iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D.

Francesco Asnicar @fasnicar.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

I'm very happy to share our latest manuscript published today in @nature.com !! ➡️ doi.org/10.1038/s415... We analyzed data from over 34,000 participants in the US and UK, revealing strong associations between specific gut bacteria and markers of cardiometabolic health and dietary habits.

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Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D. @anamaporras.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

In light of recent national conversations on the need for more human-relevant models, our lab wrote a review on "Innovative engineering approaches to model host-microbiome interactions in vitro," now published in Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews. #PorrasTMILab authors.elsevier.com/a/1lnF%7E,3s...

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bmeunite.bsky.social @bmeunite.bsky.social · 04/08/2025

We are excited to announce our 2025 cohort of BME UNITE Future Faculty Fellows! The BME UNITE seminar series is designed to showcase future faculty candidates from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds in BME. Register here: tinyurl.com/bmeunite25

Names, photos, and institutions of 2025 BME UNITE Future Faculty Fellows. Text seminar details with link to presentation schedule.

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Reposted by Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D.

NPR @npr.org · 03/08/2025

When public media disappears, so do the stories that bring us together. With federal funding eliminated, millions may lose their last trusted source of news and connection. If that matters to you, now’s the time to act. Donate: n.pr/458sOhq

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Reposted by Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D.

onion person @junlper.beer · 10/06/2025

all conservatives are bots

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Reposted by Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D.

Dr. Kat Napaaqtuk❄️ @napaaqtuk.bsky.social · 08/06/2025

Distraction from *all of this*, a podcast about Archaea by Archaea scientists and enthusiasts. This particular episode is about how Archaea contribute to farts (and shape the microbiome). It's informative and lighthearted! rss.com/podcasts/arc...

rss.com

Archaea and Us: Heroes or Villains? | Podcast Episode on RSS.com

Welcome to ArchaeaCast! In our sixth episode, our hosts Priyanka Chatterjee and Dr. Connor Hines discuss the archaea that are very close to home–the ones that can live in and on us! In the second part...

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Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D. @anamaporras.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

I currently have a Ph.D. student and an exchange visitor ready to join is in the next 1-3 months. All they need now are their visas. They were the most qualified candidates. Like mine, many many labs will be affected. Making scientific progress is really hard right now!

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Reposted by Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D.

Carolyn Bertozzi @carolynbertozzi.bskyverified.social · 19/05/2025

If people of means are interested in establishing a 2025 “Institute for Advanced Study” for displaced/defunded biomedical scientists, I know many people who will help, including myself. @mcuban.bsky.social @arcadiascience.com @arcinstitute.org

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Reposted by Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D.

Arghavan Salles, MD, PhD @arghavansallesmd.medsky.social · 15/05/2025

The wellness industry is so out of control that someone could argue cancer is good for you, actually, sort of a make cancer great again strategy, and A LOT of people would believe them. The devaluation of expertise has real consequences, and belief in nonsensical remedies is one of them.

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Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D. @anamaporras.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

NYC friends and #StoryCollider fans - we will celebrate the 15th anniversary this June 3rd with an amazing show and wonderful storytellers! You don't want to miss it! Tickets on sale now to attend in person OR virtually: events.humanitix.com/the-story-co...

events.humanitix.com

The Story Collider 15 Year Anniversary Show

This June 3, 2025 The Story Collider will be celebrating its 15 Year Anniversary!

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Reposted by Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D.

Sean Gibbons 🦠💩 @gibbological.bsky.social · 11/04/2025

Microbial community-scale metabolic models (MCMMs) map gut microbiome composition & dietary context to functional outputs, at scale. Here, we describe these emerging tools & their utility to both basic & translational microbiome research. @natmicrobiol.nature.com www.nature.com/articles/s41...

nature.com

Moving from genome-scale to community-scale metabolic models for the human gut microbiome - Nature Microbiology

In this Perspective, Deiner, Gibbons and colleagues describe the current strengths and limitations of microbial community-scale metabolic models in microbiome research.

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Reposted by Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D.

