James Amatruda, MD, PhD
@amatrudalab.bsky.social
Pediatric oncologist and physician-scientist | Opinions my own
We use tumor genomics 🧬 and #zebrafish models 🎏 to develop new approaches for childhood cancers #sarcoma #Wilmstumor #GCT
We use tumor genomics 🧬 and #zebrafish models 🎏 to develop new approaches for childhood cancers #sarcoma #Wilmstumor #GCT
Reposted by James Amatruda, MD, PhD
#zdmsECI is excited to showcase our #zdm18 oral abstract presenters. First up is Elena Vasileva. She will be giving a talk titled “Development of Ewing Sarcoma Through Embryonic Reprogramming of Neural Crest to Mesoderm”. #ZDMSociety
October 3, 2025 at 8:27 PM
#zdmsECI is excited to showcase our #zdm18 oral abstract presenters. First up is Elena Vasileva. She will be giving a talk titled “Development of Ewing Sarcoma Through Embryonic Reprogramming of Neural Crest to Mesoderm”. #ZDMSociety
Reposted by James Amatruda, MD, PhD
1/9 Thrilled to share that our paper, “Origin of Ewing sarcoma by embryonic reprogramming of neural crest to mesoderm,” is now published in @cp-cellreports.bsky.social! @amatrudalab.bsky.social @crumplab.bsky.social www.cell.com/cell-reports...
Origin of Ewing sarcoma by embryonic reprogramming of neural crest to mesoderm
Using a zebrafish genetic model of Ewing sarcoma, Vasileva et al. provide evidence
for a neural crest origin of the disease. These findings offer new insight into how
a single oncogenic fusion can hij...
www.cell.com
October 9, 2025 at 9:06 PM
1/9 Thrilled to share that our paper, “Origin of Ewing sarcoma by embryonic reprogramming of neural crest to mesoderm,” is now published in @cp-cellreports.bsky.social! @amatrudalab.bsky.social @crumplab.bsky.social www.cell.com/cell-reports...
Reposted by James Amatruda, MD, PhD
Medicaid Covers
• 42% of all children nationwide
• 77% of children living in poverty in the U.S.
• 44% of children and youth with special health care needs nationwide
• 41% of births in the U.S.
• 37% of U.S. children with cancer
• 99% of children and youth in foster care
• 42% of all children nationwide
• 77% of children living in poverty in the U.S.
• 44% of children and youth with special health care needs nationwide
• 41% of births in the U.S.
• 37% of U.S. children with cancer
• 99% of children and youth in foster care
May 7, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Medicaid Covers
• 42% of all children nationwide
• 77% of children living in poverty in the U.S.
• 44% of children and youth with special health care needs nationwide
• 41% of births in the U.S.
• 37% of U.S. children with cancer
• 99% of children and youth in foster care
• 42% of all children nationwide
• 77% of children living in poverty in the U.S.
• 44% of children and youth with special health care needs nationwide
• 41% of births in the U.S.
• 37% of U.S. children with cancer
• 99% of children and youth in foster care
From NYT: "Earlier this year, the Trump administration cut about $1 billion in federal aid to anti-hunger groups, according to the national advocacy group Feeding America."
How, exactly, will cutting food aid and medical research "Make America Healthy Again"?
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/28/u...
How, exactly, will cutting food aid and medical research "Make America Healthy Again"?
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/28/u...
After Trump Aid Cuts, Food Banks Scrounge and Scrimp
In one of the country’s poorest areas, the quantity and quality of government deliveries have dropped, forcing one charity to make do with thin soup and dried cranberries.
www.nytimes.com
April 28, 2025 at 2:16 PM
From NYT: "Earlier this year, the Trump administration cut about $1 billion in federal aid to anti-hunger groups, according to the national advocacy group Feeding America."
How, exactly, will cutting food aid and medical research "Make America Healthy Again"?
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/28/u...
How, exactly, will cutting food aid and medical research "Make America Healthy Again"?
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/28/u...
