Rommie Amaro
@rommieamaro.bsky.social
Professor at UC San Diego. Computational biophysics, biology, chemistry. Multiscale modeler. Viruses. Cancer. Co-Director of the Airborne Institute.
Reposted by Rommie Amaro
Happy to share the latest from the lab, led by Daniel Alvarez, in collaboration with @lizconibear.bsky.social. In this AA-MD tour-de-force, we delve deep into the mechanism and energetics of lipid uptake by bridge-like lipid transfer proteins, and we learn a few interesting things along the way...
August 7, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Happy to share the latest from the lab, led by Daniel Alvarez, in collaboration with @lizconibear.bsky.social. In this AA-MD tour-de-force, we delve deep into the mechanism and energetics of lipid uptake by bridge-like lipid transfer proteins, and we learn a few interesting things along the way...
Reposted by Rommie Amaro
UPDATE: The pause was scrapped Tuesday evening after intervention by top White House officials. www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Trump Administration Scraps Effort to Pause Health-Research Funding
The administration halted and then restarted billions in new research grants flowing from the National Institutes of Health.
www.wsj.com
July 30, 2025 at 3:38 AM
UPDATE: The pause was scrapped Tuesday evening after intervention by top White House officials. www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Reposted by Rommie Amaro
Given that OMB is part of the Executive Office of the President, this should read
"after intervention by OTHER top White House Officials."
"after intervention by OTHER top White House Officials."
UPDATE: The pause was scrapped Tuesday evening after intervention by top White House officials. www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Trump Administration Scraps Effort to Pause Health-Research Funding
The administration halted and then restarted billions in new research grants flowing from the National Institutes of Health.
www.wsj.com
July 30, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Given that OMB is part of the Executive Office of the President, this should read
"after intervention by OTHER top White House Officials."
"after intervention by OTHER top White House Officials."
Reposted by Rommie Amaro
Reposted by Rommie Amaro
Reposted by Rommie Amaro
Did you know about the BPS Bridging Funds Program?
If you're a biophysicist navigating a difficult time, this program is for you to defray costs for attending the BPS Annual Meeting!
I am grateful to the @biophysicalsoc.bsky.social for supporting our members!
www.biophysics.org/2026meeting/...
If you're a biophysicist navigating a difficult time, this program is for you to defray costs for attending the BPS Annual Meeting!
I am grateful to the @biophysicalsoc.bsky.social for supporting our members!
www.biophysics.org/2026meeting/...
BPS2026 Travel Awards | Biophysical Society
www.biophysics.org
July 25, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Did you know about the BPS Bridging Funds Program?
If you're a biophysicist navigating a difficult time, this program is for you to defray costs for attending the BPS Annual Meeting!
I am grateful to the @biophysicalsoc.bsky.social for supporting our members!
www.biophysics.org/2026meeting/...
If you're a biophysicist navigating a difficult time, this program is for you to defray costs for attending the BPS Annual Meeting!
I am grateful to the @biophysicalsoc.bsky.social for supporting our members!
www.biophysics.org/2026meeting/...
Reposted by Rommie Amaro
“Withholding or suspending these funds would jeopardize that trust and hinder progress on critical health challenges facing our nation. Ultimately, this is about finding cures and seeing them through to fruition.”
www.politico.com/news/2025/07...
www.politico.com/news/2025/07...
14 Republican senators urge White House to release delayed NIH funds
Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) is leading the letter making the ask of OMB director Russ Vought.
www.politico.com
July 25, 2025 at 6:31 PM
“Withholding or suspending these funds would jeopardize that trust and hinder progress on critical health challenges facing our nation. Ultimately, this is about finding cures and seeing them through to fruition.”
www.politico.com/news/2025/07...
www.politico.com/news/2025/07...
Reposted by Rommie Amaro
NEW from me at STAT:
We've learned that DeepMind is going to fund CASP, the protein structure competition that brought Google DeepMind's #AlphaFold to prominence (and a Nobel Prize), as its NIH funding runs out.
More @statnews.com:
www.statnews.com/2025/07/21/c...
🖥️🩺🧪🧬 #bioML
We've learned that DeepMind is going to fund CASP, the protein structure competition that brought Google DeepMind's #AlphaFold to prominence (and a Nobel Prize), as its NIH funding runs out.
More @statnews.com:
www.statnews.com/2025/07/21/c...
🖥️🩺🧪🧬 #bioML
AlphaFold developer Google DeepMind to fund CASP as NIH funding falls short
Protein structure prediction contest CASP gets temporary funding from Google DeepMind as NIH grant runs out.
www.statnews.com
July 21, 2025 at 4:40 PM
NEW from me at STAT:
We've learned that DeepMind is going to fund CASP, the protein structure competition that brought Google DeepMind's #AlphaFold to prominence (and a Nobel Prize), as its NIH funding runs out.
