Dr. Sarah Gaffen
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slg1717.bsky.social
Dr. Sarah Gaffen
@slg1717.bsky.social
Professor at University of Pittsburgh, cytokine signaling maven, fungal immunologist, appreciator but not purveyor of puns, favorite # is seventeen. Views my own.
Reposted by Dr. Sarah Gaffen
My latest post on the fear in academia.

open.substack.com/pub/profkap/...
Capitol Punishment
Anyone who has ever tried to train a cat knows that positive reinforcement works much better than negative reinforcement.
open.substack.com
March 24, 2025 at 3:58 AM
Reposted by Dr. Sarah Gaffen
Mark your calendars Cytokines 2025 Westin Seattle! Abstract submission is opening soon. Make sure to note these important deadlines:
-Abstract Submission deadline: Wednesday 18 June
-Early-Bird Registration Deadline: Friday 25 July
Group room rate $236 seattle.cytokinesociety.org for more details
January 18, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Reposted by Dr. Sarah Gaffen
There are enough GOP senators opposed to the cuts to NIH indirects to stop them, but they need to act. Keep writing and calling your representatives 🧪⚕️
thehill.com
February 11, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Reposted by Dr. Sarah Gaffen
Why scratching makes a rash worse and a potential benefit to scratching--it reduced S. aureus on skin. Andrew Liu's paper from our lab is out now at #science #neuroimmune #immunology www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Scratching promotes allergic inflammation and host defense via neurogenic mast cell activation
Itch is a dominant symptom in dermatitis, and scratching promotes cutaneous inflammation, thereby worsening disease. However, the mechanisms through which scratching exacerbates inflammation and wheth...
www.science.org
January 30, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Reposted by Dr. Sarah Gaffen
"Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”

Fred Rogers

Without question, Mr. Rogers was speaking about people like him.
January 31, 2025 at 1:59 AM
Reposted by Dr. Sarah Gaffen
Did you call your senator and congressman yesterday?
Call them again today!
Oppose the confirmation of
#RFKJr. He is dangerous for public health.
U.S. Capitol Switchboard operator can also connect you directly with their office: (202) 224-3121
January 29, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Reposted by Dr. Sarah Gaffen
If you happen to be in London on February 12th and have nothing better to do…

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/crick-cras...
Crick Crash Course: your immune system
Our series of morning lectures sharing science from across the Crick in a simple and accessible way continues.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
January 26, 2025 at 3:04 PM
I’m ready for whatever storms come my way, cytokine or otherwise). Thanks Scott Canna @cytokinesociety.bsky.social
January 27, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Reposted by Dr. Sarah Gaffen
It's not too late to sign up for this week's #MycoTalks with @teresaomeara.bsky.social and Chad Rappleye.
📅Thursday 30 January
🕓16:00 GMT

Register here: universityofexeter.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
January 27, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Reposted by Dr. Sarah Gaffen
A fantastic GRC on the Immunology of Fungal Infections. Gordon Brown, @slg1717.bsky.social, Bernie Hube, Mihai Netea, Ilse Jacobsen, Jay Vyas, Rob Wheeler, @lableibundgut.bsky.social - missing former/future 🪑 Luigina Romani, Rebecca Drummond, Bruce Klein, Neil Gow& George Deepe #MicroSky #ImmunoSky
January 21, 2025 at 11:54 PM
Reposted by Dr. Sarah Gaffen
🚨 We also have a "Scientist" position in my lab at St. Jude. The position is financially stable and with a very competitive salary range.

📝 If you have Postdoctoral experience and want to develop a steady research career this one is for you!

➡️ Apply here:
talent.stjude.org/careers/jobs...
January 20, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Reposted by Dr. Sarah Gaffen
Have you seen too many out of office replies lately? Have they left you feeling bored and dejected? The cure is here in my latest post.

profkap.substack.com/p/ooo-topsy
OOO-topsy
Anatomy of an out-of-office reply
profkap.substack.com
December 23, 2024 at 7:17 PM
Congratulations to all the well deserved AAI Fellows. Includes two former @cytokinesociety.bsky.social Presidents! (Chris Hunter, Warren Leonard)
AAI congratulates the 2025 Class of Distinguished Fellows!

