Ellen Foxman
ellenfoxman.bsky.social
Ellen Foxman
@ellenfoxman.bsky.social
Associate Professor, Immunologist, Physician-Scientist. Studying human immunology, innate immunity, host-virus interactions for better diagnosis, treatment, prevention. Opinions are my own.
Reposted by Ellen Foxman
Neat trick if you polycolonal ab's suck. Incubate them with fixed cells with a KO of your protein of interest, then spin. Protocol here: www.med.upenn.edu/markslab/ass...
I was amazed how well it worked on first try (I'm sure that I can completely eliminate unspecific bands)
#WesternBlot #cellsky
October 2, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Reposted by Ellen Foxman
A cGAS-mediated mechanism in naked mole-rats potentiates DNA repair and delays aging

Naked mole rats get much older than closely related mamals of a similar size. cGAS mutations may have an important role in this.

www.science.org/doi/...
1/9
A cGAS-mediated mechanism in naked mole-rats potentiates DNA repair and delays aging
Efficient DNA repair might make possible the longevity of naked mole-rats. However, whether they have distinctive mechanisms to optimize functions of DNA repair suppressors is unclear. We find that naked mole-rat cyclic guanosine monophosphate–adenosine ...
www.science.org
October 9, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Happy to share this review just out in Current Opinion in Immunology on innate immunity in the respiratory tract - also check out the other reviews in this collection on Intrinsic Immunity edited by John MacMicking #ImmunoSky #IDSky #pulmsky #MedSky www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Layers of defense: protection from respiratory viruses by epithelial-intrinsic immunity
A central challenge in defending mucosal barriers is protecting against pathogens while also limiting excessive inflammation. Respiratory viruses are …
www.sciencedirect.com
October 13, 2025 at 3:26 PM
#COVID19 revealed the urgent need for better ways to screen for & rule out respiratory virus infection. We present a nasal biomarker screening strategy to prevent & manage outbreaks @eBiomedicine.bsky.social #IDSky #MedSky #lungs @yaleschoolofmed.bsky.social www.thelancet.com/journals/ebi...
Nasal biomarker testing to rule out viral respiratory infection and triage samples: a test performance study
These results demonstrate the utility of a nasopharyngeal biomarker to rule out respiratory infection, with potential applications in outbreak management and/or routine screening in high-risk settings...
www.thelancet.com
June 23, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Reposted by Ellen Foxman
ASSIGNMENT: COMMENT ON SCHEDULE F

1 week left to comment about Schedule F, potentially making NIH institute and center director essentially political appointees.

www.regulations.gov/commenton/OP...

1/n
Regulations.gov
www.regulations.gov
May 31, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Reposted by Ellen Foxman
Are you a scientist and not sure what to do to help with all the awfulness all around us? Inspired by Vietnam era activism, @standupforscience.bsky.social is hosting a series of "teach ins," in which scientists share a bit about their area of expertise and why it's important with the public. 🧪🦑🌎
May 28, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Reposted by Ellen Foxman
Check out this news story that @nature.com wrote describing our recent preprint where we tested our H5 mRNA vaccine in calves.

The data look good and we are currently testing the vaccine in lactating cattle...more to come!
nature.com Nature @nature.com · May 20
As bird flu sweeps across US poultry and cattle farms, researchers are racing to find ways to contain the outbreaks before they ignite a human pandemic. Now, a team of scientists has developed a fresh approach: the first mRNA bird-flu vaccine for cattle.

https://go.nature.com/4kbOvTe
Bird flu vaccine for cattle aces early test
Vaccines for livestock could reduce the risk of human outbreaks, but hurdles remain.
go.nature.com
May 21, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Reposted by Ellen Foxman
The Nile from the International Space Station:
May 18, 2025 at 11:28 PM
Reposted by Ellen Foxman
Once in a while. Good morning Blue Sky
May 19, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Reposted by Ellen Foxman
Spectacular view of 100,000 people attending the #HandsOff march in NYC
April 5, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Reposted by Ellen Foxman
Thrilled to share our @elife.bsky.social paper "Inflammasomes primarily restrict cytosolic Salmonella replication within human macrophages" by 1st author Dr. @marisaegan.bsky.social (@cambupenn.bsky.social alum, now faculty @swarthmorecollege.bsky.social)! elifesciences.org/articles/90107 🧵(1/n)
elifesciences.org
April 2, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Reposted by Ellen Foxman
Top F.D.A. Vaccine Official Resigns, Citing Kennedy’s ‘Misinformation and Lies’ Gift link: nyti.ms/3DTuvVr
Top FDA Vaccine Official Resigns, Citing Kennedy’s ‘Misinformation and Lies’ (Gift Article)
Dr. Peter Marks, a veteran of the agency, wrote that undermining confidence in vaccines is irresponsible and a danger to public health.
nyti.ms
March 29, 2025 at 5:24 AM
Reposted by Ellen Foxman
We are seeking to hire a lab tech, this is an HHMI funded position, please share the job posting:

