Samantha Butler
@samanthabutler.bsky.social
Developmental neurobiologist: spinal cord, somatosensory circuits, stem cells, cell fate, axon guidance, regeneration
Professor, @UCLA
Lab website: https://butlerlab.neurobio.ucla.edu
.
Professor, @UCLA
Lab website: https://butlerlab.neurobio.ucla.edu
.
Pinned
Yesica Mercado-Ayon in the Butler lab won the People's Choice award in the @uclastemcell.bsky.social microscopy contest! Here's her image for #fluorescentfriday #fluorescencefriday: "A tree made of neurons".
Reposted by Samantha Butler
Huntington's disease has been successfully treated for the first time following positive results from a global clinical trial, on which Professor Sarah Tabrizi FRS of UCL's Huntington's Disease Centre was lead scientific advisor:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Huntington's disease successfully treated for first time
One of the most devastating diseases finally has a treatment that can slow its progression and transform lives, tearful doctors tell BBC.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 24, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Huntington's disease has been successfully treated for the first time following positive results from a global clinical trial, on which Professor Sarah Tabrizi FRS of UCL's Huntington's Disease Centre was lead scientific advisor:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Samantha Butler
This is huge: “A drug that provides near-perfect protection against H.I.V. with shots just twice a year will be made available at $40 per patient annually in low- and middle-income countries, offering new hope… making lenacapavir a realistic choice in countries with constrained resources.”
Philanthropies Strike a Promising Deal to Turn Back H.I.V.
www.nytimes.com
September 24, 2025 at 12:27 PM
This is huge: “A drug that provides near-perfect protection against H.I.V. with shots just twice a year will be made available at $40 per patient annually in low- and middle-income countries, offering new hope… making lenacapavir a realistic choice in countries with constrained resources.”
Reposted by Samantha Butler
If only there was a study of Tylenol and Autism.... oh wait!
"Acetaminophen use during pregnancy was not associated with children’s risk of autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability in sibling control analysis. "
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
"Acetaminophen use during pregnancy was not associated with children’s risk of autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability in sibling control analysis. "
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Acetaminophen Use During Pregnancy and Children’s Risk of Autism, ADHD, and Intellectual Disability
This nationwide cohort study with sibling control analysis examines the association of acetaminophen use during pregnancy with children’s risk of autism, ADHD, and intellectual disability.
jamanetwork.com
September 23, 2025 at 3:12 AM
If only there was a study of Tylenol and Autism.... oh wait!
"Acetaminophen use during pregnancy was not associated with children’s risk of autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability in sibling control analysis. "
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
"Acetaminophen use during pregnancy was not associated with children’s risk of autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability in sibling control analysis. "
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Reposted by Samantha Butler
#Undergraduates #Postbacs @socdevbio.bsky.social is hosting a webinar Get Into Grad School September 21 at 3pm ET. Learn about doctoral programs, the key elements of a compelling grad school application, and the interview process. Register: bit.ly/3HFJ9BG
September 4, 2025 at 2:00 PM
#Undergraduates #Postbacs @socdevbio.bsky.social is hosting a webinar Get Into Grad School September 21 at 3pm ET. Learn about doctoral programs, the key elements of a compelling grad school application, and the interview process. Register: bit.ly/3HFJ9BG
Reposted by Samantha Butler
Vought and Trump continue to illegally withhold grants funds to Harvard: www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
Harvard Was Cleared To Get Some Federal Funds. Then DOGE Stepped In. | News | The Harvard Crimson
DOGE officials have used their control of a federal payment system to keep money away from Harvard — even after a judge’s ruling required the National Institutes of Health to let some grants start flo...
www.thecrimson.com
September 9, 2025 at 4:18 AM
Vought and Trump continue to illegally withhold grants funds to Harvard: www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
Elle Rathbun, a UCLA graduate student improving outcomes after a stroke: "Rural students deserve [research] opportunities, and rural communities deserve health, scientific and educational equity. The [] cuts to federal grants actively threaten these notions. We can do better."
tinyurl.com/24e6mat4
tinyurl.com/24e6mat4
Beyond advancing medical and scientific innovation, federal grants help rural students and communities
Durango raised me, from preschool at Needham Elementary through Durango High School graduation. I am now a neuroscientist at the University of California, Los Angeles, investigating potential treatmen...
www.durangoherald.com
August 29, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Elle Rathbun, a UCLA graduate student improving outcomes after a stroke: "Rural students deserve [research] opportunities, and rural communities deserve health, scientific and educational equity. The [] cuts to federal grants actively threaten these notions. We can do better."
tinyurl.com/24e6mat4
tinyurl.com/24e6mat4
Reposted by Samantha Butler
A federal judge said today she would hear arguments 9/18 on if $500+ million in NIH grants UCLA should be restored and added to a class-action lawsuit against the Trump admin. over UC cuts.
