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Christman Lab

@christmanlab.bsky.social
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Lab of Prof. Karen L. Christman, Prof. of Bioeng'g and Assoc. Dean for Faculty, Co-Director Sanford Advanced Therapy Center, UC San Diego; co-EIC npj Regenerative Medicine christman.ucsd.edu

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UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering @jacobsschool.bsky.social · 08/07/2025
Why is #NIHfunding critical to early-stage clinical research? @ucsandiego.bsky.social #bioengineering professor Karen Christman explains. Biomaterials from the @christmanlab.bsky.social are in clinical trials to heal heart conditions, from heart attacks to congenital defects.
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American Institute for Medical & Biological Engineering (AIMBE) @aimbe-official.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
AIMBE has launched our new Citizen Advocate for Science Letter: takeaction.io/aimbe/scienc... We ask the broader scientific community to widely share this letter (✍️ <1 minute) with friends, family, and other concerned citizens to urge their elected officials to protect biomedical research funding 👇
aimbe.org
Write Your Lawmakers - AIMBE
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Elizabeth Villa @thevillalab.bsky.social · 10/06/2025
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Marcy Zenobi-Wong @zenobilab.bsky.social · 09/06/2025
The latest tissue we are tackling is the mammary gland www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
science.org
Volumetric printed biomimetic scaffolds support in vitro lactation of human milk-derived mammary epithelial cells
3D-printed breast tissue models pave the way for cutting-edge lactation research.
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Brendan Harley @profharley.bsky.social · 07/06/2025
The astounding contribution of US academic science to new medicines www.statnews.com/2025/06/06/u...
statnews.com
We set out to quantify U.S. academic contributions to medicines. The results stunned even us
From 2020 to 2024, universities contributed patents underpinning 50% of FDA-approved drugs. 87% of those academic breakthroughs came from American institutions.
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Prof. Brian Aguado @brianaguado.bsky.social · 07/06/2025
Huge congrats to Brandon Vogt & friends on our on Science Advances @science.org paper!!! We leveraged hydrogel biomaterials & AI tools from Dean Ho’s lab at NUS to determine sex-dependent drug combinations that target valve myofibroblasts! 🎯 www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... @jacobsschool.bsky.social
Celebrating the latest Aguado Lab publication with a Strawberry Fraisier cake! L to R smiling: Megan Chavez, co-author, Brandon Vogt, first author, and Brian Aguado, senior author/PI.
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UC San Diego Program in Materials Science and Engineering @ucsd-mats.bsky.social · 02/06/2025
Congratulations Professor Shi (@stimulatedraman.bsky.social) for your outstanding work imaging diseased tissue. Your contributions will no doubt lead to life-saving cures. Our gratitude to you! today.ucsd.edu/story/a-clea...
today.ucsd.edu
A Clearer Look at Diabetic Kidney Disease via New Optical Imaging Technology
Researchers have developed a powerful new way to look inside kidney tissues, without needing to stain or damage the tissue samples. The new technique reveals early signs of disease often missed by tra...
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Drug Monkey @drugmonkey.bsky.social · 28/05/2025
Could be huge. Especially for those terminated in the anti-DEI purge. "...NIH will allow individuals whose mentored career development awards prematurely ended on or after January 1, 2025, to be eligible to apply for a new mentored career development award" grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
grants.nih.gov
NOT-OD-25-115: Notice of Temporary Policy Exception to NIH Grants Policy Statement (NIHGPS) Section 12.3.7 to Permit Continued Eligibility for Mentored Career Development Award When an Award Ended Ear...
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts: Notice of Temporary Policy Exception to NIH Grants Policy Statement (NIHGPS) Section 12.3.7 to Permit Continued Eligibi...
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Jon Freeman @freemanjb.bsky.social · 21/05/2025
🚨 A new rule would let career scientists like NSF/NIH program officers be replaced by political appointees Already 14,000+ public comments, deadline is Friday 📣 Comments can be short. Courts consider them—and scientists with NSF/NIH experience are especially impactful Speak up! shorturl.at/WKuBj
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Cathy Gao-Howard MD MS @catgaohow.bsky.social · 18/05/2025
Northwestern has not received any NIH funds since March. No written communication about why or what can be done. Thank you Ben Singer for raising awareness at #ATS2025
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Neil deGrasse Tyson @neildegrassetyson.com · 17/05/2025
The 80-year recipe stoking America’s Prosperity: 1) Free-market capital investments in brilliant ideas… 2) enabled by Engineering Innovations… 3) based on Science Research in Universities… 4) funded by Grants from the US Government. It’s time more people understood this.
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Alondra Nelson @alondra.bsky.social · 13/05/2025
"For me, the answer now lies in refusal, the withdrawal of participation from systems that require dishonesty as the price of belonging." Today I am resigning from the National Science Board and the Library of Congress Scholars Council. I wrote about my decision in TIME. time.com/7285045/resi...