hhmi.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Extern...
Lab Administration Research Technician- Bertozzi Lab
Primary Work Address: Beckman Center, Stanford, CA, 94305-5323 Current HHMI Employees, click here to apply via your Workday account. We are currently looking for a highly motivated Lab Administration ...
hhmi.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com
March 27, 2025 at 1:51 AM
Reposted by Ellen Foxman
The difference between Accuracy & Precision.
March 22, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Reposted by Ellen Foxman
In a science round table discussion yesterday, my NJ senator @kim.senate.gov suggested a strong argument for NIH and federal funding is global competitiveness. We US-based scientists should start weaving this into our narratives.
NIH spending more than pays for itself. It generates about $2.5 for every $1 spent. In terms of research productivity, NIH funding dwarfs the rest of the world. The only long-term potential rival is China. Politicizing the NIH's scientific processes will hand China a huge strategic advantage.
March 20, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Reposted by Ellen Foxman
'Neutrophils expressed notably low levels of STING, whereas forced expression led to uncontrolled systemic inflammation. During development in the thymus, Tcells dynamically & epigenetically restricted STING expression through DNMT1–mediated transcriptional silencing'
#Immunology
Dynamic STING repression orchestrates immune cell development and function
Repression of STING expression in neutrophils and T lymphocytes is required for immune homeostasis and tumor response.
www.science.org
March 20, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Reposted by Ellen Foxman
@cp-trendsimmuno.bsky.social Using structure-function information from IFN-γ-binding proteins and biased agonists to uncouple immunostimulatory and immunosuppressive activities
www.cell.com/trends/immun...
March 19, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Reposted by Ellen Foxman
Today I'm filled with admiration for my university's president, Chris Eisgruber. He's standing up for Columbia and for universities as a home for freedom of ideas, debate, and thought - free of government attack. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
The Cost of the Government’s Attack on Columbia
American universities have given the country prosperity and security. The Trump administration’s attack on academic freedom endangers all of that.
www.theatlantic.com
March 19, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Reposted by Ellen Foxman
My privilege to team up with FASEB President-elect Eric Kelley today. We visited the W. Virginia and #Vermont offices together to explain how science research saves lives, creates jobs and keeps the USA competitive.

#FASEBonTheHill #FundScience #NIH #MedSky #AcademicSky #UVMLarnerMed🧪
March 19, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Reposted by Ellen Foxman
UCSF, like all UC campuses, announced an immediate hiring freeze today. UCSF is the second largest employer in the city. There will be wide ripple effects in the Bay Area and beyond, including the future of biotech and pharma in the area. 🧪
March 20, 2025 at 4:07 AM
Reposted by Ellen Foxman
If there's one thing that domestic violence research has taught me, it's that abusers set up no-win scenarios. They punish you whether you cooperate with them or whether you push back.

The only way out is to strengthen ties with people outside of the relationship who can create new, better options.
March 18, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Reposted by Ellen Foxman
My dear friend’s niece, who in October developed sepsis when a Georgia hospital refused her a D&C after a miscarriage, will be taken off life support tomorrow.

I don’t know the names of the countless others who have suffered and will suffered because of anti-abortion laws.

But her name was Haley.
March 19, 2025 at 5:28 AM
Reposted by Ellen Foxman
Please consider nominating deserving colleagues (including yourselves) who would be excellent candidates for five open positions on the Council, including Nominations for President-elect, Secretary, Treasurer, and 2 Councilors.

Please share widely!

@official-smbe.bsky.social
March 19, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Reposted by Ellen Foxman
I’m a biomedical researcher who lost his wife to cancer. Finding cures is personal to me. What’s happening at the NIH is devastating. Here’s my editorial in my hometown newspaper.

www.vindy.com/opinion/edit...
DOGE ends America’s golden age of biomedical research
Biomedical research impacts all of us. I became curious about how drugs work after my mom was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis when I was a small boy. She received “gold shots” as treatment, which ...
www.vindy.com
March 17, 2025 at 8:34 PM