On 8/12, the same judge ordered UCLA NSF grants restored: www.latimes.com/california/s...
On 8/12, the same judge ordered UCLA NSF grants restored: www.latimes.com/california/s...
Trump administration must restore hundreds of UCLA research grants, federal judge rules
A federal judge on Tuesday ordered Trump administration to restore hundreds of frozen National Science Foundation research grants to UCLA.
www.latimes.com
August 26, 2025 at 10:07 PM
A federal judge said today she would hear arguments 9/18 on if $500+ million in NIH grants UCLA should be restored and added to a class-action lawsuit against the Trump admin. over UC cuts.
On 8/12, the same judge ordered UCLA NSF grants restored: www.latimes.com/california/s...
On 8/12, the same judge ordered UCLA NSF grants restored: www.latimes.com/california/s...
Reposted by Samantha Butler
Dear all, PLEASE add comments on the importance of model organism research at this link:
July 11, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Dear all, PLEASE add comments on the importance of model organism research at this link:
So proud of Cris Rodriguez, who is featured in this story from the @uclastemcell.bsky.social, and his work in my lab. Cris was this year's @gomatadors.bsky.social CSUN Wolfson Scholar, and is an exceptional person and scientist. stemcell.ucla.edu/news/harvest...
Harvesting a dream: tenant farmers’ son is on a mission to develop life-changing stem cell therapies
Cristian Rodriguez never imagined he'd find himself working with stem cells in a UCLA research lab, let alone receiving Cal State Northridge's most prestigious award given to a graduating senior.Just ...
stemcell.ucla.edu
July 3, 2025 at 6:51 PM
So proud of Cris Rodriguez, who is featured in this story from the @uclastemcell.bsky.social, and his work in my lab. Cris was this year's @gomatadors.bsky.social CSUN Wolfson Scholar, and is an exceptional person and scientist. stemcell.ucla.edu/news/harvest...
Reposted by Samantha Butler
A federal judge on Monday declared the Trump administration’s move to cut hundreds of grants issued by the National Institutes of Health illegal, accusing the government of discrimination against minorities and L.G.B.T.Q. individuals. nyti.ms/4jSIjOG
Trump’s Cuts to N.I.H. Grants Are Illegal, Federal Judge Rules
The judge accused the Trump administration of discriminating against minorities and L.G.B.T.Q. people and ordered the government to restore much of the funding.
nyti.ms
June 16, 2025 at 9:02 PM
A federal judge on Monday declared the Trump administration’s move to cut hundreds of grants issued by the National Institutes of Health illegal, accusing the government of discrimination against minorities and L.G.B.T.Q. individuals. nyti.ms/4jSIjOG
Reposted by Samantha Butler
Would be really cool if the mainstream media would cover this. @cnn.com has an entire section on its website with live updates on the Diddy trial, but not a single word about a judge finding that the trump admin’s cuts to NIH funding are illegal.
🚨 BREAKING: Nearly 4 months the NIH cut its first grants, a judge has ruled that the directives and process that led to cuts are arbitrary and capricious.
"The explanations are bereft of reasoning — virtually in their entirety... unsupported by [facts]."
Each of them are VOID and ILLEGAL, he says.
"The explanations are bereft of reasoning — virtually in their entirety... unsupported by [facts]."
Each of them are VOID and ILLEGAL, he says.
June 16, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Would be really cool if the mainstream media would cover this. @cnn.com has an entire section on its website with live updates on the Diddy trial, but not a single word about a judge finding that the trump admin’s cuts to NIH funding are illegal.
Reposted by Samantha Butler
“In America, we don’t do kings!” Come out and make your voice heard today: www.nokings.org
June 14, 2025 at 2:58 PM
“In America, we don’t do kings!” Come out and make your voice heard today: www.nokings.org
Reposted by Samantha Butler
I couldn't sleep last night and skimmed through the names on the #BethesdaDeclaration support letter page.
First, the good news.
(1) There were 18,000+ names and it took me 3 hours.
1/n
First, the good news.
(1) There were 18,000+ names and it took me 3 hours.
1/n
June 12, 2025 at 5:28 PM
I couldn't sleep last night and skimmed through the names on the #BethesdaDeclaration support letter page.
First, the good news.
(1) There were 18,000+ names and it took me 3 hours.
1/n
First, the good news.
(1) There were 18,000+ names and it took me 3 hours.
1/n
Reposted by Samantha Butler
WOW!.. 8500+ supporting cast heroes (that's us!) have already signed our Letter of Support for the brave NIH heroes who laid down their case in the historic #BethesdaDeclaration.
Add your name here actionnetwork.org/forms/add-na... & stand up to save science & health in America.
