Merlin Nithya Gnanapragasam PhD
@merlinnithyag.bsky.social
Mother of two, Teacher, Mentor, Scientist- Molecular biologist studying red blood cells, Assistant Professor at Cleveland State University, Immigrant, Tweets mine, She/her
Reposted by Merlin Nithya Gnanapragasam PhD
Merlin Gnanapragasam @merlinnithyag.bsky.social, James Bieker and colleagues discover that KLF1 coordinates specialised transcriptional networks required to maintain the integrity of terminal erythropoiesis.
journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
November 24, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Merlin Gnanapragasam @merlinnithyag.bsky.social, James Bieker and colleagues discover that KLF1 coordinates specialised transcriptional networks required to maintain the integrity of terminal erythropoiesis.
journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
Reposted by Merlin Nithya Gnanapragasam PhD
⛔️ UPDATE:
We obtained the full list of NIH terminations at Harvard. Lowlights:
- 659 total grants at Harvard in the NIH-created list
- $2.19 billion in total award value
- $960 million in award remaining
You can view them all using the "Harvard" tab on the airtable
grant-watch.us/nih-data.html
We obtained the full list of NIH terminations at Harvard. Lowlights:
- 659 total grants at Harvard in the NIH-created list
- $2.19 billion in total award value
- $960 million in award remaining
You can view them all using the "Harvard" tab on the airtable
grant-watch.us/nih-data.html
nih-data – Grant Watch
grant-watch.us
May 22, 2025 at 12:33 PM
⛔️ UPDATE:
We obtained the full list of NIH terminations at Harvard. Lowlights:
- 659 total grants at Harvard in the NIH-created list
- $2.19 billion in total award value
- $960 million in award remaining
You can view them all using the "Harvard" tab on the airtable
grant-watch.us/nih-data.html
We obtained the full list of NIH terminations at Harvard. Lowlights:
- 659 total grants at Harvard in the NIH-created list
- $2.19 billion in total award value
- $960 million in award remaining
You can view them all using the "Harvard" tab on the airtable
grant-watch.us/nih-data.html
Reposted by Merlin Nithya Gnanapragasam PhD
The White House science advisor might be a big fan of Christopher Nolan movies but those are not (yet) reality
The only technologies the US has that can manipulate time and space are hallucinogenic agents; and those are not limited to the US.
The only technologies the US has that can manipulate time and space are hallucinogenic agents; and those are not limited to the US.
White House science advisor Michael Krastios says the US has technologies that can “manipulate time and space.”
www.whitehouse.gov/articles/202...
www.whitehouse.gov/articles/202...
April 16, 2025 at 8:44 PM
The White House science advisor might be a big fan of Christopher Nolan movies but those are not (yet) reality
The only technologies the US has that can manipulate time and space are hallucinogenic agents; and those are not limited to the US.
The only technologies the US has that can manipulate time and space are hallucinogenic agents; and those are not limited to the US.
Reposted by Merlin Nithya Gnanapragasam PhD
Harvard has set an example for other higher-ed institutions - rejecting an unlawful and ham-handed attempt to stifle academic freedom, while taking steps to make sure students can benefit from an environment of intellectual inquiry, rigorous debate and mutual respect. Let’s hope others follow suit.
April 15, 2025 at 3:52 AM
Harvard has set an example for other higher-ed institutions - rejecting an unlawful and ham-handed attempt to stifle academic freedom, while taking steps to make sure students can benefit from an environment of intellectual inquiry, rigorous debate and mutual respect. Let’s hope others follow suit.
Reposted by Merlin Nithya Gnanapragasam PhD
Excited to share our preprint on the molecular architecture of heterochromatin in human cells 🧬🔬w/ @jpkreysing.bsky.social, @johannesbetz.bsky.social,
@marinalusic.bsky.social, Turoňová lab, @hummerlab.bsky.social @becklab.bsky.social @mpibp.bsky.social
🔗 Preprint here tinyurl.com/3a74uanv
@marinalusic.bsky.social, Turoňová lab, @hummerlab.bsky.social @becklab.bsky.social @mpibp.bsky.social
🔗 Preprint here tinyurl.com/3a74uanv
April 11, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Excited to share our preprint on the molecular architecture of heterochromatin in human cells 🧬🔬w/ @jpkreysing.bsky.social, @johannesbetz.bsky.social,
@marinalusic.bsky.social, Turoňová lab, @hummerlab.bsky.social @becklab.bsky.social @mpibp.bsky.social
🔗 Preprint here tinyurl.com/3a74uanv
@marinalusic.bsky.social, Turoňová lab, @hummerlab.bsky.social @becklab.bsky.social @mpibp.bsky.social
🔗 Preprint here tinyurl.com/3a74uanv
Reposted by Merlin Nithya Gnanapragasam PhD
Great article by @nobelprize.bsky.social laureate @ardemp.bskyverified.social outlining the health, economic and national security benefits of US biomedical research, and the devastation of government efforts to destroy our leading edge.
www.cnn.com/2025/04/09/h...
www.cnn.com/2025/04/09/h...
