iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Patrick Forcelli @paf1984.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

I could go on and on, but honestly, you should just read the full report if you haven't, and revisit it if you have. It is hopeful and inspiring, and a manual for describing the benefits of government funding of research. 15/15

000

Patrick Forcelli @paf1984.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

It is a good reminder of how our current scientific government-academic system came to be, and an even better reminder of why funding science is in the best interest of the public! 14/n

111

Patrick Forcelli @paf1984.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

He was writing on the background of WWII security embargoes on publication. But, in some ways predicted the need for public access mandates in publication! 13/n

100

Patrick Forcelli @paf1984.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

And he recognized that we have to invest not just in "the natural sciences and medicine, but also in the social sciences, humanities, and other studies so essential to national wellbeing" 12/n

100

Patrick Forcelli @paf1984.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

He also recognized the importance of "Renewal of our Scientific Talent". While we've made strides in access to education, we definitely have more work to do. 11/n

100

Patrick Forcelli @paf1984.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

For the hawkish, a reminder that national security also depends on scientific knowledge and innovation. 10/n

100

Patrick Forcelli @paf1984.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

Therapeutic breakthroughs require teamwork, basic scientists, clinicians, Government, and industry. There is no clinical pipeline without all these players. 9/n

100

Patrick Forcelli @paf1984.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

Think of the examples of how basic discovery has shaped medicine. Thomas Brock, who discovered T. aquaticus, which gave us Taq polymerase, PCR, and enabled modern genetics, was interested in extremophiles not genetics. I don't think he could have imagined the avenues his work would open. 8/n

110

Patrick Forcelli @paf1984.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

And he understood that basic discovery requires investment. 7/n

101

Patrick Forcelli @paf1984.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

Infectious disease was a top 3 cause of death in 1945. Its not in the top 10 any more. He understood that translational breakthroughs require basic discovery. 6/n

101

Patrick Forcelli @paf1984.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

He highlighted the advances in early diagnosis of cancer. In the 80 years since, we've added mammograms and colonoscopies and PSA tests. 5/n

100

Patrick Forcelli @paf1984.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

He highlighted the increase in lifespan from 1900-1945 (from 49 to 65 yrs). We've continued to make progress. It's 79 now. 4/n

100

Patrick Forcelli @paf1984.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

Bush's reasoning still resonates. He argued that scientific progress is essential for the "War Against Disease"; "For National Security", and "For the Public Welfare". 3/n

100

Patrick Forcelli @paf1984.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

Franklin D. Roosevelt's charge to Bush commissioning the work and the report included this line, highlighting the impact that science can have on our economy and our wellbeing. 2/n

100

Patrick Forcelli @paf1984.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

Our topic today in our 1st year PhD students skills & ethics course was Vannevar Bush's Science, The Endless Frontier. If you haven't read it, you should. Bush outlined a vision that led to the creation of the National Science Foundation. 1/n

nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov

113

Reposted by Patrick Forcelli

Max Kozlov @maxkozlov.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

Update 3/16: A very small handful of NIH apportionments have come through — with big exceptions. The ones that OMB has approved are all Congressionally mandated/earmarked. The broad discretionary funds that fund most NIH grants not yet been authorized. (1/2)

27363

Patrick Forcelli @paf1984.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

📢 GU Pharmacology & Physiology is hiring! Tenure-track / tenured faculty position at Georgetown University Medical Center. apply.interfolio.com/180562 Please share with your networks.

apply.interfolio.com

Apply - Interfolio {{$ctrl.$state.data.pageTitle}} - Apply - Interfolio

025

Reposted by Patrick Forcelli

Jenna Norton @jenna-m-norton.bsky.social · 16/01/2026

Don’t let Russell Vought trick Congress into destroying science by removing multiyear funding limits from the NIH funding bill.

3310148

Reposted by Patrick Forcelli

Technology Connections @techconnectify.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

If it helps, people are mad at Democrats because many of their social media presences produce comms which address what's happening as though we're simply dealing with the consequences of going along with a bad restaurant recommendation. The food isn't just bad, we want to shut down the restaurant.

