Sign in

Michael Meers

@mpmeers.bsky.social
744 followers 200 following 72 posts

Assistant Prof @WashUGenetics, chromatin-mediated regulation of development. Former postdoc @fredhutch, former grad student @UNC_Biology. Views my own.

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Michael Meers
Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 02/01/2026
Derek Lowe letting loose to start the year...speaking truth and committing to work hard to make this better. I am most definitely with your @dereklowe.bsky.social
There’s plenty of blood to go around, though. I have often stated my belief that Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has it on his hands after his actions during a measles epidemic in Samoa, and now he will get a chance to replicate that disaster on a grander scale, as befits his self-image. Kennedy, our HHS secretary, believes that the 1918 flu pandemic and the 1980s rise of HIB somehow happened because of vaccine research. Marty Makary, our head of the FDA, believes that Lyme disease is an escape biowarfare agent. Jay Bhattacharya, among other things, believes that he is fit to lead the NIH. We are being governed by grinning idiots and sociopaths, and any assessment of our situation in 2026 has to take that as a precondition.
07820
Michael Meers @mpmeers.bsky.social · 07/01/2026
Reality as parody is undefeated
030
Michael Meers @mpmeers.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
Giving voice to what American scientists are simmering over in (largely silent) anger and despair www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
newyorker.com
The Undermining of the C.D.C.
The Department of Health and Human Services maintains that it is hewing to “gold standard, evidence-based science”—doublespeak that might unsettle Orwell.
000
Reposted by Michael Meers
Phillip Maciak @pjmaciak.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
WashU in STL just announced, in a university-wide email, that we will NOT be signing The Compact. This statement, I believe, exists thanks to the tremendous energy generated w/in our community by, among others, the Faculty Senate, the revived AAUP, and student journalists. I'm proud of everybody.
454783
Michael Meers @mpmeers.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
The Meers Lab always follows protocols to the letter except when they don’t 🦁
040
Michael Meers @mpmeers.bsky.social · 10/10/2025
It feels very apropos to have this announcement preempted by a government shutdown 🥲 but I'm overwhelmed with gratitude for the tireless work of the reviewers and staff of the Office of the Director who saw fit to give us this chance.
2383
Reposted by Michael Meers
Drug Monkey @drugmonkey.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
This may be the most important paper ever published about NIH funded research. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
science.org
What if NIH had been 40% smaller?
Replaying history with less NIH funding shows widespread impacts on drug-linked research
5414250
Michael Meers @mpmeers.bsky.social · 22/09/2025
We published a detailed protocol for our Plate-CUT&Tag method on @protocolsio.bsky.social to accompany our recent preprint (www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...) give it a try! Feedback welcome! dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.n2bvjed5wgk5/v1
dx.doi.org
Plate CUT&Tag (Meers Lab version)
This protocol describes a method for carrying out CUT&Tag-Direct in 96 well microplates for high-throughput processing of samples by a single operator with only standard lab...
23013
Michael Meers @mpmeers.bsky.social · 22/09/2025
On our three year lab anniversary (give or take a few days!), I'm proud to share the first original work produced within the Meers Lab: Plate-CUT&Tag! Take a look: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... 1/3
biorxiv.org
A protocol for high-throughput microplate-based CUT&Tag
Cleavage Under Targets & Tagmentation (CUT&Tag) is a versatile method for measuring genomic occupancy of chromatin-associated proteins with high sensitivity and specificity. CUT&Tag has low sequencing...
1101
Michael Meers @mpmeers.bsky.social · 05/09/2025
Death, taxes, and "the PI is too inexperienced and requires a senior co-mentor for this student's F31" 🙃
040
Reposted by Michael Meers
Abby Buchwalter @abbybuch.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
Another paper bluetorial! Today: how does the spatial location of genes influence their function? (1/n) www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
The nuclear periphery confers repression on H3K9me2-marked genes and transposons to shape cell fate - Nature Cell Biology
Marin et al. report the role of lamin proteins and the lamin B receptor (LBR) in chromatin positioning at the nuclear periphery. Knockout of all lamins and LBR in mouse embryonic stem cells leads to h...
