And while we are on the subject of an uptick in ticks (see what we did there? *groans), here's an oldie but a goodie of a time when the worst thing CDC did to offend the public was putting ticks on muffins. www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...

Latest offering. How myelin ensheathes axons! Born from chat with Dwight Bergles on "weird things" we saw oligodendrocytes do, like making "bridges" between sheaths. Driven forward by Cody Call, Kelly Monk, and myelin folks @edinburgh-uni.bsky.social Enjoy! www.nature.com/articles/s41...

New work from our team, led by the incredible @emily-hill.bsky.social out today @cp-neuron.bsky.social. Including some exciting additions from our prepint. Thread below! authors.elsevier.com/a/1ms0u3BtfH...

Over eight million Americans took to the streets today, which makes No Kings 3 the biggest single day of protest in the history of our country. #NoKings

Maggie Rogers, Joan Baez, and Tom Morello performing “The Times They Are A-Changin'”

Thanks to @elife.bsky.social for publishing this really nice insight article about my grad school paper! Absolutely thrilled that folks are excited about the work and the promise of microglia replacement. And yes I do still use these cells daily in my postdoc lab! elifesciences.org/articles/110...

And now for some science

I defended my PhD 10 years ago today. That was the least remarkable thing that happened that day. Sharing something I wrote about it last year. Since then "the horrors persist but so do we." And with dignity.

Thanks for having me!

Rad paper alert!

Beautiful paper by @nicolecoufal.bsky.social . Check it out and the link to our N&V ( rdcu.be/eL8lM) expertly written by @chopresearch.bsky.social @pennmedresearch.bsky.social MSTP star Ryan Rahman.

One of our best friends (non scientists) told us their kiddo is planning a school report on... microglia!!! We're sending a swag pack tomorrow and want to print out beautiful micrographs for their report -- want to get in on the action? Share your pretty pics!!!

A university that signs the “compact” is one that acknowledges its own inability to compete and succeed based talent and merit. It would signal insecurity and mediocrity to current and future students and faculty. Say no. Recruit the best people, protect their freedom and support their hard work.

Thrilled to share this work from my postdoc with Tom Carmichael, available online @ Neuron! Long story short: we find even more evidence that all reactive astrocytes are not equal, and we can take advantage of those differences to improve repair after stroke. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Unrelated to anything, just a cool recent paper jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

Three in two weeks. Could not be more proud of the newly minded Dr. Sameera Zia after successfully defending her PhD yesterday. This bright young star will do amazing things! Also, a huge thanks to @nachoriko.bsky.social for making the trip to Edmonton to serve as an external examiner

Joined the Advisory Board of @standupforscience.bsky.social alongside Viktor Ambros, @jeremymberg.bsky.social, Carol Greider, @michaelemann.bsky.social, & @katestarbird.bsky.social. Impressed with @cdelawalla.bsky.social and the entire Stand Up for Science team! www.standupforscience.net/cadres.

Calling all postdocs! Looking to enter the job market and gain hands-on experience with job talks & chalk talks? Apply to our NeuroYes Program @urneuroscience.bsky.social Neuroscience Commission NeuroYes 2025-2026 applications are open!!! Click on the link below to find out more! neuroyes.urmc.edu

She shouted along, asked what nearly every sign meant, greeted the police, told someone dressed like a founding father about the "golden rule", and agreed that "wooder" ICE is the most palatable Philly ice and butterflies are the only suitable orange monarch.

There are nearly 100,000 people at the rally in Philadelphia. #NoKings

It was a lot of fun co-writing this Spotlight with a talented graduate student @jingyiyang0321.bsky.social in my lab. Congrats to @fchrisbennett.bsky.social @nachoriko.bsky.social @waisenberg.bsky.social @Movahedi lab on these two important papers on microglia replacement! @cp-immunity.bsky.social

Let’s get the word out about the importance of federal funding of curiosity -driven science We all have similar stories to share

Check out this paper from the Movahedi lab! It’s a great companion to ours - showing the populations of brain macrophages that monocytes can replace. Congrats to first author Jonathan Bastos!

Our lab's 1st paper, led by @fchrisbennett.bsky.social & @waisenberg.bsky.social. A decade thinking how to directly assess the impact of microglia replacement. Yrs of hard work. This kind of work is needed to expand brain disease care for kids & the vision for safer, more effective cell therapy.

Emily Whitehead and her father on CNN with Jake Tapper speaking to the value of science. She is alive thanks to CAR T therapy developed at Penn and CHOP.

A fight of inches. I love this.

#standupforscience #standupforkids

More important than my time at Science is my service as Director of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences at NIH from 2003-2011. It is heartbreaking to see this great institution torn apart over a bunch of policy issues that don't have much relevance to the core missions of NIH.

Philadelphia Stand Up For Science! #standupforscience2025 Friday, March 7 · 11am - 1pm Philadelphia City Hall standupforscience2025.org

I am not going to call this a Bluetorial, because I do not want to sully that term (which, at least I, find joyful). Let’s call it a Orwellial.

WHERE WILL YOU BE ON MARCH 7TH!? Head to www.standupforscience2025.org/local-event-information/ or the link in our bio to find your closest event—or add one if you're hosting one! #standupforscience2025

In this #rarediseaseday2025 we cannot remain silent. We must fight on the beach and the bench. Share. Tell your stories. Call your elected officials. Call your unelected officials. #fightonthebench

Guardian story about Federal Register issue is up. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

This was the first year we’ve had the honour of hosting a ceremony for the Ben Barres Spotlight Awards. Named after our late colleague, the awards provide funds for researchers from underrepresented and underfunded groups. #12DaysOfeLife

Last update of our databases for the year. Download them here: 493 early-career funding opportunities: research.jhu.edu/rdt/funding-... 313 postdoc fellowships: research.jhu.edu/rdt/funding-... 189 PhD fellowships: research.jhu.edu/rdt/funding-...

Cases of whooping cough in Michigan are at their highest level in at least 20 years, as vaccinations decline. The disease can be deadly to infants. Alarmed by the increase, doctors are pleading for families to vaccinate their children.

With so many new Bennett Labs babies, how could we not invest in some swag for the best of us.

New paper ALERT!! Mara Cowen, PhD discovered and defined how conserved autism-associated genes modify a 'social' behavior in C. elegans!! So proud of her work in the lab! www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Hi worm world! We are looking for promoters that label hyp 4-6 (in any combination/subset). Do you have any leads? Have not gotten clean promoter bashed version from alr-1, so would love any help. Thank you in advance! #celegans #worm

Any tips or tricks to improve cd45.1 vs 2 staining in the brain by flow?

So.