Sign in

Robert Phillips

@rphillips3.bsky.social
311 followers 250 following 50 posts

Neuroscientist interested in cross-species conservation of cell types and circuits | Postdoc in Martinowich lab at Lieber Institute for Brain Development | PhD with Day Lab at UAB

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Robert Phillips
Keri Martinowich @martinowk.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
What is becoming increasingly clear to us across these projects is that, subcortically, in the human 🧠, variation across 3D anatomical axes is the rule rather than the exception.
121
Robert Phillips @rphillips3.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Welcome @jianingyao.bsky.social to Bluesky! She generated this awesome video of the 3D reconstruction.
020
Robert Phillips @rphillips3.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Very excited to share our newest preprint, led by myself and Biostats PhD Student Jianing Yao, where we generate a three dimensional reconstruction of the human NAc to understand how cell type heterogeneity and topography change across the anterior-posterior axis. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
13812
Robert Phillips @rphillips3.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Creepy when the targeted ads know exactly what you were thinking...
000
Robert Phillips @rphillips3.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
You dropped this 👑
120
Reposted by Robert Phillips
Jorge Miranda Barrientos @jorge-miranda.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Thrilled to share that I was selected for a Mexican government program aimed at strengthening collaborations between research institutions in Mexico and Mexican scientists abroad, receiving the distinction of Investigator Level 1! 🇲🇽🔬 What a great way to start Hispanic Heritage Month!
821836
Reposted by Robert Phillips
Bernie Mulvey @berniejmulvey.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Excited to share work with cryostat wizard @heenadivecha.bsky.social looking at gene expression in my favorite brain region (LC) in adult postmortem brain! (Long URL to spare the trouble of identifying cars, buses, beds in 5x5 pixel imgs). (1/x) link.springer.com/epdf/10.1007...
link.springer.com
Molecular programs in human locus coeruleus link APOE and neuromelanin to Alzheimer’s vulnerability
22516
Reposted by Robert Phillips
Michael Totty @mictott.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Incredibly proud to share our newest work where we developed a multiscale spatial transcriptomic atlas of the human amygdala using three complementary technologies! 1/12 🧵 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
biorxiv.org
Multiscale spatial transcriptomics resolves the cellular and molecular architecture of the human amygdala
The amygdala is a central hub for emotional learning that is dysregulated across numerous psychiatric disorders, yet its molecular architecture in humans remains poorly defined. We here present a spat...
35225
Reposted by Robert Phillips
Jorge Miranda Barrientos @jorge-miranda.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Coming back from another amazing GRC frontal cortex. So proud of Suhaas Adiraju who presented some of the work we are doing at @lieberinstitute.bsky.social about Amphetamine ensembles within the mPFC.
094
Reposted by Robert Phillips
Keri Martinowich @martinowk.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Sorry, I know I've posted enough #FluorescenceFriday images 🔬, but this is so frigging cool - 3D reconstruction from Xenium data of cell types across the nucleus accumbens in human 🧠. Credit to JHU Biostats PhD student Jianing Yao and @rphillips3.bsky.social who are leading this project 🤩
1274
Reposted by Robert Phillips
Keri Martinowich @martinowk.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
For #FluorescenceFriday - fresh off the 🔬 image as part of a molecular connectomics experiment that I am super stoked about from Maddie Abramson, @rphillips3.bsky.social @jorge-miranda.bsky.social and Stephanie Page - labeling hippocampal neurons projecting to the lateral septum in the mouse 🧠
Fluorescence microscopy image of virally labeled CA1 neurons in the mouse hippocampus that are projecting to the lateral septum
0458
Reposted by Robert Phillips
Keri Martinowich @martinowk.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Big congratulations to @aaronsalisbury.bsky.social on conferral of his PhD and a great thesis defense seminar yesterday. Congrats Aaron and best of luck for your next steps - we are excited to watch all your success!