time.com
Why I’m Resigning from the NSF and Library of Congress
I cannot participate in systems that require dishonesty as the price of belonging.
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Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 09/05/2025
Well this is truly insane...
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Kim Weeden @weedenkim.bsky.social · 07/05/2025
One of grants frozen at Cornell: $6.7M (4 yrs) to develop heart pumps for babies born w/ heart defects. It took decades of work to get to point of prepping device for in-human clinical trials. No private company could do this. The cruelty of the Trump administration is heartbreaking. So to speak.
news.cornell.edu
Research at risk: Life-saving heart pumps for babies | Cornell Chronicle
After receiving a stop-work order from the federal government, the future of a device to help children with heart defects is uncertain.
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Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 07/05/2025
New Notice on No Cost Extensions (or lack thereof) grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
grants.nih.gov
NOT-OD-25-110: Updated NIH Processes for No-Cost Extensions
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts: Updated NIH Processes for No-Cost Extensions NOT-OD-25-110. NIH
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American Institute for Medical & Biological Engineering (AIMBE) @aimbe-official.bsky.social · 05/05/2025
🚨 AIMBE is calling on the biomedical research community to take a minute to send our 3 new advocacy letters urging Congress to: 1. Protect the STEM Training Pipeline (e.g., NIH MOSAIC, T32s, MARC, etc.) 2. Oppose Indirect Cost Caps 3. Support Research Funding in FY2026 aimbe.org/advocate/wri...
A screen capture of the AIMBE advocacy webpage with 3 advocacy letters outlined in red boxes: STEM Training Pipeline, NIH & NSF Indirect Cost Caps, and FY26 Funding.
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Christman Lab @christmanlab.bsky.social · 28/04/2025
Great work with our long time collaborator Nathan Gianneschi, PhD on a new minimally invasive treatment strategy for acute myocardial infarction with implication for other inflammatory and ischemic conditions. Our outstanding former PhD students Josh Mesfin and Kendal Carrow, PhD led the work.
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Dr. Lucky Tran @luckytran.com · 28/04/2025
Deaths from heart disease down 75%, that’s NIH. Deaths from stroke down 75%, that’s NIH. HIV/AIDS no longer a death sentence, that’s NIH. 99% of FDA approved drugs in the last decade, that’s NIH. Please show this video to anyone who doesn’t understand why the NIH is so important.
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Erika Cyphert, PhD @elcyphert-phd.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
Big milestone for the Cyphert lab - check out our first publication in npj Antimicrobials and Resistance! This paper was led by a team of amazing grad students: Tanya, Aryak, and Yumie and undergraduates Julie, Arlene, and Sidhant. @jacobsschool.bsky.social #newPI www.nature.com/articles/s44...
nature.com
Leveraging the microbiome to combat antibiotic resistant gynecological infections
npj Antimicrobials and Resistance - Leveraging the microbiome to combat antibiotic resistant gynecological infections
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UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering @jacobsschool.bsky.social · 25/04/2025
Congratulations to #computerscience Professor Ryan Kastner, honored for exceptional undergraduate mentorship by there Computing Research Association! This is a first for @ucsandiego.bsky.social! Kastner is also a @qi-ucsd.bsky.social affiliate. today.ucsd.edu/story/comput...
today.ucsd.edu
Computer Science Professor Earns Undergraduate Mentorship Award for Going the Extra Mile, Literally
Ryan Kastner, a professor in the Jacobs School of Engineering’s Department of Computer Science and Engineering, recently received the prestigious award for undergraduate research faculty mentoring fro...
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Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
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
media.tenor.com
the word alert is in a purple circle
ALT: the word alert is in a purple circle
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Prof. Brian Aguado @brianaguado.bsky.social · 11/04/2025
POV: Plenary lecture at the Society For Biomaterials - definitely my best SFB selfie yet! 📸 Thank you to the SFB community for the 2025 Young Investigator Award - my lab is committed to our mission to understand sex chromosome biology & develop better treatments for all! @jacobsschool.bsky.social
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Elaine Jeong @elainejeong.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
Next week, I will be at Humanities Unlocking Biomaterials' inaugural meeting and 50th Annual Meeting of Society For Biomaterials in Chicago! Come meet me to discuss your work and learn about Cell Biomaterials! #HUB, #SFB, #Biomaterials
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Eric Topol @erictopol.bsky.social · 31/03/2025
On a letter I signed www.nytimes.com/2025/03/31/s...
nytimes.com
Trump Administration Has Begun a War on Science, Researchers Say (Gift Article)
Nearly 2,000 scientists urged that Congress restore funding to federal agencies decimated by recent cuts.
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Gregg Gonsalves @gregggonsalves.bsky.social · 29/03/2025
As I was saying #RFKJr, #Trump, #Musk and #Vought are intent on destroying science, public health and healthcare in America.
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Christman Lab @christmanlab.bsky.social · 28/03/2025