Wonderful to see this support from @cancerdatalab.bsky.social and @alexslemonade.bsky.social for brilliant early stage investigators like @evasileva.bsky.social and Dr. Wafula!
Hear from Drs. Eric Wafula and Elena Vasileva who sat down with us to share their experiences at Data Lab training workshops! Learn why they believe our #SingleCell #RNASeq courses are essential for #PediatricCancer researchers who want to perform their own analysis.
Accelerating Childhood Cancer Research through Data Science Training Workshops
YouTube video by Pediatric Oncology Knowledge Center
youtu.be
April 2, 2025 at 1:22 AM
Wonderful to see this support from @cancerdatalab.bsky.social and @alexslemonade.bsky.social for brilliant early stage investigators like @evasileva.bsky.social and Dr. Wafula!
Reposted by James Amatruda, MD, PhD
Measles cases are still rising in Texas. Here's what you should know about the contagious virus
apnews.com/article/meas...
apnews.com/article/meas...
Measles cases are still rising in Texas. Here's what you should know about the contagious virus
Measles outbreaks in West Texas and New Mexico now have more than 250 cases total. Two unvaccinated people have died from measles-related causes.
apnews.com
March 11, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Measles cases are still rising in Texas. Here's what you should know about the contagious virus
apnews.com/article/meas...
apnews.com/article/meas...
Visiting Boston to discuss pediatric Germ Cell Cancers. We took time out to #standupforscience
March 7, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Visiting Boston to discuss pediatric Germ Cell Cancers. We took time out to #standupforscience
Reposted by James Amatruda, MD, PhD
Today we are highlighting Liz Patton, the current Editor-in-Chief of @dmmjournal.bsky.social and an MRC Investigator at the @edinburgh-uni.bsky.social, as an extraordinary biologist. To know more about DMM and Liz’s role, read this Editorial: doi.org/10.1242/dmm....
#100biologists
#100biologists
February 25, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Today we are highlighting Liz Patton, the current Editor-in-Chief of @dmmjournal.bsky.social and an MRC Investigator at the @edinburgh-uni.bsky.social, as an extraordinary biologist. To know more about DMM and Liz’s role, read this Editorial: doi.org/10.1242/dmm....
#100biologists
#100biologists
For those in the USA, please contact your elected officials and ask them to support children with cancer. The Give Kids a Chance act will advance new therapies for pediatric cancer patients. #CANsky #medsky www.congressweb.com/KVC/12/
ASK CONGRESS TO PASS THE GIVE KIDS A CHANCE ACT
Do one thing for kids with cancer today --fill out this form.
Ask Congress to pass the Give Kids a Chance Act, which includes:
* Give Kids a Chance Act
* Creating Hope Reauthorization Act PR...
www.congressweb.com
February 14, 2025 at 3:17 PM
For those in the USA, please contact your elected officials and ask them to support children with cancer. The Give Kids a Chance act will advance new therapies for pediatric cancer patients. #CANsky #medsky www.congressweb.com/KVC/12/
Just wanted to acknowledge the leadership and generosity of @blockintheback.bsky.social in maintaining this priceless resource for more than a decade. The efforts Dr. Kwan put forth with Chi-Bin Chien, Nathan Lawson and Koichi Kawakami have revolutionized zebrafish research. Thank you Kristen!!
Hi - I am very sorry for the disruption. The website got corrupted over the holidays and we don’t know why. My IT people are working on it, and I hope to have the website back up before too long. In the meantime, please email me (kmkwan@genetics.utah.edu) and I will send you info and sequences.
January 28, 2025 at 2:04 AM
Just wanted to acknowledge the leadership and generosity of @blockintheback.bsky.social in maintaining this priceless resource for more than a decade. The efforts Dr. Kwan put forth with Chi-Bin Chien, Nathan Lawson and Koichi Kawakami have revolutionized zebrafish research. Thank you Kristen!!
Great opportunity studying development, disease and powerful in vivo models, with a fantastic mentor!
The Burger lab is officially open! We hire on all levels, please feel free to contact me here about job opportunities.
