What matters most for childhood brain organization? We analyzed 649 variables. The answer: Socioeconomics (SES); with brain patterns pointing at sleep & stress as drivers. Even brain-IQ associations were better explained by SES. In Science today: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Public health in action!

North Oakland. Fifth Ave at North Craig Street. Caller said that they are a resident and that they are upset that the band for the Pittsburgh Marathon is too loud.

I was saddened to see that Wilbert van Panhuis recently passed away. NIAID posted a tribute to him (which bizarrely does not mention that he died). www.niaid.nih.gov/research/dr-... He had been battling glioblastoma for some time. 1/4

Here's the full Trump-Vought FY27 budget proposal. www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/u... It lists NIH as "-$5 billion" with a top line budget of $41B. The math doesn't math tho bc FY26 budget was $48.7, making $41B a $7.7B (not $5B) cut. Also calls to eliminate NIMHD, FIC & NCCIH.

Wondering what happened to NIH’s Sex as a Biological Variable (SABV) policy? This article reveals a lot about where NIH is and how it got there, starting from politicization of NIH, through fear leading to staff over compliance, ending in harm to science. undark.org/2026/03/30/s... Highlights:

NIH leadership wants to strip worker's rights from the majority of scientists on its campuses. But, the NIH does not get to say whether we are a union or not. We do, and we are no strangers to having to fight for our union. Time for a short history lesson. 1/n Disclaimer: all views are my own.

Very excited to be speaking at the @standupforscience.bsky.social rally in Pittsburgh on Saturday. I am speaking just prior to Dr. Rachel Levine 1/2

The Senate has (finally) voted to reauthorize the small business SBIR/STTR program. Not reauthorized yet, but this was likely the biggest hurdle.

The National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA) Advisory Council guides research & care on Alzheimer’s. It didn't meet for a full year under Trump. Before it finally met in Feb 2026, its membership was gutted & replaced, just like ACIP & other councils. www.27unihted.org/napa

Roseate Spoonbill in #PerfectLighting. This is my #BirdoftheDay. #spoonbill #löffler #bird #birdsky #light #nature #photography #photographersofBlueSky

Just watched one of my heroes @jenna-m-norton.bsky.social at the People's State of the Union. www.youtube.com/watch?app=de... [Starts around 52:30]

“When we speak up together we are powerful.” @jenna-m-norton.bsky.social a guest of @vanhollen.senate.gov . Strong stuff.

Some good news... www.nytimes.com/2026/02/18/h... [Gift link] 1/2

FDA's decision not to accept Moderna's flu vaccine filing has sent shock waves through pharma. "When there’s uncertainty about the path to approval & the reliability of the process, that really has pretty serious consequences,” one player told @jasonmast.bsky.social. www.statnews.com/2026/02/12/f...

New commentary in @jamanetworkopen.com! 🚨 I’m diving into Akıncı et al.’s paper on AD brain changes in dementia-free individuals in their 60s. We must understand sex/gender differences in AD biology—especially as current therapeutics may be less effective for women. 🧵

Roughly half a million women in the US exited the workforce in 2025, and 42% of those who voluntarily left cited their caregiving responsibilities as the main reason, according to a recent survey from Catalyst. www.hr-brew.com/stories/2026...

Thank you for your courage and leadership @jenna-m-norton.bsky.social You have been an exemplary government employee, standing up against illegal and immoral actions, but doing so within the constraints of a federal official. You do honor to your oath and to our country. Courage is Contagious

Pittsburgh Parking Chair, this is your moment to shine.

Excited to share our perspective in @NatureAging: "The Population Neuroscience-Dementia Syndemics (PNDS) Framework." By 2050, 68% of dementia cases will be in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We need better models to capture the unique risks faced by these populations—especially women. 🧵

The Nottingham Consensus provides a policy roadmap to reduce dementia risk, the UK's leading cause of death. Recommendations include: 📢 Launch a targeted public health campaign to address key modifiable risk factors 💬 Adapt communication strategies to ensure relevance across diverse communities

The multi-year NIH funding of grants tagged to 2025 allows Russell Vought to reduce the number of grants funded this year because he insists that a 5 years of $$$ has to be committed. This is bad. We could see a cut in actual grants by 1/3 or more. Spread the word. www.statnews.com/2026/01/16/n...

