iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Jason Shepherd @jasonsynaptic.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Another wild story of transposons doing transposon things..except this a conserved primate GENE important for protein translation in neurons that seems to have “jumped” into a human specific virus 🤯.

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Jason Shepherd @jasonsynaptic.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Took a covid booster plus flu shot yesterday. Have been taking Novavax when I can find it but no other option this time…forgot how I react to the mRNA vaccine. My immune system went wrrrrr 😅

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Jason Shepherd @jasonsynaptic.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

“Direct cell-to-cell transmission of retrotransposons” The line between viruses, retrotransposons, and domesticated retroviruses continues to blur! www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...

cell.com

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Mark Histed @markhisted.org · 23/09/2026

Can confirm (see 🧵 ). But let me share some optimism. A NIH colleague said today that against all odds, NIH has been…winning. “We made this EO a necessity. We fought hard. We threw sand in all the gears. All the lowdown ways of blocking grants failed to produce the results Vought et al wanted.”

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Jason Shepherd @jasonsynaptic.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Your moment of zen as you go into the weekend! Milford Sound, New Zealand 🇳🇿 📷

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Jason Shepherd @jasonsynaptic.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

I need…and probably everyone else needs..more time in places with no cell service! Like here in Fiordland, New Zealand 🇳🇿 📷

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Jason Shepherd @jasonsynaptic.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Have neglected my photography the past year. Finally had a moment to breathe and go through some pics from our Milford Sound hike in New Zealand last year. 📷 🏞️

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Jason Shepherd @jasonsynaptic.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

My department is hiring! Come join a vibrant and thriving neuroscience group. New faculty are exceptionally well supported and we offer a very collaborative/collegial environment. employment.utah.edu/salt-lake-ci...

employment.utah.edu

Founded in 1850, The University of Utah is the flagship institution of higher learning in Utah, and offers over 100 undergraduate and more than 90 graduate degree programs to over 30,000 students. University of Utah Jobs

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Jason Shepherd @jasonsynaptic.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

NoA 🎉 day! This job is not for the faint of heart. Got to take the wins where you can. Thanks to my lab for their perseverance and to the NIH staff trying their best to keep things going.

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Jason Shepherd @jasonsynaptic.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Having serious FOMO of the solar eclipse today. It’s a magical experience. Here’s a shot I took in Idaho when we got to experience totality in the US!

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Jason Shepherd @jasonsynaptic.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Let me know if you’re interested in getting involved with IBRO! Now, more than ever, we need to find ways of strengthening international relationships and collaborations..and supporting neuroscience in under-resourced communities across the globe. 🧠 🧪 ibro.org/ibro-2026-el...

ibro.org

Call for nominations: Join IBRO in electing new members of its five Regional Committees

Join IBRO in electing new members of its five Regional Committees. IBRO's Governing Council can submit their proposal by 15 Aug 2026.

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Tomás Ryan @tjryan.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Announcing #engramsensembles '27, to be held at @tcddublin next May. Registration and abstract submission will open in autumn 2026.

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Jason Shepherd @jasonsynaptic.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Can you imagine the shitstorm if this had been done by a democratic president?! This is not a functioning Republic.

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Jason Shepherd @jasonsynaptic.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

This is exactly how I feel and exactly what needs to be said and done about this govt BS! “The Trump administration hates academic science funding, full stop.” www.science.org/content/blog...

science.org

The Assault On Science Funding Continues

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Jason Shepherd @jasonsynaptic.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Our paper is out in this week's issue of Cell! Personally, I think our cover submission by @drawimpacts.bsky.social was more exciting 😅 www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...

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Jason Shepherd @jasonsynaptic.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

The @ibroorg.bsky.social World Congress program committee has finalized a 🔥 keynote and special lecture line up. Stay tuned! In the meantime, symposia submissions are still open. Join us in Cape Town next year for this unique global neuroscience meeting! ibroworldcongress.org/open-calls/c...