#StandUpForScience
Add your name here actionnetwork.org/forms/add-na... & stand up to save science & health in America.
#StandUpForScience
ADD YOUR NAME: Sign the Open Letter in Support of NIH Staff
Join the courageous and committed National Institutes of Health (NIH) public servants by adding your name now.
actionnetwork.org
June 10, 2025 at 3:38 PM
WOW!.. 8500+ supporting cast heroes (that's us!) have already signed our Letter of Support for the brave NIH heroes who laid down their case in the historic #BethesdaDeclaration.
Add your name here actionnetwork.org/forms/add-na... & stand up to save science & health in America.
#StandUpForScience
Add your name here actionnetwork.org/forms/add-na... & stand up to save science & health in America.
#StandUpForScience
Reposted by Samantha Butler
FlyBase, a crucial resource for drosophila research, has lost its funding because its grant is awarded to Harvard. The team is scrambling to find other sources of funds, including donations from labs. Read more: www.thetransmitter.org/community/fl... @flybase.bsky.social
FlyBase funding squashed amid Harvard grant terminations
The team behind the Drosophila genetics database is now requesting donations from labs to keep the resource afloat.
www.thetransmitter.org
June 4, 2025 at 9:11 PM
FlyBase, a crucial resource for drosophila research, has lost its funding because its grant is awarded to Harvard. The team is scrambling to find other sources of funds, including donations from labs. Read more: www.thetransmitter.org/community/fl... @flybase.bsky.social
Reposted by Samantha Butler
The openness and sharing in other model organism communities has been an inspiration for how I do work in the zebrafish community. FlyBase is in danger and this impacts labs in the US and worldwide - there is a link to donate in the article
@flybase.bsky.social
@flybase.bsky.social
FlyBase, a crucial resource for drosophila research, has lost its funding because its grant is awarded to Harvard. The team is scrambling to find other sources of funds, including donations from labs. Read more: www.thetransmitter.org/community/fl... @flybase.bsky.social
FlyBase funding squashed amid Harvard grant terminations
The team behind the Drosophila genetics database is now requesting donations from labs to keep the resource afloat.
www.thetransmitter.org
June 5, 2025 at 12:07 PM
The openness and sharing in other model organism communities has been an inspiration for how I do work in the zebrafish community. FlyBase is in danger and this impacts labs in the US and worldwide - there is a link to donate in the article
@flybase.bsky.social
@flybase.bsky.social
Reposted by Samantha Butler
NSF appears to be terminating hundreds of its grants to Harvard, per internal sources at NSF and at Harvard. At least one division has had all its grants cut.
May 14, 2025 at 2:17 PM
NSF appears to be terminating hundreds of its grants to Harvard, per internal sources at NSF and at Harvard. At least one division has had all its grants cut.
Reposted by Samantha Butler
Today we've announced the new Faraday Fellowship accelerated international route, which will grant up to £30 million in funding over the next two years to attract global talent and support the development of world-leading research groups in the UK: #RSGrants royalsociety.org/news/2025/05...
Royal Society announces £30m fund to attract global talent over next two years | Royal Society
International recruitment scheme comes amid announcement of Government principles for 10-year research funding
royalsociety.org
May 19, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Today we've announced the new Faraday Fellowship accelerated international route, which will grant up to £30 million in funding over the next two years to attract global talent and support the development of world-leading research groups in the UK: #RSGrants royalsociety.org/news/2025/05...
Reposted by Samantha Butler
New Faraday Fellowships for international applicants moving to the UK
Up to £4 million per researcher over 5-10 years
Fast-track option for mid-career researchers looking to relocate to the UK
Up to £4 million per researcher over 5-10 years
Fast-track option for mid-career researchers looking to relocate to the UK
Today we've announced the new Faraday Fellowship accelerated international route, which will grant up to £30 million in funding over the next two years to attract global talent and support the development of world-leading research groups in the UK: #RSGrants royalsociety.org/news/2025/05...
Royal Society announces £30m fund to attract global talent over next two years | Royal Society
International recruitment scheme comes amid announcement of Government principles for 10-year research funding
royalsociety.org
May 19, 2025 at 12:03 PM
New Faraday Fellowships for international applicants moving to the UK
Up to £4 million per researcher over 5-10 years
Fast-track option for mid-career researchers looking to relocate to the UK
Up to £4 million per researcher over 5-10 years
Fast-track option for mid-career researchers looking to relocate to the UK
Reposted by Samantha Butler
🚨ATTENTION ALL SCIENCE SUPPORTERS🚨
👀 We have BIG plans which means we need lots of people! Sign up to be a @standupforscience.bsky.social Volunteer, TODAY!
✊JOIN THE FIGHT FOR SCIENCE!
🧪 Like, Share, Comment!
