Sam Woodburn
@samcwoodburn.bsky.social
Researching the neurobiology of stress and novel treatments for psychiatric disorders. Postdoc in the Kwan lab at Cornell. Mental health advocate and level 16 Orc Wizard. He/him.
Reposted by Sam Woodburn
New preprint from collaboration with @sn-lab.bsky.social - 2p imaging of psilocybin's effects on neurovascular coupling 🧠🔬
We found that psilocybin prolongs the neurovascular response, independent of neural activity.
This would affect how we should interpret fMRI BOLD studies of psychedelics ‼️
We found that psilocybin prolongs the neurovascular response, independent of neural activity.
This would affect how we should interpret fMRI BOLD studies of psychedelics ‼️
Excited to share our latest work is up on bioRxiv! Looking at capillary flow speed changes we show that psilocybin prolongs the neurovascular coupling response to a visual stimulus. 🍄🔬🧠🩸
@chris-schaffer.bsky.social @alexkwan.bsky.social @sn-lab.bsky.social
Preprint:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
@chris-schaffer.bsky.social @alexkwan.bsky.social @sn-lab.bsky.social
Preprint:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
August 1, 2025 at 5:30 PM
New preprint from collaboration with @sn-lab.bsky.social - 2p imaging of psilocybin's effects on neurovascular coupling 🧠🔬
We found that psilocybin prolongs the neurovascular response, independent of neural activity.
This would affect how we should interpret fMRI BOLD studies of psychedelics ‼️
We found that psilocybin prolongs the neurovascular response, independent of neural activity.
This would affect how we should interpret fMRI BOLD studies of psychedelics ‼️
Reposted by Sam Woodburn
These members of the NIH Council of Councils are voicing serious concerns about NIH grant terminations, restructure, and budget cuts
go.nature.com/46Vr8t2
go.nature.com/46Vr8t2
Protect the integrity of the US National Institutes of Health
Letter to the Editor
go.nature.com
July 23, 2025 at 12:03 PM
These members of the NIH Council of Councils are voicing serious concerns about NIH grant terminations, restructure, and budget cuts
go.nature.com/46Vr8t2
go.nature.com/46Vr8t2
#GRCPsychedelics - What a blast! It was great to talk science with so many incredible people in the field. Can't wait to do it all over again!
July 19, 2025 at 4:32 PM
#GRCPsychedelics - What a blast! It was great to talk science with so many incredible people in the field. Can't wait to do it all over again!
Reposted by Sam Woodburn
Please repost! We're hiring a postdoc to work with me and
@salagapan.bsky.social on an exciting interdisciplinary project in human neuroscience and brain-body interactions underlying effortful behavior in health and mood disorders.
siplab.gatech.edu/postdoc_ad_2...
@salagapan.bsky.social on an exciting interdisciplinary project in human neuroscience and brain-body interactions underlying effortful behavior in health and mood disorders.
siplab.gatech.edu/postdoc_ad_2...
SIPLab
siplab.gatech.edu
July 17, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Please repost! We're hiring a postdoc to work with me and
@salagapan.bsky.social on an exciting interdisciplinary project in human neuroscience and brain-body interactions underlying effortful behavior in health and mood disorders.
siplab.gatech.edu/postdoc_ad_2...
@salagapan.bsky.social on an exciting interdisciplinary project in human neuroscience and brain-body interactions underlying effortful behavior in health and mood disorders.
siplab.gatech.edu/postdoc_ad_2...
Reposted by Sam Woodburn
Earlier today we said everyone should oppose the current rescission package, even though it does not include #NIH provisions.
We said this bill will embolden Trump and Vought to enact massive NIH budget cuts via another rescission.
Now Vought confirms. 1/
We said this bill will embolden Trump and Vought to enact massive NIH budget cuts via another rescission.
Now Vought confirms. 1/
July 17, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Earlier today we said everyone should oppose the current rescission package, even though it does not include #NIH provisions.
We said this bill will embolden Trump and Vought to enact massive NIH budget cuts via another rescission.
Now Vought confirms. 1/
We said this bill will embolden Trump and Vought to enact massive NIH budget cuts via another rescission.
Now Vought confirms. 1/
Reposted by Sam Woodburn
NEW: In an unprecedented move, the NIH will soon disinvite dozens of scientists about to take positions on advisory councils that make final decisions on grant funding.
NIH staff were told to select others aligned with the Trump administration and told to expect placements by political appointees.
NIH staff were told to select others aligned with the Trump administration and told to expect placements by political appointees.
