Jordan McCall
@jordacular.bsky.social
Associate Professor, Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis. Half of a two-body solution with four kids and a dog.
Reposted by Jordan McCall
Nothing like a good cry over my morning coffee as Wei heads out 💔. The US is crazy to not do everything possible to keep and treasure people like her. I know she will do wonderful things where ever she lands - this is our loss
After 13 years in the US, I’ve made the difficult decision to leave. Having packed up everything and rethought about priorities, rather painstakingly, while I’m sad to leave the life I’ve made here, I’m also relieved that I won’t have to plan my life around immigration policies anymore.
October 31, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Nothing like a good cry over my morning coffee as Wei heads out 💔. The US is crazy to not do everything possible to keep and treasure people like her. I know she will do wonderful things where ever she lands - this is our loss
Reposted by Jordan McCall
How do you measure brain arousal? In a new study, #ShanahanFellow Ryan Raut uses dynamical systems theory to offer a fresh lens on how physical signs (like pupil dilation), behavior, and brain-wide activity are coordinated.
🧠📈 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🧠📈 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
September 25, 2025 at 7:11 PM
How do you measure brain arousal? In a new study, #ShanahanFellow Ryan Raut uses dynamical systems theory to offer a fresh lens on how physical signs (like pupil dilation), behavior, and brain-wide activity are coordinated.
🧠📈 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🧠📈 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Jordan McCall
A comprehensive new 🔁 Rreview 🔁 from Dr. Peña explores postnatal maturation of the 🧠 epigenome, the relationship between the epigenome & postnatal sensitive periods & plasticity, and the impact of early-life stress on epigenetic development
Epigenetic regulation of brain development, plasticity, and response to early-life stress
Neuropsychopharmacology - Epigenetic regulation of brain development, plasticity, and response to early-life stress
www.nature.com
September 17, 2025 at 3:30 PM
A comprehensive new 🔁 Rreview 🔁 from Dr. Peña explores postnatal maturation of the 🧠 epigenome, the relationship between the epigenome & postnatal sensitive periods & plasticity, and the impact of early-life stress on epigenetic development
Happy to share our recent work attempting to better understand the impact of early life maternal separation on locus coeruleus function. Super proud of first author (the now Dr.) Chayla Vazquez. She brought this idea when she joined in… March 2020… and she carried it through these rough few years!
#ThisWeekInNPP
Early life stress profoundly impacts the 🧠 & can result in negative affective behaviors well into adulthood
Here, maternal separation stress produced dysregulated noradrenergic activity in the locus coeruleus (LC) across the lifespan, disrupting LC regulation of coping strategies
Early life stress profoundly impacts the 🧠 & can result in negative affective behaviors well into adulthood
Here, maternal separation stress produced dysregulated noradrenergic activity in the locus coeruleus (LC) across the lifespan, disrupting LC regulation of coping strategies
Maternal separation disrupts noradrenergic control of adult coping behaviors - Neuropsychopharmacology
Neuropsychopharmacology - Maternal separation disrupts noradrenergic control of adult coping behaviors
www.nature.com
September 12, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Happy to share our recent work attempting to better understand the impact of early life maternal separation on locus coeruleus function. Super proud of first author (the now Dr.) Chayla Vazquez. She brought this idea when she joined in… March 2020… and she carried it through these rough few years!
Some good news. Big congrats to @drbhooma.bsky.social, she is going to do amazing things with this new funding! 🎉
Excited and proud to report I just received the NoA for an R01 from NINDS investigating cortical targets for treating #dystonia following #preterm birth. Grateful for co-Is Rafael Galindo @washuneurology.bsky.social, @jordacular.bsky.social, and Ream Al-Hasani. Grateful also to my great lab... 1/x
August 5, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Some good news. Big congrats to @drbhooma.bsky.social, she is going to do amazing things with this new funding! 🎉
Some good news on a Friday for once, introducing Dr. Chayla Vazquez!
