What if essentially all research collaborations with China were banned? There's a new bill before Congress that would do exactly that www.science.org/content/arti...

It’s not just kids: Trump’s crackdown on trans healthcare extends into adulthood.

You may have noticed I disappeared from social media after my launch of @beyondxandy.bsky.social I was violently attacked by a transphobe who recognized me and have been in the hospital and resting If you'd like to help me with my medical bills, please consider donating here: gofund.me/9328f91f2

Don't miss the ASHG annual meeting abstract submission deadline, just one week away! This year's meeting will be held in Montreal, October 20–24. The deadline is earlier than in previous years, so be sure to submit and share your research: ashgmeeting.ashg.org/programs/abs... #ASHG26 #ASHG2026

I talked with NCI trainees last week about #scicomm, including being a “nerd of trust” for your networks through shared values. Here’s a great example where any of us can help loved ones understand this shot is safe and will keep babies from dying, a shared value. www.propublica.org/article/more...

Campus tour for early career researchers this morning

We study genetic literacy, or the ability to apply your understanding of genetics as needed. SPARK participants had *higher* genetic literacy than a general sample. I hope this will improve interactions btwn clinicians/researchers and the autistic people they interact with now! #insar2026 #autinsar

This is a great chat for autism researchers to follow; we should all be learning more about what the community values. I fondly remember being part of previous in person chats. (Great to see Shannon here yesterday!)

Poster space at #insar2026 is, uh, tight! And I see many people have slept in or left already. If you’re still here, come by board 53C at 1230!

Now have my assignment: board 53C tomorrow! Come on by if you are still at #insar2026. So many great chats, scientific talks, and seeing friends today so far.

We need to talk about failure in science. Everyone fails at some point at something & failure is an integral part of success. Our editorial this week is inspired by a recent meeting at @imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social on this topic which I helped co -organise 🧪 www.nature.com/articles/d41...

“there is absolutely no reason to deny people the social and political advantages of collective identity based on a narrow interpretation of what constitutes scientific validity” From my recent blog - relevant to invited panel on “many autisms” at #INSAR2026 medium.com/@suefletcher...

Looking forward to seeing everyone at #INSAR2026 this week! I have a poster on Saturday about our lab’s work on identity and belief factors affecting genetic literacy, including people’s opinions on autism research. We are looking for new collaborations!

Congrats, Roxanne!

Belief in & support for vaccines is normal. “But that reality is not immune to the stories we tell about it… [Bad polls] change what clinicians say in the exam room, the decisions policymakers & leaders make, and ultimately become a self-fulfilling prophecy.” Methods matter for talking points

Important read as the NIH moves to invest much more in reproducibility

This is cool — what I love about genomics is that each time we answer a question, it opens up many more questions.

Our NIH building has mice, regular damaging floods (2 so far in 2026), asbestos, sewage floods, and broken heating. Each bathroom of 4 toilets usually has 0-1 working. The facilities teams are doing what they can but overworked! They need support ASAP.

Things feel dark but there’s always time for a paper submission dance!

Please share your thoughts with NIH on the next strategic plan; deadline May 16. “Request for Information (RFI): Inviting Comments and Suggestions on a Framework for the NIH-Wide Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2027-2031” grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...

I got excited when I saw that NIH might have received its first apportionment from OMB today. Alas, it's for ARPA-H. OMB still has not given NIH a dime for non-salary, non-emergency expenses from the spending bill that was signed into law on Feb 3.

Sun dog in downtown Baltimore @capitalweather.bsky.social

I know people are very sensitive about the use of the word “genocide” but the attempts to medically eliminate trans children is very clearly meets the standard because they are trying to eliminate a population and also they know some of those kids are going to kill themselves

Come by our posters P463 (Thurs) and P450 (Fri) at #ACMGMtg26! We are looking for collaborators on clinical studies of genetic literacy and educational videos. We have two versions of a validated genetic literacy (not just knowledge!) scale ready for studies, & have 3 videos on genetic testing! 🤙😃

Congress rejected massive cuts to US science budgets for 2026, but much of the money still isn’t flowing to researchers. The culprit? The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is quietly slow-walking the release of funds. 🧵👇

🎬 Join us for a special screening of the film OBSERVER by @scicommlab.bsky.social to explore and celebrate the power of observation! 📅 Saturday, March 21 🕒 2:00–4:00 PM (doors open 1:30 PM) 📍 National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC 🎟️ RSVP now: www.eventbrite.com/e/dc-environ... #scicomm #film

Another important slide from the talk:

Deep, well sourced, moving, and enraging story from the NYT [Gift Link] www.nytimes.com/2026/02/23/o...

