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Laura Lackner

@lllackner.bsky.social
145 followers 160 following 8 posts

Cell Biologist/Associate Professor at Northwestern University, runner, and lover of the outdoors. She/her.

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Reposted by Laura Lackner
The Daily Northwestern @thedailynu.bsky.social · 17/12/2025
At least 10 federal agents’ cars have been spotted in Evanston, according to an ICIRR alert at 11:35 a.m. The cars were seen near the intersections of Green Bay Road and McCormick Boulevard and Green Bay Road and Simpson Avenue and are still active.
dailynorthwestern.com
Live: Federal agent presence reported in Evanston near Green Bay and Simpson
Throughout early fall, Evanston has experienced an influx in activity from federal immigration agencies, with several community members taken by agents in September and October.  The city first inform...
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Suzanne Hoppins @shoppins.bsky.social · 10/10/2025
Genuinely thrilled to share our new story with the world - an amazing collaboration with @profsharona.bsky.social and Bill Zagotta using their innovative FRET technique to study mitofusin conformational changes. Huge credit to Sophie Hurwitz for tackling this project. urldefense.com/v3/__https:/...
urldefense.com
Structural insights into GTP-coupled conformational changes in Mfn1 revealed by time-resolved transition metal ion FRET.
Outer mitochondrial membrane fusion is mediated by the mitofusin paralogs Mfn1 and Mfn2. Nucleotide-driven self-assembly and conformational changes are required for regulated membrane fusion activity,...
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@LaBonneLaB @labonnelab.bsky.social · 31/07/2025
Senate Appropriations has a modest *INCREASE* in NIH funding but it will need to be recconciled with the house cut. If you have not been calling your representative of late now would be a good time to start again www.appropriations.senate.gov/hearings/ful...
appropriations.senate.gov
Full Committee Markup of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Acts | United States Senate Committee on Appropriations
United States Senate Committee on Appropriations
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Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 09/06/2025
NPR story about the #BethesdaDeclaration www.npr.org/sections/sho... 1/n
npr.org
NIH scientists call on director to protect biomedical research
In a public letter, hundreds of scientists expressed their dissent to the Trump administration's policies affecting the National Institutes of Health and called on its director to support the agency.
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Stand Up for Science! @standupforscience.net · 09/06/2025
🚨BREAKING: 300+ NIH employees call out the harm of censorship & politicized science in scathing email to Bhattacharya, demanding an end to political interference, a lift on funding freezes, & rehiring of fired staff whose work saves lives. This is historic - insiders are blowing the whistle. 🧵(1/5)
Front-page-style graphic titled “BREAKING NEWS” with photos of RFK Jr. and Dr. Bhattacharya in front of a government hearing chamber. Text reads: “NIH Scientists Sound the Alarm as Health Research Faces Historic Threat” and “NIH Employees Send Trump Cronies Scathing Wake-Up Call.”
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Soni Lacefield @lacefieldlab.bsky.social · 05/06/2025
Scientists in GA, ASCB has scheduled a virtual Hill Day on June 25. We need scientists willing to talk to their representatives about the consequences of the proposed budget slashes. Please sign up. Or, send to colleagues. Just need to be or become ASCB members. www.ascb.org/ascb-meeting...
ascb.org
ASCB Georgia Virtual Capitol Hill Day
ASCB Virtual Hill Day with members of the Georgia Congressional delegation.
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J. David Jentsch 🏳️‍🌈 @jdavidjentsch.bsky.social · 05/06/2025
When everything is "normal", writing and administering an NIH T32 program is crazy. Despite being an immense amount of work (probably the single most effort-demanding grant one can direct), it comes with no salary for the PI...
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Journal of Cell Biology @jcb.org · 30/05/2025
Phosphatidic acid drives spatiotemporal distribution of Pex30 at ER-LD contact sites, say Morgan House, Amit S. Joshi @joshilaboratory.bsky.social‬ and colleagues @utknoxville.bsky.social‬: rupress.org/jcb/article/... #Organelles #Biochemistry #ER_literature #LipidDroplets #lipids
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JB Pritzker @jbpritzker.bsky.social · 30/05/2025
This is MAGA's one, big, beautiful healthcare plan.