May 10, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Some good news on a Friday for once, introducing Dr. Chayla Vazquez!
Reposted by Jordan McCall
Well, maybe the children will have to live with two cures instead of 30 cures.
May 1, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Well, maybe the children will have to live with two cures instead of 30 cures.
Reposted by Jordan McCall
University leaders need to understand: they are holding INCREDIBLY good cards.
It is so rare in today's polarized era to have the support of 70+ percent of the public against the Trump admiministration on anything. Universities have that—AND winning legal arguments.
It is so rare in today's polarized era to have the support of 70+ percent of the public against the Trump admiministration on anything. Universities have that—AND winning legal arguments.
April 27, 2025 at 5:29 AM
University leaders need to understand: they are holding INCREDIBLY good cards.
It is so rare in today's polarized era to have the support of 70+ percent of the public against the Trump admiministration on anything. Universities have that—AND winning legal arguments.
It is so rare in today's polarized era to have the support of 70+ percent of the public against the Trump admiministration on anything. Universities have that—AND winning legal arguments.
Reposted by Jordan McCall
Reposted by Jordan McCall
Bad news for all of us: champion for inclusion & excellence @ NIH/NINDS Dr. Michelle Jones-London is leaving NINDS.💔
She helped launch the career of countless cutting-edge neuroscientists & set the standard for training. Great news of course for where ever she goes next. 🧪🧠@jeremymberg.bsky.social
She helped launch the career of countless cutting-edge neuroscientists & set the standard for training. Great news of course for where ever she goes next. 🧪🧠@jeremymberg.bsky.social
April 11, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Bad news for all of us: champion for inclusion & excellence @ NIH/NINDS Dr. Michelle Jones-London is leaving NINDS.💔
She helped launch the career of countless cutting-edge neuroscientists & set the standard for training. Great news of course for where ever she goes next. 🧪🧠@jeremymberg.bsky.social
She helped launch the career of countless cutting-edge neuroscientists & set the standard for training. Great news of course for where ever she goes next. 🧪🧠@jeremymberg.bsky.social
Leaving behind a generation of biomedical researchers will not MAG nor H.
The latest NIH grant chaos:
NIH apparently sent stop-work orders to all *97* MARC and U-RISE programs in the country.
These programs support underrepresented undergrads interested in health research careers.
MARC dates to 1977. Over 48 years, the programs have supported thousands of students.
NIH apparently sent stop-work orders to all *97* MARC and U-RISE programs in the country.
These programs support underrepresented undergrads interested in health research careers.
MARC dates to 1977. Over 48 years, the programs have supported thousands of students.
New this evening (3/28): Major update in NIH grant termination numbers.
❌ 695 NIH grants now terminated (up from 429)
❌ 232 on HIV/AIDS
❌ 44 on cancer
❌ 28 on Alzheimer's
❌ 123 on Covid*
*And this doesn't count cancelled non-NIH Covid grants.
HUGE THANKS to @noamross.net for pushing the updates!
❌ 695 NIH grants now terminated (up from 429)
❌ 232 on HIV/AIDS
❌ 44 on cancer
❌ 28 on Alzheimer's
❌ 123 on Covid*
*And this doesn't count cancelled non-NIH Covid grants.
HUGE THANKS to @noamross.net for pushing the updates!
March 31, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Leaving behind a generation of biomedical researchers will not MAG nor H.
Reposted by Jordan McCall
🚨 New paper out!
👉A #systematicreview and #metaanalysis on the impact of neuropathic #pain models on anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors in rodents.
#CIBER_SAM #univcadiz #INiBICA_IIS
#OpenAccess Read more here ⬇️
doi.org/10.1016/j.bp...
👉A #systematicreview and #metaanalysis on the impact of neuropathic #pain models on anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors in rodents.
#CIBER_SAM #univcadiz #INiBICA_IIS
#OpenAccess Read more here ⬇️
doi.org/10.1016/j.bp...
November 5, 2024 at 3:32 PM
🚨 New paper out!