Exclusive: NIH to dismiss dozens of grant reviewers to align with Trump priorities
The move would undo years of work, leaving advisory councils understaffed, and without the full expertise needed for reviews.
www.nature.com
July 14, 2025 at 11:25 PM
NEW: In an unprecedented move, the NIH will soon disinvite dozens of scientists about to take positions on advisory councils that make final decisions on grant funding.
NIH staff were told to select others aligned with the Trump administration and told to expect placements by political appointees.
NIH staff were told to select others aligned with the Trump administration and told to expect placements by political appointees.
Reposted by Sam Woodburn
NIH and FDA hosted a workshop on July 7 on efforts to reduce the use of animal models in research, NIH has formally announced a policy change. The agencies have invited comments through the workshop’s webpage. PLEASE COMMENT. The portal will be open until 5pm ET on Monday, July 14 (TODAY).
July 14, 2025 at 1:36 PM
NIH and FDA hosted a workshop on July 7 on efforts to reduce the use of animal models in research, NIH has formally announced a policy change. The agencies have invited comments through the workshop’s webpage. PLEASE COMMENT. The portal will be open until 5pm ET on Monday, July 14 (TODAY).
Reposted by Sam Woodburn
DO NOT GIVE UP!
Our advocacy is working.
A key Senate committee has indicated that it will reject Trump’s proposed cuts to science agencies including NASA and the NSF.
Keep speaking up and calling your electeds 🗣️🗣️🗣️
Our advocacy is working.
A key Senate committee has indicated that it will reject Trump’s proposed cuts to science agencies including NASA and the NSF.
Keep speaking up and calling your electeds 🗣️🗣️🗣️
July 11, 2025 at 7:03 PM
DO NOT GIVE UP!
Our advocacy is working.
A key Senate committee has indicated that it will reject Trump’s proposed cuts to science agencies including NASA and the NSF.
Keep speaking up and calling your electeds 🗣️🗣️🗣️
Our advocacy is working.
A key Senate committee has indicated that it will reject Trump’s proposed cuts to science agencies including NASA and the NSF.
Keep speaking up and calling your electeds 🗣️🗣️🗣️
Reposted by Sam Woodburn
This isn’t just a warning — it’s a call to action.
🛑 Stand against a future where facts are filtered by Trump’s ideology. Sign & share our open letter. ⬇️
actionnetwork.org/petitions/op...
🛑 Stand against a future where facts are filtered by Trump’s ideology. Sign & share our open letter. ⬇️
actionnetwork.org/petitions/op...
Sign The Open Letter to Stand Up For Science Now!
Science is under siege. Trump’s latest Executive Order calls for politically appointed science commissars to evaluate research. Join us in adding your name to our open letter condemning Trump’s escala...
actionnetwork.org
May 29, 2025 at 1:33 PM
This isn’t just a warning — it’s a call to action.
🛑 Stand against a future where facts are filtered by Trump’s ideology. Sign & share our open letter. ⬇️
actionnetwork.org/petitions/op...
🛑 Stand against a future where facts are filtered by Trump’s ideology. Sign & share our open letter. ⬇️
actionnetwork.org/petitions/op...
Microglia are often framed as driving maladaptive behavior in stress and depression, but what if they're important for treatment as well?
In the final project from my graduate studies, we explored whether microglial BDNF supports the effects of low-dose ketamine.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
In the final project from my graduate studies, we explored whether microglial BDNF supports the effects of low-dose ketamine.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Microglial brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) supports the behavioral and synaptogenic effects of ketamine
Microglia have been implicated in the pathogenesis for several psychiatric disorders, yet comparatively little is known about their role in treatments for these conditions. Prior work showed that the ...
www.biorxiv.org
May 13, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Microglia are often framed as driving maladaptive behavior in stress and depression, but what if they're important for treatment as well?
In the final project from my graduate studies, we explored whether microglial BDNF supports the effects of low-dose ketamine.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
In the final project from my graduate studies, we explored whether microglial BDNF supports the effects of low-dose ketamine.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Sam Woodburn
If you read one thing today, make it this:
The NIH move to restrict animal research is a bad one and not just about health - it's about national security.
More here:
medium.com/@eblissmorea...
More here:
medium.com/@eblissmorea...
This will kill us: restricting animal research
Tuesday, as my lab gathered to celebrate the completion of one of our big studies, the National Institutes of Health announced that they…
medium.com
May 5, 2025 at 1:17 PM
If you read one thing today, make it this:
Reposted by Sam Woodburn
Reposted by Sam Woodburn
I am a professor at Columbia University. All of the student NIH training grants have been canceled and now there are reports that ALL funding will be frozen. Why are Universities not banding together and speaking out publicly and forcibly about governmental attacks on biomedical research?
