Castañeda Lab at SU
@castanedalab.bsky.social
Using molecular biophysics, biochemistry, and cell biology to understand the intersection of protein quality control mechanisms and neurodegenerative disorders (ALS, FTD); IDPs, Ub biology, UBQLNs
Pinned
The power of collaborations! With @shaharsu.bsky.social, his PD @jessniblo.bsky.social and CALVADOS3 (thanks to @lindorfflarsen.bsky.social ) we show how STI1 (red) may engage with sequences that match transient helices within IDRs of Ub-binding shuttle protein Dsk2 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Castañeda Lab at SU
As the Executive Editor of BBA Reviews on Cancer, I am pleased to announce Call for Nominations: *BBA Rising Stars in Biochemistry & Biophysics 2026*!Nominate outstanding scientists within 10 years of their PhD for this prestigious award. Deadline: Dec 1, 2025.
lnkd.in/dRzrNbJZ
lnkd.in/dRzrNbJZ
LinkedIn
This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn
lnkd.in
November 3, 2025 at 3:26 PM
As the Executive Editor of BBA Reviews on Cancer, I am pleased to announce Call for Nominations: *BBA Rising Stars in Biochemistry & Biophysics 2026*!Nominate outstanding scientists within 10 years of their PhD for this prestigious award. Deadline: Dec 1, 2025.
lnkd.in/dRzrNbJZ
lnkd.in/dRzrNbJZ
Reposted by Castañeda Lab at SU
I just made an account and voted for this biology laboratory made of LEGO to "promote biological research and inspire more people into the world of biology". They need 10K votes. Reposting and/or voting below would be helpful. 🤗
beta.ideas.lego.com/product-idea...
beta.ideas.lego.com/product-idea...
Biological Laboratory | LEGO® Ideas
This is a two-floor realistic Biological Laboratory building. In this design, I try to tell stories about biologists, introduce biology concepts to general publ…
beta.ideas.lego.com
October 16, 2025 at 8:07 AM
I just made an account and voted for this biology laboratory made of LEGO to "promote biological research and inspire more people into the world of biology". They need 10K votes. Reposting and/or voting below would be helpful. 🤗
beta.ideas.lego.com/product-idea...
beta.ideas.lego.com/product-idea...
Reposted by Castañeda Lab at SU
Come work with us at MCW! This position is in the Translational Metabolomics-Preclinical Imaging Shared Resource. This position involves imaging mice, rats and other small animal models with multimodal imaging.
careers.peopleclick.com/careerscp/cl...
careers.peopleclick.com/careerscp/cl...
Research Scientist I
Medical College of Wisconsin - Research Scientist I - Milwaukee WI 53201
careers.peopleclick.com
October 10, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Come work with us at MCW! This position is in the Translational Metabolomics-Preclinical Imaging Shared Resource. This position involves imaging mice, rats and other small animal models with multimodal imaging.
careers.peopleclick.com/careerscp/cl...
careers.peopleclick.com/careerscp/cl...
So thrilled for you! Congratulations, @luciastrader.bsky.social !
The lab is moving to the Salk Institute! We are thrilled to join an inspiring community where we will continue to explore plant growth and development.
Deep gratitude for the years of support and collaboration at Duke/NCSU/UNC.
www.salk.edu/news-release...
Deep gratitude for the years of support and collaboration at Duke/NCSU/UNC.
www.salk.edu/news-release...
Plant biologist Lucia Strader joins Salk faculty to study plant growth signaling - Salk Institute for Biological Studies
LA JOLLA—The Salk Institute will welcome plant biologist Lucia Strader as a new professor and holder of the Howard H. and Maryam R. Newman Chair in Plant Biology in October 2025. Strader is an interna...
www.salk.edu
September 24, 2025 at 1:37 AM
So thrilled for you! Congratulations, @luciastrader.bsky.social !
Reposted by Castañeda Lab at SU
"What does this curved line mean?"
Like palm reading for your phase boundary.
Plus, when is your condensate actually an oligomer (or vice versa)?
A new preprint from the Schmit Group, in collaboration with Jonathon Ditlev, Les Loew, and @ani-chattaraj.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Like palm reading for your phase boundary.
Plus, when is your condensate actually an oligomer (or vice versa)?