January 24, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Great opportunity studying development, disease and powerful in vivo models, with a fantastic mentor!
Reposted by James Amatruda, MD, PhD
Hello! We’re the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation Childhood Cancer Data Lab. 👋 We build data and analysis tools and offer workshops designed to accelerate pediatric cancer research. Check us out at ccdatalab.org! We’re excited to connect with the community and share our resources with you.
January 14, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Hello! We’re the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation Childhood Cancer Data Lab. 👋 We build data and analysis tools and offer workshops designed to accelerate pediatric cancer research. Check us out at ccdatalab.org! We’re excited to connect with the community and share our resources with you.
Reposted by James Amatruda, MD, PhD
📅This Friday 17 January 2025 is the last day to submit your abstracts for our one-day programme on #AMR at the Biologists @ 100 conference. #biologists100
Submit your abstracts here 100yearsconference.biologists.com/abstracts/
Submit your abstracts here 100yearsconference.biologists.com/abstracts/
January 15, 2025 at 3:59 PM
📅This Friday 17 January 2025 is the last day to submit your abstracts for our one-day programme on #AMR at the Biologists @ 100 conference. #biologists100
Submit your abstracts here 100yearsconference.biologists.com/abstracts/
Submit your abstracts here 100yearsconference.biologists.com/abstracts/
Congratulations Alejandro, Alex and all authors. Can't wait to see this!
Great to see "Developmental Oncology: Principles and Therapy of Cancers of Children and Young Adults" with Alejandro Gutierrez and many co-authors coming out from CSHL Press www.cshlpress.com/default.tpl?...
January 8, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Congratulations Alejandro, Alex and all authors. Can't wait to see this!
A huge thank you to the Concern Foundation (concernfoundation.org) for bringing holiday cheer, gifts for our hematology-oncology patients (and Santa!) to Children's Hospital Los Angeles. This is just a small part of the great work Concern does to help patients and families facing cancer.
January 3, 2025 at 11:51 PM
A huge thank you to the Concern Foundation (concernfoundation.org) for bringing holiday cheer, gifts for our hematology-oncology patients (and Santa!) to Children's Hospital Los Angeles. This is just a small part of the great work Concern does to help patients and families facing cancer.
Reposted by James Amatruda, MD, PhD
Results from National Wilms Tumor Study-5 and Children's Oncology Group Study AREN0321. - goo.gl/alerts/3YxDQM #GoogleAlerts
Rhabdoid Tumor of the Kidney and Soft Tissues: Results from National Wilms Tumor Study-5 and Children's Oncology Group Study AREN0321.
National Wilms Tumor Study-5 (NWTS-5) and AREN0321 evaluated the outcomes of children with rhabdoid tumor of the kidney (RTK) and malignant rhabdoid tumor of soft tissues (MRT).Eligible patients with ...
goo.gl
January 1, 2025 at 1:01 AM
Results from National Wilms Tumor Study-5 and Children's Oncology Group Study AREN0321. - goo.gl/alerts/3YxDQM #GoogleAlerts
Reposted by James Amatruda, MD, PhD
Issue 11 is done and dusted 🧪 🔬.
On the cover: Immunofluorescence image of a sagittal section of mouse cerebellar tissue showing colocalization of the Purkinje neuron marker calbindin (green) & PACT/RAX (red). Nuclei were stained with DAPI (blue).
https://journals.biologists.com/dmm/issue/17/11
On the cover: Immunofluorescence image of a sagittal section of mouse cerebellar tissue showing colocalization of the Purkinje neuron marker calbindin (green) & PACT/RAX (red). Nuclei were stained with DAPI (blue).
https://journals.biologists.com/dmm/issue/17/11
December 15, 2024 at 2:38 PM
Issue 11 is done and dusted 🧪 🔬.
