A misstep in the multistep process of fast inactivation.

JGP study (Liu and Bezanilla. https://doi.org/10.

Cindy Ma: Science is often not black and white, and the answer usually lies in the grey.

Professor Cindy Ma heads the Human Immune Disorders Laboratory at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research. She is a member of the Garvan Faculty, holds a conjoint appointment with UNSW Sydney (School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health), and is an NHMRC of Australia Investigator Grant Fellow (L1). Her research interests lie in the study of human diseases of the immune system such as primary immunodeficiencies due to inborn errors of immunity (IEI), resulting from disease-causing monogenic germline variants.

Kazuyo Moro: Building relationships is essential for gaining both speed and opportunities in research.

Professor Kazuyo Moro holds dual appointments as a team leader for the Laboratory for Innate Immune Systems at RIKEN IMS as well as Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine. Her lab conducts multifaceted research on type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2), from ILC2 differentiation, activation, suppression, and transcriptional control mechanisms, as well as basic research and drug discovery. The research from Prof.

A new stress test for ryanodine receptors.

JGP study (Steinz et al. https://doi.org/10.

Terez Shea-Donohue: Optimism helps, and confidence in your work is critical.

Terez Shea-Donohue is the program director of the Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of the National Institutes of Health. As a program director, Terez supports basic and translational research related to neurogastroenterology, gastrointestinal (GI), and GI epithelial barrier function. We spoke to Terez about the transition from active research to a predominantly administrative job, the need for life-long mentorship, and the continued sex/gender bias in health care.

Grammotoxin increases its toxic behavior.

This JGP study (Collaço et al. https://doi.org/10.

Judy Lieberman: Stay curious and excited about science.

Judy Lieberman is a professor of pediatrics and adjunct professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School and an endowed chair in cellular and molecular medicine. Her lab studies cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), key cells in the immune defense against viral infection and cancer, as well as molecular pathways activated by the granzymes, and how RNA interference (RNAi) regulates cell differentiation in health and disease states. We spoke to Judy about advice for early career researchers, how she first become interested in cytotoxic T lymphocytes, and key people who have provided mentorship across her career.

Sarah Gaffen: I thrive on turning my vision for the lab into reality.

Sarah Gaffen, PhD, is a professor of medicine and rheumatology and holds the Gerald P. Rodnan endowed chair at the University of Pittsburgh. Her lab explores the biological function of IL-17 and its receptor in the context of fungal host defense and autoimmunity.

Kv1.1 channels help set the pace.

JGP study (Si et al. https://doi.org/10.

Linda-Gail Bekker: Mentorship is critical for anyone in STEM.

Linda-Gail Bekker is a professor, chief executive officer of the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation, and director of the Desmond Tutu HIV Centre at the Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa. Her research interests include HIV treatment and prevention and tuberculosis, and she is active in developing community projects to promote education and research. We talked to Linda-Gail about her career, the importance of mentorship, and how rewarding it is to collaborate, mentor, and uplift other scientists.

The S1 helix is a VIP in VSP.

JGP study (Rayaprolu et al. https://doi.org/10.

Irene Salinas: The joy of continuous growth and learning.

Irene Salinas is a professor in the Department of Biology, University of New Mexico. Her lab uses multiple animal models to study nasal immunity and neuroimmune interactions in the olfactory-central nervous system axis in response to microorganisms. We recently spoke with Irene about her current work, her diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work, and how her leadership style has changed over the years.

A mutation that prevents myosin from overcoming its inhibitions.

JGP study (Duno-Miranda et al. https://doi.org/10.

Xiaoyu Hu: Let the data guide you.

Xiaoyu Hu is a professor and director of the Institute for Immunology at Tsinghua University. Her lab is interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the transcriptional, translational, and metabolic mechanisms of the key cell types involved in host defense and inflammatory responses: macrophages and intestinal epithelial cells (IECs). We recently spoke with Xiaoyu about her current work, the benefits of a multidisciplinary team, and how being part of journal editorial boards brings her intellectual stimulation and inspiration for her own lab.

RyR2 phosphorylation alters dyad architecture.

JGP study (Asghari et al. 2024. J.

Rita Colwell: Use your voice to bring about positive change.

Rita Colwell is a Distinguished University Professor at the University of Maryland at College Park and at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, senior advisor and chairman emeritus at Canon US Life Sciences, Inc., founder and chairman of CosmosID, Inc., and president of the Rosalind Franklin Society.

SMR transporters meet the challenge of metformin metabolites.

JGP study (Lucero et al. http://www.doi.

How PKA helps cardiomyocytes Navigate chronic stress.

JGP study (Bernas et al. 2024. J.

Yukiko Gotoh: I am fascinated by the beauty of science.

Yukiko Gotoh is a professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Tokyo. Her lab studies the mechanisms that underlie the regulation of neural stem/progenitor cell fate during brain development and homeostasis. They are particularly interested in the underlying genetic and epigenetic mechanisms that control cell fate and neuronal maturation, as well as the relevance of neural stem/progenitor cell dysregulation in neurodevelopmental disorders.

Women in STEM becoming independent: Science thrives on diverse perspectives.

In this Viewpoint, we hear from a cross section of women, across multiple research fields, discussing their science and the process of setting up a lab as an independent researcher. As well as being able to celebrate the positives of becoming an independent researcher, we would also like to use this platform to discuss the unique challenges they face as women scientists in their respective scientific environments.

Examining the calcium sensitivity of skeletal muscle thick filaments.

JGP study (this issue, Caremani et al. https://doi.org/10.

XRCC3 loss leads to midgestational embryonic lethality in mice.

RAD51 paralogs are key components of the homologous recombination (HR) machinery. Mouse mutants have been reported for four of the canonical RAD51 paralogs, and each of these mutants exhibits embryonic lethality, although at different gestational stages. However, the phenotype of mice deficient in the fifth RAD51 paralog, XRCC3, has not been reported.

So you think you can edit?

This article presents one scientist's perspective on the transition from life at the bench to an editorial career.