A new preprint from the Schmit Group, in collaboration with Jonathon Ditlev, Les Loew, and @ani-chattaraj.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Biomolecular phase boundaries are described by a solubility product that accounts for variable stoichiometry and soluble oligomers
The solubility product is a rigorous description of the phase boundary for salt precipitation and has also been used to qualitatively describe the condensation of biomolecules. Here we present a deriv...
www.biorxiv.org
September 2, 2025 at 1:32 PM
"What does this curved line mean?"
Like palm reading for your phase boundary.
Plus, when is your condensate actually an oligomer (or vice versa)?
A new preprint from the Schmit Group, in collaboration with Jonathon Ditlev, Les Loew, and @ani-chattaraj.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Like palm reading for your phase boundary.
Plus, when is your condensate actually an oligomer (or vice versa)?
A new preprint from the Schmit Group, in collaboration with Jonathon Ditlev, Les Loew, and @ani-chattaraj.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Castañeda Lab at SU
If you are a researcher whose lab uses FlyBase, consider a tax-deductible personal contribution. A lot of $100 contributions would help bridge the gap until we can set up a user fee system, and even $10 donations send the folks there the message we're behind them. Please share
August 27, 2025 at 12:27 AM
If you are a researcher whose lab uses FlyBase, consider a tax-deductible personal contribution. A lot of $100 contributions would help bridge the gap until we can set up a user fee system, and even $10 donations send the folks there the message we're behind them. Please share
Reposted by Castañeda Lab at SU
New York Times story with profiles of researchers whose grants were terminated.
[Gift Link]
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/24/o...
[Gift Link]
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/24/o...
Opinion | America First? Not When It Comes to Your Health.
www.nytimes.com
August 24, 2025 at 1:08 PM
New York Times story with profiles of researchers whose grants were terminated.
[Gift Link]
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/24/o...
[Gift Link]
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/24/o...
Reposted by Castañeda Lab at SU
Update on NIH funding through July (August 1 budget start dates)
Non-competitive renewal awards by month for fiscal year 2025
1/7
Non-competitive renewal awards by month for fiscal year 2025
1/7
August 13, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Update on NIH funding through July (August 1 budget start dates)
Non-competitive renewal awards by month for fiscal year 2025
1/7
Non-competitive renewal awards by month for fiscal year 2025
1/7
Reposted by Castañeda Lab at SU
Happy RNA Day to those who celebrate! 🧪 It’s AUG 1: the day we Met 🤓
August 1, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Happy RNA Day to those who celebrate! 🧪 It’s AUG 1: the day we Met 🤓
Reposted by Castañeda Lab at SU
BIG NEWS:
“Senate appropriators on Thursday approved an FY26 Labor-HHS bill that included a slight bump in funding for the NIH, with a strong 26–3 bipartisan vote.”
Thank you to members of the Senate Appropriations Committee on both sides of the aisle!
www.axios.com/pro/health-c...
“Senate appropriators on Thursday approved an FY26 Labor-HHS bill that included a slight bump in funding for the NIH, with a strong 26–3 bipartisan vote.”
Thank you to members of the Senate Appropriations Committee on both sides of the aisle!
www.axios.com/pro/health-c...
Senate appropriators approve Labor-HHS bill with NIH bump
The vote and lawmaker comments show that most senators aren't going along with the White House's proposed 40% budget cut to NIH.
www.axios.com
July 31, 2025 at 6:48 PM
BIG NEWS:
“Senate appropriators on Thursday approved an FY26 Labor-HHS bill that included a slight bump in funding for the NIH, with a strong 26–3 bipartisan vote.”
Thank you to members of the Senate Appropriations Committee on both sides of the aisle!
www.axios.com/pro/health-c...
“Senate appropriators on Thursday approved an FY26 Labor-HHS bill that included a slight bump in funding for the NIH, with a strong 26–3 bipartisan vote.”
Thank you to members of the Senate Appropriations Committee on both sides of the aisle!
www.axios.com/pro/health-c...
Reposted by Castañeda Lab at SU
“With these considerations, we expect to fund through the 4th percentile.”
There it is, in black and white, the destruction of cancer research in the US.
There it is, in black and white, the destruction of cancer research in the US.
Funding policy for 2025 from NCI. Was just released: 4 percentile…maybe!
www.cancer.gov/grants-train...
www.cancer.gov/grants-train...