0122
Reposted by Robert Phillips
Keri Martinowich @martinowk.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Excited for accepted #ACNP2027 panel co-chaired with @jojolab.bsky.social. @vikaassohal.bsky.social @suthanalab.bsky.social @rphillips3.bsky.social and Josh will present cross-species strategies that align rodent circuit interrogation w/ behavioral, physiological & molecular readouts in human 🧠
Screen shot of email acceptance from ACNP organizers with panel title
1256
Robert Phillips @rphillips3.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
My dude! So stoked to see this project continue
000
Reposted by Robert Phillips
Olivia Drake @odrake.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Our new preprint from @daylab.bsky.social characterizes Chst9-MSNs, a specialized NAc population with high Oprm1 expression and opioid sensitivity that is required for fentanyl reward learning. Excited to share this work! 🧠🧬 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
biorxiv.org
2229
Robert Phillips @rphillips3.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
For #FluorescentFriday, some more D1-island RNAscope from @ishbeldelrosario.bsky.social. These cells are so weird in all the best ways. Excited to share this data with everyone soon 😎🏝️
083
Reposted by Robert Phillips
Jeremy Day @daylab.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
Notice of Award Monday! Grateful to NIDA for supporting some very exciting work defining the cellular and circuit mechanisms that opioids target to produce rewarding effects.
8566
Reposted by Robert Phillips
Keri Martinowich @martinowk.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Fresh off the🔬for #FluorescenceFriday from @ishbeldelrosario.bsky.social - pretty RNAscope as part of our continued exploration of spatially-organized populations of D1R-expressing island populations in nucleus accumbens of human 🧠. Excited to be bringing some key updates to the data resources soon!
Microscopy image of fluorescently labeled cell markers in the human nucleus accumbens
03810
Reposted by Robert Phillips
Prashanthi Ravichandran @prashanthi-ravi.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
(9/10) Thank you to @lieberinstitute.bsky.social, NIDA, and all our collaborators who made this work possible. 🧑‍🔬 #NAcLIBD @svitlanabach.bsky.social, @rphillips3.bsky.social, @alexisbattle.bsky.social , @martinowk.bsky.social , @stephaniehicks.bsky.social, and @kr-maynard.bsky.social
021
Reposted by Robert Phillips
Keri Martinowich @martinowk.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
I am so proud of the whole team, and excited for next steps. We are already building on these discoveries by examining spatial organization of D1 islands across the full anatomical extent of the NAc and integrating molecular maps with functional mouse circuit and behavior studies. So excited!!
Some AMAZING high resolution spatial transcriptomics data in human brain to better understand localization, composition and origin of the D1 islands - more to come!
083
Reposted by Robert Phillips
Kristen Maynard @kr-maynard.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Excited to share our new study characterizing spatial gene expression in the human NAc led by @prashanthi-ravi.bsky.social @svitlanabach.bsky.social @rphillips3.bsky.social in collaboration with @martinowk.bsky.social @stephaniehicks.bsky.social @alexisbattle.bsky.social @lcolladotor.bsky.social.
12610
Reposted by Robert Phillips
Keri Martinowich @martinowk.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
New paper out online today!! We identify two previously unrecognized transcripts at the BDNF locus, BDNF-DT and BDNF-AS-DT, that are developmentally regulated, coordinated with BDNF expression, and associated with schizophrenia risk. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
BDNF-DT and BDNF-AS-DT: novel genes in the BDNF locus - Molecular Psychiatry
Molecular Psychiatry - BDNF-DT and BDNF-AS-DT: novel genes in the BDNF locus
1197
Reposted by Robert Phillips
Jorge Miranda Barrientos @jorge-miranda.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Thrilled to share that our latest paper investigating how mPFC-LC projectors contribute to sustained #attention is now out in @npp-journal.bsky.social This is so meaningful to me and the team, Its @rehg-j.bsky.social first first-author paper and my first corresponding one. rdcu.be/fqBJp
rdcu.be
Top-down control of sustained attention by medial prefrontal cortex—locus coeruleus (mPFC-LC) projection neurons during the rodent continuous performance test (rCPT)
Neuropsychopharmacology - Top-down control of sustained attention by medial prefrontal cortex—locus coeruleus (mPFC-LC) projection neurons during the rodent continuous performance test (rCPT)
12712
Reposted by Robert Phillips
UAB Comprehensive Neuroscience Center @uabneuro.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
A new $10 million philanthropic investment will establish the Frances Gorrie Alzheimer’s Disease Center at UAB, supporting clinical care and research into this neurodegenerative condition affecting over 7 million Americans. Read more here. www.uab.edu/medicine/new...