On the cover: Immunofluorescence image of a sagittal section of mouse cerebellar tissue showing colocalization of the Purkinje neuron marker calbindin (green) & PACT/RAX (red). Nuclei were stained with DAPI (blue).
https://journals.biologists.com/dmm/issue/17/11
On the cover: Immunofluorescence image of a sagittal section of mouse cerebellar tissue showing colocalization of the Purkinje neuron marker calbindin (green) & PACT/RAX (red). Nuclei were stained with DAPI (blue).
https://journals.biologists.com/dmm/issue/17/11
Reposted by James Amatruda, MD, PhD
Two new studies in Science describe synthetic biology-based strategies that expand the possibilities of harnessing immune cells to treat disease.
Learn more in this week's issue: scim.ag/49nfztS
Learn more in this week's issue: scim.ag/49nfztS
December 5, 2024 at 7:07 PM
Two new studies in Science describe synthetic biology-based strategies that expand the possibilities of harnessing immune cells to treat disease.
Learn more in this week's issue: scim.ag/49nfztS
Learn more in this week's issue: scim.ag/49nfztS
Great new preprint from @kennethschen.bsky.social! Congratulations to the team!
Why haven't childhood cancers respond to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) like adult cancers?
New preprint from the lab!
PD-L1 expression is mediated by microRNA processing, Wnt/β-catenin signaling, and chemotherapy in Wilms tumor
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
New preprint from the lab!
PD-L1 expression is mediated by microRNA processing, Wnt/β-catenin signaling, and chemotherapy in Wilms tumor
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
PD-L1 expression is mediated by microRNA processing, Wnt/β-catenin signaling, and chemotherapy in Wilms tumor
Inhibition of immune checkpoint proteins is effective in adult cancers but has shown limited efficacy in pediatric cancers. While factors regulating expression of immune checkpoint proteins such as PD...
www.biorxiv.org
December 6, 2024 at 2:32 AM
Great new preprint from @kennethschen.bsky.social! Congratulations to the team!
Reposted by James Amatruda, MD, PhD
A number of #AYA cancer survivors experience insurance and financial hardships, including foregoing medical care due to financial constraints, problems paying medical bills, and difficulties accessing loans or insurances. #survonc #ayacsm
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Insurance, legal, and financial hardships of childhood and adolescent cancer survivors—a systematic review - Journal of Cancer Survivorship
Purpose Childhood and adolescent cancer survivors (CACS) experience medical and psychosocial adverse effects. Attention widens to include issues such as socio-bureaucratic hardships. This systematic r...
link.springer.com
November 29, 2024 at 4:46 PM
A number of #AYA cancer survivors experience insurance and financial hardships, including foregoing medical care due to financial constraints, problems paying medical bills, and difficulties accessing loans or insurances. #survonc #ayacsm
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Reposted by James Amatruda, MD, PhD
I know it's Black Friday and all but had to add a pop of color for #FluorescenceFriday. This is also a sneak peak for Raeden Gray's first accepted manu outta the lab. Overlapping expression of a couple of RA receptors and the endoderm (sox17:gfp). #traineesfirstmanu
November 29, 2024 at 3:03 PM
I know it's Black Friday and all but had to add a pop of color for #FluorescenceFriday. This is also a sneak peak for Raeden Gray's first accepted manu outta the lab. Overlapping expression of a couple of RA receptors and the endoderm (sox17:gfp). #traineesfirstmanu
Reposted by James Amatruda, MD, PhD
#NatureReviewsCancer🚨
The #CancerDepMap is an invaluable, publicly available resource for systemically identifying cancer vulnerabilities. In this #Perspective, Bill Hahn & team (@broadinstitute.org) review its impact, uses, limitations & efforts to improve + expand its use.
go.nature.com/4fiZ6sw
The #CancerDepMap is an invaluable, publicly available resource for systemically identifying cancer vulnerabilities. In this #Perspective, Bill Hahn & team (@broadinstitute.org) review its impact, uses, limitations & efforts to improve + expand its use.
go.nature.com/4fiZ6sw
The present and future of the Cancer Dependency Map - Nature Reviews Cancer
The Cancer Dependency Map (DepMap) is a data repository and research platform that can be utilized to systematically identify cancer vulnerabilities. Here Arafeh, Shibue et al. outline the current lim...
