
PhD candidate with UMD & NIH
Studying how neurons learn
Bethesda Declaration Signer; UAW 2750
Here in my personal capacity 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
Studying how neurons learn
Bethesda Declaration Signer; UAW 2750
Here in my personal capacity 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
Pinned
Nina Friedman
@ngfriedman.bsky.social
· Aug 3
Been thinkin about Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse a lot today
Reposted by Nina Friedman
Zara Weinberg passed away earlier this week. She joined my lab earlier this year when her postdoc lab formally closed.
She was a brilliant scientist, supportive mentor, dear friend, avid music fan, rabid believer in public transit, open science champion, and above all just an amazing human.
She was a brilliant scientist, supportive mentor, dear friend, avid music fan, rabid believer in public transit, open science champion, and above all just an amazing human.
October 31, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Zara Weinberg passed away earlier this week. She joined my lab earlier this year when her postdoc lab formally closed.
She was a brilliant scientist, supportive mentor, dear friend, avid music fan, rabid believer in public transit, open science champion, and above all just an amazing human.
She was a brilliant scientist, supportive mentor, dear friend, avid music fan, rabid believer in public transit, open science champion, and above all just an amazing human.
Reposted by Nina Friedman
📣📣📣 CALL TO ACTION - 🚨 🚨🚨
A thread on how you can join a growing chorus of federal workers and members of the public pressuring Congress to embrace its power and end the authoritarian takeover #FightingCR
A thread on how you can join a growing chorus of federal workers and members of the public pressuring Congress to embrace its power and end the authoritarian takeover #FightingCR
Congress is about to decide whether to stand up to Trump’s lawless power or hand him another blank check. And Trump and Senate Republicans are betting that Democrats will fold, just like they did in March. We can’t let that happen.
Here's the deal:
Here's the deal:
September 20, 2025 at 1:22 AM
📣📣📣 CALL TO ACTION - 🚨 🚨🚨
A thread on how you can join a growing chorus of federal workers and members of the public pressuring Congress to embrace its power and end the authoritarian takeover #FightingCR
A thread on how you can join a growing chorus of federal workers and members of the public pressuring Congress to embrace its power and end the authoritarian takeover #FightingCR
Reposted by Nina Friedman
Took leave this afternoon to deliver a letter from nearly 900 (and growing) current and former Feds asking Congress to pass a continuing resolution that ends executive overreach and protects the American people.
Join us! Feds and fed allies welcomed to sign. actionnetwork.org/forms/civil-...
Join us! Feds and fed allies welcomed to sign. actionnetwork.org/forms/civil-...
September 18, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Took leave this afternoon to deliver a letter from nearly 900 (and growing) current and former Feds asking Congress to pass a continuing resolution that ends executive overreach and protects the American people.
Join us! Feds and fed allies welcomed to sign. actionnetwork.org/forms/civil-...
Join us! Feds and fed allies welcomed to sign. actionnetwork.org/forms/civil-...
Reposted by Nina Friedman
NIH Director (my boss’s, boss’s, boss), Dr. Jayanta Bhattacharya has a choice. Support exemplary early-career researchers studying the topics listed in this word cloud. Or not.
August 23, 2025 at 10:35 PM
NIH Director (my boss’s, boss’s, boss), Dr. Jayanta Bhattacharya has a choice. Support exemplary early-career researchers studying the topics listed in this word cloud. Or not.
Reposted by Nina Friedman
The Supreme Court is reviewing a vitally important NIH case on its shadow docket.
It is likely that the Court will back Trump, and say his (illegal) grant terminations are ok.
We must speak up now.
1/
It is likely that the Court will back Trump, and say his (illegal) grant terminations are ok.
We must speak up now.
1/
Tell the Supreme Court: No Stay. Hands off NIH
The Supreme Court is poised to allow Trump to illegally terminate NIH grants. Let's speak out. There is not much time.
scienceandfreedomalliance.substack.com
August 7, 2025 at 8:25 PM
The Supreme Court is reviewing a vitally important NIH case on its shadow docket.
It is likely that the Court will back Trump, and say his (illegal) grant terminations are ok.
We must speak up now.
1/
It is likely that the Court will back Trump, and say his (illegal) grant terminations are ok.
We must speak up now.
1/
Reposted by Nina Friedman
Here's a great piece on how hard NIH extramural staff are working to get grants out to PIs. A huge thank you to all the heroic extramural staff who are working day and night to support great science under awful conditions!