uab.edu
Building momentum in memory disorder care and research | Heersink School of Medicine News
013
Reposted by Robert Phillips
Ben Saunders @bensaunders.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
Check out our new paper, led brilliantly by Dr. Megan Brickner, in early view form at @natcomms.nature.com. We characterize BLA dopamine signaling in emotional learning - lots of insights into broad dopamine heterogeneity beyond classic value learning signals! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
Basolateral amygdala dopamine transmits emotional salience - Nature Communications
The basolateral amygdala dopamine system has received little attention. Here, authors show that BLA dopamine plays a unique role in learning, by encoding the emotional salience of sensory cues to supp...
47320
Reposted by Robert Phillips
Dionnet L Bhatti Mazo @victoryofflight.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
My PhD work on how lateral septum cells and circuits process threat cues to guide defensive actions is now online at @nature.com rdcu.be/fjNgT w/ @gordfishell.bsky.social and others
nature.com
Feature-specific threat coding in lateral septum guides defensive action - Nature
The populations of CRHR2-expressing neurons in the lateral septum of mice involved in threat-related behaviour in response to environmental challenges are defined.
34212
Reposted by Robert Phillips
Keri Martinowich @martinowk.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Grateful for some absolutely spectacular weather ☀️ for our annual cross-research teams spring party!!
A group of people sitting on a dock
0193
Reposted by Robert Phillips
Andrew Hardaway @andrewhardaway.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Glucose-Dependent Insulinotropic Polypeptide Receptors Are Expressed in the Lateral Septum and Reduce Electrically-Evoked Dopamine Release as well as the Ability of Cocaine to Increase Extracellular Dopamine | ACS Chemical Neuroscience pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
pubs.acs.org
Glucose-Dependent Insulinotropic Polypeptide Receptors Are Expressed in the Lateral Septum and Reduce Electrically-Evoked Dopamine Release as well as the Ability of Cocaine to Increase Extracellular Dopamine
Tirzepatide, a dual agonist of the glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor (GIPR), represents a new class of medication for obesity and type II diabetes treatment. Using laboratory mice, we show that GIPRs are present in the lateral septum (LS) in cells also expressing GLP-1R, particularly in the dorsolateral LS. Likewise, we show the coexpression of the dopamine (DA) D2 receptor (DRD2) in LS cells with GLP-1R in both the dorsolateral and intermediate portions of the LS. Using fast-scan cyclic voltammetry, we demonstrate that systemic GLP-1R or GIPR agonist treatment reduces both electrically evoked DA release in the LS and the ability of cocaine to increase extracellular DA levels. These data unveil a new central role for GIPR signaling and identify a potentially important cell type expressing both GLP-1R and GIPR upon which tirzepatide or other dual agonists may modulate DA homeostasis in the brain.
2239
Reposted by Robert Phillips
Jennifer O’Chan @chanjenerational.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
Thrilled to share my main postdoctoral work out @nature.com ! This project tackles a fundamental question: how do pregnancy and postpartum experiences promote lifelong changes to the brain? www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
Dopamine drives persistent remodelling of the maternal brain - Nature
Brain-wide transcriptomic profiling in mice reveals that reproductive experience remodels the maternal brain by altering dopamine dynamics in the dorsal hippocampal formation, causing dopamine-depende...
513744
Reposted by Robert Phillips
Bryan Roth @zenbrainest.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
DREADDs in humans--update: 3 clinical trials using hM4Di in humans registered in China. 2 for epilepsy and 1 for Parkinson's Disease. In our original paper we stated: "...We suggest that at least one of these designer receptors, hM4D, will prove useful for neuronal silencing in vitro and in vivo.."