Nobel laureate: I owe America my success. Today, its scientific future is in danger | CNN
Dr. Ardem Patapoutian says he watches “with deep sadness as the United States’ remarkable scientific enterprise, which took generations of hard work and national investment to build, faces a concerted...
www.cnn.com
April 9, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Great article by @nobelprize.bsky.social laureate @ardemp.bskyverified.social outlining the health, economic and national security benefits of US biomedical research, and the devastation of government efforts to destroy our leading edge.
www.cnn.com/2025/04/09/h...
www.cnn.com/2025/04/09/h...
Reposted by Merlin Nithya Gnanapragasam PhD
Inspiring quote from @adamgrant.bsky.social's Podcast today:
@adamgrant.bsky.social: "Best life advice?"
@danielgilbert.bsky.social: "My father... said to me you will think for your entire career that your research is what matters most, but then you will get old and realize it was the students."
@adamgrant.bsky.social: "Best life advice?"
@danielgilbert.bsky.social: "My father... said to me you will think for your entire career that your research is what matters most, but then you will get old and realize it was the students."
We’re wrong about what makes us happy with Dan Gilbert
Podcast Episode · ReThinking · 04/08/2025 · 38m
podcasts.apple.com
April 8, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Inspiring quote from @adamgrant.bsky.social's Podcast today:
@adamgrant.bsky.social: "Best life advice?"
@danielgilbert.bsky.social: "My father... said to me you will think for your entire career that your research is what matters most, but then you will get old and realize it was the students."
@adamgrant.bsky.social: "Best life advice?"
@danielgilbert.bsky.social: "My father... said to me you will think for your entire career that your research is what matters most, but then you will get old and realize it was the students."
Reposted by Merlin Nithya Gnanapragasam PhD
Working with an interdisciplinary team, we have developed a website to communicate how the White House's proposed cuts to health research would cause losses of $16B and 68,500 jobs.
Find out how your community may be impacted.
Explore more at SCIMaP: scienceimpacts.org
a 🧵
Find out how your community may be impacted.
Explore more at SCIMaP: scienceimpacts.org
a 🧵
March 28, 2025 at 2:15 AM
Working with an interdisciplinary team, we have developed a website to communicate how the White House's proposed cuts to health research would cause losses of $16B and 68,500 jobs.
Find out how your community may be impacted.
Explore more at SCIMaP: scienceimpacts.org
a 🧵
Find out how your community may be impacted.
Explore more at SCIMaP: scienceimpacts.org
a 🧵
Reposted by Merlin Nithya Gnanapragasam PhD
How do I even put "my doctoral students could not achieve their full scientific potential because they had to worry ICE would abduct them off the street while getting to lab" into a tenure impact statement?
March 27, 2025 at 7:18 PM
How do I even put "my doctoral students could not achieve their full scientific potential because they had to worry ICE would abduct them off the street while getting to lab" into a tenure impact statement?
Reposted by Merlin Nithya Gnanapragasam PhD
Ruining studies and potentially harming research subjects...
Abruptly terminating clinical trials...
Ignorant and evil
www.theatlantic.com/health/archi...
Abruptly terminating clinical trials...
Ignorant and evil
www.theatlantic.com/health/archi...
The NIH’s Most Reckless Cuts Yet
Ending clinical trials with no warning can put patients at risk.
www.theatlantic.com
March 27, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Ruining studies and potentially harming research subjects...
Abruptly terminating clinical trials...
Ignorant and evil
www.theatlantic.com/health/archi...
Abruptly terminating clinical trials...
Ignorant and evil
www.theatlantic.com/health/archi...
Reposted by Merlin Nithya Gnanapragasam PhD
I’m a former IIE Fulbright recipient. I hope to see a statement from Fulbright about the detention of Rumeysa Ozturk, doing doctoral research at Tufts’ Child Study and Human Development program. Her work addresses childrens’ media. She is the co-founder of an independent children’s media initiative.
Not sure if this has been shared here yet, but this is video of Rumeysa Ozturk's arrest posted by WCVB. It's terrifying.
March 26, 2025 at 6:06 PM
I’m a former IIE Fulbright recipient. I hope to see a statement from Fulbright about the detention of Rumeysa Ozturk, doing doctoral research at Tufts’ Child Study and Human Development program. Her work addresses childrens’ media. She is the co-founder of an independent children’s media initiative.
