Luisa Cochella
@lcochella.bsky.social
Proud worm researcher. Interested in miRNAs, all RNAs really, and gene regulation in general. A biochemist turned geneticist trying to think about questions of cell biology. Lucky to lead a lab at Johns Hopkins School of medicine. https://cochellalab.org/
Reposted by Luisa Cochella
I'm very excited to announce that UNC Biology has 6 faculty positions open this year! The first is for an Asst Professor who studies organismal resilience using an integrative approach 1/n
unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/307...
unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/307...
October 12, 2025 at 2:20 PM
I'm very excited to announce that UNC Biology has 6 faculty positions open this year! The first is for an Asst Professor who studies organismal resilience using an integrative approach 1/n
unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/307...
unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/307...
Reposted by Luisa Cochella
Thrilled to share that I’ll be joining @imbmainz.bsky.social in February 2026 to start my own group!
We will explore new mechanisms in eukaryotic gene expression, leveraging ‘evolutionary play’ to uncover how regulation, repurposing, and hijacking shape RNA biology.
PhD positions available!
We will explore new mechanisms in eukaryotic gene expression, leveraging ‘evolutionary play’ to uncover how regulation, repurposing, and hijacking shape RNA biology.
PhD positions available!
October 12, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Thrilled to share that I’ll be joining @imbmainz.bsky.social in February 2026 to start my own group!
We will explore new mechanisms in eukaryotic gene expression, leveraging ‘evolutionary play’ to uncover how regulation, repurposing, and hijacking shape RNA biology.
PhD positions available!
We will explore new mechanisms in eukaryotic gene expression, leveraging ‘evolutionary play’ to uncover how regulation, repurposing, and hijacking shape RNA biology.
PhD positions available!
Reposted by Luisa Cochella
Congrats to the winners! Its notable that Omar Yaghi was a refugee. Refugees and immigrants once again making American science great!
BREAKING: The Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar M. Yaghi “for the development of metal-organic frameworks”
Stay tuned for more.
#NobelPrize
Stay tuned for more.
#NobelPrize
October 8, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Congrats to the winners! Its notable that Omar Yaghi was a refugee. Refugees and immigrants once again making American science great!
Reposted by Luisa Cochella
It is with great sadness that we share the news of the death of our founder, colleague, mentor and friend, Professor Sir John Gurdon. His vision and dedication will continue to inspire generations of scientists.
🔗 www.gurdon.cam.ac.uk/nobel-laurea...
🔗 www.gurdon.cam.ac.uk/nobel-laurea...
October 8, 2025 at 1:15 PM
It is with great sadness that we share the news of the death of our founder, colleague, mentor and friend, Professor Sir John Gurdon. His vision and dedication will continue to inspire generations of scientists.
🔗 www.gurdon.cam.ac.uk/nobel-laurea...
🔗 www.gurdon.cam.ac.uk/nobel-laurea...
Reposted by Luisa Cochella
Staff members at the NIH seem to have done the impossible: spend the agency's $48 billion budget.
“Everyone has been rallying together to clean up the mess, but it’s a mess that did not need to be made,” an NIH program officer told me.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
“Everyone has been rallying together to clean up the mess, but it’s a mess that did not need to be made,” an NIH program officer told me.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
NIH races to spend its 2025 grant money — but fewer projects win funding
Despite political obstacles, officials are on track to disburse all of the research funds allocated to US biomedical behemoth.
www.nature.com
September 30, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Staff members at the NIH seem to have done the impossible: spend the agency's $48 billion budget.
“Everyone has been rallying together to clean up the mess, but it’s a mess that did not need to be made,” an NIH program officer told me.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
“Everyone has been rallying together to clean up the mess, but it’s a mess that did not need to be made,” an NIH program officer told me.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Luisa Cochella
Thank you all the program officers at NIH that persisted through the 2025 fiscal year and were able to fund 99% of the total FY2024 budget. I know this has take a toll on everyone at NIH. Thank you for supporting important health and behavior science and helping to keep the U.S. a leader in science.
The fiscal year ends tomorrow.
Here are results from NIH Reporter downloaded an hour ago.
The total amount of funding committed for FY2025 at this point is 99.0% of that for FY2024. The same difference could be due to a variety of technical factors.
