Jibran Khokhar
@drjkhokhar.bsky.social
Associate Professor, CRC in Translational Neuropsychopharmacology Western University Open-Source Behavioural Tools
Committed to knowing better and doing better!
Committed to knowing better and doing better!
Pinned
Jibran Khokhar
@drjkhokhar.bsky.social
· Nov 22
Cannabis and the Developing Brain: Vaping, Edibles and Genetics | Jibran Khokhar
YouTube video by Healthy Brains, Healthy Lives
www.youtube.com
Happy to share my talk for the @hbhlmcgill.bsky.social Brain Canada The Amazing Brain 2024 event titled: Cannabis and the Developing Brain: Vaping, Edibles and Genetics www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bgxb...
Reposted by Jibran Khokhar
Sigh … Science win; scicomm fail. (To start, prefrontal cortex is in the front not back of the brain ….). Unis *must* lead truth telling - great that NYU has trainees like @andrewbahle.bsky.social to help with that (follow Andrew!)
Wow AI is so amazing we should use it for all our scientific diagrams
February 13, 2026 at 1:26 AM
Sigh … Science win; scicomm fail. (To start, prefrontal cortex is in the front not back of the brain ….). Unis *must* lead truth telling - great that NYU has trainees like @andrewbahle.bsky.social to help with that (follow Andrew!)
Reposted by Jibran Khokhar
I'm particularly impressed that when Ford reduced/froze tuition fees, he decided that the policy corollary was "let's cut student aid"
Now that tuition fees are going up again, the policy corollary is "let's cut student aid!"
Nothing if not consistent.
Now that tuition fees are going up again, the policy corollary is "let's cut student aid!"
Nothing if not consistent.
Everyone needs to calm down on the ON annoucnement. There are some devils in the details that need to be taken into account.
Like, by my very back of the envelope count, at least a quarter of this is being paid for by cuts to student aid.
Like, by my very back of the envelope count, at least a quarter of this is being paid for by cuts to student aid.
February 12, 2026 at 4:42 PM
I'm particularly impressed that when Ford reduced/froze tuition fees, he decided that the policy corollary was "let's cut student aid"
Now that tuition fees are going up again, the policy corollary is "let's cut student aid!"
Nothing if not consistent.
Now that tuition fees are going up again, the policy corollary is "let's cut student aid!"
Nothing if not consistent.
Reposted by Jibran Khokhar
Everyone needs to calm down on the ON annoucnement. There are some devils in the details that need to be taken into account.
Like, by my very back of the envelope count, at least a quarter of this is being paid for by cuts to student aid.
Like, by my very back of the envelope count, at least a quarter of this is being paid for by cuts to student aid.
February 12, 2026 at 4:40 PM
Everyone needs to calm down on the ON annoucnement. There are some devils in the details that need to be taken into account.
Like, by my very back of the envelope count, at least a quarter of this is being paid for by cuts to student aid.
Like, by my very back of the envelope count, at least a quarter of this is being paid for by cuts to student aid.
Reposted by Jibran Khokhar
Ok, below is data for 2023-24 (the last year for which I have data). ON handed out $1.3B in grants, $239M in loans. But the cost of a loan is about 25 cents on dollar. So actual cost to government of student loan is $1.3B = ($239M * 0.25) or $1.36B in total.
February 12, 2026 at 6:06 PM
Ok, below is data for 2023-24 (the last year for which I have data). ON handed out $1.3B in grants, $239M in loans. But the cost of a loan is about 25 cents on dollar. So actual cost to government of student loan is $1.3B = ($239M * 0.25) or $1.36B in total.
Reposted by Jibran Khokhar
Did you know girls are twice as likely to develop certain mental illnesses as of puberty? This drives the research of Nafissa Ismail, a professor at @uottawa.ca and advocate for women's health, who studies how stress during adolescence may increase vulnerability. Learn more: bit.ly/3OtmcEs #IDWGS
February 12, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Did you know girls are twice as likely to develop certain mental illnesses as of puberty? This drives the research of Nafissa Ismail, a professor at @uottawa.ca and advocate for women's health, who studies how stress during adolescence may increase vulnerability. Learn more: bit.ly/3OtmcEs #IDWGS
Reposted by Jibran Khokhar
Congrats to @pact-lab.bsky.social postdoc @ryanntansey.bsky.social on her recent paper looking at the impact of elevated anandamide via FAAH inhibition on brain function in patients with PTSD
What does it do?
