Helen Lazear
@lazearlab.bsky.social
Associate Professor of Microbiology & Immunology
UNC Chapel Hill
Viral pathogenesis, arboviruses, virus-host interactions, antiviral immunity
www.lazearlab.org
UNC Chapel Hill
Viral pathogenesis, arboviruses, virus-host interactions, antiviral immunity
www.lazearlab.org
Reposted by Helen Lazear
Nature-based valentines for sale: topatoco.com/collections/...
Nature Valentines Cards
Nature Valentines Cards - Art by Rosemary Mosco and Bird and Moon at TopatoCo!
topatoco.com
January 13, 2026 at 7:48 PM
Nature-based valentines for sale: topatoco.com/collections/...
Reposted by Helen Lazear
The American Society for Virology (ASV) is dedicated to advancing knowledge of viruses and the diseases they cause. ASV does not support the scaling back of the childhood vaccine schedule recently announced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. See our statement attached.
January 13, 2026 at 7:54 PM
The American Society for Virology (ASV) is dedicated to advancing knowledge of viruses and the diseases they cause. ASV does not support the scaling back of the childhood vaccine schedule recently announced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. See our statement attached.
Reposted by Helen Lazear
Congratulations to MD-PhD student, Amanda Velez and all co-authors on our new PNAS paper describing how the innate immune protein calprotectin incapacitates autolysins, inducing tolerance to B-lactam antibiotics. A fun collaboration with Thomas Kehl-Fie. www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
PNAS
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a peer reviewed journal of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) - an authoritative source of high-impact, original research that broadly spans...
www.pnas.org
January 14, 2026 at 5:24 PM
Congratulations to MD-PhD student, Amanda Velez and all co-authors on our new PNAS paper describing how the innate immune protein calprotectin incapacitates autolysins, inducing tolerance to B-lactam antibiotics. A fun collaboration with Thomas Kehl-Fie. www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by Helen Lazear
Interested in how infections cause seizures? Then, read on! We discovered that Toxoplasma selectively eliminates inhibitory synapses in brain. You will study how these synapses are removed. Please send brief review of research interests and goals, CV, and names of 3 refs to: iblader@vt.edu.
January 14, 2026 at 4:25 PM
Interested in how infections cause seizures? Then, read on! We discovered that Toxoplasma selectively eliminates inhibitory synapses in brain. You will study how these synapses are removed. Please send brief review of research interests and goals, CV, and names of 3 refs to: iblader@vt.edu.
Reposted by Helen Lazear
📢 Attention undergrads & first-year med students! Apply now for Fred Hutch’s 8-week Summer Internship on Infectious Diseases in the Imunocompromised Host! Hands-on research + expert mentorship in state-of-the-art labs.
🦠 Apply by Jan. 30, 2026: https://bit.ly/48K89SV
🦠 Apply by Jan. 30, 2026: https://bit.ly/48K89SV
January 10, 2026 at 5:40 PM
📢 Attention undergrads & first-year med students! Apply now for Fred Hutch’s 8-week Summer Internship on Infectious Diseases in the Imunocompromised Host! Hands-on research + expert mentorship in state-of-the-art labs.
🦠 Apply by Jan. 30, 2026: https://bit.ly/48K89SV
🦠 Apply by Jan. 30, 2026: https://bit.ly/48K89SV
Reposted by Helen Lazear
Why do some people become severely ill from infections that leave others unscathed?
go.nature.com/457vTOK
go.nature.com/457vTOK
The infection enigma: why some people die from typically harmless germs
Millions of people worldwide carry genetic mutations that weaken their immune system.
go.nature.com
January 14, 2026 at 12:49 PM
Why do some people become severely ill from infections that leave others unscathed?
go.nature.com/457vTOK
go.nature.com/457vTOK
Reposted by Helen Lazear
.@fredhutch.org is seeking applications for the 8th Annual Dr. Eddie Méndez Scholar Award which recognizes outstanding postdoctoral fellows from any discipline who are conducting cancer, infectious disease or basic science research. Learn more and apply: https://apply.interfolio.com/176955
December 28, 2025 at 5:10 PM
.@fredhutch.org is seeking applications for the 8th Annual Dr. Eddie Méndez Scholar Award which recognizes outstanding postdoctoral fellows from any discipline who are conducting cancer, infectious disease or basic science research. Learn more and apply: https://apply.interfolio.com/176955
Reposted by Helen Lazear
CSV2026 is happening May 31–June 4, 2026 at the University of Guelph!
Join researchers from across Canada for four days of scientific presentations and networking!
