Kristen Kwan
@blockintheback.bsky.social
Professor, U of Utah. Biology, family, sports, food. Knitter, musician, aspiring weaver. SLC, via LA, the Bay Area, and Boston. Views are my own.
Pinned
Kristen Kwan
@blockintheback.bsky.social
· Nov 11
Since I'm finally moving here, here's a bit about me: my lab studies the cellular and molecular basis of vertebrate eye morphogenesis using zebrafish as a model system, combining multidimensional imaging, computational approaches, and molecular genetics. Excited to see you all!
« Not in word list » 😕
November 24, 2025 at 9:08 PM
« Not in word list » 😕
Reposted by Kristen Kwan
An honor and dream come true to perform alongside Yo-Yo Ma, presented by Celebrity Series at Boston Symphony Hall. 💜
🎼Ave Maria (Bach/Gounod)
🎼Ave Maria (Bach/Gounod)
November 22, 2025 at 6:29 PM
An honor and dream come true to perform alongside Yo-Yo Ma, presented by Celebrity Series at Boston Symphony Hall. 💜
🎼Ave Maria (Bach/Gounod)
🎼Ave Maria (Bach/Gounod)
This week, the world lost a beacon of joy, compassion, and generosity. We will miss you, Virginia. 💔
www.vcstar.com/obituaries/p...
www.vcstar.com/obituaries/p...
Virginia Eleanor Klemz Weber Obituary - Ventura County Star
Virginia Eleanor Klemz Weber, 75, of Ventura, California, passed away peacefully at her home on October 27, 2025, four days shy of her 76th...
www.vcstar.com
November 1, 2025 at 8:23 PM
This week, the world lost a beacon of joy, compassion, and generosity. We will miss you, Virginia. 💔
www.vcstar.com/obituaries/p...
www.vcstar.com/obituaries/p...
Article on research cuts beginning to affect the University of Utah (gift link):
“At this point, [University President] Randall noted, the U hasn’t felt the full effects of the Trump administration’s research cuts. ‘What will happen next year,’ he said, ‘we will see.’”
www.sltrib.com/news/educati...
“At this point, [University President] Randall noted, the U hasn’t felt the full effects of the Trump administration’s research cuts. ‘What will happen next year,’ he said, ‘we will see.’”
www.sltrib.com/news/educati...
How the University of Utah is scrambling to cover the millions lost from Trump’s research cuts
University of Utah President Taylor Randall has worked to provide "bridge funding" to keep the U.'s research going despite federal cuts. But there have still been some layoffs.
www.sltrib.com
September 25, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Article on research cuts beginning to affect the University of Utah (gift link):
“At this point, [University President] Randall noted, the U hasn’t felt the full effects of the Trump administration’s research cuts. ‘What will happen next year,’ he said, ‘we will see.’”
www.sltrib.com/news/educati...
“At this point, [University President] Randall noted, the U hasn’t felt the full effects of the Trump administration’s research cuts. ‘What will happen next year,’ he said, ‘we will see.’”
www.sltrib.com/news/educati...
Reposted by Kristen Kwan
A deep dive into the destruction of US cancer research by @jonathanmahler.bsky.social “It’s an absolutely unmitigated disaster,” a former top official at NIH told him. “It will take decades to recover from this, if we ever do.” Gift link: nyti.ms/48iH3Cr
nyti.ms
September 14, 2025 at 2:44 PM
A deep dive into the destruction of US cancer research by @jonathanmahler.bsky.social “It’s an absolutely unmitigated disaster,” a former top official at NIH told him. “It will take decades to recover from this, if we ever do.” Gift link: nyti.ms/48iH3Cr
Le Pas Espagnol Op. 56, No. 6 by Fauré
Super-fun performing with my son (17) despite the near-disaster of our music being blown off of the piano in the drafty recital hall - we were saved by my daughter (13)!
Super-fun performing with my son (17) despite the near-disaster of our music being blown off of the piano in the drafty recital hall - we were saved by my daughter (13)!
August 23, 2025 at 2:07 AM
Le Pas Espagnol Op. 56, No. 6 by Fauré
Super-fun performing with my son (17) despite the near-disaster of our music being blown off of the piano in the drafty recital hall - we were saved by my daughter (13)!
Super-fun performing with my son (17) despite the near-disaster of our music being blown off of the piano in the drafty recital hall - we were saved by my daughter (13)!
Snapshots from end-of-summer travels: Pennsylvania
(1/2)
(1/2)
August 8, 2025 at 5:31 AM
Snapshots from end-of-summer travels: Pennsylvania
(1/2)
(1/2)
Reposted by Kristen Kwan
We need a new microscope objective. A $1.6k tariff for something that you can hold in your hand and that is only manufactured in Germany
August 1, 2025 at 8:50 PM
We need a new microscope objective. A $1.6k tariff for something that you can hold in your hand and that is only manufactured in Germany
Reposted by Kristen Kwan
www.statnews.com/2025/07/29/t...
“[OMB’s rule on NIH spending] constitutes the entirety of new and, possibly, ongoing research grant dollars that go from the NIH out to universities, academic medical centers, and other research institutions.”
e.g., noncompeting awards are in jeopardy
“[OMB’s rule on NIH spending] constitutes the entirety of new and, possibly, ongoing research grant dollars that go from the NIH out to universities, academic medical centers, and other research institutions.”
e.g., noncompeting awards are in jeopardy
July 30, 2025 at 1:41 AM
www.statnews.com/2025/07/29/t...