Well....not much 😬
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
What does it do?
Well....not much 😬
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Functional neuroimaging of fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibition in posttraumatic stress disorder: a randomized clinical trial - Translational Psychiatry
Translational Psychiatry - Functional neuroimaging of fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibition in posttraumatic stress disorder: a randomized clinical trial
www.nature.com
February 12, 2026 at 7:24 PM
Congrats to @pact-lab.bsky.social postdoc @ryanntansey.bsky.social on her recent paper looking at the impact of elevated anandamide via FAAH inhibition on brain function in patients with PTSD
What does it do?
Well....not much 😬
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
What does it do?
Well....not much 😬
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Jibran Khokhar
Reposted by Jibran Khokhar
Brainhack Western is coming! This fun event March 27-29 includes talks, collaboration, workshops and more. For more details or to register visit: brainhackwestern.github.io
February 12, 2026 at 3:10 PM
Brainhack Western is coming! This fun event March 27-29 includes talks, collaboration, workshops and more. For more details or to register visit: brainhackwestern.github.io
Reposted by Jibran Khokhar
Code. Create. Collaborate. 🧠💡 #TRIDENT is proud to support Brainhack Western 2026, an incredible open science, community-driven neuroscience event! Registration link below🔗👇. #Brainhack #OpenScience #Neuroscience #NFRF brainhackwestern.github.io @westernu.ca @schulichmeddent.bsky.social
Brainhack Western is coming! This fun event March 27-29 includes talks, collaboration, workshops and more. For more details or to register visit: brainhackwestern.github.io
February 12, 2026 at 5:53 PM
Code. Create. Collaborate. 🧠💡 #TRIDENT is proud to support Brainhack Western 2026, an incredible open science, community-driven neuroscience event! Registration link below🔗👇. #Brainhack #OpenScience #Neuroscience #NFRF brainhackwestern.github.io @westernu.ca @schulichmeddent.bsky.social
Reposted by Jibran Khokhar
Really nice work from the Holmes lab looking at amygdala astrocytes in fear memory and extinction!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Astrocytes enable amygdala neural representations supporting memory - Nature
Astrocytes in the basolateral amygdala dynamically track fear state and support fear memory retrieval and extinction.
www.nature.com
February 11, 2026 at 10:18 PM
Really nice work from the Holmes lab looking at amygdala astrocytes in fear memory and extinction!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Jibran Khokhar
Excited to share our study in Neuron led by
@travisgoode.bsky.social, a K99 PDF (interviewing for Faculty) and Sahay lab team with collaborators at BROAD, Hopkins, and UW Seattle, defining a neural circuit that links prior experience with feeding behavior. Open Access: sahaylab.com/publications
@travisgoode.bsky.social, a K99 PDF (interviewing for Faculty) and Sahay lab team with collaborators at BROAD, Hopkins, and UW Seattle, defining a neural circuit that links prior experience with feeding behavior. Open Access: sahaylab.com/publications
February 12, 2026 at 5:03 PM
Excited to share our study in Neuron led by
@travisgoode.bsky.social, a K99 PDF (interviewing for Faculty) and Sahay lab team with collaborators at BROAD, Hopkins, and UW Seattle, defining a neural circuit that links prior experience with feeding behavior. Open Access: sahaylab.com/publications
@travisgoode.bsky.social, a K99 PDF (interviewing for Faculty) and Sahay lab team with collaborators at BROAD, Hopkins, and UW Seattle, defining a neural circuit that links prior experience with feeding behavior. Open Access: sahaylab.com/publications
Reposted by Jibran Khokhar
China’s science ministry will crack down on universities that fail to investigate or sanction researchers who are involved in serious research misconduct
go.nature.com/4cpW5ID
go.nature.com/4cpW5ID
China to punish universities that fail to sanction research misconduct
Policy follows establishment of a national database of papers retracted for serious misconduct.