1/3
Here are results from NIH Reporter downloaded an hour ago.
The total amount of funding committed for FY2025 at this point is 99.0% of that for FY2024. The same difference could be due to a variety of technical factors.
1/3
September 29, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Thank you all the program officers at NIH that persisted through the 2025 fiscal year and were able to fund 99% of the total FY2024 budget. I know this has take a toll on everyone at NIH. Thank you for supporting important health and behavior science and helping to keep the U.S. a leader in science.
Reposted by Luisa Cochella
Very excited to share this finding from my postdoctoral work that is now published in #ScienceAdvances. We show how the gut’s epithelium modifies enteric behaviors during nutritional adversity via distinct peptidergic signaling axes.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Thread ⬇️
(1/n)
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Thread ⬇️
(1/n)
Gut epithelium modifies enteric behaviors during nutritional adversity via distinct peptidergic signaling axes
Gut epithelium modulates output from distinct enteric circuits by altering secretion of insulin and noninsulin peptides.
www.science.org
September 24, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Very excited to share this finding from my postdoctoral work that is now published in #ScienceAdvances. We show how the gut’s epithelium modifies enteric behaviors during nutritional adversity via distinct peptidergic signaling axes.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Thread ⬇️
(1/n)
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Thread ⬇️
(1/n)
Reposted by Luisa Cochella
Thanks for highlighting - thread to follow. Mini-summary: beyond assigning oscillatory genes expression by scRNA-seq to individual cell types, we also show that chromatin opens rhythmically and that we can predict this (and gene expression) with a small set of TFs in a mathematical model.
It accompanies a beautiful preprint from @labgrosshans.bsky.social whose pioneering work laid the foundation for the approach we took:
"A scheduler for rhythmic gene expression"
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
"A scheduler for rhythmic gene expression"
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
A scheduler for rhythmic gene expression
Genetic oscillators drive precisely timed gene expression, crucial for development and physiology. Using the C. elegans molting clock as a model, we investigate how oscillators can schedule the orderl...
doi.org
September 8, 2025 at 6:09 AM
Thanks for highlighting - thread to follow. Mini-summary: beyond assigning oscillatory genes expression by scRNA-seq to individual cell types, we also show that chromatin opens rhythmically and that we can predict this (and gene expression) with a small set of TFs in a mathematical model.
Reposted by Luisa Cochella
New preprint!
How are developmental cycles coordinated across cell types?
It turns out that, like Geppetto's cuckoo clocks in the GIF below, individual cell types are each performing their own little crazy routine, but all in sync with each other.
How are developmental cycles coordinated across cell types?
It turns out that, like Geppetto's cuckoo clocks in the GIF below, individual cell types are each performing their own little crazy routine, but all in sync with each other.
a bunch of clocks are hanging on a wall including one that says ' 3:00 ' on it
ALT: a bunch of clocks are hanging on a wall including one that says ' 3:00 ' on it
media.tenor.com
September 7, 2025 at 1:45 PM
New preprint!
How are developmental cycles coordinated across cell types?
It turns out that, like Geppetto's cuckoo clocks in the GIF below, individual cell types are each performing their own little crazy routine, but all in sync with each other.
How are developmental cycles coordinated across cell types?
It turns out that, like Geppetto's cuckoo clocks in the GIF below, individual cell types are each performing their own little crazy routine, but all in sync with each other.
Reposted by Luisa Cochella
David Baltimore, giant of molecular biology, has died.
Co-discoverer of reverse transcriptase at 32, Nobel Prize at 37, played a key role at the 1975 Asilomar comference.
David Baltimore, Nobel-Winning Molecular Biologist, Dies at 87
www.nytimes.com
September 7, 2025 at 8:52 PM
David Baltimore, giant of molecular biology, has died.
Reposted by Luisa Cochella
Go Mei!
Please help me to celebrate Mei Zhen, an innovator and tremendous collaborator, named to the Royal Society of Canada Academy of Science on September 4, 2025
September 6, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Go Mei!