How Many Times Can Science Funding Be Canceled?
Whether or not Congress cuts NIH’s budget, the Trump administration has devastated its ability to operate.
www.theatlantic.com
August 7, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Here's a great piece on how hard NIH extramural staff are working to get grants out to PIs. A huge thank you to all the heroic extramural staff who are working day and night to support great science under awful conditions!
Love the photos from @nihvigils.bsky.social on here. Congrats on the launch!
So excited to share we have a website! Super excited to see yall there! Check us out at www.27unihted.org
27 UNIHTED - Former NIH Workers Fighting for the NIH
Former NIH workers fighting to protect NIH's mission, support NIH's workers, and planning a bright future for biomedical research
www.27unihted.org
August 7, 2025 at 1:53 AM
Love the photos from @nihvigils.bsky.social on here. Congrats on the launch!
From last dreadless Sunday; my cat snuggling with his favorite handheld vacuum
August 3, 2025 at 9:10 PM
From last dreadless Sunday; my cat snuggling with his favorite handheld vacuum
Been thinkin about Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse a lot today
August 3, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Been thinkin about Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse a lot today
Reposted by Nina Friedman
Even with flat funding for the NIH, under the current FY26 plan, there will be 60% less cancer research and much less research funded overall. We need to make sure Congress understands these tricks and protects against them in their budget plan.
Odds of winning NIH grants plummet as new funding policy and spending delays bite
Funding multiyear grants up front will sharply cut number of investigators receiving awards
www.science.org
July 29, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Even with flat funding for the NIH, under the current FY26 plan, there will be 60% less cancer research and much less research funded overall. We need to make sure Congress understands these tricks and protects against them in their budget plan.
Reposted by Nina Friedman
A good explainer for #NIH funded researchers on why the multiyear funding scheme is going to squeeze NIH scientists and NIH science. open.substack.com/pub/sciencea...
A Quiet Policy Shift That Could Devastate American Science
Why NIH’s sudden move to multi-year grant funding should alarm every principal investigator and university
open.substack.com
July 29, 2025 at 1:23 AM
A good explainer for #NIH funded researchers on why the multiyear funding scheme is going to squeeze NIH scientists and NIH science. open.substack.com/pub/sciencea...
Current NIH worker seeking formers NIH workers and community allies. 👀👋🏻
Hey! We’re 27 uNIHted, a group of former NIH workers and community allies fighting for NIH’s mission and supporting the former and current NIH workforce. We’re new here! Wanna help out ? Fill out our volunteer interest form, link in our bio! Excited to make our blusky debut!
July 28, 2025 at 3:13 AM
Current NIH worker seeking formers NIH workers and community allies. 👀👋🏻
Reposted by Nina Friedman
On Thursday, the Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to grant them a stay on the Massachusetts vs Kennedy/ APHA vs NIH ruling. This decision will occur on the shadow docket, with no formal hearing.
July 27, 2025 at 12:02 AM
On Thursday, the Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to grant them a stay on the Massachusetts vs Kennedy/ APHA vs NIH ruling. This decision will occur on the shadow docket, with no formal hearing.
Reposted by Nina Friedman
We stand with the EPA 139. www.instagram.com/p/DMGohBNykfu/
July 14, 2025 at 9:52 PM
We stand with the EPA 139. www.instagram.com/p/DMGohBNykfu/
Reposted by Nina Friedman
@jenna-m-norton.bsky.social, @ngfriedman.bsky.social, and I got to meet many of the amazing researchers at the science fair yesterday that are standing up for science.
July 9, 2025 at 12:36 PM
@jenna-m-norton.bsky.social, @ngfriedman.bsky.social, and I got to meet many of the amazing researchers at the science fair yesterday that are standing up for science.
Reposted by Nina Friedman
The full ruling explaining why NIH grant cuts are illegal came out today.
It's just as blistering as the judge's oral remarks. And it uncovers fresh details in DOGE's role orchestrating the cuts — and on the cuts at Columbia.
Here are my top highlights from the 103-page ruling. 🧵
It's just as blistering as the judge's oral remarks. And it uncovers fresh details in DOGE's role orchestrating the cuts — and on the cuts at Columbia.
Here are my top highlights from the 103-page ruling. 🧵
After ruling the NIH grant cuts were illegal yesterday, Judge Young, a Reagan appointee on the bench since 1985, ended the hearing with a blistering 15-minute speech.
