Diana Voss
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dianavoss.bsky.social
Diana Voss
@dianavoss.bsky.social
Cardiac Development • Epigenetics • Postdoc • UPenn #devbio 🫀🔬🧬🐭 #firstgen #academicjobmarket

🚨Posts may contain science, bad jokes, cooking 🧵s &/or political snark. The typos are free.
My first attempt at a two color hat #knitsky. Brioche knitting project. 🧶
February 15, 2026 at 2:56 AM
Atticus started my research journey & countless other stories like his have helped to sustain it. Thank you to the incredible #chd community for sharing your stories & pushing us all to continue to fight for answers! You remind us why we do what we do. 🫶
February 14, 2026 at 3:08 PM
Thanks to countless teams of medical professionals at the Medical University of South Carolina, my nephew Atticus, survived 4 open heart surgeries and is alive today at 18.

Witnessing his struggles when he was just a few days old inspired me to pursue a #CHD research career.
February 14, 2026 at 3:08 PM
Without a series of 3 surgeries (or ❤️ transplant) #hlhs is 100% fatal. Surgeries didn't exist until the 1980s so the oldest patients are just now in their 40s.
February 14, 2026 at 3:08 PM
In honor of world #CHD awareness day, I want to share my family story about a CHD called #hlhs. Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is a rare (1 in 3800) condition where a baby has a small left ventricle.

Nobody knows what causes hlhs but it accounts for 23% of cardiac deaths in the 1st wk of life. 🧪🫀
February 14, 2026 at 3:08 PM
Close! Crocodilians are some of the only reptiles with 4 chambered hearts, which makes them particularly cool. They have fully septated hearts, but still have "optional" blood mixing through a shunt. This feature actually helps them conserve oxygen for long periods underwater.
February 14, 2026 at 2:01 PM
Today was a big day for me personally. 🤩

I sent my 3rd & final #postdoc first author paper to my co-authors for approval before submission (most of which have already said 👍) AND...

I legally changed my name. Won't go into all the reasons, but this is meaningful & a bit aspirational.

xo,
Dr. Voss
February 14, 2026 at 12:30 AM
The good news is even though #VSD are the most common #CHD, patients usually have a good prognosis.

So how do we fix a #VSD? If they are small enough, they can close on their own. However, larger VSDs usually require surgery. Depending on the situation, it can sometimes be handled via catheter.
February 9, 2026 at 11:29 PM
#VSDs can be small or they can be large & can occur alone or as part of more complex #CHD. They happen in different parts of the septum & causes can range from maternal illness, medication, and/or genetics. Many times the cause is just unknown.
February 9, 2026 at 11:29 PM
For #CHD awareness this week I want to highlight several types of 🫀 defects & some of what we know about them. 🧪

First up are ventricular septal defects, #VSDs. A VSD is a hole in the heart between the left and right ventricles. That's bad because it allows mixing of blood & that means less oxygen.
February 9, 2026 at 11:29 PM
Posted one in the thread as well, but in case you don't see that one...
February 9, 2026 at 12:41 PM
For everyone requesting ¡Amor!
February 9, 2026 at 12:37 PM
Yesterday marked the start of congenital heart disease week. #CHD affects 1 in 100 births. 25% of babies will require surgery or intervention to save their lives. Learn more about defects & how you can help at: www.heart.org/en/health-to... 🧪
February 8, 2026 at 10:02 PM
I don’t know what happened here but this snow pile has a story to weave…
#philly #winterscenes #IfthisSnowcouldTalk #hair
February 8, 2026 at 5:35 PM
It’s not even fair how good our apartment smells right now.

#TandorriPizza #Philly #dinner
January 31, 2026 at 9:49 PM
Okay, so I just realized we have a Tandoori Pizza here in Philly 🇮🇳 🍕 🤩

Taking votes… Do we order the lamb kabob or butter chicken or masala pesto paneer 🤤
#whatsfordinner

@michaelbyrum.bsky.social
January 31, 2026 at 7:15 PM
Needed to distract myself from writing for awhile. Could be neater but still like them. 💅

#nailart #manicure #simplepleasures #homemade #shouldbewriting
January 27, 2026 at 11:32 PM
The report from #Philly on day 1 post-snowpocalypse is sunny but frozen and buried in a dirty layer of solidified precipitation. 🥶 ❄️

This mess will be with us for a bit. 🥲
#snowmageddon #philadelphia #snowpics #photography
January 26, 2026 at 10:41 PM
Well this about to be a disaster. Forget hESCs, hope nobody needs HEK cells or WI-38s or MRC-5s or or or 😩🧪
January 24, 2026 at 2:52 AM
Nashville poutine? Yes please.😁😋
#travel #foodporn
January 23, 2026 at 11:18 PM
My first airport experience with any, much less MULTIPLE in-terminal live music venues…

Guess they don’t call this place Music City for nothing! 🎸
January 21, 2026 at 9:56 PM
Just created my own brand of fingered lab gloves. 🧤🧪

Now accepting venture capital offers 🤑
January 19, 2026 at 7:18 PM
Who turned off the heat?! 🥶🥶
January 16, 2026 at 1:20 PM
Saw this on a bulletin board today & thought I’d spread the word! 🧪 If you are a #Philadelphia high schooler and you’re interested in the #brain, this competition is for you. Sponsored by @sfn.org, hosted at the Penn Med campus & 💵 prize. More info here: www.upennglia.com/brain-bee
January 13, 2026 at 10:50 PM
January 11, 2026 at 1:41 AM