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Needhi Bhalla 💅🏽 @needhibhalla.bsky.social · 28/05/2025
"I have a message for America's scientists: I want to tell you how much I appreciate your work, how much I value and treasure your work, how much support you have within the Congress...we are aware of the deep damage that is being done to your profession and we are determined to make it stop" 🧪
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Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 28/05/2025
New story up in Nature from @maxkozlov.bsky.social NIH killed grants on orders from Elon Musk’s DOGE Court documents and internal correspondence show the cost-cutting force has broad control over the world’s largest public biomedical funder. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
nature.com
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Gc Rox @gcrox.bsky.social · 23/05/2025
All of NIH funding to Northwestern University is frozen. This pause includes noncompeting approved funding, new and competing grants with fundable scores. No reimbursements for money already spent have been received since March. This situation is rarely reported so please Please get the word out!
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Amit Joshi @joshilaboratory.bsky.social · 23/05/2025
Excited to present first publication from the Joshi lab, now in @jcb.org Here, we show that phosphatidic acid regulates Pex30 distribution at ER subdomains for lipid droplet biogenesis by binding to dysferlin domain. rupress.org/jcb/article/...
rupress.org
Phosphatidic acid drives spatiotemporal distribution of Pex30 at ER-LD contact sites | Journal of Cell Biology | Rockefeller University Press
In this study, we show that Pex30 dysferlin domain binds PA through its two hydrophobic regions adjacent to beta sheets. We propose that, PA, a precursor f
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Michael Baym @baym.lol · 21/05/2025
It's not just Northwestern and Harvard, I have gotten credible (confidential) reports from several other schools (including state schools) that the NIH is defaulting on federal commitments there too. Seems like there may be a big story here for an investigative reporter willing to take it on
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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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Scott Delaney @scott-delaney.bsky.social · 19/05/2025
Grant freezes versus terminations feel different, but they have the same practical effect. We should start treating freezes as terminations, both of which can be undone by HHS / NIH whenever they want—or by court order if they refuse. They’re all illegal.
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Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 13/05/2025
Definitely worth the 5 minutes to watch. Succinct summation of what is being thrown away
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Alex Merz 🇺🇸🇨🇦🇺🇦 @merz.bsky.social · 08/05/2025
Every NIH-funded researcher should read this.
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WTTW - Chicago PBS @wttw.bsky.social · 25/04/2025
Professors and researchers at Chicago-area universities said federal funding cuts are leaving research projects unfinished. Julius Lucks, a chemical engineering professor at Northwestern, speaks on if another sector could fund university research. to.wttw.com/3Ygl3T8
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Carolyn Bertozzi @carolynbertozzi.bskyverified.social · 23/04/2025
Everyone please read and act! 👇
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Julian Sanchez @normative.bsky.social · 22/04/2025
I feel like we need to keep saying this because it’s so insane: This is a legal U.S. resident who has been detained for over a month now for his political opinions.
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The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 16/04/2025
Thirty-eight of 43 experts cut last month from the boards that review the science and research that happens in laboratories at the National Institutes of Health are female, Black or Hispanic, according to an analysis by the chairs of a dozen of the boards.
washingtonpost.com
Women, minorities fired in purge of NIH science review boards
Scientists, with expertise in fields that include mental health, cancer and infectious disease, typically serve five-year terms and were not given a reason for their dismissal.
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Olga Nesterova @onestpress.onestnetwork.com · 16/04/2025
Sen Van Hollen met with El Salvador's Vice President Félix Ulloa, who told him that the reason they are holding Kilmar Abrego Garcia at CECOT is because the Trump admin is paying them to do so. They also provided no evidence that Abrego Garcia is part of MS-13 or committed any crimes.