NIH budget bill out today. It’s the result of heavy negotiations in Congress over past month+. 🧪 Big pic: NIH budget now is abt more than funding. It’s abt restraining the technical ways NIH is being broken by Proj 2025. And the restraints in the bill are tepid 🤷‍♂️ Also: watch ICE/DHS budget. 🧵1/

Powerful piece in STAT this morning from some NIH staff members who have resigned www.statnews.com/2026/01/10/n... 1/3

Out now!! www.nature.com/articles/s44... Intro to this paper pictured below Huge thanks to collaborators @neilmdavies.bsky.social, @emmylooroll.bsky.social at @uclbrainscience.bsky.social & Sami Heikkinen and Mikko Hiltunen at @uniuef.bsky.social ... #endalz #episky #medsky

NOTE: This news immediately followed a Supreme Court order this morning denying the paper's shadow-docket efforts to block an injunction issued by the Third Circuit that was enforcing an NLRB unfair labor practices order relating to the paper's health insurance plans.

I'm starting a thread on misunderstandings about the role of APOE in Alzheimer's disease / dementia, from the POV of epidemiology / statistical genetics. I will add to this sporadically over time... #endalz #episky #medsky

More news (not good) from NIH The renewal request from National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke Director Walter Koroshetz has been denied. I guess the NIH_leadership™ needed another position to fill with their time-tested recruitment process.

The Senate version of the NIH appropriations bill has language that limits the use of multiyear/upfront funding. Please call your Senators and Representatives to make sure it is in the final bill. We must stop the brain drain in our research workforce before it's too late.

This substantial drop in studies funded is the abrupt transition to multiyear/upfront funding at work. This policy is incredibly damaging to the scientific workforce. It is driving people out of science, especially the next generation of researchers.

Glad to see Congress doing some oversight of new NIH policies. www.congress.gov/crs-product/... Number of new awards is way down since Trump took office, despite NIH spending the same amount of money.

Lifesaving research: gutted. Vaccines: restricted. Science: ignored. Enough is enough. RFK Jr. must be removed from office.

SBIR/STTR Program still at a standstill... www.nsbaadvocate.org/post/news-sb...

A lot of NOFOs at #NIH have expired. If you wish to submit an unsolicited application, do so to the parent #NOFO. Furthermore, unsolicited applications no longer require prior approval for exceeding $500K. Please inform your networks. #geronsky #hspr #hpss #statssky

The U.S. Is Funding Fewer Grants in Every Area of Science and Medicine www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

For those of you attending #GSA2025 in Boston, consider this panel of #NIH awardees, Drs. Alden Gross, @mariaglymour.bsky.social , @sfackley.bsky.social , and @bryandjames.bsky.social. Please remember to tag #geronsky and @geronsociety.bsky.social in your posts.

Well reported story on the PBS News Hour about science cuts and the ongoing and potential brain drain. www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLvO... Thanks to Terrance Tao and other scientists at various career stages for having the courage to speak out. Watch and share! 1/7

Happy Sinkhole Bus day to yinz who celebrate!

Lego MRI scanner set (donated to hospitals) a big help for kids who need scans: "more than 1 million children globally have used the sets to help them prepare...96% of healthcare professionals said the model helps to reduce children's anxiety, and 46% reported a lesser need to use sedation"

I am here for the region-specific insults. No Kings Pittsburgh.

My sign.

No Kings-Austin,TX

Hell yes, Pittsburgh. Love Yinz. No Kings.

The local PGH flavor today included a «Won’t You Be My Neighbor » singalong #NoKings

Things are at a standstill with the govt shutdown, the year has been one of 'constant chaos' at the NIH — & the worst may be yet to come folks said on my panel Read a recap of our talk w/ @jeremymberg.bsky.social @malar0ne.bsky.social & Eric Green here www.statnews.com/2025/10/16/f...

I have been trying to get this published as an op-ed, but I am going to post it here since I think it is timely in light of the "consent" extortion events. Deafening Quiet from the Scientific Establishment jeremymberg.github.io/jeremyberg.g... 1/14

This moment from our latest episode with science writer @edyong209.bsky.social is 🔥 We asked Ed — how do we talk up the benefits of science in the face of government cuts? He told us that's the wrong approach. 🧪 Listen wherever, or watch on Spotify 👇 open.spotify.com/episode/7Evh...

One of the important consequences of early detection of cancer... (From this past weekend, 11 years and 3 months after her breast cancer detection)

Check out this great article from @sciam.bsky.social on racial disparities in Alzheimer's disease. Researchers should include historically minoritized communities in studies of these new frontiers in dementia diagnosis and treatment, says epidemiologist Beth Shaaban of the University of Pittsburgh.