Reposted by Merlin Nithya Gnanapragasam PhD
I guess by sharing this, I am making my situation worse but, baby, that ship has sailed...
Le Monde reporting that a French scientist traveling to Houston to attend a conference was denied entry to US after a search of his phone & computer revealed messages critical of Trump's science cuts, "which [says CPB] conveyed hatred of Trump & could be qualified as terrorism". Computer confiscated
March 19, 2025 at 8:58 PM
I guess by sharing this, I am making my situation worse but, baby, that ship has sailed...
Reposted by Merlin Nithya Gnanapragasam PhD
A bit late to the post but not the protest @standupforscience.bsky.social #StandUpForScience2025
March 13, 2025 at 4:13 PM
A bit late to the post but not the protest @standupforscience.bsky.social #StandUpForScience2025
Reposted by Merlin Nithya Gnanapragasam PhD
New report shows that NIH grants fueled $95 billion in economic activity and 407,782 jobs in 2024.
That's not to mention the countless lives that biomedical research has saved.
Show me a better investment than that.
www.forbes.com/sites/michae...
That's not to mention the countless lives that biomedical research has saved.
Show me a better investment than that.
www.forbes.com/sites/michae...
NIH Grants Fueled $95 Billion In FY 2024 Economic Activity, Finds New Report
National Institutes of Health grants generated almost $95 billion in economic activity nationwide in FY 2024 according to a new report by United for Medical Research.
www.forbes.com
March 12, 2025 at 8:47 PM
New report shows that NIH grants fueled $95 billion in economic activity and 407,782 jobs in 2024.
That's not to mention the countless lives that biomedical research has saved.
Show me a better investment than that.
www.forbes.com/sites/michae...
That's not to mention the countless lives that biomedical research has saved.
Show me a better investment than that.
www.forbes.com/sites/michae...
Reposted by Merlin Nithya Gnanapragasam PhD
🚨 EMERGENCY PRESS CONFERENCE
Columbia/Barnard faculty, Jewish community leaders, immigrant advocates, and rabbis are demanding the immediate release of Mahmoud Khalil from ICE custody.
We will not be silent or cower in the face of American Fascism. #FreeMahmoud
Columbia/Barnard faculty, Jewish community leaders, immigrant advocates, and rabbis are demanding the immediate release of Mahmoud Khalil from ICE custody.
We will not be silent or cower in the face of American Fascism. #FreeMahmoud
March 10, 2025 at 9:10 PM
🚨 EMERGENCY PRESS CONFERENCE
Columbia/Barnard faculty, Jewish community leaders, immigrant advocates, and rabbis are demanding the immediate release of Mahmoud Khalil from ICE custody.
We will not be silent or cower in the face of American Fascism. #FreeMahmoud
Columbia/Barnard faculty, Jewish community leaders, immigrant advocates, and rabbis are demanding the immediate release of Mahmoud Khalil from ICE custody.
We will not be silent or cower in the face of American Fascism. #FreeMahmoud
Reposted by Merlin Nithya Gnanapragasam PhD
March 10, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Reposted by Merlin Nithya Gnanapragasam PhD
We need to organize--let’s help each other.
NIH is cancelling grants, but it's not clear exactly what they're cancelling and why. Without this information, we can't respond.
I've started a Google Sheet to track grant cancellations.
Please add any canceled grants you know of and spread the word!
NIH is cancelling grants, but it's not clear exactly what they're cancelling and why. Without this information, we can't respond.
I've started a Google Sheet to track grant cancellations.
Please add any canceled grants you know of and spread the word!
March 7, 2025 at 8:25 PM
We need to organize--let’s help each other.
NIH is cancelling grants, but it's not clear exactly what they're cancelling and why. Without this information, we can't respond.
I've started a Google Sheet to track grant cancellations.
Please add any canceled grants you know of and spread the word!
NIH is cancelling grants, but it's not clear exactly what they're cancelling and why. Without this information, we can't respond.
I've started a Google Sheet to track grant cancellations.
Please add any canceled grants you know of and spread the word!
Reposted by Merlin Nithya Gnanapragasam PhD
From an NIH source re. grant terminations
"These searches are pulling in things based on 'other support' sections and biosketches, so science may be held up just because someone mentions that they serve on a DEIA committee, or has a completely different grant that uses a 'problematic' word.
(cont)
"These searches are pulling in things based on 'other support' sections and biosketches, so science may be held up just because someone mentions that they serve on a DEIA committee, or has a completely different grant that uses a 'problematic' word.
(cont)
March 7, 2025 at 10:42 PM
From an NIH source re. grant terminations
"These searches are pulling in things based on 'other support' sections and biosketches, so science may be held up just because someone mentions that they serve on a DEIA committee, or has a completely different grant that uses a 'problematic' word.
