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Jorge E. Contreras

@drcontrexin.bsky.social
624 followers 363 following 136 posts

Professor at @ucdavis.bsky.social. Here for science and 'connexting'. But, I'm still lurking on Twitter to monitor the chaos of the nasty world.

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Jorge E. Contreras @drcontrexin.bsky.social · 21/11/2025
Human greed will corrupt whatever idealistic vision they promise. What they call a utopia is likely to become a dystopia for most people (Elysium is coming…)
youtube.com
Elon Musk predicts AI will lead to work being 'optional' and money 'irrelevant'
YouTube video by Associated Press
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Jorge E. Contreras @drcontrexin.bsky.social · 25/08/2025
Vietnam blew me away… but the people? Absolutely THE BEST 🇻🇳❤️
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Theanne Griffith, PhD 🇧🇧👩🏽‍🔬🇭🇷 @doctheagrif.bsky.social · 25/08/2025
These supernumerary synapses are pruned in a proprioceptor-activity dependent manner. A cool finding was that impaired proprioceptor activity fails to induce expression of proteins in the complement signaling cascade, which we hypothesized leads to persistent intersegmental synapses.
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Theanne Griffith, PhD 🇧🇧👩🏽‍🔬🇭🇷 @doctheagrif.bsky.social · 25/08/2025
Happy to share the my lab's latest preprint, where we investigated sensorimotor circuit formation in the developing spinal cord. We show that proprioceptive axons target motor neurons in neighboring spinal segments to give rise to intersegmental reflex responses. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
biorxiv.org
Activity-driven proprioceptive synaptic refinement in the developing spinal cord by complement signaling mechanisms
Proprioceptive group Ia afferents detect muscle stretch to guide effortless and purposeful movement and make monosynaptic connections with spinal α–motor neurons to mediate reflexes, such as the stret...
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Theanne Griffith, PhD 🇧🇧👩🏽‍🔬🇭🇷 @doctheagrif.bsky.social · 03/08/2025
On our way to the FASEB Ion Channel Regulation Meeting! Passed by a lovely exhibition at SFO. Surprised to see it still standing! ✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾 @drcontrexin.bsky.social
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Jorge E. Contreras @drcontrexin.bsky.social · 29/07/2025
Large-pore channels: the Transformers of membrane proteins, versatile, dramatic, and never just selective or passive conduits. Not just simple (typical) ion channels, they’re molecular multitaskers we’re beginning to comprehend. Don’t miss the first-ever special issue dedicated to this!
physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Current advances in large‐pore channels: From structure–function to physiology and disease
Click on the article title to read more.
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Society of General Physiologists @sgpweb.bsky.social · 02/07/2025
Announcing the new SGP Rising Star Travel Awards for students and postdocs. The $500 awards can be used for meetings held up to 1 year from notification. Apply today! Deadline: 1 August 2025 sgpweb.org/awards/risingstar
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Alt NIH Bluesky 🧪 @altnih4science.bsky.social · 24/07/2025
The real war is on free thought in the United States. Scientists must fight alongside other academics.
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Nanocardiology Lab @nanocardiology.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
Very cool study! I suspect we're only beginning to understand the importance of communication between myocytes and the vasculature. The more we understand the better we can intercept pathological remodeling processes.
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Fernando Santana @lfsantana68.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
Manning & Rivera et al. (www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/...) show that pruning just a few capillaries in the SA node plunges the heart’s pacemaker into metabolic overdraft—slowing the rate and jacking up beat-to-beat variability. The physiological equivalent of running on fumes. @jaccjournals.bsky.social
jacc.org
Microvascular Rarefaction in the Sinoatrial Node: A Potential Mechanism for Pacemaker Dysfunction in Early HFpEF
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Jorge E. Contreras @drcontrexin.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
Exciting news! The EPIC/SGP Symposium at UC Davis will be accompanied by a special issue in the Journal of General Physiology. Stay tuned for more details about this incredible event celebrating cutting-edge research on ion channels!