331804248

Reposted by Patrick Forcelli

Karen S Wilcox, PhD (she/her) @karenswilcoxphd.bsky.social · 30/12/2025

Sharing this piece by @katherinejwu.com - A succinct explanation about why i fear for the younger generation of scientists... www.theatlantic.com/science/2025...

theatlantic.com

The Trump Administration’s Most Paralyzing Blow to Science

Cuts to research may have spoiled the country’s appetite for bold exploration.

22714

Patrick Forcelli @paf1984.bsky.social · 23/12/2025

New paper out from the lab. Tahi Khan, David McFall, and team (1) found increased senescent cells in hippocampus from individuals with temporal lobe epilepsy and in mice after status epilepticus, (2) cleared senescent cells using two strategies & reduced seizures and cognitive impairment in mice.

onlinelibrary.wiley.com

Senescent Cell Clearance Ameliorates Temporal Lobe Epilepsy and Associated Spatial Memory Deficits in Mice

Objective The pharmacological treatment of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), a disorder characterized by recurrent seizures and cognitive dysfunction, is limited to symptomatic control. Identifying nove...

021

Reposted by Patrick Forcelli

John Hawkinson @johnhawkinson.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

OMG this William G. Young opinion that just dropped (12:30pm) in AAUP v. Rubio. It begins with a postcard sent to Chambers and Young's reply card: "Trump has pardons and tanks, what do you have?" WGY: "We the People of the United States — you and me — have our magnificent Constitution"

241439442

Reposted by Patrick Forcelli

Pam Davis-Kean, PhD @umpamdk.bsky.social · 29/09/2025

Thank you all the program officers at NIH that persisted through the 2025 fiscal year and were able to fund 99% of the total FY2024 budget. I know this has take a toll on everyone at NIH. Thank you for supporting important health and behavior science and helping to keep the U.S. a leader in science.

319434

Patrick Forcelli @paf1984.bsky.social · 09/07/2025

My take away was that this was *not* saying "no new funding of animal only research" but rather that NIH will not release new NOFOs that are animal-only and that NOFOs need to consider non-animal methods...I think (hope) the drug discovery trends news piece is over-extrapolating.

210

Reposted by Patrick Forcelli

Carl T. Bergstrom @carlbergstrom.com · 04/06/2025

I tried something similar using ChatGPT 4.o. "I'm trying to put together a portfolio of three to five papers to highlight my breadth and depth as a research scientist. (I'm Carl Bergstrom.) Could you help me choose papers?" Here's the result.

I'm trying to put together a portfolio of three to five papers to highlight my breadth and depth as a research scientist. (I'm Carl Bergstrom.)

Could you help me choose papers?
ChatGPT said:

Absolutely, Carl. Given your broad body of work across evolutionary biology, information theory, network science, metascience, and science communication, a strong portfolio should showcase both disciplinary depth and interdisciplinary reach. A good starting structure might be:

Foundational work in evolutionary biology or theoretical ecology

Papers at the intersection of information theory and biology

Work in network theory or epidemiological modeling

Metascience or science reform scholarship

Public-facing or high-impact commentary on misinformation or science communication

Here’s a possible set of five papers that reflect this breadth and depth:

IMPORTANT PAPER BUT DATE IS OFF BY A DECADE

1. "The transmission sense of information" (2002, Biology and Philosophy)

Why: A conceptual cornerstone in your work on biological information.

Highlights: Philosophical rigor, interdisciplinary relevance, and enduring influence on how scientists think about information in biological systems.

I'VE NEVER WRITTEN ON THIS SUBJECT OR WITH THESE AUTHORS

2. "Evolutionary dynamics of viral marketing" (2008, PNAS, with K. Lerman and R. Hogg)

Why: Demonstrates your application of mathematical models to real-world social phenomena.

Highlights: Network theory, diffusion dynamics, interdisciplinary breadth (social + biological analogies).

I NEVER WROTE THIS OR ANYTHING LIKE IT
3. "The fundamental limitations of contact tracing for COVID-19" (2020, eLife)

Why: A timely, policy-relevant paper that exemplifies your scientific leadership during the pandemic.