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Jason Shepherd @jasonsynaptic.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Quick stop in BOS on our way to Barcelona!

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Jason Shepherd @jasonsynaptic.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Quick stop in BOS on our way to Barcelona!

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Jason Shepherd @jasonsynaptic.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Talked to staff in Senator Mike Lee’s office today about the OMB proposals that will change how grant decisions will be made. Thanks to @standupforscience.net for organizing the meeting. We all need to be doing what we can right now, in addition to making comments on the official online portal.

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Jason Shepherd @jasonsynaptic.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Very excited for our new paper, now out in @cellcellpress.bsky.social! /🧵 The protein Tau forms intracellular toxic tangles in neurons in Alzheimer’s disease and Tauopathies. Tau pathology slowly spreads from cell-to-cell but the mechanisms are not clear /1 authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S...

authors.elsevier.com

Arc mediates intercellular tau transmission via extracellular vesicles

Tau pathology spreads cell to cell, but the mechanisms of intercellular tau transmission remain unclear. We find that the neuronal gene Arc is critica…

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Jason Shepherd @jasonsynaptic.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Nature is drunk. Snow June 29 2026! We will take it though.

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Jason Shepherd @jasonsynaptic.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

I am still waiting on whether a 3% scored R01 will be funded at the NIA (reviewed in Jan) and even the NoA for my funded R01 non-competitive renewal is a month late 😭. And this is preclinical science that shouldn’t have any “dirty” words!

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Jason Shepherd @jasonsynaptic.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

I’m fine with the QED experiment. One can choose to ignore the rankings and just move on but some of the discussion that’s come out of this has been really good. Read this article as an example.

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Jason Shepherd @jasonsynaptic.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

And NIH study section (Neuronal Communications) is a wrap! Despite all the "noise" going on, I'm struck by the earnest dedication and hard work put into all the reviews by the panel. Now....beer and world cup soccer time!

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Jason Shepherd @jasonsynaptic.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

TMW you realize the @hhmi-science.bsky.social is investing a billion dollars in the obscure model organism you developed from pet shop fish! 🙌🏼 Adam Douglass @utah.edu @uuhsresearch.bsky.social

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Mark Histed @markhisted.org · 17/06/2026

The Battle over the Constitution Has Spread to American Science. I'm out in the @theatlantic.com today about the new OMB proposed rule. It's just the longtime agenda of the the Supreme Court. US science and cancer cures now all depend on us picking up a fight with the Roberts Court.

theatlantic.com

The Unitary Executive Takes Over New Territory

The Trump administration’s theory of how the federal government should work is a threat to American science.

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Jason Shepherd @jasonsynaptic.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

Had a wonderful few days at the McKnight Foundation annual neuroscience meeting! Amazing science, warm and welcoming community…in an inspiring setting in Aspen. With the world feeling like it’s burning around us..building community is the only way we move forward.

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Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

My quote of the day Bethesda Declaration (June 9, 2025)

For staff across the National Institutes of Health (NIH), we dissent to Administration policies that undermine the NIH mission, waste public resources, and harm the health of Americans and people across the globe. Keeping NIH at the forefront of biomedical research requires our stalwart commitment to continuous improvement. But the life-and-death nature of our work demands that changes be thoughtful and vetted. We are compelled to speak up when our leadership prioritizes political momentum over human safety and faithful stewardship of public resources.

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Colette Delawalla, PhD @cdelawalla.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

ALRIGHT EVERYONE HERE IS THE OFFICIAL SUFS GUIDE TO LEAVING PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE OMB-2026-0034 PROPOSED RULE: www.standupforscience.foundation/policy-and-advocacy/the-sufs-guide-to-writing-public-comments (share with all your friends!)

standupforscience.foundation

The SUFS Guide to Writing Public Comments — Your Site Title

Written by: Cole Donovan, Director of Policy and Advocacy and Colette Delawalla, PhD, CEO

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Mark Peifer (He, him) @peiferlabunc.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

I have often been critical of the leadership @aaas.org but they just took action on the new OMB rules that will politicize science, speaking out and notifying members. I hope all take the time to follow their advice, contact Congress, and most important, post a comment www.aaas.org/news/aaas-st...