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James Fallows @jfallows.bsky.social · 21/07/2025
1/2 Really interesting @washingtonpost.com story on end of "bracero" program. By Susan Svrluga/ Joanna Slater/ Terell Wright www.washingtonpost.com/history/2025... Zelig dept: I was among high schoolers taking "opportunity" to do field work, newly opened to "real" Americans. An eye-opener
washingtonpost.com
In 1965, the government tried replacing migrant workers with high-schoolers. It was a disaster.
When the migrant-worker bracero program expired in 1965, the government recruited groups of high school male athletes to step into the fields. It was a disaster.
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Jorge E. Contreras @drcontrexin.bsky.social · 15/07/2025
Well, it’s not like I ever felt safe with the Hillary faction reviewers either. But I’m sure academia’s love for Bernie Bros is now under peer review 😅
nature.com
Exclusive: NIH to dismiss dozens of grant reviewers to align with Trump priorities
The move would undo years of work, leaving advisory councils understaffed, and without the full expertise needed for reviews.
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Jorge E. Contreras @drcontrexin.bsky.social · 11/07/2025
Former Obama advisor, Ben Rhodes, is absolutely right! You can't trust someone who’s an AIPAC puppet to lead with integrity on issues like healthcare or education. If they sell out on war and genocide, they'll sell out anywhere!
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Jorge E. Contreras @drcontrexin.bsky.social · 28/06/2025
Grateful that Nature had the courage to publish on the mass death in Gaza. As scientists, we can’t stay silent while lives are erased. Our work means nothing if we ignore injustice.
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Jorge E. Contreras @drcontrexin.bsky.social · 24/06/2025
Been doing this since 2019 #AbolishICE
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Jorge E. Contreras @drcontrexin.bsky.social · 21/06/2025
They didn’t come to LA just to mock a U.S. senator, they came to save you from the terrifying threat of Latinos existing. Because clearly that’s the crisis. Not poverty, not war, not climate, just too many Josés. Truth is, they lost this battle before it even started.
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ACLU @aclu.org · 20/06/2025
BREAKING: In a unanimous decision, a federal court of appeals has ruled that Louisiana's law requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in all public school classrooms is unconstitutional. We’ll keep saying it: Public schools are not Sunday schools.
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Theanne Griffith, PhD 🇧🇧👩🏽‍🔬🇭🇷 @doctheagrif.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
I think it’s important to note that @elisazhang.bsky.social and I literally organized a whole @standupforscience.bsky.social rally in Sacramento while also preparing for perhaps one of the most important interview of our lives… so honored to call her my colleague and friend!!!
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UC Davis Physiology @ucd-physiology.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
Congratulations to all the amazing scientists named 2025 Freeman Hrabowski Scholars by HHMI. We’re immensely honored to have two #PMB faculty members, @doctheagrif.bsky.social and @elisazhang.bsky.social , among this inspiring group. An incredible and well-deserved achievement! @ucdavis.bsky.social
hhmi.org
The 2025 Freeman Hrabowski Scholars | HHMI
Freeman Hrabowski Scholars are outstanding early career faculty who have the potential to become leaders in their research fields.
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Jorge E. Contreras @drcontrexin.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
Very proud husband moment: my wife just pulled off a rare double, 2025 HHMI Freeman Hrabowski and McKnight Scholar! 🎉 Huge congrats as well to my colleagues Elisa and Sergey. A big moment for @ucd-physiology.bsky.social While they prep the party, we’re heading off to celebrate in Barbados! 🎉🏖️🐬
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Theanne Griffith, PhD 🇧🇧👩🏽‍🔬🇭🇷 @doctheagrif.bsky.social · 15/06/2025
Happy Father’s Day to the best daddy out there 💙💙💙 @drcontrexin.bsky.social
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Theanne Griffith, PhD 🇧🇧👩🏽‍🔬🇭🇷 @doctheagrif.bsky.social · 14/06/2025
BTS
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Indivisible Yolo - located in Yolo County CA 🚫👑 @indivisibleyolo.bsky.social · 15/06/2025
www.reddit.com/r/Davis/s/aa...
reddit.com
From the Davis community on Reddit: No Kings! Almost 4000 showed up for the Yolo country rally. Thank you everyone for participating!