More @statnews.com:
www.statnews.com/2025/07/21/c...
🖥️🩺🧪🧬 #bioML
We've learned that DeepMind is going to fund CASP, the protein structure competition that brought Google DeepMind's #AlphaFold to prominence (and a Nobel Prize), as its NIH funding runs out.
More @statnews.com:
www.statnews.com/2025/07/21/c...
🖥️🩺🧪🧬 #bioML
Reposted by Rommie Amaro
BREAKING: Scientists are staging a “science fair” in the lobby of a Congressional building to tell elected officials about the critical knowledge the US will lose because their research grants have been canceled.
July 8, 2025 at 3:31 PM
BREAKING: Scientists are staging a “science fair” in the lobby of a Congressional building to tell elected officials about the critical knowledge the US will lose because their research grants have been canceled.
Reposted by Rommie Amaro
Reposted by Rommie Amaro
ACTION ITEM-----ACTION ITEM
Implementation of Schedule F
This is what a lot of us have been worried about.
This allows for many civil service positions to replaced with political appointees. This could include NIH institute directors and even POs.
BUT THERE IS A COMMENT PERIOD...
1/n
Implementation of Schedule F
This is what a lot of us have been worried about.
This allows for many civil service positions to replaced with political appointees. This could include NIH institute directors and even POs.
BUT THERE IS A COMMENT PERIOD...
1/n
the word alert is in a purple circle
ALT: the word alert is in a purple circle
media.tenor.com
April 23, 2025 at 6:03 PM
ACTION ITEM-----ACTION ITEM
Implementation of Schedule F
This is what a lot of us have been worried about.
This allows for many civil service positions to replaced with political appointees. This could include NIH institute directors and even POs.
BUT THERE IS A COMMENT PERIOD...
1/n
Implementation of Schedule F
This is what a lot of us have been worried about.
This allows for many civil service positions to replaced with political appointees. This could include NIH institute directors and even POs.
BUT THERE IS A COMMENT PERIOD...
1/n
🚨. I've been mostly off social media for a bit (mental health) but this is very important!!!!!
Please comment and circulate to everyone you know for comments!!!
Please comment and circulate to everyone you know for comments!!!
The notice and COMMENT PERIOD OPENED TODAY AND CLOSES MAY 23.
Anyone who would like to register an objection or comment should go to this page and click on the green “public comment” button at the top:
www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...
6/n
Anyone who would like to register an objection or comment should go to this page and click on the green “public comment” button at the top:
www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...
6/n
Improving Performance, Accountability and Responsiveness in the Civil Service
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is proposing a rule to increase career employee accountability. Agency supervisors report great difficulty removing employees for poor performance or misconduc...
www.federalregister.gov
April 23, 2025 at 6:26 PM
🚨. I've been mostly off social media for a bit (mental health) but this is very important!!!!!
Please comment and circulate to everyone you know for comments!!!
Please comment and circulate to everyone you know for comments!!!
Reposted by Rommie Amaro
Reminiscing about our Airborne Institute event last week. Having @carlzimmer.com attend & sign his book Air-borne made the day beyond extra special at UC San Diego. We are ready to take on airborne disease and push beyond the place the world has been stuck for 200+ years! @rommieamaro.bsky.social
April 21, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Reminiscing about our Airborne Institute event last week. Having @carlzimmer.com attend & sign his book Air-borne made the day beyond extra special at UC San Diego. We are ready to take on airborne disease and push beyond the place the world has been stuck for 200+ years! @rommieamaro.bsky.social
Reposted by Rommie Amaro
Trump administration freezes $1B for Cornell, $790M for Northwestern.
Trump administration freezes $1B for Cornell, $790M for Northwestern
Cornell is the sixth Ivy League institution to face a federal funding freeze.
www.politico.com
April 9, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Trump administration freezes $1B for Cornell, $790M for Northwestern.
Reposted by Rommie Amaro
It's #NationalBeerDay 🍻
Enjoy some of the chemistry behind the brewing while you watch the markets slide 📉
www.compoundchem.com/2014/07/10/b...
#ChemSky 🧪
Enjoy some of the chemistry behind the brewing while you watch the markets slide 📉
www.compoundchem.com/2014/07/10/b...
#ChemSky 🧪
April 7, 2025 at 2:23 PM
It's #NationalBeerDay 🍻
Enjoy some of the chemistry behind the brewing while you watch the markets slide 📉
www.compoundchem.com/2014/07/10/b...
#ChemSky 🧪
Enjoy some of the chemistry behind the brewing while you watch the markets slide 📉
www.compoundchem.com/2014/07/10/b...
#ChemSky 🧪
Reposted by Rommie Amaro
More updates on what’s happening to federally funded US science. Roughly the same magic touch Trump has brought to world trade, actually.
Today’s examples are on drug-resistant gonorrhea and vaccine approvals, both of which are going to hell.
