Diana Voss
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dianavoss.bsky.social
Diana Voss
@dianavoss.bsky.social
1.5K followers 830 following 1.3K posts
Cardiac Development • Epigenetics • Postdoc • UPenn #devbio 🫀🔬🧬🐭 #firstgen #academicjobmarket

🚨Posts may contain science, bad jokes, cooking 🧵s &/or political snark. The typos are free.
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dianavoss.bsky.social
My first attempt at a two color hat #knitsky. Brioche knitting project. 🧶
Photo of blue & gray knit hat. Me wearing my new two color knit hat.
February 15, 2026 at 2:56 AM
dianavoss.bsky.social
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. 🫶
Infographic with pink and red circles containing CHD facts, arranged in the shape of a heart from Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Facts include: 1% of newborns are born with a chd every year. A baby's risk of having a chd is at least 3x more likely if their parent has a chd. 15-20% of chds are related to genetic conditions. CHD treatment helps kids live into adulthood. About 1 in 4 babies with a CHD have a critical chd. Infants with critical chds generally need surgery or other procedures in their first year of life. Visit choa.org/chd to learn more about congenital heart defects. Source American Academy of Pediatrics.
February 14, 2026 at 3:08 PM
dianavoss.bsky.social
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.
Photo collage of my nephew with hlhs from a baby to his early teenage years.
February 14, 2026 at 3:08 PM
dianavoss.bsky.social
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.
Illustrations of HLHS surgeries. On the left is the hlhs heart anatomy. Next is the Norwood surgery, which connects the right ventricle to the pulmonary arteries, increases the aorta size & connects it to the right ventricle. Next is the Glenn, which connects the superior vena cava to the pulmonary arteries & removes the shunt from the right ventricle. Finally is the Fontan, which connects the inferior vena cava to the pulmonary arteries as well, allowing deoxygenated blood to flow passively into the lungs, and the right ventricle serves for systemic circulation.
February 14, 2026 at 3:08 PM
dianavoss.bsky.social
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. 🧪🫀
Illustration of two hearts. On the left is a normal heart with a 4 chamber view showing normal sized outflow tract and ventricles. On the right is a hlhs heart showing a very small left ventricle, mitral valve atresia, and a small aorta.
February 14, 2026 at 3:08 PM
dianavoss.bsky.social
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.
Illustration showing hearts for a) mammals and birds (fully septated and no blood mixing) b) turtles snakes and lizards (3 chambered heart with blood mixing) c) crocodiles fully septated heart, but blood mixing.
February 14, 2026 at 2:01 PM
dianavoss.bsky.social
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
Screenshot reading, "The surname Voss is primarily of North German and Dutch origin, translating to "fox" (from Middle Low German vos or Dutch vos). It originated as a nickname for a cunning, sly, or clever person, or perhaps someone with red hair.
February 14, 2026 at 12:30 AM
dianavoss.bsky.social
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.
Illustration showing a patched VSD
February 9, 2026 at 11:29 PM
dianavoss.bsky.social
#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.
Illustration looking into the right ventricle showing the types of VSDs. the list includes: AV canal type VSD, conal septal VSD, conoventricular VSD & Muscular VSD, subdivided into anterior, midmuscular, posterior, and paical.
February 9, 2026 at 11:29 PM
dianavoss.bsky.social
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.
Cleveland Clinic poster showing a smaller normal heart in the upper left corner and a larger image of a VSD heart. The image highlights that VSDs allow for mixing of blood.
February 9, 2026 at 11:29 PM
dianavoss.bsky.social
Posted one in the thread as well, but in case you don't see that one...
Bad Bunny poster w/ ¡Amor!
February 9, 2026 at 12:41 PM
dianavoss.bsky.social
For everyone requesting ¡Amor!
Bad Bunny Poster reworked with ¡Amor!
February 9, 2026 at 12:37 PM
dianavoss.bsky.social
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... 🧪
Graphic of CHD facts: 1% of newborns are born with a congenital heart defect (CHD) every year 15-20% of CHDs are related to genetic conditions. A baby’s risk of having a CHD is at least three times more likely if their parents have a CHD. More than 2.4 million US children and adults are living with a CHD. About 1 in 4 babies with a CHD have a critical CHD. Infants with critical CHDs generally need surgery or other procedures in their first year of life. CHD treatment helps kids live into adulthood.
February 8, 2026 at 10:02 PM
dianavoss.bsky.social
I don’t know what happened here but this snow pile has a story to weave…
#philly #winterscenes #IfthisSnowcouldTalk #hair
Dirty snow bank with at least three wigs, crushed beer cans, an empty toilet paper roll and abandoned food containers.
February 8, 2026 at 5:35 PM
dianavoss.bsky.social
It’s not even fair how good our apartment smells right now.

