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Leslie M Kay, PhD

@lkaychicago.bsky.social
2.8K followers 1.1K following 151 posts

Professor in Psych & Neuroscience UChicago. I study smelling and neural #oscillations. #Olfaction, #Neuroskyence, #LGBTQSTEM, #WomenInSTEM, St. John's College alum, BlackLivesMatter. Views are my own. She/Her 🧪🏳️‍🌈

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Leslie M Kay, PhD @lkaychicago.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
Help me out here with a citation re cilantro flavor. I have in my notes that the OR6A2 olfactory receptor gene polymorphism (soapy cilantro flavor) is in fact an older gene than the "mutant" gene for good tasting cilantro. I know I didn't make this up but cannot find the reference. 🧪 #chemsenses
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Leslie M Kay, PhD @lkaychicago.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Sobering and disturbing analysis. You should read this. "... turn the whole of government science research and funding into the sort of “move fast and break things” paradigm that is the hallmark of big tech. That method works to line the pockets of tech executives, but it isn’t science."
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Stand Up for Science! @standupforscience.net · 05/07/2026
🚨 HEADS UP: If you haven't submitted a comment on the OMB proposal yet, there's still time - but it's running out! There are only 8 days left to push back against Russell Vought's attempt to give political appointees unprecedented control over federal research funding. Take Action: zurl.co/DhKYY
Graphic from Stand Up for Science urging action on a federal funding proposal. Large text reads: "8 Days Left" and "Help Us Stop Vought From Destroying American Science." A portrait of Russell Vought appears beside the U.S. Capitol. A banner along the bottom reads: "Submit a comment on the OMB proposal | Link in bio to take action." The Stand Up for Science logo appears in the top left.
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Anne Applebaum @anneapplebaum.wsocial.eu · 06/06/2026
Senior researchers at a meeting of the American Diabetes Association were handing out copies of an editorial, published in the association's journal, condemning Trump administration cuts to diabetes research. Police came to arrest them. www.nytimes.com/2026/06/05/w...
nytimes.com
Police Remove Diabetes Experts From Conference for Distributing Critique of Trump Administration
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Leslie M Kay, PhD @lkaychicago.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
Really enjoyed my conversation with Vasant Dhar at Brave New World Podcast - we talk about smell, brains, dynamical systems, consciousness and COVID-19. 🧪 #neuroskyence #chemicalsenses bravenewpodcast.com/episodes/202...
bravenewpodcast.com
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Shiv Ramdas Mens Rice Activist @nameshiv.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
Ok I'm bored and want to procrastinate work so let's do a thread instead. Wanna hear a story? Alright then, story it is. So gather around, children, because now we're going to talk about the most important science book you've probably never heard of. Ready? Off we go, then.
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Leslie M Kay, PhD @lkaychicago.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
Maybe she is also not white. Perhaps she was passing all these years, hiding under her name. Maybe a cool science fairy tale modernized mashup is due?
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Leslie M Kay, PhD @lkaychicago.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
Had a blast talking with Sofia Ehrich on her Internet of the Senses podcast - smell, brains, and brain health. #chemsenses #neuroskyence 🧪 www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkXc...
youtube.com
Leslie Kay: The Hidden Science of How Smell, Breath & Memory Shape the Brain
YouTube video by Internet of Senses Institute
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Leslie M Kay, PhD @lkaychicago.bsky.social · 08/02/2026
Has this happened to you or to your grad students?
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Gene Doctor Gene @isog.bsky.social · 04/02/2026
🧪🙏Good news- the first #vaccine targeting the entire SARS family - not just covid-19- has entered human clinical trials — open.substack.com/chat/posts/a...
open.substack.com
SARS‑CoV‑2 (COVID-19) in SARS‑CoV‑2 (COVID-19)
Good news The first vaccine designed to target the entire SARS virus family, GBP511, has entered human clinical trials. Developed by UW Medicine and brought to trial by SK Bioscience, it aims to p...
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Joseph Howley @illdottore.bsky.social · 04/02/2026
wow
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Solomon @solomonrmissouri.com · 30/01/2026
4 Black journalists have been kidnapped by the federal government
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Andrew Kurjata @akurjata.ca · 29/01/2026
I’m not sure how much notice this has received but the Assembly of First Nations in Canada has issued a travel advisory for the United States after reports that Indigenous people are being increasingly questioned and detained by ICE. www.instagram.com/p/DT-_SacDEH...
An Instagram post from the Assembly of First Nations reading: Important Travel Advisory