Funding Policy - Research Grants
NCI funding policy for research project grant (RPG) awards reflects the funding goals of the institute, NIH, and HHS.
www.cancer.gov
July 23, 2025 at 10:21 PM
“With these considerations, we expect to fund through the 4th percentile.”
There it is, in black and white, the destruction of cancer research in the US.
There it is, in black and white, the destruction of cancer research in the US.
Reposted by Castañeda Lab at SU
New paper on transcription factor phase separation published from my colleague Aseem Ansari's and my lab: Reconciling competing models on the roles of condensates and soluble complexes in transcription factor function authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S...
July 9, 2025 at 4:12 AM
New paper on transcription factor phase separation published from my colleague Aseem Ansari's and my lab: Reconciling competing models on the roles of condensates and soluble complexes in transcription factor function authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S...
Reposted by Castañeda Lab at SU
As someone who has greatly benefited from the NSF MRI program, I'm sad to see that the 2025 submission window was canceled. www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program:
www.nsf.gov
July 2, 2025 at 2:00 AM
As someone who has greatly benefited from the NSF MRI program, I'm sad to see that the 2025 submission window was canceled. www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
@jeremymberg.bsky.social to share to others - this is a forecasted NIGMS MIRA funding opportunity for established/new investigators as I know people have been asking (FOR-GM-27-002) - due date appears to be late Jan 2026: grants.gov/search-resul...
Lock
grants.gov
July 1, 2025 at 7:07 PM
@jeremymberg.bsky.social to share to others - this is a forecasted NIGMS MIRA funding opportunity for established/new investigators as I know people have been asking (FOR-GM-27-002) - due date appears to be late Jan 2026: grants.gov/search-resul...
Reposted by Castañeda Lab at SU
This morning, courageous NIH workers shared a document they are calling the “Bethesda Declaration” with Dr. Bhattacharya, urging him to reverse some of the actions that are badly misaligned with progress toward the NIH mission.
1/3
1/3
a woman in a black and white dress is making a funny face .
ALT: a woman in a black and white dress is making a funny face .
media.tenor.com
June 9, 2025 at 12:00 PM
This morning, courageous NIH workers shared a document they are calling the “Bethesda Declaration” with Dr. Bhattacharya, urging him to reverse some of the actions that are badly misaligned with progress toward the NIH mission.
1/3
1/3
Reposted by Castañeda Lab at SU
It is beyond disturbing when the NIH and HHS Directors do not understand that animal models are essential in research
www.statnews.com/2025/05/19/a...
www.statnews.com/2025/05/19/a...
There is no replacement (yet) for animal models in medical research
The NIH is “reducing animal use in research.” But there is no replacement for animal models.
www.statnews.com
May 19, 2025 at 12:24 PM
It is beyond disturbing when the NIH and HHS Directors do not understand that animal models are essential in research
www.statnews.com/2025/05/19/a...
www.statnews.com/2025/05/19/a...
Reposted by Castañeda Lab at SU
To learn more about the story behind the paper, we caught up with first authors Yan Wu and Yiling Lan, and the corresponding author Heidi Hehnly @lovelessradio.bsky.social, an Associate Professor and Associate Director of the BioInspired Institute at @syracuseu.bsky.social
May 23, 2025 at 7:44 AM
To learn more about the story behind the paper, we caught up with first authors Yan Wu and Yiling Lan, and the corresponding author Heidi Hehnly @lovelessradio.bsky.social, an Associate Professor and Associate Director of the BioInspired Institute at @syracuseu.bsky.social
Reposted by Castañeda Lab at SU
Thanks to @npr.org and the Shortwave podcast for covering circadian research! It was very cool to be on the podcast and on All Things Considered. And Kudos to Chris Hall for the exciting work.
www.npr.org/2025/05/29/n...
www.npr.org/2025/05/30/1...
www.npr.org/2025/05/29/n...
www.npr.org/2025/05/30/1...
This week in science: hawks hunting, infrared contacts and immunity through the day
Berly McCoy and Regina Barber of Short Wave talk about a hawk's clever hunting strategy, contacts that allow wearers to see infrared light, and how immunity varies during the day.
www.npr.org
May 30, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Thanks to @npr.org and the Shortwave podcast for covering circadian research! It was very cool to be on the podcast and on All Things Considered. And Kudos to Chris Hall for the exciting work.
www.npr.org/2025/05/29/n...
www.npr.org/2025/05/30/1...
www.npr.org/2025/05/29/n...
www.npr.org/2025/05/30/1...