#TandorriPizza #Philly #dinner
Butter Chicken Pizza Lamb kebab pizza
January 31, 2026 at 9:49 PM
dianavoss.bsky.social
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
Masala Pesto Paneer Pizza
January 31, 2026 at 7:15 PM
dianavoss.bsky.social
Needed to distract myself from writing for awhile. Could be neater but still like them. 💅

#nailart #manicure #simplepleasures #homemade #shouldbewriting
Close up of my fresh manicure. Nails are alternating purple background with white centralized dotted line & vice versa.
January 27, 2026 at 11:32 PM
dianavoss.bsky.social
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
Giant pile of snow in the middle of summer deck furniture. Picture of me (5’7”) in front of snow pile for comparison. The pile is taller than my shoulders. View of impassable side walk and city street covered by knee-high snow piles. Snow pile between vehicles rises above bumpers.
January 26, 2026 at 10:41 PM
dianavoss.bsky.social
Well this about to be a disaster. Forget hESCs, hope nobody needs HEK cells or WI-38s or MRC-5s or or or 😩🧪
Effective immediately, NIH funds will no longer be used to support research involving human fetal tissue from elective abortions. The policy applies across the NIH Intramural Research Program and all NIH-supported extramural research, including grants, cooperative agreements, other transaction awards, and research and development contracts. This action supersedes prior NIH guidance and reflects a clear shift toward next-generation, validated research models better suited to today's rapidly evolving scientific landscape.
January 24, 2026 at 2:52 AM
dianavoss.bsky.social
Nashville poutine? Yes please.😁😋
#travel #foodporn
Small cast iron skillet filled with tots, fried cheese curds, brisket & smothered in white gravy.
January 23, 2026 at 11:18 PM
dianavoss.bsky.social
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! 🎸
Airport scene with large sign reading “Welcome to Nashville”
January 21, 2026 at 9:56 PM
dianavoss.bsky.social
Just created my own brand of fingered lab gloves. 🧤🧪

Now accepting venture capital offers 🤑
Hand with blue glove remaining only on the fingers and thumb
January 19, 2026 at 7:18 PM
dianavoss.bsky.social
Who turned off the heat?! 🥶🥶
Photo of me buried in layers & looking cool
January 16, 2026 at 1:20 PM
dianavoss.bsky.social
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
Poster with hexagon shapes filled with a Penn logo, microscope, brain, neuron, and the text, “The winner of the Philly Brain Bee will receive a cash prize and a free trip to compete at the National Brain Bee!” All to the right of the page. Additional text on the left says: Who: 9-12th graders in the Philly area When: Saturday, February 22st, 2026 Where: University of Pennsylvania Below that is “Interested?” And a QR code
January 13, 2026 at 10:50 PM
dianavoss.bsky.social
This page is from Art Spiegelman's graphic novel Maus, which tells the story of his father, Vladek Spiegelman, a Jewish survivor of the Holocaust. The panel depicts Vladek's experience of hiding in Sosnowiec, Poland, during World War II, where he and his wife Anja were often hungry and in need of refuge. Vladek feels a sense of relief and camaraderie when he encounters another Jewish man, using the Hebrew term "Amcha" ("our nation") as a sign of shared identity and trust. The men exchange information on where to find black market food at a time when rations were scarce. Vladek successfully purchases essential food items like sausages, eggs, and cheese, which were luxuries he could only dream about. The use of animal characters (Jews as mice, Poles as pigs) is a key feature of the graphic novel, symbolizing different nationalities and ethnic groups during the Holocaust.
January 11, 2026 at 1:41 AM