iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Jason Shepherd @jasonsynaptic.bsky.social · 11h

Enjoying the @faseborg.bsky.social meeting on neuronal transcription in Florida! Even got to crash the Greenberg alum party 🥳 BUT #Arc>#fos

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Jason Shepherd @jasonsynaptic.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Beautiful place for a department retreat 😍 @solitudemtn.bsky.social Congrats to @moriel-z.bsky.social and @jim-heys.bsky.social for getting tenure!!

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Jason Shepherd @jasonsynaptic.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

It’s a possibility but does not seem to play a major role in our experiments. There’s not a ton of evidence, IMO, for TNTs in the intact brain in vivo.

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Jason Shepherd @jasonsynaptic.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Was great to be back on TWiN to talk about our latest work on tau transmission!

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

There’s also the mouse “homologue” BC1 that seems to function similarly, despite different evolutionary origins 🤯

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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 · 25/09/2026

Wild and super cool! Want to collaborate on BC200 function in neurons Cedric?? How does it transpose? There must be an advantage for host function for it to keep that activity, right? Especially given generally transposition isn’t good for cells. (Need to read the full paper still).

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

The variability is really interesting! I know when the mRNA vaccines came out there was a lot of discussion about this. Wonder if there’s any correlation between side effects and level of immunity?

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

I had a resting heart rate of 110 (usually 60) and a mild fever lol.

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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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Reposted by Jason Shepherd

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

In my case, doom scrolling and constant news/work notifications. But, many other reasons why using less screen time is good for mental health.

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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 · 11/08/2026

We’ve been working on other capsid forming proteins but much less is known about their function. See our paper on PNMA2 for example. But, there’s at least a dozen or so capsid forming proteins in the human genome..and most seem to be expressed in the brain! www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...

cell.com

PNMA2 forms immunogenic non-enveloped virus-like capsids associated with paraneoplastic neurological syndrome

PNMA2 is a domesticated retrotransposon gene associated with cancer-induced paraneoplastic neurological syndromes. Findings here show that PNMA2 protein is exclusively expressed in the brain of mammal...

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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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Reposted by Jason Shepherd

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

Yes! Remember this one. So cool.

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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

No. They like more abstract ones. This was just the first pic I had on my phone that was accessible.

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

I am partial to landscapes on science journals to be fair. Dream of mine is to have one of my pics on the cover. Like this one.

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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 · 03/07/2026

It’s pure drivel. I can’t believe these people get these national microphones 😑

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