Honored to be elected an AAAS fellow. I've been very fortunate to work with a great team of staff, students, and postdocs at UC San Diego. Funding from the NIH has led to our work being translated to patients, and I'm hoping this critical funding can continue so we can further impact patient lives.
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Mark Cuban @mcuban.bsky.social · 22/03/2025
From 2010 to 2016 (latest data I have ), NIH research contributed to EVERY drug approved by the FDA
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Lola Eniola-Adefeso @lolauic.bsky.social · 13/03/2025
If you are attending #SFB, please consider joining our Biomaterials Network Meeting!
Calling all biomaterial scientists and computational researchers to attend the Biomaterials Network Annual meeting April 8 in Chicago.
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American Institute for Medical & Biological Engineering (AIMBE) @aimbe-official.bsky.social · 11/03/2025
The 3/14 deadline to finalize the FY2025 budget is fast approaching! ⌛ AIMBE has developed a new advocacy letter (<1 min to send) for the scientific community to urge Congress to support our federal science agencies, including NIH, NSF, FDA, ARPA-H, CDMRP, and more 👇 takeaction.io/aimbe/suppor...
takeaction.io
Support Strong FY25 Funding for Biomedical Research by March 14
Use AIMBE's letter template below, edit as needed, or create your own message to your Members of Congress on issues that matter. Enter your contact information on the left, and your letter will be rou...
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UC San Diego @ucsandiego.bsky.social · 06/03/2025
At UC San Diego, Dr. Dan Kaufman is developing immune-based therapies using engineered natural killer (NK) cells to combat aggressive liver cancer. With NIH support, his work offers new hope—but without it, life-saving advancements could stall. bit.ly/4bwGHrG
Researchers at every UC campus and five comprehensive cancer centers are pushing cancer research in bold new directions and extending life-saving treatments and prevention strategies to more people who need them. But the nation’s bedrock source of public funding for biomedical research is under attack.
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Lola Eniola-Adefeso @lolauic.bsky.social · 20/02/2025
DEI initiatives remain lawful under federal law and Supreme Court precedent - see public memo nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...
nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com
OGC Memo re Trump DEI and SFFA 2025 02 20.pdf | Powered by Box
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Brendan Harley @profharley.bsky.social · 20/02/2025
Why I Study Cancer The cancers that are fatal today don't have to be tomorrow. Support for biomedical research enables generational shifts in how we treat cancer. What a privilege to work at @cancercenteril. Work funded by National Institutes of Health www.instagram.com/reel/DGTUxwD...
Screenshot of video of Brendan Harley - Why I study cancer
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BWJones @bwjones.bsky.social · 20/02/2025
It’s @katherinejwu.com with the receipts. The NIH memo undercutting the NIH came directly from Trump officials. www.theatlantic.com/health/archi...
theatlantic.com
The NIH Memo That Undercut Universities Came Directly From Trump Officials
NIH officials said they were given no advance warning and less than an hour to post the memo publicly.
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Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 19/02/2025
Very important to get this word out!
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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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Ardem Patapoutian @ardemp.bskyverified.social · 19/02/2025
I expect that most academic biomedical researchers have considered leaving the US—if only in theory for now. What a colossal mess! Our representatives need to hear this. Please amplify so they know this matters. @levin.house.gov @repscottpeters.bsky.social @schiff.senate.gov @padilla.senate.gov
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UC San Diego @ucsandiego.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
For decades, NIH funding has fueled breakthroughs in cancer, heart disease and more. But a new policy puts progress at risk. We’re asking Congress to oppose this abrupt change. Email your lawmakers! 🔗 Learn more & advocate: bit.ly/42Y7Ukv
bit.ly
Protect research funding
Federal funding for biomedical research is under threat.
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Prof. Brian Aguado @brianaguado.bsky.social · 19/02/2025
CZI announced today they decided to not continue with the second round of the Science Diversity Leadership Awards. I am beyond upset for the applicants that held on to hope that CZI would continue supporting the necessary work.
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Carolyn Bertozzi @carolynbertozzi.bskyverified.social · 12/02/2025
Well said @dereklowe.bsky.social. Academia produces two vital products: (1) knowledge, and (2) human capital that knows how to use it. If we can’t train enough young creative US scientists to fulfill biopharma industry needs… “I think they're being short-sighted, because fear does that to you.”
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Prof. Brian Aguado @brianaguado.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
Receiving the 2025 Society For Biomaterials Young Investigator Award is a dream come true! 🏆 SFB has always been my career home - I’ll showcase my lab’s work and commitment to understand sex as a biological variable at multiple length scales using biomaterials! 🙏❤️ biomaterials.org/publications...
Headshots of the 2025 Society for Biomaterials award recipients.