1113053
Michael Meers @mpmeers.bsky.social · 11/07/2025
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/10/u...
nytimes.com
The Surprising Scientists Hit by Trump’s D.E.I. Cuts
000
Reposted by Michael Meers
Sri Kosuri @srikosuri.bsky.social · 06/07/2025
I wrote down some of my thoughts down on the current race to build virtual cell models. Overall, excited and wary about the work ahead. Also, it's my first post to Substack; getting more excited about it as a replacement for X and Blue Sky. srikosuri.substack.com/p/the-elusiv...
srikosuri.substack.com
The elusive virtual cell
Rosetta Stone or Moby Dick?
2166
Reposted by Michael Meers
Evgeny Kvon @evgenykvon.bsky.social · 02/07/2025
Our paper describing the Range Extender element which is required and sufficient for long-range enhancer activation at the Shh locus is now available at @nature.com. Congrats to @gracebower.bsky.social who led the study. Below is a brief summary of the main findings www.nature.com/articles/s41... 1/
nature.com
Range extender mediates long-distance enhancer activity - Nature
The REX element is associated with long-range enhancer–promoter interactions.
1018791
Reposted by Michael Meers
Evgeny Kvon @evgenykvon.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
How do non-coding variants in enhancers lead to disease? Happy to share our recent work, led by @ewholling.bsky.social, in which we discovered that poised chromatin sensitizes enhancers to aberrant activation by non-coding mutations, contributing to disease. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... 1/
310539
Reposted by Michael Meers
Carolyn Bertozzi @carolynbertozzi.bskyverified.social · 21/06/2025
What an amazing time to be a biomedical scientist. www.nejm.org/doi/abs/10.1...
nejm.org
Stem Cell–Derived, Fully Differentiated Islets for Type 1 Diabetes | NEJM
Zimislecel is an allogeneic stem cell–derived islet-cell therapy. Data on the safety and efficacy of zimislecel in persons with type 1 diabetes are needed. We conducted a phase 1–2 study of zimisle...
011418
Michael Meers @mpmeers.bsky.social · 03/06/2025
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/03/u...
nytimes.com
U.S. Scientists Warn That Trump’s Cuts Will Set Off a Brain Drain
000
Michael Meers @mpmeers.bsky.social · 29/05/2025
Thank you @erikaberas.bsky.social for including me in this in depth @planetmoney.bsky.social piece on the mechanics of research funding at universities—I give it a 👍🏻👌👏👨‍🔬 emoji 🙃 www.npr.org/2025/05/28/1...
npr.org
Why does the government fund research at universities? : Planet Money
American universities are where people go to learn and teach. They're also where research and development happens. Over the past eight decades, universities have received billions in federal dollars t...
092
Michael Meers @mpmeers.bsky.social · 22/05/2025
Thank you @economist.com for this important, well reasoned piece. www.economist.com/leaders/2025...
economist.com
MAGA’s assault on science is an act of grievous self-harm
America will pay the price most of all
010
Reposted by Michael Meers
Eric Topol @erictopol.bsky.social · 22/05/2025
Good cover @economist.com
13864290
Michael Meers @mpmeers.bsky.social · 20/05/2025
With apologies to @jeremymberg.bsky.social, I borrowed directly and heavily from this thread of his to craft my comment on this policy proposal, which I'm posting here for anyone who would like to use it as a template. Please heed Jeremy's exhortation and post a comment by Friday!
011
Michael Meers @mpmeers.bsky.social · 20/05/2025
Typical of this White House: a non-expert decrying all that’s wrong, using “evidence” that amounts to anecdotes, offering mealy-mouthed “solutions” (wtf is “gold standard science” anyways?) as a pretext to destroy without any strategy to build. www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-st...
whitehouse.gov
Remarks by Director Kratsios at the National Academy of Sciences
Remarks by Director Kratsios at the National Academy of Sciences REINVIGORATING AMERICA’S SCIENTIFIC ENTERPRISE AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY Washington, D.C.
000
Reposted by Michael Meers
Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 20/05/2025
My quote of the day My dad used to say: “Don't tell me what you value. Show me your budget, and I'll tell you what you value." Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
1596
Reposted by Michael Meers
Michael Baym @baym.lol · 14/05/2025
Yesterday, the NIH R35 “Outstanding Investigator” grant to fund scientists in my lab studying antibiotic resistance was terminated for reasons not related to the content of the science, or any actions taken by me or members of my lab
A screenshot of the termination notice showing "Outstanding Investigator Grants"A screenshot of the termination notice with "This award is terminated effective the date of this award, due to unsafe antisemitic actions that suggest the institution lacks concern for the safety and wellbeing of Jewish students." highlighted
145875575
Reposted by Michael Meers
Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
ACTION ITEM-----ACTION ITEM Implementation of Schedule F This is what a lot of us have been worried about. This allows for many civil service positions to replaced with political appointees. This could include NIH institute directors and even POs. BUT THERE IS A COMMENT PERIOD... 1/n
media.tenor.com
the word alert is in a purple circle
ALT: the word alert is in a purple circle
17362446
Michael Meers @mpmeers.bsky.social · 22/02/2025
Another great piece on how students at WashU are organizing to oppose the threats to biomedical research in this country www.stltoday.com/news/local/e...