🔬 Call for abstracts now open!
📝 Register today
🌐 www.CSVsymposium.ca
Join researchers from across Canada for four days of scientific presentations and networking!
🔬 Call for abstracts now open!
📝 Register today
🌐 www.CSVsymposium.ca
January 6, 2026 at 9:39 PM
CSV2026 is happening May 31–June 4, 2026 at the University of Guelph!
Join researchers from across Canada for four days of scientific presentations and networking!
🔬 Call for abstracts now open!
📝 Register today
🌐 www.CSVsymposium.ca
Join researchers from across Canada for four days of scientific presentations and networking!
🔬 Call for abstracts now open!
📝 Register today
🌐 www.CSVsymposium.ca
Reposted by Helen Lazear
Post-doc job alert! Please share with anyone who might be interested! @amersocvirology.bsky.social #virology #virosky #evolution
January 8, 2026 at 10:56 PM
Post-doc job alert! Please share with anyone who might be interested! @amersocvirology.bsky.social #virology #virosky #evolution
Reposted by Helen Lazear
We are hiring new faculty!! Come join our amazing community in the Department of Molecular Microbiology at Washington University School of Medicine! The deadline for applications is 2/21, but applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. facultyopportunities.wustl.edu/Posting/Deta...
Opportunity Details - Faculty Opportunities
facultyopportunities.wustl.edu
January 8, 2026 at 9:05 PM
We are hiring new faculty!! Come join our amazing community in the Department of Molecular Microbiology at Washington University School of Medicine! The deadline for applications is 2/21, but applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. facultyopportunities.wustl.edu/Posting/Deta...
Reposted by Helen Lazear
Blue Ridge Public Radio reports: Health officials in Buncombe County are responding to three confirmed cases of measles, while also managing ongoing outbreaks of chickenpox and whooping cough, mostly affecting children.
www.wunc.org/2026-01-06/t...
www.wunc.org/2026-01-06/t...
Three measles cases confirmed in Buncombe County as officials track chickenpox and whooping cough
Health officials say a trio of vaccine-preventable illnesses is circulating during an already busy winter virus season.
www.wunc.org
January 7, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Blue Ridge Public Radio reports: Health officials in Buncombe County are responding to three confirmed cases of measles, while also managing ongoing outbreaks of chickenpox and whooping cough, mostly affecting children.
www.wunc.org/2026-01-06/t...
www.wunc.org/2026-01-06/t...
UNC Mini Med School 2026: free monthly lecture series at the Chapel Hill Public Library hosted by the UNC MD/PhD program. This series provides the local community with a closer look at how physicians tackle disease and a glimpse of research on these topics at UNC.
www.med.unc.edu/minimedschool/
www.med.unc.edu/minimedschool/
![Welcome to UNC Mini Med School 2026!
We would like to extend a warm welcome to the 2026 edition of Mini Med School. The goal of Mini Med School is to provide the local community with a closer look at how physicians tackle disease, along with a glimpse of the research being conducted on these topics at the UNC School of Medicine. This free monthly lecture series is hosted by the UNC MD/PhD Program and covers various health topics in an accessible format. Each session is held from 6–7:30 pm (EST). We hope you will join us this upcoming year!
This year's sessions and dates are:
• Tuesday, January 13 - Glaucoma & Diabetic Retinopathy
• Tuesday, February 10 - Gut Health
• Tuesday, March 10 - Dermatology & Skin Cancer
• Tuesday, April 14 - Health Policy & the Healthcare System
• **Thursday, May 14 - Immune Response & Immunotherapies
Sessions will be hosted in a hybrid format. In-person attendance at the Chapel Hill Public Library is strongly encouraged, but a Zoom option will also be available. (Zoom links will be sent on the day of each session to registered participants.)
Attendees can register for sessions through the following form (link) or from our website https://www.med.unc.edu/minimedschool/.
Please contact us at minimedicalschool [at] med.unc.edu if you have any questions!](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:dbecv6lg2vj2lmcznavmwruy/bafkreiapmwfxux62o66yoqc3duzfli6k7sjqjober3up4aaiycdxgf5ri4@jpeg)
January 7, 2026 at 2:31 PM
UNC Mini Med School 2026: free monthly lecture series at the Chapel Hill Public Library hosted by the UNC MD/PhD program. This series provides the local community with a closer look at how physicians tackle disease and a glimpse of research on these topics at UNC.
www.med.unc.edu/minimedschool/
www.med.unc.edu/minimedschool/
Reposted by Helen Lazear
This new SciENcv format is so... ugly. Especially the contribution to science part of the biosketch supplement. Who wants to read a jumbled bunch of text together? Did NIH/NSF not learn grantsmanship?