go.nature.com
February 12, 2026 at 10:20 AM
China’s science ministry will crack down on universities that fail to investigate or sanction researchers who are involved in serious research misconduct
go.nature.com/4cpW5ID
go.nature.com/4cpW5ID
Reposted by Jibran Khokhar
When AI was added to a tool for sinus surgery: “Cerebrospinal fluid leaked from one patient’s nose. In another… a surgeon mistakenly punctured the base of a patient’s skull. In two other cases, patients suffered strokes after a major artery was accidentally injured”
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
As AI enters the operating room, reports arise of botched surgeries and misidentified body parts
Medical device makers have been rushing to add AI to their products. While proponents say the new technology will revolutionize medicine, regulators are receiving a rising number of claims of patient ...
www.reuters.com
February 9, 2026 at 11:42 PM
When AI was added to a tool for sinus surgery: “Cerebrospinal fluid leaked from one patient’s nose. In another… a surgeon mistakenly punctured the base of a patient’s skull. In two other cases, patients suffered strokes after a major artery was accidentally injured”
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
Reposted by Jibran Khokhar
Gotta love Nature's opinion pieces
"Science funding needs fixing - but not like that"
"Academic publishing is broken - but publishing less is not the solution"
"AI will kill science - how can researchers use it to be more efficient?"
"Science funding needs fixing - but not like that"
"Academic publishing is broken - but publishing less is not the solution"
"AI will kill science - how can researchers use it to be more efficient?"
February 12, 2026 at 10:58 AM
Gotta love Nature's opinion pieces
"Science funding needs fixing - but not like that"
"Academic publishing is broken - but publishing less is not the solution"
"AI will kill science - how can researchers use it to be more efficient?"
"Science funding needs fixing - but not like that"
"Academic publishing is broken - but publishing less is not the solution"
"AI will kill science - how can researchers use it to be more efficient?"
Reposted by Jibran Khokhar
Our super exciting group of PI speakers features Tuan Trang as our keynote, along with Bénédicte Amilhon @arrudacarvalho.bsky.social @caromenard666.bsky.social @zachtpennington.bsky.social Anna Phan @rrrozeske.bsky.social and Stuart Trenholm. Registration details to follow in the coming weeks!
January 26, 2026 at 6:15 PM
Our super exciting group of PI speakers features Tuan Trang as our keynote, along with Bénédicte Amilhon @arrudacarvalho.bsky.social @caromenard666.bsky.social @zachtpennington.bsky.social Anna Phan @rrrozeske.bsky.social and Stuart Trenholm. Registration details to follow in the coming weeks!
Reposted by Jibran Khokhar
And more reporting on a historic program that is increasingly unsettled, with late-breaking changes to criteria, fewer awards, applications returned without review, and more:
via @jonathanwosen.bsky.social for @statnews.com
www.statnews.com/2026/02/11/n...
via @jonathanwosen.bsky.social for @statnews.com
www.statnews.com/2026/02/11/n...
February 11, 2026 at 7:00 PM
And more reporting on a historic program that is increasingly unsettled, with late-breaking changes to criteria, fewer awards, applications returned without review, and more:
via @jonathanwosen.bsky.social for @statnews.com
www.statnews.com/2026/02/11/n...
via @jonathanwosen.bsky.social for @statnews.com
www.statnews.com/2026/02/11/n...
Reposted by Jibran Khokhar
Students applying for NSF funding are having their applications “returned without review” for being “ineligible,” despite their proposed research falling squarely within the application guidelines. eos.org/research-and...
Graduate Students’ NSF Fellowship Applications Are Being “Returned Without Review” - Eos
Graduate students applying for NSF funding have had their applications returned without review—even though their proposed research appears to fall squarely within the fields of study outlined in the p...
eos.org
February 6, 2026 at 8:58 PM
Students applying for NSF funding are having their applications “returned without review” for being “ineligible,” despite their proposed research falling squarely within the application guidelines. eos.org/research-and...
Reposted by Jibran Khokhar
"The academic structure … makes planning for a family feel like an impossible luxury."