“[OMB’s rule on NIH spending] constitutes the entirety of new and, possibly, ongoing research grant dollars that go from the NIH out to universities, academic medical centers, and other research institutions.”
e.g., noncompeting awards are in jeopardy
“[OMB’s rule on NIH spending] constitutes the entirety of new and, possibly, ongoing research grant dollars that go from the NIH out to universities, academic medical centers, and other research institutions.”
e.g., noncompeting awards are in jeopardy
Reposted by Kristen Kwan
Op-Ed from Dana Carroll and my father Jerry Kaplan highlighting some amazing history of publicly funded science at the U. of Utah and how this is in grave jeopardy. First NIH grant ever was to U of U!
Proposed cuts to the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation “would cause immense and largely irreversible damage to the successful American scientific enterprise,” write Jerry Kaplan and Dana Carroll in an op-ed.
Voices: Federal funding cuts to genetic research will be devastating for years to come
Proposed cuts to the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation “would cause immense and largely irreversible damage to the successful American scientific enterprise,” write Jerry Kaplan and Dana Carroll in an op-ed.
www.sltrib.com
July 9, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Op-Ed from Dana Carroll and my father Jerry Kaplan highlighting some amazing history of publicly funded science at the U. of Utah and how this is in grave jeopardy. First NIH grant ever was to U of U!
Reposted by Kristen Kwan
The University of Utah could be in danger of losing $100+ million annually
School leaders worry Trump administration’s court-contested grant policies could severely impact local research, jobs
www.deseret.com/utah/2025/07...
School leaders worry Trump administration’s court-contested grant policies could severely impact local research, jobs
www.deseret.com/utah/2025/07...
An existential research crisis at the University of Utah?
School leaders sound the alarms of the possibly heavy costs that would be exacted by proposed grant policies proposed by the Trump administration.
www.deseret.com
July 21, 2025 at 3:47 AM
The University of Utah could be in danger of losing $100+ million annually
School leaders worry Trump administration’s court-contested grant policies could severely impact local research, jobs
www.deseret.com/utah/2025/07...
School leaders worry Trump administration’s court-contested grant policies could severely impact local research, jobs
www.deseret.com/utah/2025/07...
Reposted by Kristen Kwan
New story about CBO analysis of the effects of NIH cuts and FDA changes on drug development.
1/n
[Gift link]
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/18/h...
1/n
[Gift link]
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/18/h...
Health Cuts Would Result in Fewer Drugs for Americans, Budget Office Reports
www.nytimes.com
July 18, 2025 at 3:44 PM
New story about CBO analysis of the effects of NIH cuts and FDA changes on drug development.
1/n
[Gift link]
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/18/h...
1/n
[Gift link]
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/18/h...
Reposted by Kristen Kwan
IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IMPORTANT
Please watch the workshop video and COMMENT by 5:00 Monday 7/14
This is the source of the "no more model organism only grants in NIH-funded research" decree.
Please watch the workshop video and COMMENT by 5:00 Monday 7/14
This is the source of the "no more model organism only grants in NIH-funded research" decree.
Dear all, PLEASE add comments on the importance of model organism research at this link:
July 12, 2025 at 12:11 AM
IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IMPORTANT
Please watch the workshop video and COMMENT by 5:00 Monday 7/14
This is the source of the "no more model organism only grants in NIH-funded research" decree.
Please watch the workshop video and COMMENT by 5:00 Monday 7/14
This is the source of the "no more model organism only grants in NIH-funded research" decree.
The winners of the 2025 George Streisinger Award are the Course Directors of the Zebrafish Development and Genetics course at MBL, for their tremendous contributions to our amazing community for >25 years! #izfc2025
July 11, 2025 at 10:40 PM
The winners of the 2025 George Streisinger Award are the Course Directors of the Zebrafish Development and Genetics course at MBL, for their tremendous contributions to our amazing community for >25 years! #izfc2025
🚨🚨🚨 Tol2kit announcement! We have rebuilt the wiki that was corrupted a few months ago! We’re in the process of also linking it to the original address. Please visit us here:
tol2kitkwan.genetics.utah.edu
Thank you for your patience!!
#zebrafish #transgenesis #plasmids #sharing
tol2kitkwan.genetics.utah.edu
Thank you for your patience!!
#zebrafish #transgenesis #plasmids #sharing
tol2kit for kwan lab
tol2kitkwan.genetics.utah.edu
July 7, 2025 at 6:01 PM
🚨🚨🚨 Tol2kit announcement! We have rebuilt the wiki that was corrupted a few months ago! We’re in the process of also linking it to the original address. Please visit us here:
tol2kitkwan.genetics.utah.edu
Thank you for your patience!!
#zebrafish #transgenesis #plasmids #sharing
tol2kitkwan.genetics.utah.edu
Thank you for your patience!!
#zebrafish #transgenesis #plasmids #sharing
Some personal news: amid everything going on, I’ve been promoted to Professor. I am so deeply grateful to all of the past and present members of the lab, who allowed me to be a part of their journey. I am so honored to call all of you my colleagues.
July 3, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Some personal news: amid everything going on, I’ve been promoted to Professor. I am so deeply grateful to all of the past and present members of the lab, who allowed me to be a part of their journey. I am so honored to call all of you my colleagues.
Spam text messages are getting aggressive
July 3, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Spam text messages are getting aggressive
Reposted by Kristen Kwan
Researchers Train Mice To Choose Between Life-Saving Medications And Other Essentials theonion.com/researc...
July 2, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Researchers Train Mice To Choose Between Life-Saving Medications And Other Essentials theonion.com/researc...