stltoday.com
WashU students ramp up efforts to stop federal cuts
Washington U. students are urging university leadership to speak out forcefully and publicly against the Donald Trump administration’s threats to research.
051
Reposted by Michael Meers
Jeremy Yoder says no war @jbyoder.org · 20/02/2025
So I did this today: banged out a couple hundred words of a pitch while managing lab, sent it to the opinion page editor at the newspaper my parents still somehow get in print, and got back a "yes" in, I absolutely kid you not, under 15 minutes
8677208
Reposted by Michael Meers
Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
ATTENTION If you are on a study section that was scheduled to meet, please post or DM me with information regarding: 1. The name of the study section 2. The scheduled date 3. Whether the meeting actually occurred THANK YOU
media.tenor.com
a man wearing a top hat and a purple jacket is asking for more .
ALT: a man wearing a top hat and a purple jacket is asking for more .
38104107
Michael Meers @mpmeers.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
So it appears that the closely related MRAB study section *did* meet on Feb 6-7, after being posted on the federal register on Jan 13, 24 days prior: www.federalregister.gov/documents/20.... This suggests that the 35 day notice requirement that people have been tossing about might not be accurate?
federalregister.gov
Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings
Search, browse and learn about the Federal Register. Federal Register 2.0 is the unofficial daily publication for rules, proposed rules, and notices of Federal agencies and organizations, as well as e...
200
Michael Meers @mpmeers.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
@jeremymberg.bsky.social confirmed by SRO that NIGMS MRAA SRG scheduled to meet today will be rescheduled to a later date if you're still keeping track of these things
010
Michael Meers @mpmeers.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
So it sounds like the MRAA Study Section for ESI MIRA may not meet tomorrow as scheduled? Anyone have confirmation of this?
100
Reposted by Michael Meers
Vijay Ramani @vram142.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
A thread. Things are bad. But we’ve already lost if they smother the passion & joy we have for science. So here’s a proposal: if you’re a biologist in any way impacted by *exasperated wave* & want to chat, drop me an e-mail at myfirst.mylast[at]ucsf.edu. Let’s schedule a 30min chat about [...] (1/n)
27016
Michael Meers @mpmeers.bsky.social · 16/02/2025
Thank you @michelemunz.bsky.social for quoting me for this piece. Incidentally Eric Schmitt made a factually incorrect statement in it: this does NOT mean more money for lifesaving research, it means LESS--this is a CUT to future therapies and cures, full stop. www.stltoday.com/funding-cuts...
stltoday.com
Funding cuts will hamper research
ST. LOUIS — Missouri universities are sounding the alarm over the attempt by President Donald Trump's administration to cut grants supporting biomedical research — a move that could result in
020
Reposted by Michael Meers
Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 16/02/2025
Thanks to all of the NIHers and their friends who reached out to me. I am still here (DM me or Signal jeremymberg.78) I still have a very incomplete picture but based on what I have been told, the damage to NIH and to many wonderful people who work(ed) there is/was impossible for me to imagine 1/n
8799395
Michael Meers @mpmeers.bsky.social · 13/02/2025
A Senator voting to put one’s most vulnerable constituents at risk of illness and death is a dereliction of duty of the highest order. Here is a list of those whose shameful acts should eternally stain their legacies: www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
nytimes.com
Live Count: The Senate Votes on Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be Health Secretary (Gift Article)
Follow the count live.
010
Michael Meers @mpmeers.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
Subscribing for this feat alone even if I never read another article here popular.info/p/breaking-n...
popular.info
BREAKING: NIH admits funding freeze is illegal, will resume issuing grants
An internal memo issued February 12 was obtained by Popular Information.