In this #ScienceWorkingLife, two postdocs share how, as women in academia, having children can feel impossible—and how talking about it makes them feel less alone. https://scim.ag/46uBWgD #WomenInScienceDay
In this #ScienceWorkingLife, two postdocs share how, as women in academia, having children can feel impossible—and how talking about it makes them feel less alone. https://scim.ag/46uBWgD #WomenInScienceDay
February 11, 2026 at 8:06 PM
"The academic structure … makes planning for a family feel like an impossible luxury."
In this #ScienceWorkingLife, two postdocs share how, as women in academia, having children can feel impossible—and how talking about it makes them feel less alone. https://scim.ag/46uBWgD #WomenInScienceDay
In this #ScienceWorkingLife, two postdocs share how, as women in academia, having children can feel impossible—and how talking about it makes them feel less alone. https://scim.ag/46uBWgD #WomenInScienceDay
Reposted by Jibran Khokhar
You just described every government program in history here. Especially when it comes to economic development.
February 11, 2026 at 7:47 PM
You just described every government program in history here. Especially when it comes to economic development.
Reposted by Jibran Khokhar
They could not care less what happens after that. If there is ever any attempt to assess the success of a program, it's buried in an expert panel's report they will dutifully ignore while announcing the next meaningless ribbon cutting. Total disconnect between goals, allocation, and outcome.
February 11, 2026 at 7:18 PM
They could not care less what happens after that. If there is ever any attempt to assess the success of a program, it's buried in an expert panel's report they will dutifully ignore while announcing the next meaningless ribbon cutting. Total disconnect between goals, allocation, and outcome.
Reposted by Jibran Khokhar
One thing I've slowly learned about Cdn science policy is that, from the government perspective, the announcement is the only point of the exercise. They allocate $, announce it with great fanfare and chest thumping (no matter the scale), then it's forgotten.
February 11, 2026 at 7:18 PM
One thing I've slowly learned about Cdn science policy is that, from the government perspective, the announcement is the only point of the exercise. They allocate $, announce it with great fanfare and chest thumping (no matter the scale), then it's forgotten.
Reposted by Jibran Khokhar
I'm kind of depressed to see countries like Canada frame this as an opportunity. No one benefits from the collapse of US science. And you certainly don't benefit anyone by poaching a few big names while doing no other meaningful increased investment in your own research ecosystem.
February 10, 2026 at 11:15 PM
I'm kind of depressed to see countries like Canada frame this as an opportunity. No one benefits from the collapse of US science. And you certainly don't benefit anyone by poaching a few big names while doing no other meaningful increased investment in your own research ecosystem.
Reposted by Jibran Khokhar
Data, data everywhere but nothing to connect it to health care. Canada spends billions on computer systems but sharing info is marred by a stunning lack of interoperability, by @picardonhealth.bsky.social www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/0fc7a92... via @theglobeandmail.com
Data, data everywhere but nothing to connect it to health care
Proposed new legislation aims to improve interoperability and patient access to data
www.theglobeandmail.com
February 10, 2026 at 2:38 PM
Data, data everywhere but nothing to connect it to health care. Canada spends billions on computer systems but sharing info is marred by a stunning lack of interoperability, by @picardonhealth.bsky.social www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/0fc7a92... via @theglobeandmail.com
Reposted by Jibran Khokhar
Study of 8M biomed & life science articles finds those led by women spent 7 to 15 days longer in review than those led by men. Over a career, women's papers could spend 350 to 750 additional days in review. Delays could slow promotion, esp to full professor. www.the-scientist.com/women-s-rese...
Peer Review Timelines Show Gender Gap, Large Study Reports
A study of millions of life science papers revealed that manuscripts with women in key authorship roles spent longer between submission and acceptance.
www.the-scientist.com
February 12, 2026 at 1:02 AM
Study of 8M biomed & life science articles finds those led by women spent 7 to 15 days longer in review than those led by men. Over a career, women's papers could spend 350 to 750 additional days in review. Delays could slow promotion, esp to full professor. www.the-scientist.com/women-s-rese...