Highlights: Mathematical epidemiology, real-world application, and high visibility.

I NEVER WROTE ABOUT THIS AND NEVER PUBLISHED IN THIS JOURNAL

4. "Systematic inequality and hierarchy in faculty hiring networks" (2015, Science Advances)

Why: Important contribution to the empirical study of academic hierarchies.

Highlights: Data-driven metascience, strong methodology, and influence on debates about academic equity.

5. "Misinformation in and about science" (2021, PNAS)

Why: Captures your role in science communication and misinformation research.

Highlights: Interdisciplinary scope, impact on public discourse, and relevance in the post-truth era.

1218845

Reposted by Patrick Forcelli

Bryan Roth @zenbrainest.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

It has been more than 15 years since the RDoC recommendations were published. The RDoC recommendations have had no impact on psychiatric drug discovery to date. zendudest.substack.com/p/rip-rdoc?r...

zendudest.substack.com

R.I.P. RDoC?

Part 1: Is it feasible to develop new psychiatric medications using RDoC guidances?

1138

Reposted by Patrick Forcelli

Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

Video from the hearing yesterday www.youtube.com/live/_Szx0jJ...

youtube.com

Senate Democrats Host Forum on HHS: Day 2

YouTube video by Senator Peter Welch

95719

Reposted by Patrick Forcelli

Torie Robinson @torierobinson.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

Hear why neuroscientists 🧠🧑‍🔬 should be valued, globally 🗺️! Prof Helen Scharfman 🤩 explains to us her #epilepsy research using mossy cells and the potential understanding them further may bring to people with anepilepsy and #anxiety! 👇🏻 ▶️ YouTube youtu.be/KHBqEYT1ThY 🎙️ Podcast shorturl.at/e7XWY

001

Reposted by Patrick Forcelli

Georgetown Law @georgetownlaw.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

At its 29th World Law Congress in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on May 6, the World Jurist Association (WJA) presented both #GeorgetownLaw and Dean William M. Treanor with awards recognizing their efforts to defend and advance the rule of law.

bit.ly

Georgetown Law and Dean William M. Treanor Honored for ‘Upholding and Strengthening the Rule of Law’

032

Patrick Forcelli @paf1984.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

Georgetown's Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology are looking for new colleagues. See the ad below.

apply.interfolio.com

Apply - Interfolio {{$ctrl.$state.data.pageTitle}} - Apply - Interfolio

001

Reposted by Patrick Forcelli

Niko Bowie @nikobowie.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

BREAKING: On Friday, the federal government issued new demands of Harvard University. The university's lawyers just responded: back off.

April 14, 2025
VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL
Josh Gruenbaum
Commissioner of the Federal Acquisition Service
General Services Administration
Sean R. Keveney
Acting General Counsel
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Thomas E. Wheeler
Acting General Counsel
U.S. Department of Education
Dear Messrs. Gruenbaum, Keveney, and Wheeler:
We represent Harvard University. We are writing in response to your letter dated April 11,
2025, addressed to Dr. Alan Garber, Harvard’s President, and Penny Pritzker, Senior Fellow of the
Harvard Corporation.
Harvard is committed to fighting antisemitism and other forms of bigotry in its community.
Antisemitism and discrimination of any kind not only are abhorrent and antithetical to Harvard’s
values but also threaten its academic mission.
To that end, Harvard has made, and will continue to make, lasting and robust structural,
policy, and programmatic changes to ensure that the university is a welcoming and supportive
learning environment for all students and continues to abide in all respects with federal law across
its academic programs and operations, while fostering open inquiry in a pluralistic community free
from intimidation and open to challenging orthodoxies, whatever their source.
Over the past 15 months, Harvard has undertaken substantial policy and programmatic
measures. It has made changes to its campus use policies; adopted new accountability procedures;
imposed meaningful discipline for those who violate university policies; enhanced programs
designed to address bias and promote ideological diversity and civil discourse; hired staff to
support these programs and support students; changed partnerships; dedicated resources to combat
hate and bias; and enhanced safety and security measures. As a result, Harvard is in a very different
place today from where it was a year ago. These efforts, and additional measures the university
will be taking against antisemitism, not only are the right thing to do but also are critical to
strength…