go.nature.com
November 27, 2024 at 10:44 AM
#NatureReviewsCancer🚨
The #CancerDepMap is an invaluable, publicly available resource for systemically identifying cancer vulnerabilities. In this #Perspective, Bill Hahn & team (@broadinstitute.org) review its impact, uses, limitations & efforts to improve + expand its use.
go.nature.com/4fiZ6sw
The #CancerDepMap is an invaluable, publicly available resource for systemically identifying cancer vulnerabilities. In this #Perspective, Bill Hahn & team (@broadinstitute.org) review its impact, uses, limitations & efforts to improve + expand its use.
go.nature.com/4fiZ6sw
Reposted by James Amatruda, MD, PhD
Women are under-represented at senior levels in #academia globally, & across all #science 🧪 disciplines, as shown by these "scissor-shaped curves" ✂️
So how can we ever achieve #gender #equality?
We discuss various strategies in this #Cell Commentary
#WomeninSTEM
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
🧵 1/
So how can we ever achieve #gender #equality?
We discuss various strategies in this #Cell Commentary
#WomeninSTEM
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
🧵 1/
November 25, 2024 at 12:38 PM
Women are under-represented at senior levels in #academia globally, & across all #science 🧪 disciplines, as shown by these "scissor-shaped curves" ✂️
So how can we ever achieve #gender #equality?
We discuss various strategies in this #Cell Commentary
#WomeninSTEM
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
🧵 1/
So how can we ever achieve #gender #equality?
We discuss various strategies in this #Cell Commentary
#WomeninSTEM
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
🧵 1/
Reposted by James Amatruda, MD, PhD
Big news: Our #Zebrahub paper is out in #Cell!
A timecourse atlas of zebrafish embryonic development combining #scRNAseq & #lightsheet, to undersdand progenitor dynamics.
📄 Read: cell.com/cell/fulltex...
🌐 Explore: zebrahub.sf.czbiohub.org
#DevBio #Biology #Zebrafish Big thanks to all authors!
A timecourse atlas of zebrafish embryonic development combining #scRNAseq & #lightsheet, to undersdand progenitor dynamics.
📄 Read: cell.com/cell/fulltex...
🌐 Explore: zebrahub.sf.czbiohub.org
#DevBio #Biology #Zebrafish Big thanks to all authors!
November 17, 2024 at 8:47 PM
Big news: Our #Zebrahub paper is out in #Cell!
A timecourse atlas of zebrafish embryonic development combining #scRNAseq & #lightsheet, to undersdand progenitor dynamics.
📄 Read: cell.com/cell/fulltex...
🌐 Explore: zebrahub.sf.czbiohub.org
#DevBio #Biology #Zebrafish Big thanks to all authors!
A timecourse atlas of zebrafish embryonic development combining #scRNAseq & #lightsheet, to undersdand progenitor dynamics.
📄 Read: cell.com/cell/fulltex...
🌐 Explore: zebrahub.sf.czbiohub.org
#DevBio #Biology #Zebrafish Big thanks to all authors!
Reposted by James Amatruda, MD, PhD
The Tsai Lab is actively recruiting for a Post-Doctoral Fellow! We are looking for a passionate and motivated scientist to join our team at @ChildrensLA to lead projects focused on embryonal brain tumors and diffuse midline gliomas. Please reach out! 🧠 jobs.chla.org/careers-home...
Fellow-Post Doc-Research / Tsai Lab in Los Angeles, California | Children's Hospital Los Angeles
CHLA Careers | Careers Home is hiring a Fellow-Post Doc-Research / Tsai Lab in Los Angeles, California. Review all of the job details and apply today!
jobs.chla.org
November 21, 2024 at 4:26 PM
The Tsai Lab is actively recruiting for a Post-Doctoral Fellow! We are looking for a passionate and motivated scientist to join our team at @ChildrensLA to lead projects focused on embryonal brain tumors and diffuse midline gliomas. Please reach out! 🧠 jobs.chla.org/careers-home...