43412
Reposted by Robert Phillips
Keri Martinowich @martinowk.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
For #FluorescenceFriday, celebrating some more good paper news with this really pretty image labeling prefrontal cortical neurons with projections to the locus coeruleus with chemogenetic receptors. Image credit to @rehg-j.bsky.social @jorge-miranda.bsky.social 🧠🧪🔬
Fluorescent microscopy image of a section of mouse brain tissue with viral labeling with green and red fluorophores. Overlap makes neurons appear yellowish-orange on image.
1488
Reposted by Robert Phillips
Jeremy Day @daylab.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
This work is now available online in @elife.bsky.social - thanks to the reviewers for excellent comments! Check it out if you are interested in the intersection of pain, opioids, and the ventral tegmental area! elifesciences.org/reviewed-pre...
elifesciences.org
Morphine regulates astrocyte transcriptional dynamics in the ventral tegmental area by stimulation of glucocorticoid signaling
1132
Reposted by Robert Phillips
Keri Martinowich @martinowk.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
For #FluorescenceFriday and in celebration of a paper acceptance - super excited to get this one out to the community soon 🤩, cluster of "D1 islands" in the nucleus accumbens of the human 🧠 (🟢 MBP; 🔴 DRD1; 🟡 RXFP1; 🟣 OPRM1). Image credit to @svitlanabach.bsky.social @ishbeldelrosario.bsky.social 🔬👩‍🔬
Fluorescence microscopy image of single molecule in situ hybridization in a section of human brain tissue at the level of the nucleus accumbens
2389
Reposted by Robert Phillips
Jorge Miranda Barrientos @jorge-miranda.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
Yesterday I had the privilege to give a virtual talk to undergrad and graduate students in Mexico about some of our work at @lieberinstitute.bsky.social. It was great to connect with the community, and giving it in spanish felt so special. #cienciaenespañol!
074
Robert Phillips @rphillips3.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
Me today watching @nataliagonzalezp.bsky.social leave lab for the last time. Natalia is an outstanding scientist and is going to do great things at @mpfneuro.bsky.social!
011
Reposted by Robert Phillips
Needhi Bhalla 💅🏽 @needhibhalla.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
As a recipient of federal grants from #NIH (for now! 😭) that funds research in my lab, I'd like to sincerely thank American taxpayers on #TaxDay for investing in scientific research that lays the foundation for medical and technological innovation in this country and keeps us ALL safe and healthy
7447126
Robert Phillips @rphillips3.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
👑
010
Reposted by Robert Phillips
Science Magazine @science.org · 07/04/2026
A scientist is helping uncover the role of the immune system in endometriosis—while managing the disease herself. Learn more on #WorldHealthDay: scim.ag/4oDvjAa
Pathways to pain: graphic illustrating the symptoms and mechanisms of endometriosis. Panel 1: diagram of the pelvic area showing common locations of lesions and cysts: the abdominal wall, the peritoneal membrane, the ovaries, between the uterus and rectum, and the vagina. Panel 2: Illustration of a reproductive system with endometriosis, showing locations of lesions and an ovarian cyst, as well as menstrual blood flowing out of the fallopian tube, which is thought to seed lesions. Panel 3: comparison of neutrophils in the menstrual effluent (ME) of women with endometriosis versus without; with endometriosis, the neutrophils have shrunken, many-lobed nuclei and vacuoles in their cytoplasm. Panel 4: Illustration of immune factors involved in endometriosis lesions: decreased natural killer cells, and increased neutrophils and macrophages.
19030
Robert Phillips @rphillips3.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
First #FluorescenceFriday post! Some islands in the human NAc 🏝️🧠. Forever fascinated with this really cool population. Shoutout to @svitlanabach.bsky.social for the incredible Visium-HD targeting!