recognized by the Supreme Court. The government’s terms also circumvent Harvard’s statutory
rights by requiring unsupported and disruptive remedies for alleged harms that the government has
not proven through mandatory processes established by Congress and required by law. No less
objectionable is the condition, first made explicit in the letter of March 31, 2025, that Harvard
accede to these terms or risk the loss of billions of dollars in federal funding critical to vital research
and innovation that has saved and improved lives and allowed Harvard to play a central role in
making our country’s scientific, medical, and other research communities the standard-bearers for
the world. These demands extend not only to Harvard but to separately incorporated and
independently operated medical and research hospitals engaging in life-saving work on behalf of
their patients. The university will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional
rights. Neither Harvard nor any other private university can allow itself to be taken over by the
federal government. Accordingly, Harvard will not accept the government’s terms as an agreement
in principle.
Harvard remains open to dialogue about what the university has done, and is planning to
do, to improve the experience of every member of its community. But Harvard is not prepared to
agree to demands that go beyond the lawful authority of this or any administration.
William A. Burck Robert K. Hur
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP 1300 I Street NW Suite 900 Suite 900
Washington, DC 20005 King & Spalding LLP
1700 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20006

11446411105

Patrick Forcelli @paf1984.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

Not so - apps are being rejected without review if the justification is missing, rather than missing info being requested at JIT, which was the case in the past.

110

Reposted by Patrick Forcelli

Carl T. Bergstrom @carlbergstrom.com · 08/04/2025

The courts *should* put an immediate and unequivocal halt to all use of the CECOT prison in El Salvador, with or without due process. They may not do that. But the *people* of the US still can. Don't lose of sight of this atrocity amidst the other outrages. Make this a key focus of resistance.

10976271887

Reposted by Patrick Forcelli

American Epilepsy Society @amepilepsysoc.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

Abstract submission for #AES2025 is OPEN! AES is the optimal venue to share your #epilepsy research with a global audience. Learn more and apply by 6/9: buff.ly/Zg7WM2T #brainscience #neurology #epilepsyresearch

022

Patrick Forcelli @paf1984.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

John Green did an amazing job with Everything is Tuberculosis. He manages to tell "people stories", inform on the history of medicine, and make a clear argument for public health policy in just over 200 pages. Well worth the read.

000

Reposted by Patrick Forcelli

Chris Hayes @chrislhayes.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

cheese is woke now

1039233531917

Patrick Forcelli @paf1984.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

Safwan Hyder (a former MD/PhD student) and Willian Lazarini Lopes (a current postdoc) demonstrate a striking bi-directional modulation of seizures when they silenced and activated dorsal striatum. This effect was present in models of focal and generalized seizures.

000

Reposted by Patrick Forcelli

Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 27/03/2025

Well done Columbia leadership and Paul Weiss...

29230

Reposted by Patrick Forcelli

Pete Buttigieg @petebuttigieg.bsky.social · 27/03/2025

Not getting much attention, but the Senate GOP is about to start voting - to make sure banks can charge higher overdraft fees. Seriously. Good time to let your Senators know what you think of that.

16196427920384

Reposted by Patrick Forcelli

Tina Smith @smith.senate.gov · 24/03/2025

Circling back on this…

Post from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard that reads: Any unauthorized release of classified information is a violation of the law and will be treated as such.

19256408414706

Patrick Forcelli @paf1984.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

NIEHS - 22 April, to be published tomorrow (public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2025-05015.pdf) NINDS - 10 April, to be published tomorrow (public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2025-05025.pdf) NIAMSD - 21 April, to be published tomorrow (public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2025-04968.pdf)

public-inspection.federalregister.gov

061

Patrick Forcelli @paf1984.bsky.social · 22/03/2025

I’m grateful to all of the students, postdocs, and technicians who worked on this study over the years. And I’m happy that these data are out there for the field to read!

020

Patrick Forcelli @paf1984.bsky.social · 22/03/2025

I try to remind myself (and my lab) that we want someone to be able to go back through our notes 30 years from now and understand what we did if they need to.(16/17)

010