April 11, 2025 at 4:53 PM
I am a professor at Columbia University. All of the student NIH training grants have been canceled and now there are reports that ALL funding will be frozen. Why are Universities not banding together and speaking out publicly and forcibly about governmental attacks on biomedical research?
Reposted by Sam Woodburn
IF YOU FIGHT, THEY BACK DOWN.
The only explanations for institutional compliance are you're cowards or you like it.
The only explanations for institutional compliance are you're cowards or you like it.
April 11, 2025 at 1:43 PM
IF YOU FIGHT, THEY BACK DOWN.
The only explanations for institutional compliance are you're cowards or you like it.
The only explanations for institutional compliance are you're cowards or you like it.
Reposted by Sam Woodburn
Exclusive: Weeks after President Donald Trump’s administration ordered NIH to pull $250 million in biomedical research grants to Columbia University, the agency is freezing all remaining grant money owed to the university until further notice. scim.ag/4if5Rg1
NIH freezes all research grants to Columbia University
Amid negotiations with Trump, the university could risk losing nearly $700 million
scim.ag
April 9, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Exclusive: Weeks after President Donald Trump’s administration ordered NIH to pull $250 million in biomedical research grants to Columbia University, the agency is freezing all remaining grant money owed to the university until further notice. scim.ag/4if5Rg1
Reposted by Sam Woodburn
@samcwoodburn.bsky.social previously tested 2 mg/kg psilocybiin, among many other conditions, for fear extinction.
pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10....
The results are very close... Ours in the top, the cross-lab average in the bottom
pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10....
The results are very close... Ours in the top, the cross-lab average in the bottom
April 9, 2025 at 7:21 PM
@samcwoodburn.bsky.social previously tested 2 mg/kg psilocybiin, among many other conditions, for fear extinction.
pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10....
The results are very close... Ours in the top, the cross-lab average in the bottom
pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10....
The results are very close... Ours in the top, the cross-lab average in the bottom
Reposted by Sam Woodburn
"The consolidation/RIF plan pulls power away from scientists and puts it in the hands of political employees. It sets up Trump and Musk to kill NIH as an evidence-based science funder. We must stop this plan."
New contributed post on our blog: Please read.
It describes Orban and authoritarianism. 🧪
New contributed post on our blog: Please read.
It describes Orban and authoritarianism. 🧪
The NIH firing plan is really a radical institute merger and an authoritarian takeover
this is an Orbanization of US science: a move to exert political control over discovery, which will kill the US medical research industry and end cancer cures. The plan must be stopped. We can act.
open.substack.com
March 28, 2025 at 4:13 PM
"The consolidation/RIF plan pulls power away from scientists and puts it in the hands of political employees. It sets up Trump and Musk to kill NIH as an evidence-based science funder. We must stop this plan."
New contributed post on our blog: Please read.
It describes Orban and authoritarianism. 🧪
New contributed post on our blog: Please read.
It describes Orban and authoritarianism. 🧪
Reposted by Sam Woodburn
🚨 Over 70 graduate programs in the biological and biomedical sciences have frozen or slashed admissions.
The consequences are profound—how many brilliant minds are being shut out of research entirely? How much future discovery is being lost before it even begins?
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
The consequences are profound—how many brilliant minds are being shut out of research entirely? How much future discovery is being lost before it even begins?
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Graduate Reductions Across Biomedical Sciences (2025)
docs.google.com
March 28, 2025 at 6:57 PM
🚨 Over 70 graduate programs in the biological and biomedical sciences have frozen or slashed admissions.
The consequences are profound—how many brilliant minds are being shut out of research entirely? How much future discovery is being lost before it even begins?
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
The consequences are profound—how many brilliant minds are being shut out of research entirely? How much future discovery is being lost before it even begins?
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Reposted by Sam Woodburn
“Yet, far from acting in courageous defiance, many scientists and administrators now seem to think that the best response to the war on DEI is to keep their heads low and wait out four hard years.”
Hell yes, Art Caplan. More courageous defiance, less quiet cowardice.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Hell yes, Art Caplan. More courageous defiance, less quiet cowardice.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Don’t wait out four hard years: speak truth to power
The importance of diversity in science is an unshakeable reality that the scientific community must stand by.
www.nature.com
March 18, 2025 at 3:37 AM
“Yet, far from acting in courageous defiance, many scientists and administrators now seem to think that the best response to the war on DEI is to keep their heads low and wait out four hard years.”
Hell yes, Art Caplan. More courageous defiance, less quiet cowardice.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Hell yes, Art Caplan. More courageous defiance, less quiet cowardice.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Justin is a phenomenal scientist and all around great person! After working together for 5 years, I seriously can't recommend him enough if you're looking for someone to tackle difficult research questions
I am actively looking for a research scientist position or research administration role within the Raleigh-Durham (RDU) area! Please reach out if my background and skillset might fit your labs needs :-) Lots of experience with preclinical models, translational neuroscience, and behavioral analyses!