I've cleaned up my notes — here are his remarks in full. 🧵
I've cleaned up my notes — here are his remarks in full. 🧵
Judge rules against NIH grant cuts — and calls them discriminatory
The decision means that the US biomedical agency has to restore funding to hundreds of research projects, but the government will likely appeal.
www.nature.com
July 2, 2025 at 11:55 PM
The full ruling explaining why NIH grant cuts are illegal came out today.
It's just as blistering as the judge's oral remarks. And it uncovers fresh details in DOGE's role orchestrating the cuts — and on the cuts at Columbia.
Here are my top highlights from the 103-page ruling. 🧵
It's just as blistering as the judge's oral remarks. And it uncovers fresh details in DOGE's role orchestrating the cuts — and on the cuts at Columbia.
Here are my top highlights from the 103-page ruling. 🧵
I know this muscular dystrophy researcher personally. He brings >10 years domain specific knowledge to our national research program to it the best in the world. He wishes to dedicate his entire career to serve the public with this work, and his institute will do anything they can to keep him.
I have a friend at the NIH who works on studying and treating the rare disease, muscular dystrophy. His contract expires today on Easter. Tomorrow, he may not have a job. His work will be lost, and patients with muscular dystrophy will have to wait that much longer for relief. 1/11🧪
April 20, 2025 at 6:16 PM
I know this muscular dystrophy researcher personally. He brings >10 years domain specific knowledge to our national research program to it the best in the world. He wishes to dedicate his entire career to serve the public with this work, and his institute will do anything they can to keep him.
Reposted by Nina Friedman
I have a friend at the NIH who works on studying and treating the rare disease, muscular dystrophy. His contract expires today on Easter. Tomorrow, he may not have a job. His work will be lost, and patients with muscular dystrophy will have to wait that much longer for relief. 1/11🧪
April 20, 2025 at 3:10 PM
I have a friend at the NIH who works on studying and treating the rare disease, muscular dystrophy. His contract expires today on Easter. Tomorrow, he may not have a job. His work will be lost, and patients with muscular dystrophy will have to wait that much longer for relief. 1/11🧪
Reposted by Nina Friedman
Digging into the reinstated NIH grants. This story is an evolving doozy.
The reinstated grant is an R21 from Seattle Children's Hospital
I was very confused when I read the title:
"An intervention to promote healthy relationships among transgender and gender expansive youth"
1/n
The reinstated grant is an R21 from Seattle Children's Hospital
I was very confused when I read the title:
"An intervention to promote healthy relationships among transgender and gender expansive youth"
1/n
April 7, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Digging into the reinstated NIH grants. This story is an evolving doozy.
The reinstated grant is an R21 from Seattle Children's Hospital
I was very confused when I read the title:
"An intervention to promote healthy relationships among transgender and gender expansive youth"
1/n
The reinstated grant is an R21 from Seattle Children's Hospital
I was very confused when I read the title:
"An intervention to promote healthy relationships among transgender and gender expansive youth"
1/n
Thanks @doee-dc.bsky.social for the free radon test. I know what I’m doing this evening!
April 8, 2025 at 3:29 AM
Thanks @doee-dc.bsky.social for the free radon test. I know what I’m doing this evening!
Reposted by Nina Friedman
"It’s kind of a textbook case of arbitrary and capricious.” A lawsuit alleges that NIH didn't follow proper procedure and was unconstitutionally vague when abruptly terminating >600 grants. My story @science.org www.science.org/content/arti...
Lawsuit aims to overturn many NIH grant terminations
Multiple groups and NIH-funded scientists challenge agency’s decision as arbitrary and capricious
www.science.org
April 2, 2025 at 10:10 PM
"It’s kind of a textbook case of arbitrary and capricious.” A lawsuit alleges that NIH didn't follow proper procedure and was unconstitutionally vague when abruptly terminating >600 grants. My story @science.org www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Nina Friedman
Ten principal investigators who were fired from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke as part of the massive reduction in force at federal agencies on Tuesday are back at work, at least for now, Science has learned.
After ‘coding error’ triggers firings, top NIH scientists called back to work
Neuroscience institutes tells 10 scientists placed on leave it’s working on a “long-term” solution to officially reinstating them
scim.ag
April 3, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Ten principal investigators who were fired from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke as part of the massive reduction in force at federal agencies on Tuesday are back at work, at least for now, Science has learned.