iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Karen Ridge Lab @ridgelabnu.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

We're sharing wonderful news about Northwestern PCCM-Sleep faculty member John Coleman At the Hope Through Caring Gala, Dr. Coleman was presented the Harvey and Bonny Gaffen Advancements in ALS Award for his impact on the ALS community through care, advocacy, & advancing research Congratulations!

100

Reposted by Karen Ridge Lab

Nikon Microscope Solutions @healthcare.nikon.com · 22/12/2025

Astronomy and microscopy are built on the challenge of making the invisible visible. This project from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory compares images from Chandra, Hubble, Webb with images from the #NikonSmallWorld competition. Check out the full gallery: s.si.edu/48ESqo3

chandra.si.edu

Micro/Macro Chandra & Nikon

051

Reposted by Karen Ridge Lab

Nature Reviews Immunology @natrevimmunol.nature.com · 06/10/2025

Happy #treg day everyone - congratulations to Mary Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, Shimon Sakaguchi and to all the immunologists who have contributed to this incredible field. See our collection: www.nature.com/collections/...

nature.com

Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2025

The 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded jointly to Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi “for their discoveries ...

03713

Karen Ridge Lab @ridgelabnu.bsky.social · 03/10/2025

The work that happens at Northwestern makes a difference — for today and tomorrow. In this Northwestern Magazine feature, read about a few of the innovative federally funded research projects happening at the University right now: magazine.northwestern.edu/features/res...

magazine.northwestern.edu

Vital Research

Feinberg School of Medicine professor Jeffrey Savas has been funded by a U.S. Department of Defense grant to advance his work in hearing loss; circadian rhythm expert Fred Turek at the Weinberg Colleg...

000

Reposted by Karen Ridge Lab

NUCATS Institute @nucatsinstitute.bsky.social · 03/10/2025

NUCATS helps lead medical research and clinical trials. Fueled by federal funding, Feinberg research seeks to understand complex biological processes, develop treatments for various diseases & identify ways to implement evidence-based care, all with the goal of improving human health. bit.ly/4gOEOsI

bit.ly

The Impact of Our Research

The research taking place at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine has a profound impact on our community and beyond; explore our work in critical medical research and clinical trials.

011

Karen Ridge Lab @ridgelabnu.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

Introducing Global Voices in Patient-Centered Research, a new conference series highlighting how research transforms lives. Our inaugural session kicked off on Friday, July 25 with a focus on cystic fibrosis. youtu.be/_09BjzhLwmI?...

youtu.be

Global Voices in Patient-Centered Research: Focus on Cystic Fibrosis

YouTube video by Northwestern Univ. Feinberg School of Medicine

000

Karen Ridge Lab @ridgelabnu.bsky.social · 05/08/2025

"Research Saved My Life" When Toddie Hays decided to participate in a nationwide genetics study, she had no idea about the life-changing information hiding in her DNA. www.nucats.northwestern.edu/about/news/2...

nucats.northwestern.edu

‘Research Saved My Life’

When Toddie Hays decided to participate in nationwide genetics study, she had no idea about the life-changing information hiding in her DNA.

010

Karen Ridge Lab @ridgelabnu.bsky.social · 04/08/2025

We'd like to share some new content on Our Research Impact at Simpson Querrey Lung Institute for Translational Sciences (SQLIFTS), now featuring Global Voices in Patient-Centered Research with a focus on cystic fibrosis: www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/sqlift...

feinberg.northwestern.edu

Our Research Impact

Showcasing the ways our research and innovation at SQLIFTS impacts the world

000

Karen Ridge Lab @ridgelabnu.bsky.social · 14/07/2025

Happy #MicroscopyMonday! May your samples today be as happy to see you as you are to see them!

a bit of tissue from a colon sample with H&E stain making a smiley face

040

Karen Ridge Lab @ridgelabnu.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

Feinberg leads medical research and clinical trials, fueled by federal funding. Our research has a profound impact on our community and beyond. We invite you to learn more about the impact of our research here: www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/research/abo...

feinberg.northwestern.edu

The Impact of Our Research

The research taking place at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine has a profound impact on our community and beyond; explore our work in critical medical research and clinical trials.

110

Karen Ridge Lab @ridgelabnu.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

All across Northwestern, groundbreaking research and scholarship happen daily. Our researchers look to cure disease, tackle tough questions and improve lives. Explore recent research that highlights Northwestern's research impact and learn why research matters: www.northwestern.edu/research-nu/...

A person with a lab coat, safety glasses, and purple nitrile gloves holds a petri dish

000

Reposted by Karen Ridge Lab

Karen Ridge Lab @ridgelabnu.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

We proudly pursue high-impact research with the ultimate goal of improving patient care & and saving lives. For patients & their loved ones—both now & in the future—the value of our research is incalculable. Read about the impact of our research here: www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/sqlift...

feinberg.northwestern.edu

Our Research Impact

Showcasing the ways our research and innovation at SQLIFTS impacts the world

001

Karen Ridge Lab @ridgelabnu.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

feinberg.northwestern.edu

Our Research Impact

Showcasing the ways our research and innovation at SQLIFTS impacts the world

001

Reposted by Karen Ridge Lab

Setong @seetz.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

"The delays have stifled research on drug discovery, blood vessel health and injury response. In some cases, scientists have cut staff, paused hiring, trimmed back supplies or delayed experiments. Health officials have not explained which projects have been held up, why or for how long."

nytimes.com

The Gutting of America’s Medical Research: Here Is Every Canceled or Delayed N.I.H. Grant

Some cuts have been starkly visible, but the country’s medical grant-making machinery has also radically transformed outside the public eye.