Posted by Rpdaca - 105 votes and 7 comments
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Jorge E. Contreras @drcontrexin.bsky.social · 15/06/2025
My wife...
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Jorge E. Contreras @drcontrexin.bsky.social · 11/06/2025
I rolled with AOC back when “Brand New Congress” sounded like a band name 😁
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Jorge E. Contreras @drcontrexin.bsky.social · 05/06/2025
Anyone else feeling the urge to temporarily reinstall Twitter? Musk and Trump are in a public ego meltdown over there 😂
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Zeteo @zeteo.com · 03/06/2025
This Israeli TV Channel has literally been inciting “genocide” onto thousands of screens. Read @premthakker.bsky.social's story: zeteo.com/p/inside-the...
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Jorge E. Contreras @drcontrexin.bsky.social · 26/05/2025
BottleRock, baby! California’s got the vibe! "Don't wanna be an American idiot"
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Democracy Now! @democracynow.org · 22/05/2025
U.K. MP Jeremy Corbyn & EU MP Lynn Boylan on Europe Pressuring Israel to Halt Atrocities in Gaza
democracynow.org
U.K. MP Jeremy Corbyn & EU MP Lynn Boylan on Europe Pressuring Israel to Halt Atrocities in Gaza
International criticism of Israel continues to grow as the country’s military expands its assault on Gaza, killing scores of Palestinians on a daily basis while blocking food, fuel, medicine and other...
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Theanne Griffith, PhD 🇧🇧👩🏽‍🔬🇭🇷 @doctheagrif.bsky.social · 20/05/2025
@sfn.org elections close at 2P PT/5 PM ET TODAY! Both Ellen Lumpkin and Irene Tracey have both been nominated for Council. I encourage you to vote for strong voices (like theirs!) in SfN Leadership during this time of uncertainty. www.directvote.net/SFN/login.as...
directvote.net
DirectVote Election: Login
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johnedwinmason @johnedwinmason.bsky.social · 20/05/2025
The kids are all right. (Some of them anyway.)
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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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Theanne Griffith, PhD 🇧🇧👩🏽‍🔬🇭🇷 @doctheagrif.bsky.social · 16/05/2025
In SF supporting CA science and SB829 which would create an independent California Science Institute. This would allow innovation to thrive here despite the federal BS. @scottwiener.bsky.social @drcontrexin.bsky.social
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Needhi Bhalla 💅🏽 @needhibhalla.bsky.social · 13/05/2025
"Women are PIs on 58% of the canceled grants, although they are PIs on only 34% of all active NSF grants. Similarly, Blacks are PIs on 17% of the terminated grants, although they make only 4% of the total pool. Hispanic PIs and those with disabilities were twice as likely to lose a grant."
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UC Davis Physiology @ucd-physiology.bsky.social · 11/05/2025
Happy Mother's Day! To all the brilliant and caring research lab moms out there, your “cell-fless” dedication and love is the nucleus of your work and your home. Have a great day!🌞🫶 🔬
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UC Davis Physiology @ucd-physiology.bsky.social · 09/05/2025
Check out this new review from #PMB Contreras Lab!
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Pam Herd @pamherd.bsky.social · 07/05/2025
Brutal account of what it’s like to teach at the University of Florida right now in the NYT—extraordinary climate of fear. People afraid to say intersectional and talk about lynchings. Fake students trying to entrap Muslim faculty or just making things up altogether. www.nytimes.com/2025/05/07/o...
In the three years since Ron DeSantis set out to rid Florida’s universities of woke ideology, my campus changed significantly. Professors suddenly worried about what they could say and teach. Some started avoiding terms like “racism.” One student recently told me that when someone used “intersectional” in class, the instructor told her not to use that word.

One colleague told me that he stopped assigning an article about lynching and white evangelicalism for fear that those terms could raise red flags. Another said she was censoring her language not just in class and on campus but also on personal social media.