Reposted by Castañeda Lab at SU
Fascinating new paper explaining why nucleoli have heterochromatin stacked around them.
Very excited to share our latest work in #MolCell showing NPM1 stabilizing the association of nucleolus associated domains (NADs) and recruiting G9a to establish their repressive chromatin states. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
May 24, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Fascinating new paper explaining why nucleoli have heterochromatin stacked around them.
Reposted by Castañeda Lab at SU
Biomolecular condensates are critical for organizing cellular contents, but most studies focus on phase separation driven by salt, pH, or temperature.
But what if intracellular movement also matters?
Here, we explore motility-induced condensation in the cell.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
But what if intracellular movement also matters?
Here, we explore motility-induced condensation in the cell.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Active transport enables protein condensation in cells
The force generated by active transport modulates protein condensation.
www.science.org
May 23, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Biomolecular condensates are critical for organizing cellular contents, but most studies focus on phase separation driven by salt, pH, or temperature.
But what if intracellular movement also matters?
Here, we explore motility-induced condensation in the cell.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
But what if intracellular movement also matters?
Here, we explore motility-induced condensation in the cell.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
The power of collaborations! With @shaharsu.bsky.social, his PD @jessniblo.bsky.social and CALVADOS3 (thanks to @lindorfflarsen.bsky.social ) we show how STI1 (red) may engage with sequences that match transient helices within IDRs of Ub-binding shuttle protein Dsk2 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
May 23, 2025 at 1:18 PM
The power of collaborations! With @shaharsu.bsky.social, his PD @jessniblo.bsky.social and CALVADOS3 (thanks to @lindorfflarsen.bsky.social ) we show how STI1 (red) may engage with sequences that match transient helices within IDRs of Ub-binding shuttle protein Dsk2 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Castañeda Lab at SU
Behind every cure, every breakthrough, every treatment — is someone who needed it.
If NIH funding helped you, your research, or someone you love, your story can help protect it.
Share your “why” and help defend the future of NIH & science.
Fill out the form here:
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
If NIH funding helped you, your research, or someone you love, your story can help protect it.
Share your “why” and help defend the future of NIH & science.
Fill out the form here:
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Share Your “Why” In Support of a Strong National Institutes of Health
United for Medical Research (UMR) is launching a campaign called "My Why" to highlight the critical role of NIH funding and its impact on the education and careers of researchers and scientists as wel...
docs.google.com
May 21, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Behind every cure, every breakthrough, every treatment — is someone who needed it.
If NIH funding helped you, your research, or someone you love, your story can help protect it.
Share your “why” and help defend the future of NIH & science.
Fill out the form here:
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
If NIH funding helped you, your research, or someone you love, your story can help protect it.
Share your “why” and help defend the future of NIH & science.
Fill out the form here:
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Reposted by Castañeda Lab at SU
🚨We have an opening for a postdoc to use protein design techniques to developing and characterizing binders against intrinsically disordered proteins involved in neuroscience.
Experience in protein biochemistry and/or molecular neuroscience preferred.
Share: 🙏
mbg.au.dk/aktuelt/ledi...
Experience in protein biochemistry and/or molecular neuroscience preferred.
Share: 🙏
mbg.au.dk/aktuelt/ledi...
Postdoc: De novo protein design for neuroscience - Ledig stilling på Aarhus Universitet
Ledig stilling ved Institut for Molekylærbiologi og Genetik - Neurobiologi, Aarhus Universitet
mbg.au.dk
May 21, 2025 at 12:04 PM
🚨We have an opening for a postdoc to use protein design techniques to developing and characterizing binders against intrinsically disordered proteins involved in neuroscience.
Experience in protein biochemistry and/or molecular neuroscience preferred.
Share: 🙏
mbg.au.dk/aktuelt/ledi...
Experience in protein biochemistry and/or molecular neuroscience preferred.
Share: 🙏
mbg.au.dk/aktuelt/ledi...
Reposted by Castañeda Lab at SU
Step up!
The scientific community is at a pivotal moment right now. And we are seeing things start to shift. Now is the time for scientists and scientific institutions to step up. No one is coming to save us. 🧵
May 3, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Step up!