#StandUpforScience
#SummerFightForScience
actionnetwork.org/forms/join-l...
👀 We have BIG plans which means we need lots of people! Sign up to be a @standupforscience.bsky.social Volunteer, TODAY!
✊JOIN THE FIGHT FOR SCIENCE!
🧪 Like, Share, Comment!
#StandUpforScience
#SummerFightForScience
actionnetwork.org/forms/join-l...
May 19, 2025 at 11:44 AM
🚨ATTENTION ALL SCIENCE SUPPORTERS🚨
👀 We have BIG plans which means we need lots of people! Sign up to be a @standupforscience.bsky.social Volunteer, TODAY!
✊JOIN THE FIGHT FOR SCIENCE!
🧪 Like, Share, Comment!
#StandUpforScience
#SummerFightForScience
actionnetwork.org/forms/join-l...
👀 We have BIG plans which means we need lots of people! Sign up to be a @standupforscience.bsky.social Volunteer, TODAY!
✊JOIN THE FIGHT FOR SCIENCE!
🧪 Like, Share, Comment!
#StandUpforScience
#SummerFightForScience
actionnetwork.org/forms/join-l...
Reposted by Samantha Butler
Northwestern has not received any NIH funds since March. No written communication about why or what can be done. Thank you Ben Singer for raising awareness at #ATS2025
May 18, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Northwestern has not received any NIH funds since March. No written communication about why or what can be done. Thank you Ben Singer for raising awareness at #ATS2025
Reposted by Samantha Butler
"I'm still in shock. I know that there have been political issues around Harvard in recent weeks, but antibiotic resistance isn't one of them." My conversation with Harvard microbiologist @baym.lol, one of many researchers there who just lost millions in fed. grants. www.wbur.org/news/2025/05...
Antibiotic research at Harvard lab threatened by federal funding cuts
Microbiologist Michael Baym studies antibiotic resistance at Harvard Medical School. He lost millions in federal funding this week.
www.wbur.org
May 16, 2025 at 10:59 PM
"I'm still in shock. I know that there have been political issues around Harvard in recent weeks, but antibiotic resistance isn't one of them." My conversation with Harvard microbiologist @baym.lol, one of many researchers there who just lost millions in fed. grants. www.wbur.org/news/2025/05...
Reposted by Samantha Butler
My ongoing request:
If your NSF or NIH grant was terminated--whether at Harvard or elsewhere--please report it here.
NSF: grant-watch.us/submit-nsf.h...
NIH: grant-watch.us/submit-nih.h...
Our trackers are actively used in lawsuits and are often the only record that terminations ever occurred.
If your NSF or NIH grant was terminated--whether at Harvard or elsewhere--please report it here.
NSF: grant-watch.us/submit-nsf.h...
NIH: grant-watch.us/submit-nih.h...
Our trackers are actively used in lawsuits and are often the only record that terminations ever occurred.
NSF appears to be terminating hundreds of its grants to Harvard, per internal sources at NSF and at Harvard. At least one division has had all its grants cut.
May 14, 2025 at 2:22 PM
My ongoing request:
If your NSF or NIH grant was terminated--whether at Harvard or elsewhere--please report it here.
NSF: grant-watch.us/submit-nsf.h...
NIH: grant-watch.us/submit-nih.h...
Our trackers are actively used in lawsuits and are often the only record that terminations ever occurred.
If your NSF or NIH grant was terminated--whether at Harvard or elsewhere--please report it here.
NSF: grant-watch.us/submit-nsf.h...
NIH: grant-watch.us/submit-nih.h...
Our trackers are actively used in lawsuits and are often the only record that terminations ever occurred.
Reposted by Samantha Butler
So let me get this straight: masks are bad and un-American if worn to fight a pandemic, but good if worn by people claiming to be government agents when they kidnap people off the street
May 10, 2025 at 3:06 PM
So let me get this straight: masks are bad and un-American if worn to fight a pandemic, but good if worn by people claiming to be government agents when they kidnap people off the street
Reposted by Samantha Butler
ALERT
The expiration dates for the Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) for the PARENT F30, F31, and F32 awards have been changed to May 8, 2025.
To my knowledge, no new NOFOs have been posted.
1/n
The expiration dates for the Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) for the PARENT F30, F31, and F32 awards have been changed to May 8, 2025.
To my knowledge, no new NOFOs have been posted.
1/n
May 9, 2025 at 4:23 PM
ALERT
The expiration dates for the Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) for the PARENT F30, F31, and F32 awards have been changed to May 8, 2025.
To my knowledge, no new NOFOs have been posted.
1/n
The expiration dates for the Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) for the PARENT F30, F31, and F32 awards have been changed to May 8, 2025.
To my knowledge, no new NOFOs have been posted.
1/n