These long-term members are honored for their outstanding scientific contributions and service to the #immunology community. See the complete list of 2025 honorees: ow.ly/aiXE50UHGW6.
January 19, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Reposted by Dr. Sarah Gaffen
January 18, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Reposted by Dr. Sarah Gaffen
some earlier lab shirts
January 19, 2025 at 1:24 AM
Reposted by Dr. Sarah Gaffen
🥼We are recruiting!
Exciting opportunity for a Postdoctoral Research Associate/Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join the newly-funded MRC Programme Fungi-CARE (Combinations Against Resistance Emergence).
Find out more and apply here: jobs.exeter.ac.uk/hrpr_webrecr...
January 17, 2025 at 8:59 AM
A lot of things are better underwater. Fabulous dive adventure with Interferon/virologist bestie Karen Mossman. Friends like this are just one of the many benefits of being a member of the Intl Cytokine & Interferon Society @cytokinesociety.bsky.social
January 19, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Tunnel to Canada is looking pretty good right about now
January 19, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Reposted by Dr. Sarah Gaffen
"What is it guv?”
"Chickpea. Squashed”
"An accident?”
"Afraid not. Looks like hummuside"
January 10, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Reposted by Dr. Sarah Gaffen
My book is out today - buy it (please)
January 9, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Incredibly proud of Gaffen Lab alum Dr. Tiffany Taylor (in lab of Dr. Tim Hand, Children's Hosp UPMC), named a Howard Hughes Medical Inst. Hanna Gray Fellow. Congrats to all the Fellows. www.hhmi.org/news/hhmi-na...
HHMI Names the 2024 Hanna Gray Fellows | HHMI
The cohort includes early career scientists working in research areas ranging from treatment-resistant cancers to how animals evolved to live on land. The HHMI Hanna H. Gray Fellows Program provides e...
www.hhmi.org
January 8, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Reposted by Dr. Sarah Gaffen
#EveryCellIsAnImmuneCell!💥Thrilled for the final version of our paper @cp-cell.bsky.social! We show that type III #interferons control ZBP1 activation driving gasdermin C cleavage & delaying gut repair by inducing #pyroptosis in intestinal epithelial cells! 1/n www.cell.com/cell/abstrac...
Type III interferons induce pyroptosis in gut epithelial cells and impair mucosal repair
Intestinal damage following colitis or irradiation induces type III interferons (IFNs), which delay the healing of the intestinal epithelium. IFN-λ directs the sensing of Z-form nucleic acids generated during gut injury and repair, triggering cell death and altering healthy epithelial regeneration.
www.cell.com
December 26, 2024 at 5:24 PM
Reposted by Dr. Sarah Gaffen
The origins of syphilis are one of epidemiology’s most enduring mysteries.

#IDsky #Medsky

www.science.org/content/arti...
Syphilis microbe circulated in the Americas thousands of years before European contact
But ancient DNA from bony lesions suggests original bacterial strains may not have spread sexually
www.science.org
December 24, 2024 at 12:27 PM
Reposted by Dr. Sarah Gaffen
Here's us during our internal Christmas party, being competitive with our Secret Santa pub-quiz game (in case you didn't notice - yes, we are nerds). Our PhD Student Carolin Moosmann, as usual, came up with an amazing gift - this year a self-made T cell immunology memory game.
December 23, 2024 at 1:28 PM
Reposted by Dr. Sarah Gaffen
An ongoing passion project of mine at work: making small info placards about women in STEM that hang in our campus biology building. Their stories give me strength & hope especially now when we face 4 years of darkness. Here is the 1st of many I'll be sharing. #WomeninSTEM #academicsky #skystorians
December 8, 2024 at 7:07 PM