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Senator Dick Durbin @durbin.senate.gov · 16/04/2025
Donald Trump wants to illegally send American citizens to this notoriously inhumane prison in El Salvador. “Home-growns are next. The home-growns. You gotta build about five more places.” The constitutional crisis is here.
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Eric C. Greene @dnacurtain.bsky.social · 11/04/2025
I am a professor at Columbia University. All of the student NIH training grants have been canceled and now there are reports that ALL funding will be frozen. Why are Universities not banding together and speaking out publicly and forcibly about governmental attacks on biomedical research?
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Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 12/04/2025
“If the goal were to identify and address problems at these agencies in a good-faith manner, that would be one thing. But what is going on is akin to performing open-heart surgery on a patient who is not particularly sick using a blunt axe.” 2/2
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Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 09/04/2025
See, if you just cooperate with the administration and comply, it all turns out OK... www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
NIH freezes all research grants to Columbia University
Amid negotiations with Trump, the university could risk losing nearly $700 million
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jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 09/04/2025
of all the things the administration is doing, i am a little mystified by this effort to completely destroy the science, technology and medical research sector in the united states
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Science Magazine @science.org · 09/04/2025
Exclusive: Weeks after President Donald Trump’s administration ordered NIH to pull $250 million in biomedical research grants to Columbia University, the agency is freezing all remaining grant money owed to the university until further notice. scim.ag/4if5Rg1
scim.ag
NIH freezes all research grants to Columbia University
Amid negotiations with Trump, the university could risk losing nearly $700 million
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Rep. Jan Schakowsky @schakowsky.house.gov · 09/04/2025
Make no mistake about it: Trump's reported decision to freeze funding at Northwestern University will put life-saving cures and critical research at risk. This freeze won't protect the Jewish students Trump claims to defend, it will instead undermine their academic endeavors.
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Dr. Lucky Tran @luckytran.com · 05/04/2025
Spectacular view of 100,000 people attending the #HandsOff march in NYC
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Dr. Lucky Tran @luckytran.com · 05/04/2025
The #HandsOff rally in Chicago is packed!
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George Takei @georgetakei.bsky.social · 04/04/2025
Gen Z and Millennials: In ten years when we’re still without a cure and you’re caring for your parents, remember what he did.
The image is a screenshot of a tweet from Neil Stone (@DrNeilStone
). The tweet reads: "RFK Jr has cut Alzheimers research. ALZHEIMERS. One of the most devastating, urgent and increasing health problems we face today. He’s not interested. He’s a nasty piece of work."
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American Society for Cell Biology @ascbiology.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
The termination of the NIH MOSAIC program is a critical loss. As one of the 5 societies supporting MOSAIC scholars, ASCB remains dedicated to supporting early-career scientists & broadening the biomedical workforce. We'll continue our mentorship & development efforts through the end of the grant.
ascb.org
ASCB Responds to the NIH’s Termination of the MOSAIC Program - ASCB
As one of the five scientific societies funded to provide professional development support through the NIH Maximizing Opportunities for Scientific and Academic Independent Careers (MOSAIC) program, th...
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Rebecca D. Burdine, PhD @rburdine1.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
Hey MOSAIC researchers and F31 Diversity fellowship recipients - I think we should band together and sue the federal government for discrimination and other laws that were violated. Thoughts? Any law firms willing to help us out?
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Yamuna Krishnan @krishnanyamuna.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
Just heard that Youle has been reinstated. That it was an “error”. But boy what sort of “errors” are these!
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@LaBonneLaB @labonnelab.bsky.social · 31/03/2025
STILL no New or Competing Renewal awards from NIGMS. Only NIGMS seems to not be making these awards.
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Alt NIH Bluesky 🧪 @altnih4science.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
Dr. Richard Youle was fired today. He is an eminent scientist who has done important work on brain diseases like dementia and Parkinson’s. Musk and Trump are stopping NIH research into cures, for diseases from cancer to Alzheimer’s. Americans did not vote for this.