(cont)
"These searches are pulling in things based on 'other support' sections and biosketches, so science may be held up just because someone mentions that they serve on a DEIA committee, or has a completely different grant that uses a 'problematic' word.
(cont)
@standupforscience.bsky.social at Cleveland
March 8, 2025 at 1:43 AM
@standupforscience.bsky.social at Cleveland
Maria Ressa, Nobel Peace Laureat- inspiring and illuminating discussion with Jon Stewart. www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsHo...
Jon Stewart & Maria Ressa On the US’s Authoritarian Slide | The Weekly Show
YouTube video by The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart
www.youtube.com
March 8, 2025 at 1:24 AM
Maria Ressa, Nobel Peace Laureat- inspiring and illuminating discussion with Jon Stewart. www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsHo...
Reposted by Merlin Nithya Gnanapragasam PhD
But this move is a cut. We are hearing approximately 150 SROs will be removed, out of approximately 600. That's in line with Berg's numbers.
Removing SROs will slow grant review, and that will reduce grant funding.
Removing SROs will slow grant review, and that will reduce grant funding.
March 7, 2025 at 6:20 AM
But this move is a cut. We are hearing approximately 150 SROs will be removed, out of approximately 600. That's in line with Berg's numbers.
Removing SROs will slow grant review, and that will reduce grant funding.
Removing SROs will slow grant review, and that will reduce grant funding.
Reposted by Merlin Nithya Gnanapragasam PhD
NIH announces that it will move all grant reviews to Center for Scientific Review (CSR) and terminate about half of its review staff.
This comes as there is already a building backlog from cancelled review meetings and layoffs.
"We're already massively behind schedule," a review officer tells me.
This comes as there is already a building backlog from cancelled review meetings and layoffs.
"We're already massively behind schedule," a review officer tells me.
NIH centralizes peer review to improve efficiency and strengthen integrity
The proposed approach is expected to save more than $65 million annually.
www.nih.gov
March 6, 2025 at 10:43 PM
NIH announces that it will move all grant reviews to Center for Scientific Review (CSR) and terminate about half of its review staff.
This comes as there is already a building backlog from cancelled review meetings and layoffs.
"We're already massively behind schedule," a review officer tells me.
This comes as there is already a building backlog from cancelled review meetings and layoffs.
"We're already massively behind schedule," a review officer tells me.
Happy to see two local Stand Up for Science events in the Cleveland area. Huge thanks to those who are taking the initative to organize these events. #standupforscience2025 #scienceforall standupforscience2025.org/local-event-...
March 5, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Happy to see two local Stand Up for Science events in the Cleveland area. Huge thanks to those who are taking the initative to organize these events. #standupforscience2025 #scienceforall standupforscience2025.org/local-event-...
Reposted by Merlin Nithya Gnanapragasam PhD
Important editorial: the "existential moment requiring careful and consistent action to preserve the values and ambitions of science."
"The weeks ahead may be the greatest test that the US scientific community has ever faced"
By @holdenthorp.bsky.social @science.org
www.science.org/doi/full/10....
"The weeks ahead may be the greatest test that the US scientific community has ever faced"
By @holdenthorp.bsky.social @science.org
www.science.org/doi/full/10....
February 24, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Important editorial: the "existential moment requiring careful and consistent action to preserve the values and ambitions of science."
"The weeks ahead may be the greatest test that the US scientific community has ever faced"
By @holdenthorp.bsky.social @science.org
www.science.org/doi/full/10....
"The weeks ahead may be the greatest test that the US scientific community has ever faced"
By @holdenthorp.bsky.social @science.org
www.science.org/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Merlin Nithya Gnanapragasam PhD
I expect that most academic biomedical researchers have considered leaving the US—if only in theory for now. What a colossal mess! Our representatives need to hear this. Please amplify so they know this matters. @levin.house.gov @repscottpeters.bsky.social @schiff.senate.gov @padilla.senate.gov
“For the last 75 yrs, the NIH has been the biggest funder of biomedical research in the world. Most advances in medicine were seeded by NIH funding. When we became scientists, we just bought into this system. This is how it works. — @tuthill.bsky.social 🧵
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Trump cuts threaten a ‘generation of scientists’ as many weigh leaving US
President’s call to ‘Make America Healthy Again’ has led to slashes in NIH funding – endangering jobs and vital research
www.theguardian.com
February 19, 2025 at 9:19 PM
I expect that most academic biomedical researchers have considered leaving the US—if only in theory for now. What a colossal mess! Our representatives need to hear this. Please amplify so they know this matters. @levin.house.gov @repscottpeters.bsky.social @schiff.senate.gov @padilla.senate.gov