Reposted by Luisa Cochella
We are all super happy and proud to see our work on the function and evolution of the #cephalic #furrow published in @nature.com. Let me say a few things about the background and history of this work on the #Evolution_of_Morphogenesis (1/12)
September 4, 2025 at 8:22 AM
We are all super happy and proud to see our work on the function and evolution of the #cephalic #furrow published in @nature.com. Let me say a few things about the background and history of this work on the #Evolution_of_Morphogenesis (1/12)
Our work on the function of miR-51/miR-100 is out! miR-100 is widely conserved across eumetazoans but its function has been mysterious. Emilio Santillán found in worms it regulates signaling and extracellular matrix genes, some of which seem to be conserved targets! www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
An ancient and essential miRNA family controls cellular interaction pathways in C. elegans
A microRNA that arose at the origin of eumetazoans regulates cell adhesion and signaling in C. elegans through conserved targets.
www.science.org
September 3, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Our work on the function of miR-51/miR-100 is out! miR-100 is widely conserved across eumetazoans but its function has been mysterious. Emilio Santillán found in worms it regulates signaling and extracellular matrix genes, some of which seem to be conserved targets! www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Luisa Cochella
The Argonautes 2025 - we made a special gift for participants - a card set with 32 different Argonautes + an extension pack with four Nobel prize winners from the small RNA field. Mello, Fire, Ambros & Ruvkun as jokers :-) #argonautes2025
August 28, 2025 at 3:01 PM
The Argonautes 2025 - we made a special gift for participants - a card set with 32 different Argonautes + an extension pack with four Nobel prize winners from the small RNA field. Mello, Fire, Ambros & Ruvkun as jokers :-) #argonautes2025
Reposted by Luisa Cochella
Huge thanks to Cathy Savage-Dunn @cswormlab.bsky.social and Baris Tursun @baristursun.bsky.social for an amazing #worm25 !!
I want to call out the OUTSTANDING meeting they created! Talks and posters were A+++. Most of all they brought us together in one of the most challenging times we've had.
I want to call out the OUTSTANDING meeting they created! Talks and posters were A+++. Most of all they brought us together in one of the most challenging times we've had.
July 2, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Huge thanks to Cathy Savage-Dunn @cswormlab.bsky.social and Baris Tursun @baristursun.bsky.social for an amazing #worm25 !!
I want to call out the OUTSTANDING meeting they created! Talks and posters were A+++. Most of all they brought us together in one of the most challenging times we've had.
I want to call out the OUTSTANDING meeting they created! Talks and posters were A+++. Most of all they brought us together in one of the most challenging times we've had.
Reposted by Luisa Cochella
Special thanks to Ahna Skop, Morris Maduro, and Curtis Loer for bringing so much joy to the meeting!
Also, big thanks to GSA and Anne Marie Mahoney for making #worm25 happen despite the challenging times. Thank you also to USDavis for hosting us and the delicious food.
Also, big thanks to GSA and Anne Marie Mahoney for making #worm25 happen despite the challenging times. Thank you also to USDavis for hosting us and the delicious food.
July 2, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Special thanks to Ahna Skop, Morris Maduro, and Curtis Loer for bringing so much joy to the meeting!
Also, big thanks to GSA and Anne Marie Mahoney for making #worm25 happen despite the challenging times. Thank you also to USDavis for hosting us and the delicious food.
Also, big thanks to GSA and Anne Marie Mahoney for making #worm25 happen despite the challenging times. Thank you also to USDavis for hosting us and the delicious food.
Reposted by Luisa Cochella
We are looking forward to the Worm Meeting 2027 and thank
Suhong Xu(Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China),
Kavita Babu (Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India), and
Erik Andersen (Johns Hopkins
University Baltimore, USA)
for organising. #worm25
Suhong Xu(Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China),
Kavita Babu (Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India), and
Erik Andersen (Johns Hopkins
University Baltimore, USA)
for organising. #worm25
July 2, 2025 at 6:34 PM
We are looking forward to the Worm Meeting 2027 and thank
Suhong Xu(Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China),
Kavita Babu (Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India), and
Erik Andersen (Johns Hopkins
University Baltimore, USA)
for organising. #worm25
Suhong Xu(Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China),
Kavita Babu (Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India), and
Erik Andersen (Johns Hopkins
University Baltimore, USA)
for organising. #worm25
Congrats to all, including Lo-Yu Chang from our lab 😁
Congrats to the winners of the #Worm25 poster competition!
Thanks to all students who entered (285) — such great research!
Thanks to all poster judge volunteers who judged presenters (220 postdocs and faculty!)