021

Reposted by Karen Ridge Lab

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

181459598

Reposted by Karen Ridge Lab

Karen Ridge Lab @ridgelabnu.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

We're proud to contribute to Northwestern's research impact! Learn more about other recent discoveries at Northwestern that are improving lives every day: www.northwestern.edu/research-nu/...

northwestern.edu

Research Impact : Northwestern University

021

Karen Ridge Lab @ridgelabnu.bsky.social · 06/05/2025

It's been nice to see the tulips blooming on campus

Some late blooming pink and white tulips in front of a sign that says "Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine"

031

Reposted by Karen Ridge Lab

Northwestern Research @nuresearch.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

Northwestern research has a huge beneficial impact on society--advancing health and solving real problems. tinyurl.com/3wrtm6n4 #northwestern #research #innovation #funding

031

Reposted by Karen Ridge Lab

Kristi Holmes @kristiholmes.bsky.social · 24/04/2025

Inspired by and grateful for our dedicated faculty, staff, & students! Life-saving clinical trials revolutionize patient care, transforming medicine and training the physicians who will deliver it. 💜 NU research impact stories: www.northwestern.edu/research-nu/... @nufeinbergmed.bsky.social

091

Karen Ridge Lab @ridgelabnu.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

We're proud to contribute to Northwestern's research impact! Learn more about other recent discoveries at Northwestern that are improving lives every day: www.northwestern.edu/research-nu/...

northwestern.edu

Research Impact : Northwestern University

021

Karen Ridge Lab @ridgelabnu.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

When you have a nice hat and someone mentions it and you feel nice #MicroscopyMonday Read our paper in Cell Reports: Ma et al. 2024, Vimentin modulates regulatory T cell receptor-ligand interactions at distal pole complex, leading to dysregulated host response to viral pneumonia, bit.ly/3FiW5vH

Treg cell with the nucleus stained blue and vimentin immunolabeled in green. The vimentin filaments are bundled together in the distal pole complex, a caplike structure that forms opposite the immune synapse and is shown here looking like a nice little hat at a jaunty angle.

010

Karen Ridge Lab @ridgelabnu.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

Happy #MicroscopyMonday! From Fig 2G of our Cell Reports paper (bit.ly/3FiW5vH), wild-type mice (left) & mice with conditional vimentin knockout in Tregs (right) were infected with a sublethal dose of influenza virus; on day 21 lungs from cKO mice had less keratin 5 (green) & more Foxp3+ Tregs (red)

050

Karen Ridge Lab @ridgelabnu.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Happy Holidays from the Ridge Lab!

Cancer cell with immunolabeling for vimentin in green and a red clipart bow

000

Karen Ridge Lab @ridgelabnu.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

Just published in Cell Reports is our latest paper! Vimentin modulates regulatory T cell receptor-ligand interactions at distal pole complex, leading to dysregulated host response to viral pneumonia www.cell.com/cell-reports...

Graphical abstract. Summary: Forkhead box P3 (Foxp3)+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) resolve acute inflammation and repair the injured lung after viral pneumonia. Vimentin is a critical protein in the distal pole complex (DPC) of Tregs. This study reveals the inhibitory effect of vimentin on the suppressive and reparative capacity of Tregs. Treg-specific deletion of vimentin increases Helios+interleukin-18 receptor (IL-18R)+ Tregs, suppresses inflammatory immune cells, and enhances tissue repair, protecting Vimfl/flFoxp3YFP-cre mice from influenza-induced lung injury and mortality. Mechanistically, vimentin suppresses the induction of amphiregulin, an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) ligand necessary for tissue repair, by sequestering IL-18R to the DPC and restricting receptor-ligand interactions. We propose that vimentin in the DPC of Tregs functions as a molecular switch, which could be targeted to regulate the immune response and enhance tissue repair in patients with severe viral pneumonia.

291

Karen Ridge Lab @ridgelabnu.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

Happy #FluorescenceFriday! This lung adenocarcinoma cell was treated with withaferin A, fixed, & immunolabeled for vimentin (green) & keratin 8 (red) Read more in Berr et al 2023, Vimentin is required for tumor progression and metastasis in a mouse model of non–small cell lung cancer bit.ly/3OFzDPM

Lung adenocarcinoma cell from a mouse was treated with withaferin A then fixed and immunolabeled for vimentin in green and keratin 8 in red, with Hoechst nuclear dye in blue. The withaferin A caused the vimentin intermediate filaments to disassemble and aggregate around the nucleus. This image is a maximum intensity projection of a confocal z-stack.

030

Karen Ridge Lab @ridgelabnu.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

Greetings from the Ridge Lab in the Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care at Northwestern! Our research focuses on mechanisms driving repair & recovery from viral pneumonia. We aim to identify molecular signals modulating the transition from acute lung injury to the later resolution/repair phase.

140