FOUNDERS AWARD:
Nicholas P. Ziats, PhD, Case Western Reserve University

C. WILLIAM HALL AWARD:
Jennifer E. Woodell-May, PhD, Zimmer Biomet

SOCIETY FOR BIOMATERIALS AWARD FOR SERVICE:
Shelly E. Sakiyama-Elbert, PhD, University of Washington

TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT AWARD:
Ashutosh Chilkoti, PhD, Duke University

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION AWARD:
BME UNITE Future Faculty Program

CLEMSON AWARD FOR APPLIED RESEARCH:
Ke Cheng, PhD, Columbia University

CLEMSON AWARD FOR BASIC RESEARCH:
Kara Spiller, PhD, Drexel University

CLEMSON AWARD FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LITERATURE:
Jeremy L. Gilbert, PhD, Clemson University

MID-CAREER AWARD:
Cole A. DeForest, PhD, University of Washington

YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARD:
Brian Aguado, PhD, University of California San Diego

STUDENT AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING RESEARCH | PhD CATEGORY
Nghia Le Ba Thai, Syracuse University 

C. WILLIAM HALL – UNDERGRADUATE TRAVEL SCHOLARSHIP
Benjamin Nachod, University of Pennsylvania

CATO T. LAURENCIN, MD, PHD - UNDERGRADUATE TRAVEL FELLOWSHIP
Milani Needam, North Carolina A&T State University
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Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 13/02/2025
Bluetorial: The rationale for the “NIH” indirect cost “plan” is based on misunderstood (unintentional or intentional) accounting and math The value of real government transparency
media.tenor.com
a cartoon of homer simpson holding a card
ALT: a cartoon of homer simpson holding a card
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Peyton Lab @peytonlab.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
Join us at the HUB annual meeting! It's directly before the #SFB annual meeting - so easy for you biomaterials folks. one day meeting, packed with great speakers and networking, and an opportunity for pilot grant $$!!!
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American Institute for Medical & Biological Engineering (AIMBE) @aimbe-official.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
Register for free to attend the inaugural @hubcenter.bsky.social Annual Meeting on April 8, 2025: forms.gle/3b5mtqhrXdmf... We encourage faculty and trainees attending the Society for Biomaterials (SFB) conference to check out the HUB's pilot grant and networking opportunities 👇
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UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering @jacobsschool.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
Congratulations to @ucsandiego.bsky.social Professor Kiana Aran, a faculty member in our #bioengineering department and in the @ucsdmedschool.bsky.social! She is one of 3 inaugural winners of the Sony #WomeninTechnology Award with @nature.com! today.ucsd.edu/story/uc-san...
today.ucsd.edu
UC San Diego Professor Honored by Sony and Nature for Bioengineering Research
Bioengineering Professor Kiana Aran is one of three inaugural winners of the Sony Women in Technology Award with Nature. She is recognized for her pioneering work fusing biology with electronics to en...
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Kelly Stevens @kellystevens.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
$100k in pilot funds! Come and get it. Join us for the *free* HUB annual meeting, April 8 day before SFB. See more below.
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Christman Lab @christmanlab.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
Come join us at the HUB meeting and learn about biomaterial translation and computational approaches, plus learn how to apply for $100K pilot grants! April 8th, Day before Society for Biomaterials meeting in Chicago. Registration is free.
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