The NIH’s “outward continuity is often cited as evidence that concerns are overblown. But internally, people are operating under a persistent background fear that structures they rely on may disappear despite formal assurances to the contrary.” elizabethginexi.substack.com/p/what-nih-s...

Forgot my ID at check-in — thankfully this event sign vouched for me 🙂 If you’re at the @aaas.org meeting tomorrow (Fri 2/13, 4–5 PM) at Phoenix Convention Center, see why “The Future of #Science is #Indigenous” Genomics, #AI, #health — what we build matters. How we build it matters more. #AAASmtg

If you’re at #aaasmtg, please catch my awesome postdoc Molly Bird’s postdoc talk on our evaluation of T32 training at NHGRI! We have lessons for all training funded by NIH as well as suggestions for how to better evaluate funding programs. aaas.confex.com/aaas/2026/me...

Thanks to @basebybase.bsky.social for covering our @ajhgnews.bsky.social paper on genetic literacy! Great summary of how people understand and relate to genetics.

Excited to announce that applications are open for the Mass General Brigham T32 Postdoctoral Training Program in Precision & Genomic Medicine!

For example: if 84% of people already agree that scientific research aimed at advancing knowledge is usually a worthwhile investment over time... Why are you so sure that the real problem is that people "just don't know enough about why research matters" www.pewresearch.org/science/2026...

There are approximately 1000 research groups on the #NIH campuses, including Steve Rosenberg's research group, which develops groundbreaking T-cell therapies for cancer. Effectively all of those groups were suddenly prohibited from buying any (!) supplies last year. That is on the leadership.

I just want to go to work and do science.

The IACC has come such a long way in the last decade in reflecting the concerns and needs of the autism community. To see that changed for the worse would be heartbreaking and potentially deadly. www.statnews.com/2026/01/23/k...

If you / your lab / your institution rely on NIH funding, you need to read this and understand how this is one of many changes affecting you. www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Tylenol during pregnancy is safe without increased risk of autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability of offspring A new review of the evidence just out www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

Act Fast! Live Q&A Happening Now—your chance to get every Featured Symposium & Interactive Workshop proposal question answered before the submission window closes! Join now: learning.ashg.org/products/pre... #ASHG #ASHG26

The 2026 AWIS Scholarship Program is now open! This program includes awards for undergraduate students, doctoral students, and members re-entering the STEM workforce after a one-year leave. Submissions are due by February 28, 2026. https://awis.org/scholarships/ #WomenInSTEM

Thanks to friend and expert @salisburymw.bsky.social for covering our recent paper on genetic literacy! Also y’all should check out her blog if you haven’t already salisburys-take.beehiiv.com/p/study-to-i...

Wear masks in public spaces, wash your hands, and please get a flu shot!

It’s us! Have a read and let us know if you can collaborate on genetic literacy as an intervention to improve clinical care

The energy I’m going into 2026 with

Let's start with a recap of the year in Art but Make it Squirrel bsky.app/profile/arto...

A colleague today: “The NIH institute director ousters are relatively a side issue…” And I said: no! The institute dirs are incredibly important. Compare to DOJ. In the two orgs, the NIH inst directors may have more power than the heads of the DOJ Civil Division, Crim Div, Antitrust Div etc. 1/

This is an outstanding essay describing some of the important roles and influences of NIH program officers (from an insider perspective). Read! elizabethginexi.substack.com/p/the-quiet-...

Good summary of genomic work this year and a reminder that there are many autisms: wapo.st/4sjc7d2