Hilarious dad. Likes neuroscience and nerd stuff.
Richmond, VA
Joined July 2008
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- Following2.1K
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Serapio M. Baca retweeted
New: Four NIH scientists and administrators who resigned in protest cite political interference, censorship of research, and a loss of integrity at the agency.
statnews.com/2026/01/10/nih-…
Serapio M. Baca retweeted
“Basic neuroscience hasn’t produced new drugs.” 💊
Not true - zuranolone (PPD), suzetrigine (pain), gepants (migraine), and more... were born out of a long arc of studies in the lab.
I wrote a Perspective on why this matters. @_TheTransmitter
thetransmitter.org/drug-deve…
Serapio M. Baca retweeted
A new study on "Where Discovery Happens" found that with basic research in the life sciences, Harvard contributes more than Canada & France combined. Boston, Cambridge, & Newton are just behind all of China—and well ahead of every other country in the world. Most of this is from federal funding, which is not, contrary to popular misunderstanding, "taxpayer support of Harvard" -- it's a fee for service, namely discoveries in the life sciences. (Thanks to my colleague Jason Furman for this summary.) nber.org/system/files/workin…
Serapio M. Baca retweeted
Due to the shutdown, NIH cancelled >370 study sections, impacting >24,000 applications
Rescheduled meetings will only discuss 30-35% of applications, have simplified summary statements (no narrative paragraph), and a new category - "competitive but ND"
grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/…
Serapio M. Baca retweeted
Given the issues facing neuroscience around government policy and funding, the naming of an outsider to SfN’s top position caught some neuroscientists by surprise.
By @natmesanash
thetransmitter.org/teaching/…
#SfN2025
Serapio M. Baca retweeted
A special edition of our Launch Newsletter, highlighting
@_TheTransmitter's State of Neuroscience 2025 report, features rising stars of neuroscience, 80 new labs, how funding cuts have affected the careers of young scientists, etc. bit.ly/49qsHAx
#StateOfNeuroscience
Serapio M. Baca retweeted
More MAHA pseudoscience. Remember, antivaccine activists don’t care about you or your family. In my state of Texas this year, 2 otherwise healthy but unvaccinated school-aged children died from measles, 100 hospitalized. Parents were targeted by activists wellness influencers.
🚨BREAKING TODAY: The most comprehensive autism study to date reveals the undeniable —Vaccines are the single most significant modifiable risk factor for autism.
After reviewing over 136 studies, researchers found 107 show a positive association between vaccines and neurodevelopmental disorders.
Only 29 claimed “no risk” — and most were riddled with fatal flaws.
This new landmark study changes everything.
Serapio M. Baca retweeted
Fascinating that all those “don’t tread on me” posers and their AR-15’s are nowhere to be seen and government tyranny is instead being opposed by a guy in an inflatable frog suit.
Serapio M. Baca retweeted
Democracy is a precondition for lasting peace. However, we live in a world where democracy is in retreat, where more and more authoritarian regimes are challenging norms and resorting to violence.
Maria Corina Machado – awarded the 2025 #NobelPeacePrize – has spent years working for the freedom of the Venezuelan people. The Venezuelan regime’s rigid hold on power and its repression of the population are not unique in the world. We see the same trends globally: rule of law abused by those in control, free media silenced, critics imprisoned, and societies pushed towards authoritarian rule and militarisation. In 2024, more elections were held than ever before, but fewer and fewer are free and fair.
#NobelPrize
Serapio M. Baca retweeted
Breaking: Jane Goodall, the English primatologist and anthropologist who was considered a foremost expert on chimpanzees, has died at age 91. on.wsj.com/3Kw7Pxk
Serapio M. Baca retweeted
Dr. Susan Monarez: “On the morning of August 25th, Secretary Kennedy demanded two things of me that were inconsistent with my oath of office and the ethics required of a public official. He directed me to commit in advance to approving every ACIP recommendation regardless of the scientific evidence. He also directed me to dismiss career officials responsible for vaccine policy without cause. He said, ‘If I was unwilling to do both, I should resign.’”
Serapio M. Baca retweeted
“These cuts are a threat to health in America, potentially even global health.” On “The Intelligence” @natashaloder explains the cost of RFK junior slashing funds for mRNA-vaccine research economist.com/podcasts/2025/…
Serapio M. Baca retweeted
A napping dog might twitch her feet, flick her ears, and thump her tail. But cephalopods are even more active. While sleeping, their skin blooms with colors.
Horst Obenhaus, a 2025 Whitman Fellow, investigates.
Read more: bit.ly/4fpV96o
Serapio M. Baca retweeted
Robert F. Kennedy Jr announced that the US federal government is terminating US$500 million worth of grants for mRNA vaccine research.
We must never, ever, forget that millions are alive today, or in better health, because of this life-saving technology.
go.nature.com/3HDCS9n
Serapio M. Baca retweeted
Grateful to @megtirrell and @CNN for covering this story. My NIH grant to study hearing loss was abruptly canceled, then restored by a court, but @NIH hopes to terminate the grant AGAIN(statnews.com/2025/07/06/hhs-…), creating massive uncertainty for my trainees.
We're in a golden age where gene therapy and AI are making science fiction real. But this instability hobbles our progress, spooks the next generation of scientific talent, and risks outsourcing our scientific leadership.
As Congress decides the NIH budget, stable funding is essential to keep the best minds and intellectual property here in the US. I hope they recognize the value we bring to the table and choose to support us.
As a reminder: One of the most famous GOP leaders, Newt Gingrich, actually advocated for DOUBLING the NIH budget (see here: nytimes.com/2015/04/22/opini…). Instead, the NIH budget has failed to keep up with inflation, leading to ever diminishing capabilities...
cnn.com/2025/07/29/health/ni…
Serapio M. Baca retweeted
We're thrilled to announce the largest private gift in our 137-year history: a $25 million unrestricted donation from MBL Whitman Scientist Mark Terasaki.
His generosity will bolster our renowned research and education programs. 🔬
Learn more: mbl.edu/news/mbl-announces-l…
Serapio M. Baca retweeted
NEW: The NIH will soon disinvite dozens of scientists about to take roles on panels that make final decisions on grant funding.
NIH staff were told to select others aligned with the Trump administration and to expect placements by political appointees.
nature.com/articles/d41586-0…
Serapio M. Baca retweeted
The scale of funding cuts in the United States means that countless scientists will lose their jobs. It would be naive not to start thinking about alternative career paths
go.nature.com/4kibeMv
Serapio M. Baca retweeted
Advocates from across the country answered the call to join the #FlagsForHeadache initiative to make migraine and headache disorders impossible to ignore. 💜
#MHAM #MigraineAwareness