👉A #systematicreview and #metaanalysis on the impact of neuropathic #pain models on anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors in rodents.
#CIBER_SAM #univcadiz #INiBICA_IIS
#OpenAccess Read more here ⬇️
doi.org/10.1016/j.bp...
👉A #systematicreview and #metaanalysis on the impact of neuropathic #pain models on anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors in rodents.
#CIBER_SAM #univcadiz #INiBICA_IIS
#OpenAccess Read more here ⬇️
doi.org/10.1016/j.bp...
Reposted by Jordan McCall
Science Under Threat in the United States
The NIH is a sound investment for the US taxpayer
By my colleague Nicholas W Gilpin from Louisiana who has written this piece in his personal capacity due to the current institutional situation.
elifesciences.org/articles/106...
The NIH is a sound investment for the US taxpayer
By my colleague Nicholas W Gilpin from Louisiana who has written this piece in his personal capacity due to the current institutional situation.
elifesciences.org/articles/106...
Science Under Threat in the United States: The NIH is a sound investment for the US taxpayer
Research funded by the National Institutes of Health is essential for improving the health of Americans and developing new drugs and treatments for a wide range of diseases.
elifesciences.org
March 25, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Science Under Threat in the United States
The NIH is a sound investment for the US taxpayer
By my colleague Nicholas W Gilpin from Louisiana who has written this piece in his personal capacity due to the current institutional situation.
elifesciences.org/articles/106...
The NIH is a sound investment for the US taxpayer
By my colleague Nicholas W Gilpin from Louisiana who has written this piece in his personal capacity due to the current institutional situation.
elifesciences.org/articles/106...
Reposted by Jordan McCall
It feels like the resumption of study section posting on the federal registrar, while continuing to block advisory council, was an attempt to quell the news cycle while still keeping funds frozen.
March 13, 2025 at 11:21 AM
It feels like the resumption of study section posting on the federal registrar, while continuing to block advisory council, was an attempt to quell the news cycle while still keeping funds frozen.
These terminations are a disgusting abuse of power that threatens the future of American science. 💔
I have confirmation from several sources now that all T32s, many F30s and F31s, and most or all Center awards (P30, P50) have been terminated at Columbia.
This is quite damaging to research and to individuals.
This is pure terrorism and cannot be legal. But litigation will take time...
This is quite damaging to research and to individuals.
This is pure terrorism and cannot be legal. But litigation will take time...
March 11, 2025 at 4:42 PM
These terminations are a disgusting abuse of power that threatens the future of American science. 💔
Reposted by Jordan McCall
New work from the lab published at @cp-neuron.bsky.social. In this study we dissect the role of hormonal regulation in pain-induced enhanced opioid intake in males.
Work conducted by the super talented @jessinbotham
www.cell.com/neuron/fullt...
Work conducted by the super talented @jessinbotham
www.cell.com/neuron/fullt...
Estradiol protects against pain-facilitated fentanyl use via suppression of opioid-evoked dopamine activity in males
Higginbotham et al. show that inflammatory pain increases opioid-evoked dopamine neuron
activity to promote fentanyl use selectively in males. Ovarian hormones offer females
protection, but estradiol’...
www.cell.com
March 10, 2025 at 3:54 PM
New work from the lab published at @cp-neuron.bsky.social. In this study we dissect the role of hormonal regulation in pain-induced enhanced opioid intake in males.
Work conducted by the super talented @jessinbotham
www.cell.com/neuron/fullt...
Work conducted by the super talented @jessinbotham
www.cell.com/neuron/fullt...
Thanks to @danai-lama.bsky.social for covering our preprint. I missed this when she posted it and now this place seems mostly for doomscrolling, so it’s nice to have our science highlighted to at least momentarily disrupt the gloom 💙
Starting *Week 1* with this gem from the @jordacular.bsky.social lab, describing a novel glutamatergic pathway from the VTA to the LC that is involved in avoidance behaviors. 2/
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
Monosynaptic ventral tegmental area glutamate projections to the locus coeruleus enhance aversive processing
Distinct excitatory synaptic inputs to the locus coeruleus (LC) modulate behavioral flexibility. Here we identify a novel monosynaptic glutamatergic input to the LC from the ventral tegmental area (VT...