Dear Mark,

Yesterday, AAAS spoke out against a damaging proposal from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that would jeopardize future scientific discoveries and breakthroughs by bringing politics into the heart of scientific evaluation and priority setting and rejecting the will of Congress and the American people.

The proposed rule forgets what has made America the world’s R&D leader for generations. Among many bad policy choices, the most damaging is that it would prioritize politics over merit by enabling OMB budget analysts to override scientific peer review to decide what science is worth funding. If this rule is implemented, Americans' hopes for future cures, national security, and economic strength will rely on the scientific sensibilities of the Director of OMB, the nation’s chief bureaucrat. We must speak out against this with all of our voices.

You can find my full statement here and an editorial from Science Editor-in-Chief Holden Thorp here. For further details on the proposed rule, read the ScienceInsider article.

The proposed rule is laid out over more than 400 pages. The public comment period is open until July 13 and it will take some time to fully assess the rule’s possible impacts. AAAS is already working to prepare a thoughtful, strong, and strategic official comment to OMB. In addition, we are putting all of our resources to work in public and behind the scenes to push back on this outrageous overreach.

The process for rulemaking gives all of us an opportunity to comment in the regulatory process and speak up in the political process. Here are three valuable actions for you to take:

Let your representatives in Congress know that this proposed rule is bad for everyone – not just scientists. Tell them your concerns about putting political appointees who lack the necessary expertise in charge of science and research funding decisions and the potential impact on our hopes for future cures, national security, and American jobs.
Respo…

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Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

A proposed Trump policy would put Russ Vought in charge of American science. Its an example of the slow creep of politicization into processes that both parties traditionally understood as needing nonpartisan and expert guidance. What can you do about it? 🧵 donmoynihan.substack.com/p/the-creep-...

donmoynihan.substack.com

The Creep of Politicization

A new assault on science highlights a broader pattern

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Jason Shepherd @jasonsynaptic.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Sometimes..you just need to have a beer on the deck after the storm clears…

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Jason Shepherd @jasonsynaptic.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

What in the fresh hell is this?! Why even have study sections or scores or peer review? 😫

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Jason Shepherd @jasonsynaptic.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Yup. Sitting on a 3% scored R01 since Jan and I still don’t know if it’s getting funded. This is just not sustainable. How is the NIH going to spend its mandated budget?!

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Jason Shepherd @jasonsynaptic.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

Had an amazing time visiting UW pharmacology, @uw-nbio.bsky.social , and the @alleninstitute.org this week! Gorgeous campus and had a lot of fun science convos with faculty and trainees.

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UW Neurobiology & Biophysics @uw-nbio.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

🧠 Big week at NBIO! Two great talks this Thursday: 📌 Dr. Jason Shepherd (@jasonsynaptic.bsky.social) — "Virus-Like Mechanisms of Intercellular Synaptic Plasticity" 📌 Trainee Research in Progress: Ryan Ressmeyer (Horwitz Lab) — "Perisaccadic Gating at the Macaque Retinogeniculate Synapse"

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Jason Shepherd @jasonsynaptic.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Excited to be spending this week at the #UniversityofWashington! 2 seminars - Dept of Pharmacology (Tues 19) and Neurobiology & biophysics (Thurs 21) #seattle 🧠

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Jason Shepherd @jasonsynaptic.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

“The NIMH council, which can have up to 18 voting members, currently has only three—all researchers—and their appointments end on 30 September. That means Delano and Cohen could be “relatively influential..” 🫠

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Jason Shepherd @jasonsynaptic.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

Congrats to Andrew Butts in the @thecaronlab.bsky.social lab for both defending his PhD and for fully taking advantage of #mayfourth! #starwars 🧠 🧪

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