010
Reposted by Michael Meers
Derek Lowe @dereklowe.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
Biopharma companies and CEOs are keeping their heads down at their own peril. They should speak up about what’s happening to the NIH and other science agencies before it’s too late. Silence gives consent. And no one should consent to this.
science.org
Stand Up And Be Counted
17384158
Reposted by Michael Meers
Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
Bluetorial: Potential impact of “NIH” “plan” regarding indirect costs on institutions
media.tenor.com
a cartoon says hey everybody an old man 's talking while bart simpson looks on
ALT: a cartoon says hey everybody an old man 's talking while bart simpson looks on
39646
Reposted by Michael Meers
@tim_stasevich @tim-stasevich.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
Making intrabodies from antibodies just got easier! Learn how we made 𝟭𝟵 intrabodies to bind and light up peptides and histone modifications in live cells. And thanks to Academia, all sequences are freely available. (video credit: Yuko Sato @YukoSatoT2) (1/15) www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
1222196
Reposted by Michael Meers
Carl T. Bergstrom @carlbergstrom.com · 08/02/2025
I’ve been seething and grieving since yesterday’s Friday Night Massacre of NIH overheads, a seeming bit of bureaucratic trivial that will in fact destroy the US university system if unchecked. But I want to get away from budgets and rate breakdowns and F&A percentages for a moment. Humor me?
401661358
Michael Meers @mpmeers.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
Just remember: The NFL was the first American institution to sanction unfettered power for a unitary executive (QB) by systematically dismantling (defensive) checks and balances on its rule, ostensibly with a mandate to please their followers. No surprise that the winners are the same every year 🙃
010
Reposted by Michael Meers
Patrick Murphy @pjmurphy249.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
PREPRINT! Park et al. makes the case that we may be misunderstanding heterochromatin for past 30 years due to ChIP-Seq biases... 1/n
56730
Reposted by Michael Meers
Will Ratcliff @wcratcliff.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
Hi folks, I'm excited to share a whale of a tale (sorry, bad pun), where we engineer snowflake yeast to express sperm whale myoglobin, and explore how oxygen-binding proteins may have helped overcome anatomical limitations to early multicellularity. 🧪 #MEvoSky journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
A snowflake yeast cluster, with the MitoLoc mitochondrial fluorescent probe. The outer ~4-5 cell layers are aerobic and respiring, the interior is anaerobic.
1022455
Michael Meers @mpmeers.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
I roughly calculated the state-level economic impact of withholding NIH grants in terms of jobs lost per day. For Missouri it's 79--that's 553 jobs a week that this drags on. Data: docs.google.com/spreadsheets... How to contact your representatives with this information: www.usa.gov/elected-offi...
docs.google.com
121
Michael Meers @mpmeers.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
You’re saying our president is refusing to meet his financial obligations?
000
Reposted by Michael Meers
Dave Levitan @davelevitan.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
Per an NIH source: “Discussions with colleagues have suggested that if the universities all come together and raise hell about the delays to funding caused by not holding meetings, that might move the needle. From every state. There are well-funded universities in red states that will be impacted.”
268145183342
Reposted by Michael Meers
Vijay Ramani @vram142.bsky.social · 24/01/2025
Amid concerning times, sharing a bit of positivity: our 1st preprint of 2025 (funded VIA NIH COMMON FUND), heroically led by Marty Yang (@martyyang.bsky.social) w/ huge assist from @genophoria.bsky.social lab. Lots to cover so let’s get this tweetorial started (1/n)! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
biorxiv.org
Pervasive and programmed nucleosome distortion patterns on single mammalian chromatin fibers
We present a genome-scale method to map the single-molecule co-occupancy of structurally distinct nucleosomes, subnucleosomes, and other protein-DNA interactions via long-read high-resolution adenine ...
47022
Michael Meers @mpmeers.bsky.social · 20/01/2025
Today I sent a version of this letter to each of our senators from Missouri. Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt, I trust you'll do the right thing.
Letter describing opposition to the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.Letter describing opposition to the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.Footnotes for letter describing opposition to the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
051
Michael Meers @mpmeers.bsky.social · 19/01/2025
The future is now and it is confused 🤖❤️
120
Reposted by Michael Meers
Leopold Parts @leopoldparts.bsky.social · 15/01/2025
We are happy to share our enhancer scramble story, a strategy to create hundreds of stochastic deletions, inversions, and duplications within mammalian gene regulatory regions and associate these new architectures with gene expression levels 🧵 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Enhancer scrambling strategy
318376