Several professors have been subjected to efforts at entrapment. Last year a man posing as a student tried to encourage Muslim faculty members to criticize Mr. DeSantis and Israel. A similar incident happened to me. In October 2024 my department chair called me into his office to tell me that someone claiming to be a student in my Religion and Science class had complained that I spent 20 minutes talking about specific candidates, including who I was voting for and why. I was stunned. That never happened in that class or any other; it is antithetical to the way I teach. Fortunately
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Jorge E. Contreras @drcontrexin.bsky.social · 05/05/2025
Every cardiac physiologist knows that remodeling of cardiac Cx43 is bad news for the heart. But the story goes beyond just the loss of intercellular coupling. In our new review, we explore the emerging role of Cx43 hemichannels as key players in cardiac disease.
physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Connexin‐43 remodelling and arrhythmias: hemichannels as key drivers of cardiac dysfunction
Abstract figure legend Connexin 43 (Cx43) is an integral membrane protein that assembles as hexamers to form hemichannels. In healthy hearts Cx43 hemichannels are primarily located at the intercalate...
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UC Davis Physiology @ucd-physiology.bsky.social · 03/05/2025
New on Physiology Talks podcast🎤🔬: Episode #3 features research published from #PMB Zhang Lab @elisazhang.bsky.social @ucdavis.bsky.social — it explores how uterine injury from procedures like C-sections can affect future pregnancy outcomes. Note: podcast uses AI. open.spotify.com/episode/3Z0u...
open.spotify.com
#3: Uterine Injury—Zhang Lab
UC Davis PMB—Physiology Talks · Episode
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Jorge E. Contreras @drcontrexin.bsky.social · 03/05/2025
Cali, let's roll!
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Dr. Lucky Tran @luckytran.com · 02/05/2025
The Human Genome Project cost taxpayers $3 Billion. Two decades on, it has generated a staggering return on investment of $1 Trillion, with benefits in medicine, agriculture, energy, the environment, & more. If you want to boost the economy, funding science is one of the best things you could do.
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Ardem Patapoutian @ardemp.bskyverified.social · 03/05/2025
The president is recommending a 40% cut to next year’s NIH budget. This would be disastrous for our nation’s health and economy. Please contact your representatives, especially if they are Republicans, and tell them why this cannot happen. An easy option: 5calls.org
5calls.org
5 Calls
Spend 5 minutes. Make 5 calls. Make your voice heard.
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UC Davis @ucdavis.bsky.social · 29/04/2025
Well this makes walks through the Arbo a bit more interesting 🐍
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Carl T. Bergstrom @carlbergstrom.com · 29/04/2025
The man at left separated the mother and baby at right. The mother is now in Venezuela. Baby daughter, in foster care in the US, exact location unknown. Dad? He's in CECOT prison without trial — because he had tattoos.
Stephen MillerMother and young baby wearing a pink hat
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Theanne Griffith, PhD 🇧🇧👩🏽‍🔬🇭🇷 @doctheagrif.bsky.social · 29/04/2025
Saw this guy on an afternoon walk through the @ucdavis.bsky.social arboretum with @drcontrexin.bsky.social! Never saw one so big in the wild. Easily 3+ feet long 😳
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Jorge E. Contreras @drcontrexin.bsky.social · 28/04/2025
Had a great time at the Heart Rhythm Society meeting! It was my first invitation to speak at a cardiac-focused meeting, presenting our recent work on connexins and arrhythmias. Plus, there were free lattes and drinks, and, as usual, San Diego was fantastic!
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AAUP @aaup.org · 24/04/2025
💥BOOM💥 “The preservation of one institution’s integrity is the concern of all, and an infringement against one member university of the Big Ten shall be considered an infringement against all.”
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Jorge E. Contreras @drcontrexin.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
Nobel laureate Maria Ressa: "What rights you lose today, you will not get back." "If you value your rights, you stand up for them. You hold the line." "Silence is complicity, silence gives approval to create a new normal."
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UC Davis Physiology @ucd-physiology.bsky.social · 22/04/2025
The Earth has a rhythm, like a heartbeat. From tides to trees, its balance sustains life. Today, we celebrate this fundamental pulse." 🌍🫀 #EarthDay
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