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Robert Phillips

@rphillips3.bsky.social

312 followers 250 following 51 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 rphillips1995.github.io

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Robert Phillips @rphillips3.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

D1_Island_B exhibits high expression of DRD3, VIP, PROK2, and NPY1R. The high expression of DRD3 and general lack of mature MSN markers lead us to believe these cells actually represent Islands of Calleja. This was confirmed by cross-species analysis where D1_Island_B clusters with ICj.

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Robert Phillips @rphillips3.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

The unique expression profile, topography, and distribution of D1-islands lead us to use VisiumHD to gain a better understanding of their transcriptional heterogeneity. We found that D1_Island_A consists of two distinct populations of D1-MSNs that exhibit high expression of OPRM1, TSHZ1, and RXFP1.

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Robert Phillips @rphillips3.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Our sampling strategy allowed us to investigate whether cell type topography changes across the AP-axis. Spatial organization of all cell types remains remarkably consistent. D1 islands do show differential enrichment across the AP-axis, with a switch from A->B as you move anterior->posterior.

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Robert Phillips @rphillips3.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

We identified the canonical cell types and unexpectedly found two transcriptionally and topographically distinct populations of D1-islands, D1_Island_A and D1_Island_B. D1_Island_A is marked by high expression of OPRM1 and RXFP1, while D1_Island_B is marked by high expression of DRD3 and VIP.

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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...

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Robert Phillips @rphillips3.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Creepy when the targeted ads know exactly what you were thinking...

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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 😎🏝️

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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!

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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!

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Robert Phillips @rphillips3.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

Excited to be headed to my first @acnporg.bsky.social meeting! Stop by my talk to hear about D1-islands in the human NAc or my poster to hear about our efforts to use spatial transcriptomics to profile lateral septum neurons in the human brain.

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Robert Phillips @rphillips3.bsky.social · 16/09/2025

@schreinerdrew.bsky.social There is some expression of DRD1 in D2-MSNs and vice versa. Seems to be a small proportion if any.

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