The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) has heard reports that some First Nation citizens have been subjected to increased questioning and detainment by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The AFN strongly condemns these actions and reaffirms First Nations’ inherent and Jay Treaty rights to cross-border mobility.
The AFN advises any First Nations members traveling to the U.S. to carry valid identification, including a Status Card or a Canadian passport. Anyone requiring assistance with Status Card applications, renewals, replacements, or urgent processing related to travel may contact Indigenous Services Canada’s Secure Certificate of Indian Status (SCIS) Program at 1-800-567-9604 or visit www.canada.ca/indigenous-services-canada.
Please note that federal law enforcement may not be familiar with Tribal IDs. If an ICE agent does not accept your Tribal ID as identification, the Native American Rights Fund recommends that you request to speak to their supervisor.
In emergency cases, Canadian citizens in the U.S. can contact the Canadian Consulate for assistance through 1-613-996-8885.
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Sébastien Tremblay @sebboo.bsky.social · 22/01/2026
Perhaps more of a comment than a question, but I find my colleague’s operationalization of respect & what it means to be respected somewhat under-theorized At the risk of seeming pedantic, I suggest that these definitions be revisited, w/ a more rigorous engagement w/ the literature Also..fuck him
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Prof Jenny Rohn @jennyrohn.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
Cost of being female lead/corresponding author in biomedical sciences: "[T]he median amount of time spent under review is 7.4%–14.6% longer for female-authored articles than for male-authored articles" even in disciplines where women well-represented. #AcademicSky journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
journals.plos.org
Biomedical and life science articles by female researchers spend longer under review
Women are underrepresented in academia, especially in STEMM fields, at top institutions, and in senior positions. This study analyzes millions of biomedical and life science articles, revealing that f...
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Keith Trujillo @neurochicano.bsky.social · 26/11/2025
🧠🧪
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kinesinmotors.bsky.social @kinesinmotors.bsky.social · 16/11/2025
🍂 🏛️ 👿 🧪 SAFE Act Bans Federal Funding for Scientists with Ties to Chinese Researchers or Trainees Billed has been passed by US House of Representatives
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Leslie M Kay, PhD @lkaychicago.bsky.social · 12/10/2025
Glad to see justice for my favorite state. When you read this at justice.gov what you see at the top during the shutdown is a violation of the Hatch Act. You can report violations online at a site that may be the only .gov site that does not contain the violation. osc.gov/Services/Pag...
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Association for Chemoreception Sciences (AChemS) @achems.bsky.social · 14/09/2025
To mark this day, we will be tweeting about the chemical senses each day over the next two weeks in support of AChemS' efforts in advancing chemosensory science and education. Follow this link to contribute www.gofundme.com/f/s....
gofundme.com
Donate to Supporting Research and Education on Smell and Taste, organized by Alfredo Fontanini
The Association for Chemoreception Sciences (AChemS) is a non-… Alfredo Fontanini needs your support for Supporting Research and Education on Smell and Taste
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HL Eisthen, defective human product @hleisthen.bsky.social · 29/06/2025
#scijobs
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Steve Semick @newarsenalofdemocracy.org · 19/06/2025
It's Juneteenth, America's second Independence day, catching up to those excluded from the first. In the words of Langston Hughes: "O, let America be America again— The land that never has been yet— And yet must be—the land where every man is free." www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/147907...
poetryfoundation.org
Let America Be America Again
(America never was America to me.) Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed— Let it be that great strong land of love Where never kings connive nor tyrants scheme That any man be crushed by one a...
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Shanil Virani @shanilv.ca · 31/05/2025
𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗹𝘂𝘅𝘂𝗿𝘆. It’s the engine of American innovation. This President wants to kill it. ❌ NIH: ⬇️$18B ❌ NASA: ⬇️$6.8B ❌ NSF: ⬇️$5B This isn’t fiscal discipline. It’s surrender—to disease, to ignorance, to rivals like China. We don’t build prosperity by firing scientists & killing missions.🧪
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Shematologist, MD @shematologist.medsky.social · 06/05/2025
A #MedSky thread in honor of Met Gala 2025 featuring this years fashion plus old favorites and the only thing as fascinating as gala looks Blood cells. Obviously 1/
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Dr. Sandra Steingraber 🏳️‍🌈 @ssteingraber1.bsky.social · 05/05/2025
🧪 Amazing thread by a plant taxonomist on the history of the molecule called epinephrine, its human discoverer, its chemical relationship to adrenaline, what it means to moms heading to the ER with sick kid, and why continuing to invest in basic science really fucking matters:
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Alt NIH Bluesky 🧪 @altnih4science.bsky.social · 28/04/2025
You must watch the John Oliver show from last night about NIH. Oliver rarely breaks his comedy routine but he did about NIH, RFK, and HHS. Oliver stared the camera down after 30 minutes and just said with a grimace: “RFK needs to go, now. By impeachment if necessary.” 1/
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Leslie M Kay, PhD @lkaychicago.bsky.social · 28/04/2025
The "New" program at @stjohnsgreatbooks.bsky.social began in 1937, in part as a response to growing fascism. Powerful piece by a SJC alum on the need to protect liberal education now for the sake of free thought and democratic ideals. libertiesjournal.com/online-artic...
libertiesjournal.com
What Harvard Didn't Say
Last week, Harvard challenged the Trump administration’s threat to deny billions in federal funds unless the university bent to a list of far-reaching demands. Harvard’s legal counsel struck a measure...
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McSweeney's @mcsweeneys.net · 15/04/2025
"Remember, you need a lot of time to get through your entire atrocity to-do list. If you tank the economy once and quickly, people’s attention will surely return to your cruelty, no matter how effectively you’ve impoverished them. So take your time and do it right."
buff.ly
Playing Headline-Stealing Games with the Economy is a Great Way to Distract Everyone from Your Human Rights Atrocities
“Long-threatened tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump have plunged the country into trade wars abroad, all while on-again, off-again new levies...
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Tim Waterman @tim-waterman.co.uk · 12/04/2025
Higher education required reading for today by Iveta Silova (Follow her at @isilova.bsky.social) theconversation.com/universities...
theconversation.com
Universities in Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union thought giving in to government demands would save their independence
Before the Nazis, German universities were among the best in the world. Step by step, the universities gave up their independence until they were instruments of the state.
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Kelly Barnhill @kellybarnhill.bsky.social · 11/04/2025
Dear scholars, scientists, doctors and advocates - we need your voices and expertise more than ever. If there was ever a time to bring the Ivory Tower right into the middle of the Public Square, it's now.
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Rogue NASA @roguenasa.altgov.info · 09/04/2025
Space research!!! 🚀🛰️🧪🔭
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MIT Press @mitpress.bsky.social · 08/04/2025
We're disappointed to see Ben Barres's powerful book "The Autobiography of a Transgender Scientist" among the ~400 titles removed from the Naval Academy Library. Needless to say, we're proud to have published his book and will keep it — and his memory — alive.
thereader.mitpress.mit.edu
The Coming Out of a Transgender Scientist
"I know that I am making the right decision because whenever I think about changing my gender role, I am flooded with feelings of relief."
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Ruth Ann Crystal @drruth.bsky.social · 09/04/2025
💪Power to the People! Long COVID activists and researchers were successful in fighting to get millions of dollars of Long COVID research grants restored. But, they remain concerned about potential future funding cuts. buff.ly/2HeksnX #medsky 😷🛟🧪
buff.ly
Long COVID activists fought Trump team’s research cuts and won ― for now
Success gives hope to scientists and advocates who managed to get millions of dollars in grants restored.
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Leslie M Kay, PhD @lkaychicago.bsky.social · 08/03/2025
So, hypothetically, if you were to write a grant about sex differences in a sensory system, what words would you use to say "sex" without saying it. Neuroendocrine genotype? 🧪
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Leslie M Kay, PhD @lkaychicago.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
Normally I'd think a change like this sounds like a good idea, but does anyone know if there's anything nefarious hidden in the NIH CSR change? Just difficult to trust seemingly innocuous changes right now. www.nih.gov/news-events/... 🧪
nih.gov
NIH centralizes peer review to improve efficiency and strengthen integrity
The proposed approach is expected to save more than $65 million annually.
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Dr. Sven-Eric Jordt #TobRegSky @sejordt.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
#TobRegSky #PedSky #MedSky #addictionsci #policysky #academicsky🧪🛟 NIH? National Science Foundation is reinstating fired probationary employees www.axios.com/2025/03/03/n...
axios.com
National Science Foundation is reinstating fired probationary employees
The NSF said probationary employees help it remain a "global leader in scientific discovery and innovation."
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Leslie M Kay, PhD @lkaychicago.bsky.social · 28/02/2025
So, in addition to other bad stuff like canceling constituents’ healthcare, Malliotakis R-NY-11 has introduced the SPARE act to ban most animal research in biomedical science. 🧪
From AALAS:

This week, Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY-11) held a press conference in front of the U.S. Capitol to announce new legislation “banning cruel and unnecessary animal testing by our federal government.” The “Safeguard Pets, Animals, and Research Ethics (SPARE) Act” is a direct attack on science-based animal research. It would knee-cap U.S. dominance in biomedical research and hand over the reins to China. 
 
The draft bill would:
Prohibit the use of animals in federally funded research facilities for experimentation, testing, and biomedical research (with limited exceptions).
Redirect federal research funds toward humane, modern, and scientifically advanced alternatives, ensuring they undergo proper validation for regulatory acceptance.
Ensure the ethical placement of animals previously in research through adoption and sanctuary programs, providing adequate resources for rehabilitation and rehoming.​​​​​​
Create a compliance and oversight structure that ensures accountability, transparency, and coordinated interagency collaboration.​​​​​​
No federal department, agency, or federally funded contractor shall conduct, fund, or commission research, testing, or experimentation with live animals, including but not limited to:
o Biomedical experiments
o Drug testing
o Cosmetic testing
o Toxicity testing
o Psychological and behavioral experiments

This means that ANY federal agency (e.g. NIH, FDA, CDC, DoD, VA, NASA, etc.), federal research facility, university and private entity that receives federal grants or contracts (including partially funded federal grants) would be banned from conducting research with animals.
 
The bill lists “exceptions” to the prohibition of animal research, but ONLY with congressional approval. Lawmakers on Capitol Hill, many with no science background, would be required to hold a public hearing to vote to approve or deny any exemption request. 
 
This is a direct attack on sound science by an animal rights radicalist-backed me…Alt text included on previous picture
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Sherrilyn Ifill @sifill.bsky.social · 26/02/2025
LISTEN.
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Carolyn Ibberson @cbibberson.bsky.social · 22/02/2025
I created a brief spreadsheet of reductions I've heard of so far. Any additions you know of (especially if you have the links/receipts) would be great: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
docs.google.com
Graduate Reductions Across Biomedical Sciences (2025)
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🎃 Imani Gandy Corn 🎃 @angryblacklady.blacksky.app · 21/02/2025
How you gonna make “this is your brain on drugs” ads given the price of eggs these days
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Leslie M Kay, PhD @lkaychicago.bsky.social · 20/02/2025
My wife is a veteran of the US Army and worked as a civilian for 12 years with the USCG, earned a commendation for her service from President Obama. Her feelings are echoed here.
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Eliza Bliss-Moreau @eblissmoreau.bsky.social · 19/02/2025
When I went off to @bostoncollege.bsky.social, my mandate from my mom was pretty simple: do well academically, find a job, and be done in 3 years. My dad had just jumped the family ship and my sister would be going off to college in my 4th year. I had enough college credits to grad in 3. 1/
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Katie Hinde @mammalssuck.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
I escaped poverty because I am a scientist. And I am a scientist because of the National Science Foundation. A 🧵:
A Lady Professor with brown hair and glasses, wearing a scarf in red, green, yellow, & black, a gift from an incredible lactation  consultant, sitting in in front of cactus.
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Katie Langin @klangin.bsky.social · 14/02/2025
Dear federal scientists: If you have been affected by the probationary firings and would be willing to speak with Science, please reach out to me by email (klangin@aaas.org) or on Signal. We can guarantee annonymity.
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Nature Portfolio @natureportfolio.nature.com · 13/02/2025
In response to the emergence of H5N1 influenza A viruses as a novel pathogen of cattle, a study in Nature Communications shows that pasteurisation of cows’ milk should effectively inactivate the virus, but that it remains infectious in unpasteurised milk. go.nature.com/3WRQ8fb 🧪
This is figure 1, which shows pasteurisation effectively inactivates influenza viruses in milk.
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Leslie M Kay, PhD @lkaychicago.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
I kind of want to write a grant that uses every disallowed word in totally regular scientific contexts just to occupy every censor combing NSF grants. Diverse organisms, female and male animals, integration across scales, climate change in the early Paleozoic era... 🧪
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Daniel Pomarède @pomarede.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
Scientists alarmed as Rubin Observatory changes biography of astronomer Vera Rubin amid Trump's push to end DEI efforts ✍️ by @skuthunur.bsky.social for @space.com 🔭🧪 www.space.com/the-universe...
space.com
Scientists alarmed as Rubin Observatory changes biography of astronomer Vera Rubin amid Trump's push to end DEI efforts
"The idea that they can somehow obliterate these sources is dead wrong — scientists in general and astronomers in particular are not going to take these threats lying down."
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Leslie M Kay, PhD @lkaychicago.bsky.social · 08/02/2025
reposting to 🧪
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Leslie M Kay, PhD @lkaychicago.bsky.social · 08/02/2025
Anyone know a source for the contracted IDCs for private companies, like, say Boeing or another rocket ship company? Feel free to DM me.
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Damon Kiesow @kiesow.net · 08/02/2025
The last report for the state university system in Missouri showed $6.5 billion in economic impacts and 69,000 jobs. Trump and Musk are threatening that success. That is the message that needs to be shared in every state.
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Matt Barber @biobarber.bsky.social · 08/02/2025
Executive wants to frame the NIH indirects cut as $4B in savings. But given that NIH returns $2.5 on every $1 investment, this would actually cost US economy a net $6 BILLION (per year!). Not to mention the human costs of wrecking education and research sectors and the communities they serve.
nih.gov
Direct Economic Contributions
NIH directly supports the economy through investments in research institutions and job formation.
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