January 7, 2026 at 3:00 AM
This new SciENcv format is so... ugly. Especially the contribution to science part of the biosketch supplement. Who wants to read a jumbled bunch of text together? Did NIH/NSF not learn grantsmanship?
Reposted by Helen Lazear
If you are submitting an NIH grant in February, you will be required to use SciENcv to prepare you biosketch.
IT IS MUCH WORSE THAN YOU CAN POSSIBLY IMAGINE.
Set aside *at least* 4 hours just to transfer an existing an biosketch into SciENcv.
IT IS MUCH WORSE THAN YOU CAN POSSIBLY IMAGINE.
Set aside *at least* 4 hours just to transfer an existing an biosketch into SciENcv.
January 6, 2026 at 11:29 PM
If you are submitting an NIH grant in February, you will be required to use SciENcv to prepare you biosketch.
IT IS MUCH WORSE THAN YOU CAN POSSIBLY IMAGINE.
Set aside *at least* 4 hours just to transfer an existing an biosketch into SciENcv.
IT IS MUCH WORSE THAN YOU CAN POSSIBLY IMAGINE.
Set aside *at least* 4 hours just to transfer an existing an biosketch into SciENcv.
Reposted by Helen Lazear
First Pipeline post of the year! A statement of purpose, and science topics resume on Monday:
Last Year, and the Year to Come
www.science.org
January 2, 2026 at 4:45 PM
First Pipeline post of the year! A statement of purpose, and science topics resume on Monday:
Reposted by Helen Lazear
In his strongest condemnation yet of animal research, RFK Jr. said HHS is “deeply committed to ending animal experimentation.” He also called for an end monkey to imports and claimed national primate centers are driven by profit. My latest for @science.org
Kennedy ‘deeply committed to ending animal experimentation’
HHS secretary vows to end U.S. monkey imports, push for retirement of research primates
www.science.org
December 23, 2025 at 1:14 AM
In his strongest condemnation yet of animal research, RFK Jr. said HHS is “deeply committed to ending animal experimentation.” He also called for an end monkey to imports and claimed national primate centers are driven by profit. My latest for @science.org
Reposted by Helen Lazear
Proud to be in a class with some seriously impressive up-and-comers. Inaugural class here: journals.asm.org/journal/jvi/...
I'll be penning an article with colleague and friend @hanckslab.bsky.social on mitochondrial proteins that moonlight to execute immune responses
@jvico-eics.bsky.social
I'll be penning an article with colleague and friend @hanckslab.bsky.social on mitochondrial proteins that moonlight to execute immune responses
@jvico-eics.bsky.social
December 19, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Proud to be in a class with some seriously impressive up-and-comers. Inaugural class here: journals.asm.org/journal/jvi/...
I'll be penning an article with colleague and friend @hanckslab.bsky.social on mitochondrial proteins that moonlight to execute immune responses
@jvico-eics.bsky.social
I'll be penning an article with colleague and friend @hanckslab.bsky.social on mitochondrial proteins that moonlight to execute immune responses
@jvico-eics.bsky.social
Reposted by Helen Lazear
Reposted by Helen Lazear
The Akhtar Lab @manneresearch.bsky.social and Northwestern University @nufeinbergmed.bsky.social is hiring a full time RESEARCH TECHNICIAN. If you want to study neonatal HSV pathogenesis please send me a message and apply for the position here:
luriechildrens.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/externalport...
luriechildrens.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/externalport...
December 23, 2025 at 3:38 PM
The Akhtar Lab @manneresearch.bsky.social and Northwestern University @nufeinbergmed.bsky.social is hiring a full time RESEARCH TECHNICIAN. If you want to study neonatal HSV pathogenesis please send me a message and apply for the position here:
luriechildrens.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/externalport...
luriechildrens.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/externalport...
Reposted by Helen Lazear
Another shake-up of scientific leadership is underway at NIH after a policy clash over the alleged dangers of funding a study that would alter seasonal flu viruses. That grant is now suspended, Science has learned, and the leader of the NIH division that oversaw it has resigned.
NIH leader resigns after flap over risks of seasonal flu virus study
Agency may be expanding list of pathogens subject to dangerous “gain-of-function” regulations
www.science.org
December 23, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Another shake-up of scientific leadership is underway at NIH after a policy clash over the alleged dangers of funding a study that would alter seasonal flu viruses. That grant is now suspended, Science has learned, and the leader of the NIH division that oversaw it has resigned.