Today’s examples are on drug-resistant gonorrhea and vaccine approvals, both of which are going to hell.
The Continuing Crisis, Part XI: Feral Children, Breaking Things
www.science.org
April 7, 2025 at 5:42 PM
More updates on what’s happening to federally funded US science. Roughly the same magic touch Trump has brought to world trade, actually.
Today’s examples are on drug-resistant gonorrhea and vaccine approvals, both of which are going to hell.
Today’s examples are on drug-resistant gonorrhea and vaccine approvals, both of which are going to hell.
Reposted by Rommie Amaro
Just as our new Public Health Lab - which was built on key lessons learned during COVID - was set to open, the necessary funding for its operation was just pulled by DOGE/HHS.
That operation, critical to safety and public health in San Diego.
Gone.
www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/04/04/s...
That operation, critical to safety and public health in San Diego.
Gone.
www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/04/04/s...
San Diego to take a $40 million hit in federal funding for public health
Ninety-one grant-funded positions could be affected by cancellation of grants.
www.sandiegouniontribune.com
April 6, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Just as our new Public Health Lab - which was built on key lessons learned during COVID - was set to open, the necessary funding for its operation was just pulled by DOGE/HHS.
That operation, critical to safety and public health in San Diego.
Gone.
www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/04/04/s...
That operation, critical to safety and public health in San Diego.
Gone.
www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/04/04/s...
Reposted by Rommie Amaro
We were just notified that our contract to UCSD and Scripps Research to support wastewater surveillance in San Diego (searchcovid.info) was terminated immediately for the same reasons 👇.
That means no more genomic wastewater surveillance, and our proposed extensions to measles, Hep A, others, gone.
That means no more genomic wastewater surveillance, and our proposed extensions to measles, Hep A, others, gone.
April 7, 2025 at 4:29 PM
We were just notified that our contract to UCSD and Scripps Research to support wastewater surveillance in San Diego (searchcovid.info) was terminated immediately for the same reasons 👇.
That means no more genomic wastewater surveillance, and our proposed extensions to measles, Hep A, others, gone.
That means no more genomic wastewater surveillance, and our proposed extensions to measles, Hep A, others, gone.
Reposted by Rommie Amaro
This is particularly awful
The F awards are US biomedical workforce training awards
Their agenda to destroy the future of biomedical science on full display here
The F awards are US biomedical workforce training awards
Their agenda to destroy the future of biomedical science on full display here
March 29, 2025 at 1:01 PM
This is particularly awful
The F awards are US biomedical workforce training awards
Their agenda to destroy the future of biomedical science on full display here
The F awards are US biomedical workforce training awards
Their agenda to destroy the future of biomedical science on full display here
Reposted by Rommie Amaro
Run BioEmu in Colab - just click "Runtime → Run all"! Our notebook uses ColabFold to generate MSAs, BioEmu to predict trajectories, and Foldseek to cluster conformations.
Thanks @jjimenezluna.bsky.social for the help!
🌐 colab.research.google.com/github/sokry...
📄 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Thanks @jjimenezluna.bsky.social for the help!
🌐 colab.research.google.com/github/sokry...
📄 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Google Colab
colab.research.google.com
March 29, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Run BioEmu in Colab - just click "Runtime → Run all"! Our notebook uses ColabFold to generate MSAs, BioEmu to predict trajectories, and Foldseek to cluster conformations.
Thanks @jjimenezluna.bsky.social for the help!
🌐 colab.research.google.com/github/sokry...
📄 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Thanks @jjimenezluna.bsky.social for the help!
🌐 colab.research.google.com/github/sokry...
📄 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Rommie Amaro
Wow. California State University, UC-Berkeley, UC-Davis, UC-San Diego and U of SF are ALL urging foreign-born students, faculty and staff to reconsider international travel because there's no telling whether the Trump administration will allow them to re-enter.
www.desertsun.com/story/news/n...
www.desertsun.com/story/news/n...
Trump travel ban: California colleges urge international students to rethink travel plans
At least one university said it doesn't recommend international travel as a possible travel ban that could impact more than 40 countries looms.
www.desertsun.com
March 29, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Wow. California State University, UC-Berkeley, UC-Davis, UC-San Diego and U of SF are ALL urging foreign-born students, faculty and staff to reconsider international travel because there's no telling whether the Trump administration will allow them to re-enter.
www.desertsun.com/story/news/n...
www.desertsun.com/story/news/n...
Reposted by Rommie Amaro
Turns out a colander works pretty well for eclipse spotting.
#SolarEclipse
#SolarEclipse
March 29, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Turns out a colander works pretty well for eclipse spotting.
#SolarEclipse
#SolarEclipse
Reposted by Rommie Amaro
Peak occlusion at about 11:05 GMT. Light cloud, which gives a halo effect.
March 29, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Peak occlusion at about 11:05 GMT. Light cloud, which gives a halo effect.