Vaughn Cooper @vscooper.micropopbio.org · 08/04/2025

I'm delighted to share a useful FREE web-based app portal of powerful bioinformatics tools for microbial genomes and shotgun microbiome sequences! It's called Micromics and is built by Middle Author Bioinformatics, led by co-founder @ironark.bsky.social omix.midauthorbio.com

omix.midauthorbio.com

Microbial Omics

A suite of bioinformatics tools for microbial genome and metagenome analysis.

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Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D. @anamaporras.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

If you aren't watching this show, what are you waiting for?! Should be required viewing for anyone remotely close to the biomedical sciences

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Reposted by Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D.

Jeff Saucerman @jsauce7.bsky.social · 07/04/2025

Terrific paper by post-doc @aclark.bsky.social in @plos.org Comp Biol. This tutorial enables students and biologists to simulate biological networks with our tool Netflux, no programming required! #sysbio #cardiosky 🧪

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Reposted by Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D.

Dr. Kat Hubert @cripple-vs-stem.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

Welcome to the home of #labdaptations ! My name is Kat and I am a Genetics PhD student, navigating science with a disability. Early in my grad school journey, I discovered that accessible lab equipment/tools were lacking, making it difficult for me to perform experiments.

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Reposted by Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D.

Timothy McBride @mcbridetd.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

Opinion: Five years ago, early career researchers needed help to survive the pandemic. Now they need it again www.statnews.com/2025/03/24/e...

statnews.com

Five years ago, early career researchers needed help to survive the pandemic. Now they need it again

A generation of scientists and their future work will be lost if the U.S. doesn’t act now.

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Reposted by Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D.

WHO @who.int · 24/03/2025

Today is #WorldTBDay. #Tuberculosis - or TB - is caused by bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis that mainly affects the lungs. Common symptoms include ❗️ Cough ❗️ Chest pains ❗️ Weight loss ❗️ Fever ❗️ Night sweats Learn more about TB 👉 bit.ly/3yYNwzx #EndTB

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Reposted by Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D.

Rebecca Fielding-Miller @rebeccafieldingmiller.com · 22/03/2025

Today I lost an NIH grant training clinicians to do research about intimate partner violence with perinatal women. More women are murdered in the perinatal period than die of obstetric complications. I didn't just lose a grant. We lost an entire cohort of people building careers to prevent that.

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Reposted by Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D.

Shelly Sakiyama-Elbert @drsakiyama.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

Many families including mine have been impacted by Alzheimer's disease. NIH funding delays and cuts could set research back by decades, including key funding for Alzheimers's disease research centers across the US. Almost half of these centers are up for renewal now! www.kuow.org/stories/how-...

kuow.org

How far could Trump’s NIH funding cuts set medical innovation back? By decades, UW researchers warn

The Trump administration has cut NIH funding levels and paused new and existing grants from the agency, which totalled $35 billion in 2023. That’s left critical studies of various illnesses and drugs ...

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Reposted by Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D.

Zen Faulkes @doctorzen.net · 11/03/2025

Getting a grant is freaking hard. Getting a grant - or not - can make or break a career. The shock of getting a grant TAKEN AWAY must be like a shotgun blast in the face.

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Reposted by Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D.

The Probst Lab @probstlab.bsky.social · 11/03/2025

Want to know who’s replicating and who’s just hanging out in your enrichment cultures? Our new study led by @soansi.bsky.social shows how @nanoporetech.com long-read sequencing can reveal replication states, shedding light on microbial growth. 🦠🧬 See our latest publication: doi.org/10.1093/isme...

doi.org

Inferring replication states of bacteria and viruses in enrichment cultures via long-read sequencing

Abstract. Most microorganisms cannot be cultured in isolation, necessitating sophisticated methods for studying their (eco)physiology. While numerous appro

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Reposted by Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D.

Tristan Yates @tristansyates.bsky.social · 11/03/2025

Last year, I was overjoyed to receive an NIH NRSA fellowship to study toddler brains and caregiving effects on memory at Columbia. Last night, my grant was terminated.

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Reposted by Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D.

Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 11/03/2025

I have confirmation from several sources now that all T32s, many F30s and F31s, and most or all Center awards (P30, P50) have been terminated at Columbia. This is quite damaging to research and to individuals. This is pure terrorism and cannot be legal. But litigation will take time...

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Reposted by Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D.