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
March 6, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Thanks to @danai-lama.bsky.social for covering our preprint. I missed this when she posted it and now this place seems mostly for doomscrolling, so it’s nice to have our science highlighted to at least momentarily disrupt the gloom 💙
More of this please.
Compelling pushback from @jmgrohneuro.bsky.social and the Board of Scientific Counselors at the National Institute on Mental Health (NIMH) regarding termination of tenure-track investigators driven by DOGE.
1/2
1/2
March 6, 2025 at 2:54 PM
More of this please.
Reposted by Jordan McCall
St. Louis @standupforscience.bsky.social This Friday!!! And, if you're on the west side of the state, head to the Jefferson City event! Noon Friday.
March 5, 2025 at 4:12 PM
St. Louis @standupforscience.bsky.social This Friday!!! And, if you're on the west side of the state, head to the Jefferson City event! Noon Friday.
Reposted by Jordan McCall
As someone who has spent the last 25 years studying sex differences in brain function and behavior and the last 10 advocating (loudly) for SABV and working to help my colleagues implement the policy into their work, this is utterly heartbreaking.
Great write up at @thetransmitter.bsky.social on the seeming erasure of SABV in the new era of NIH. Gotta say The Transmitter is killing it the last few weeks, first to report on the Federal Register block and now this. Leading the charge! 💪 www.thetransmitter.org/policy/exclu...
Exclusive: NIH appears to archive policy requiring female animals in studies
Such a shift would “put us back in the dark ages in terms of our science,” says neuroscientist Anne Murphy, who helped to formulate the original policy.
www.thetransmitter.org
February 25, 2025 at 3:37 PM
As someone who has spent the last 25 years studying sex differences in brain function and behavior and the last 10 advocating (loudly) for SABV and working to help my colleagues implement the policy into their work, this is utterly heartbreaking.
Reposted by Jordan McCall
Sadly true.
Also expect that anything you have put in eRA Commons, NIH’s central grant application and review repository, will be used to train Musk’s AI.
We should start asking Grok “what research work is <X NIH grant applicant> proposing to do” and see when confidential info starts popping up. 🧪
Also expect that anything you have put in eRA Commons, NIH’s central grant application and review repository, will be used to train Musk’s AI.
We should start asking Grok “what research work is <X NIH grant applicant> proposing to do” and see when confidential info starts popping up. 🧪
Probably worth downloading Notices of Grant Awards or anything else you’d like to keep a permanent record of from ERA Commons.
Anyone else with diversity supplements on their R grant has had the NGA in commons replaced by a random rtf file?
February 23, 2025 at 3:19 AM
Sadly true.
Also expect that anything you have put in eRA Commons, NIH’s central grant application and review repository, will be used to train Musk’s AI.
We should start asking Grok “what research work is <X NIH grant applicant> proposing to do” and see when confidential info starts popping up. 🧪
Also expect that anything you have put in eRA Commons, NIH’s central grant application and review repository, will be used to train Musk’s AI.
We should start asking Grok “what research work is <X NIH grant applicant> proposing to do” and see when confidential info starts popping up. 🧪
Jonah and I still trying to figure out this whole bsky thing, but important psychedelic imaging work here with Josh Siegel & Adam Bauer!
We found a psychedelic (DOI) altered neurovascular coupling and differential changed neuronal ⚡📉vs hemodynamic 🩸📈 brain activity 🧠. These findings have grand implications for interpretation of psychedelic fMRI. @jordacular.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Read more below!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Read more below!
September 26, 2023 at 3:59 PM
Jonah and I still trying to figure out this whole bsky thing, but important psychedelic imaging work here with Josh Siegel & Adam Bauer!