Given >1200 attendees, that’s a high % who participated in this competition!
Thanks to all students who entered (285) — such great research!
Thanks to all poster judge volunteers who judged presenters (220 postdocs and faculty!)
Given >1200 attendees, that’s a high % who participated in this competition!
July 3, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Congrats to all, including Lo-Yu Chang from our lab 😁
Reposted by Luisa Cochella
New paper out in @natcomms.nature.com! A surprising story of a "non-conserved" protein that's vital for human cell fitness! Fantastic work by Alexandra Shulkina in collaboration with the @lcochella.bsky.social & @clausenlab.bsky.social labs.
May 1, 2025 at 4:54 PM
New paper out in @natcomms.nature.com! A surprising story of a "non-conserved" protein that's vital for human cell fitness! Fantastic work by Alexandra Shulkina in collaboration with the @lcochella.bsky.social & @clausenlab.bsky.social labs.
Reposted by Luisa Cochella
Reposted by Luisa Cochella
"Funding from the NIH was contributed to 354 of 356 drugs (99.4%) approved from 2010 to 2019 totaling $187 billion"
Reference: jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Reference: jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
March 13, 2025 at 2:57 PM
"Funding from the NIH was contributed to 354 of 356 drugs (99.4%) approved from 2010 to 2019 totaling $187 billion"
Reference: jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Reference: jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Reposted by Luisa Cochella
Much will be written about how 4 PhD students and a PhD –Colette Delawalla, Sam Goldstein, Emma Courtney, Leslie Berntsen & JP Flores – organized @standupforscience.bsky.social to
unite scientists in the US and worldwide. Now let's keep the momentum going to defend science!
bsky.app/starter-pack...
unite scientists in the US and worldwide. Now let's keep the momentum going to defend science!
bsky.app/starter-pack...
March 9, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Much will be written about how 4 PhD students and a PhD –Colette Delawalla, Sam Goldstein, Emma Courtney, Leslie Berntsen & JP Flores – organized @standupforscience.bsky.social to
unite scientists in the US and worldwide. Now let's keep the momentum going to defend science!
bsky.app/starter-pack...
unite scientists in the US and worldwide. Now let's keep the momentum going to defend science!
bsky.app/starter-pack...
Reposted by Luisa Cochella
Of course times are tough, but is anyone (or does anyone know) of anyone in the DC-VA-MD area with openings for a masters-level researcher with experience in molecular biology, RNA and DNA work, transcriptomics, and specific experience with both plant and nematode genomics?
February 13, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Of course times are tough, but is anyone (or does anyone know) of anyone in the DC-VA-MD area with openings for a masters-level researcher with experience in molecular biology, RNA and DNA work, transcriptomics, and specific experience with both plant and nematode genomics?
Reposted by Luisa Cochella
Bluetorial: The rationale for the “NIH” indirect cost “plan” is based on misunderstood (unintentional or intentional) accounting and math
The value of real government transparency
The value of real government transparency
a cartoon of homer simpson holding a card
ALT: a cartoon of homer simpson holding a card
media.tenor.com
February 13, 2025 at 3:48 AM
Bluetorial: The rationale for the “NIH” indirect cost “plan” is based on misunderstood (unintentional or intentional) accounting and math
The value of real government transparency
The value of real government transparency
Reposted by Luisa Cochella
Welcome to the Bluesky account for Stand Up for Science 2025!
Keep an eye on this space for updates, event information, and ways to get involved. We can't wait to see everyone #standupforscience2025 on March 7th, both in DC and locations nationwide!
#scienceforall #sciencenotsilence
Keep an eye on this space for updates, event information, and ways to get involved. We can't wait to see everyone #standupforscience2025 on March 7th, both in DC and locations nationwide!
#scienceforall #sciencenotsilence
February 12, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Welcome to the Bluesky account for Stand Up for Science 2025!
Keep an eye on this space for updates, event information, and ways to get involved. We can't wait to see everyone #standupforscience2025 on March 7th, both in DC and locations nationwide!
#scienceforall #sciencenotsilence
Keep an eye on this space for updates, event information, and ways to get involved. We can't wait to see everyone #standupforscience2025 on March 7th, both in DC and locations nationwide!
#scienceforall #sciencenotsilence