American Institute for Medical & Biological Engineering (AIMBE) @aimbe-official.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

AIMBE is expecting its largest Hill Day during our #AIMBE2025 Annual Event this month! Our Fellows are heeding the call in a big way to use their voices on issues that matter. Your engagement is more important than ever.

A graphic showing that we have 108 advocates participating in our Hill Visit during our 2025 Annual Event. Our advocates represent 32 states spanning the political spectrum, 63 universities, and 15 companies.

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Reposted by Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D.

Roby Bhattacharyya @roby-b.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

This is why all NIH-funded scientists simultaneously trying to diversify their science funding portfolios is not a real solution.

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Reposted by Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D.

Trace Dominguez @tracedominguez.com · 09/03/2025

Please. We’re begging. Just stop switching times. Pick one and stick to it. The switching is useless and actively harmful. Let’s Just Stop youtu.be/w6TtIMeBEvc

youtu.be

Let’s Stop Switching Times

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Reposted by Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D.

Tim Stearns @stearnslab.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

The first NIH posting to the Federal Register since the inauguration appeared today. It lists several study section meetings. Great news! www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...

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Reposted by Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D.

Dr. David Miller 🏳️‍🌈 @davidimiller.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

🧪🚨 NSF's Directorate for STEM Education (EDU) has halted making nearly all new awards since inauguration day. Among *many* other things, EDU runs the Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP). We need to protect the education & training of the next gen of scientists #StandUpForScience Thread👇🧵

Graph between 1/20 and 2/28 of fiscal year 2024 and 2025 new awards in the EDU directorate.

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Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D. @anamaporras.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

Now seems like an opportune time to share that this perspective on the importance of multilingual science communication became my most widely cited paper in late 2023. #SciComm #SeHablaEspañol Current mood: ningún afternoon, ni ningún hello... IYKYK www.frontiersin.org/journals/com...

frontiersin.org

Frontiers | Science Communication in Multiple Languages Is Critical to Its Effectiveness

Public understanding of science is a luxury. Research has shown that democratic societies that are scientifically literate make equitable choices in regards ...

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Reposted by Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D.

Mobility Behaviour👨‍🎓 @davidloisuned.bsky.social · 02/03/2025

En este trabajo demostramos experimentalmente que los mensajes motivacionales de la autoayuda promueven la desmovilización social a través de la activación de creencias meritocráticas. www.researchgate.net/profile/Alex...

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Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D. @anamaporras.bsky.social · 02/03/2025

I had a BLAST at UCSD!!! Thank you for being the best host @brianaguado.bsky.social AND for crash writing a pilot grant with me in 3 hrs! This was the most scientifically productive seminar visit yet AND it was also a lot of fun. I leave feeling intellectually and spiritually recharged 😁

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Reposted by Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D.

Eric (“VJ”) Rubenstein @vjrubenstein.bsky.social · 20/02/2025

Absolutely this. Promotion and tenure procedures and evaluations must adapt to account for this. Doing the job now is fundamentally different than doing the job 5 years ago, which was fundamentally different than doing the job 5 years before that.

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Reposted by Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D.

Mikki Kendall @karnythia.blacksky.app · 20/02/2025

After I had to explain that becoming a federal food safety inspector requires education and on the job training, it became incredibly clear that people have no idea how much time federal employees spend preventing mass deaths

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Reposted by Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D.

CantlonLab @cantlonlab.bsky.social · 18/02/2025

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

sciencehomecoming.com

Science Homecoming

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Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D. @anamaporras.bsky.social · 20/02/2025

Another morning, another day of waiting for my naturalization interview to be scheduled. It's been 7 months, hoping it comes soon 🙏

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Reposted by Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D.

Dr. Becca @docbecca.bsky.social · 20/02/2025

Glad to see this post getting some traction, because the Federal Register is the WHOLE ballgame, folks. To drive this point home, a recent EO declares that all posts to FR now must be approved by the White House. www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...

whitehouse.gov

Ensuring Accountability for All Agencies

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:

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Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D. @anamaporras.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

I have seen first hand the impact of @brianaguado.bsky.social’s CZI award. We had the freedom to start our in person #LatinXinBME symposia because we know Brian had committed CZI funds for this purpose. Thank you for sharing your story, Brian!