February 17, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Justin is a phenomenal scientist and all around great person! After working together for 5 years, I seriously can't recommend him enough if you're looking for someone to tackle difficult research questions
I feel fortunate to mentor such thoughtful students! I'm not sure if they're aware, but stuff like this makes my whole week.
It feels good to know I can have a similar impact on them as my mentors have had on me.
It feels good to know I can have a similar impact on them as my mentors have had on me.
February 13, 2025 at 5:55 PM
I feel fortunate to mentor such thoughtful students! I'm not sure if they're aware, but stuff like this makes my whole week.
It feels good to know I can have a similar impact on them as my mentors have had on me.
It feels good to know I can have a similar impact on them as my mentors have had on me.
Reposted by Sam Woodburn
Can whole-brain imaging of cellular c-Fos signals be used to classify #psychedelics? 🧠🔬💊
Our study by @aboharbf.bsky.social and @pashadavoudian.bsky.social, developing an imaging and machine learning pipeline to test a panel of psychoactive drugs.
Paper here 👇
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Our study by @aboharbf.bsky.social and @pashadavoudian.bsky.social, developing an imaging and machine learning pipeline to test a panel of psychoactive drugs.
Paper here 👇
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Classification of psychedelics and psychoactive drugs based on brain-wide imaging of cellular c-Fos expression - Nature Communications
A challenge in psychiatric drug discovery is to predict the therapeutic potential of a novel compound. Here, the authors show that brain-wide imaging of immediate early gene expression can be used to ...
www.nature.com
February 13, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Can whole-brain imaging of cellular c-Fos signals be used to classify #psychedelics? 🧠🔬💊
Our study by @aboharbf.bsky.social and @pashadavoudian.bsky.social, developing an imaging and machine learning pipeline to test a panel of psychoactive drugs.
Paper here 👇
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Our study by @aboharbf.bsky.social and @pashadavoudian.bsky.social, developing an imaging and machine learning pipeline to test a panel of psychoactive drugs.
Paper here 👇
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Sam Woodburn
The current administration is doing everything it can to irreparably harm trans people and destroy their dignity and well-being.
Yet this is getting way less discussion and conversation than threats to grants.
www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-...
Yet this is getting way less discussion and conversation than threats to grants.
www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-...
Trump signs sweeping order to further restrict trans care for minors nationwide
The order says the U.S. will not “fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support” transition-related care for minors, which it defines as those under age 19.
www.nbcnews.com
January 29, 2025 at 1:39 PM
The current administration is doing everything it can to irreparably harm trans people and destroy their dignity and well-being.
Yet this is getting way less discussion and conversation than threats to grants.
www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-...
Yet this is getting way less discussion and conversation than threats to grants.
www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-...
Reposted by Sam Woodburn
Academic workers across the country are organizing to call on our congressional representatives on Thursday, 1/30, at 3pm ET / 12pm PT to demand these restrictions be lifted immediately.
There will be a training over zoom at the beginning of the event.
Join us!
form.jotform.com/250226137228...
There will be a training over zoom at the beginning of the event.
Join us!
form.jotform.com/250226137228...
Join researchers across the country in fighting restrictions on the NIH
Please click the link to complete this form.
form.jotform.com
January 28, 2025 at 3:49 AM
Academic workers across the country are organizing to call on our congressional representatives on Thursday, 1/30, at 3pm ET / 12pm PT to demand these restrictions be lifted immediately.
There will be a training over zoom at the beginning of the event.
Join us!
form.jotform.com/250226137228...
There will be a training over zoom at the beginning of the event.
Join us!
form.jotform.com/250226137228...
Reposted by Sam Woodburn
Working w/ a reporter on the consequences of the NIH/NSF freezes (e.g., training pipelines, how grants support clinical time for trials)
If you've had a grant impacted, some organizational perspective (e.g., in APPIC leadership/DCT role) + are willing to share your experience please shoot me a DM
If you've had a grant impacted, some organizational perspective (e.g., in APPIC leadership/DCT role) + are willing to share your experience please shoot me a DM
January 28, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Working w/ a reporter on the consequences of the NIH/NSF freezes (e.g., training pipelines, how grants support clinical time for trials)
If you've had a grant impacted, some organizational perspective (e.g., in APPIC leadership/DCT role) + are willing to share your experience please shoot me a DM
If you've had a grant impacted, some organizational perspective (e.g., in APPIC leadership/DCT role) + are willing to share your experience please shoot me a DM