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@LaBonneLaB @labonnelab.bsky.social · 30/03/2025
Would not have thought that the first person in congress to strongly defend researh would be a republican but more powerful that it is. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
washingtonpost.com
Opinion | Funding for R&D isn’t a gift to academia
Investing in scientific research and development is vital to U.S. security.
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Sara Nowinski @saranowinski.bsky.social · 29/03/2025
Registration is live for the 1st ever Midwest Metabolism & TRiMAD dual meeting, hosted jointly by VAI + U of M in Ann Arbor, MI November 10-11, 2025! We have some exciting speakers but most will come from abstracts so submit your best #mitochondria & #metabolism research! www.vai.org/event/2025-m...
vai.org
2025 Midwest Metabolism Meeting
Join us for 2025 Midwest Metabolism Meeting at Van Andel Institute Stay informed about exciting upcoming events and activities.
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Stand Up for Science! @standupforscience.net · 29/03/2025
We are excited to announce our official partnership with @indivisible.org for the National Day of Action on April 5th! Stand Up for Science says: HANDS OFF OUR SCIENCE! #standupforscience #handsoffourscience Find and register for an event near you: handsoff2025.com?utm_source=s...
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Dr Slaughter-Acey @drslaughter99.bsky.social · 22/03/2025
🧵Yesterday, I received notice that my #NIH grant, on the social environment, lifecourse, epigenetics & #birthoutcomes in Black families, was terminated. This grant represented a critical effort to address the ⬆️ rates of maternal & infant mortality in the US, particularly among Black mothers & babies
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@LaBonneLaB @labonnelab.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
Trump's Gender Directives Ignore the Sceince of Biological Sex thehill.com/opinion/whit...
thehill.com
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Laura Lackner @lllackner.bsky.social · 17/03/2025
I just signed up for Hands Off! National Mobilization to Stop Trump and Musk's Power Grab. Saturday, Apr 5, 2025 12pm - 1:30pm CDT Richard J. Daley Center, 50 W Washington St, Chicago, IL, 60602 Are you free to join me? Use this link to sign up: mobilize.us/s/TLS35D
mobilize.us
Hands Off! National Mobilization to Stop Trump and Musk's Power Grab · Indivisible Chicago
The MAGA right, Trump and Musk are weaponizing the federal government  to take our data, take our rights and take our freedoms for the benefit of themselves and their billionaire friends while targeti...
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Jonathan Friedman @labfriedman.bsky.social · 14/03/2025
Join us March 26th at 12pm ET - @asbmb.bsky.social LRD seminar series. We have two great mitochondria-focused lipid talks planned from @jasoncasler.bsky.social from @lllackner.bsky.social's lab and Kailash Venkatraman from @ibudin.bsky.social's lab. Register here! www.asbmb.org/meetings-eve...
asbmb.org
Lipid Research Division Seminar Series
March 26, 2025 | 12 p.m. Eastern
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Governor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · 14/03/2025
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Mike Boylan-Kolchin @mbkplus.bsky.social · 12/03/2025
This is really, really bad. Columbia made the mistake of thinking that placating the administration would spare them. Other universities made the mistake of thinking it would stop with Columbia. It won’t stop without disciplined pushback; it’s an existential question for American universities.
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@LaBonneLaB @labonnelab.bsky.social · 13/03/2025
Dear all, Because of your help shining light on this all 15 were reinstated today. This is a huge win for science - When We Fight We Win!!!
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The Lincoln Project @lincolnproject.us · 12/03/2025
🚨🚨🚨Senate Republicans are trying to jam through a disastrous spending bill that would rip funding from programs that millions of Americans rely on: Veterans benefits, nutrition assistance, and health care benefits. We have to stop it. Call your senators NOW— tell them to VOTE NO: (202) 224-3121
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Alt National Park Service @altnps.bsky.social · 12/03/2025
Elon Musk is pushing to end phone services at Social Security, which 73 million retired and disabled Americans rely on to apply for and access their earned government benefits.
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