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Prof. Brian Aguado @brianaguado.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

My statement regarding the decision to drop the second round of the CZI Science Diversity Leadership Award funding opportunity:

I am crushed that the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative has decided not to continue with the second round of the Science Diversity Leadership Awards. My heart breaks for all the scientists that submitted their grant applications with the hope that their research and community building ideas would be funded to help make the science world a more equitable place. I see you. Please take the time to mourn the loss of your time and effort and figure out your next move.

I feel an intense surge of survivors’ guilt. As part of the first (and now last) CZI SDL cohort, I have enjoyed significant personal and professional opportunities that have emerged after receiving the award – opportunities that have now vanished for future science diversity leaders. The award gave me confidence in my research program, but more importantly, was the catalyst I needed to bring my full self to the laboratory. After receiving the CZI award, I finally felt comfortable fully coming out to the scientific community and embracing my identity as a proud queer Latino scientist. The award was extremely unique and enabling, allowing me to build a vibrant laboratory community, support various professional development activities for trainees, and grow my research program focused on understanding sex differences in biology towards our goal of health equity. I am devastated that future scientists with stories like mine will not have the financial support they need to achieve their vision in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.

As a Science Diversity Leader, I remain fiercely committed to my personal and professional mission to promote diversity through impactful science and community building efforts. I will continue using this platform to uplift diverse voices in the scientific community. To those feeling hopeless, please know that our continued commitment and presence in science is a powerful form of social justice. Let us continue using our creative minds and resources to fight inequities in society - …

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Christine Moissl-Eichinger @chmoei.bsky.social · 18/02/2025

Did you ever wonder what other information you can retrieve from metagenomic reads? Well, you can estimate the dietary intake- just from sequences from human stool. Check this amazing work out by @cdiener.com @gibbological.bsky.social @kl-fil.bsky.social and others: bsky.app/profile/cdie...

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Reposted by Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D.

Andy Goodman @agoodmanct.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

Starting my Bluesky adventure by highlighting a new paper from the lab!

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Cat Hicks @grimalkina.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

In this moment the values of orgs that have values are really shining through

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Reposted by Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D.

Atin Sharma @atinsharma.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

Debate around the 'Brain microbiome' is not the first or the last time when the presumed sterility of the internal organs is questioned. What's important is to know how to traverse this treacherous path. We address this in this month's editorial. #microbiomesky #microsky 🦠 shorturl.at/Zzfd3

shorturl.at

Ensuring rigour of low-biomass microbiome research - Nature Microbiology

Determining whether human organs house a resident microbiome is challenging and the findings can be controversial. However, forging collaborations and careful study design can help overcome these issu...

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Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D. @anamaporras.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

A mini-grant like this one from #TwoPhotonArt is what funded all my supplies for ~2-3 years of my #MicrobeMondays and #MicroMartes series when I was a postdoc. Apply!!!

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Reposted by Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D.

Sarah McAnulty, Ph.D. @sarahmackattack.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

Reminder! Science IRL mini-grant applications are due February 14! These grants are to support IN PERSON science communication projects in the US that reach science disinterested people, and ideally encourage concrete action in the audience. Apply here! docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

docs.google.com

SCIENCE IRL: Community SciComm mini-grant

Skype a Scientist is offering $300-$1,000 mini-grants to support boots-on-the-ground science communication. The Science IRL mini-grants will support projects that put either 1) important science mess...

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Reposted by Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D.

David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈 @whysharksmatter.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

Yes, this is the lab that hosts “drag and tag,” shark tagging research with drag queens that raises money for Florida LGBTQ youth. We could sure use your support, and you get an amazing adventure out of it! www.scientificamerican.com/article/drag...

scientificamerican.com

Drag Queens Tag Sharks in Annual Florida Science Celebration

The annual “Drag ’n Tag” expedition takes place amid a wave of antitransgender legislation

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Reposted by Ana Maria Porras, Ph.D.

Lisa Dilling @ldilling.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

Now seems like a good time to say that anti-discrimination policies like DEI do not oppose merit-based hiring. They are intended to expand the pool of talent considered for jobs and hired based on merit. In the past organizations only hired a subset of the talent available because of discrimination.

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