090
Reposted by Robert Phillips
Travis Goode @travisgoode.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
Restaurants, billboards, commercials… what brain circuits link context to appetite? 🧠🌎🍽️ Very happy to finally share a major update in our work exploring the hippocampus and lateral septum in calibrating food consumption! 🍩 Major thanks to our lab and collaborators! ⭐️⭐️ www.cell.com/neuron/fullt...
cell.com
A dorsal hippocampus-prodynorphinergic dorsolateral septum-to-lateral hypothalamus circuit mediates contextual gating of feeding
Goode et al. show that prodynorphin (Pdyn)-expressing neurons of the dorsolateral septum (DLS) receive substantial dorsal hippocampal (DHPC) input and inhibit lateral hypothalamic (LHA) GABAergic neur...
2179
Reposted by Robert Phillips
Sang Ho (Sangho) Kwon @shkwon-bcmbneuro.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
FIRST post here on Bluesky - we’re excited to share that our large spatial transcriptomics study of the human dlPFC in schizophrenia is now available on bioRxiv📄: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... (1/9)
34315
Reposted by Robert Phillips
Amar Sahay @amarsahay.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
Excited to share our study in Neuron led by @travisgoode.bsky.social, a K99 PDF (interviewing for Faculty) and Sahay lab team with collaborators at BROAD, Hopkins, and UW Seattle, defining a neural circuit that links prior experience with feeding behavior. Open Access: sahaylab.com/publications
63820
Reposted by Robert Phillips
Jorge Miranda Barrientos @jorge-miranda.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
Great feeling for a friday. First cell from the new rig. Still a lot of work to do on the rig, but we are patching. Feels like going back to your first love ❤️ 😍
2233
Reposted by Robert Phillips
Michael Totty @mictott.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
New paper out on cortistatin neurons and their role in regulating fear and cortical hyperexcitability in the prelimbic cortex! This one has been a fun ride 🧵 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
biorxiv.org
4226
Reposted by Robert Phillips
Keri Martinowich @martinowk.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
Now online! @lieberinstitute.bsky.social & @jhubiostat.bsky.social collaboration generating important resource (Visium & Xenium) on molecular organization of human hypothalamus w/ cool findings associating sex differential expression to neuropsychiatric disorders 🧠🔬🧪 www.cell.com/cell-reports...
cell.com
Spatially resolved molecular sex differences at single-cell resolution in the adult human ventromedial and arcuate hypothalamus
The ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) and arcuate (ARC) nuclei of the hypothalamus play critical roles in regulating metabolism and behavior. Here, Mulvey et al. create a focused spatial transcriptomic ...
13311
Reposted by Robert Phillips
Dr. Cate Peña @cate-cholamine.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
This quantification of loss is staggering. And knowing some of the excellent people that make up these numbers… is heartbreaking www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
U.S. government has lost more than 10,000 STEM Ph.D.s since Trump took office
A Science analysis reveals how many were fired, retired, or quit across 14 agencies
02817
Reposted by Robert Phillips
Summer Thyme @sthyme.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
Drug discovery for nervous system disorders is really challenging. We think early/rapid in vivo testing with zebrafish will accelerate the drug development cycle for conserved targets. Check out our proof-of-principle pilot study and virtual drug discovery pipeline (tinyurl.com/3whr23hs). #Skytorial
Cartoon zebrafish with green lit-up brain, in well of plate responding to hit molecule.
1148
Robert Phillips @rphillips3.bsky.social · 17/01/2026
#ACNP2026 was a huge success! Great location, with even better science.
0101
Reposted by Robert Phillips
Joshua Weitz @joshuasweitz.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
Full survey results show American public have high levels of confidence in scientists while revealing some partisan differences (including on how to fund science), but statements asserting lost trust should be read instead as intentional efforts to degrade trust. www.pewresearch.org/science/2026...
Americans still have more confidence in scientists than many other groups in society
414867
Robert Phillips @rphillips3.bsky.social · 13/01/2026
Natalia is awesome! She’s applying to grad schools this fall and will make a great addition to any lab
041