Author Archives: Steve Caplan

About Steve Caplan

I am a Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska where I mentor a group of students, postdoctoral fellows and researchers working on endocytic protein trafficking. My first lablit novel, "Matter Over Mind," is about a biomedical researcher seeking tenure and struggling to overcome the consequences of growing up with a parent suffering from bipolar disorder. Lablit novel #2, "Welcome Home, Sir," published by Anaphora Literary Press, deals with a hypochondriac principal investigator whose service in the army and post-traumatic stress disorder actually prepare him well for academic, but not personal success. Novel #3, "A Degree of Betrayal," is an academic murder mystery. "Saving One" is my most recent novel set at the National Institutes of Health. Now IN PRESS: Today's Curiosity is Tomorrow's Cure: The Case for Basic Biomedical Research (CRC PRESS, 2021). https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B006CSULBW? All views expressed are my own, of course--after all, I hate advertising.

Brief Book Review: Lessons in Chemistry–a novel by Bonnie Garmus

Posted on 13 August 2022 by Steve Caplan

I can hardly keep up with the reading pace of some of my Occam’s Typewriter colleagues (looking at you, Dr. Gee—and I loved the Richard Osman recommendations!), but I have had the pleasure of reading a number of really good … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in Bonnie Garmus, book review, inequality, Lessons in Chemistry, misogyny, Research, reviews, science, Women in science | Comments Off on Brief Book Review: Lessons in Chemistry–a novel by Bonnie Garmus

Persistence: the essence of science in a nutshell

Posted on 17 July 2022 by Steve Caplan

In 2015, I wrote a blog that was published in The Guardian titled “Can we expect a MIRAcle for biomedical researchers in the US?” In this blog I outlined the radical new plan of the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) General … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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It’s out! Today’s Curiosity is Tomorrow’s Cure

Posted on 21 November 2021 by Steve Caplan

Today’s Curiosity is Tomorrow’s Cure: The Case for Basic Biomedical Research is now officially published and available from Routledge/Taylor & Francis/CRC Press on their website, from Amazon and all the regular book sellers, including Barnes & Nobles, Waterstones, etc. I’m … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Posted in angiogenesis, antibodies, basic research, DNA, education, genetic code, genetic engineering, GFP, great discoveries, penicillin, proteins, Research, RNA, science, science history, stem cells, ubiquitin | Comments Off on It’s out! Today’s Curiosity is Tomorrow’s Cure

Corner Office

Posted on 6 November 2021 by Steve Caplan

As a child, one of the most humiliating punishments at (elementary) school was being banished “to the corner” for bad behavior. Something to be avoided at all costs. But as an adult, I have learned that there are advantages to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Introducing Golgi, the Labrador Retriever

Posted on 22 August 2021 by Steve Caplan

Golgi waiting for a tennis ball throw. For now, we are forced to keep her in “the Golgi Compartment” (a bedroom) when we leave the home, so she will not destroy it! I as reported not long ago, we recently … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Today’s Curiosity is Tomorrow’s Cure: The Case for Basic Biomedical Research

Posted on 4 July 2021 by Steve Caplan

I am very excited to finally have my most recent book, “Today’s Curiosity is Tomorrow’s Cure: The Case for Basic Biomedical Research” in press and now available for preorder.  For a very long time I have been concerned that there is decreasing … Continue reading →

Posted in basic research, book, CRC, curiosity-driven research, disease-related research, education, Francis & Taylor, great discoveries, History of Science, Research, Routledge, science, Today's Curiosity is Tomorrow's Cure: The Case for Basic Biomedical Research, translational science | Comments Off on Today’s Curiosity is Tomorrow’s Cure: The Case for Basic Biomedical Research

A wonderful life

Posted on 5 June 2021 by Steve Caplan

Last week, the family and I were devastated to have to say goodbye to our 12 year old rescue dog, Ginger. All dogs are wonderful, perhaps, but Ginger was WONDERFUL and EXCEPTIONAL in so many ways. Sure, she was intelligent … Continue reading →

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A perfect experiment and the poop factor

Posted on 24 July 2020 by Steve Caplan

In the midst of the pandemic, it was time for me to plant my tomatoes. Being unwilling to visit local nurseries for obvious reasons, I did the next best thing and ordered 12 tomato plants online. The drawback was that … Continue reading →

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In the shadow of the great narcissist

Posted on 3 May 2020 by Steve Caplan

Having written my last post titled “Preliminary lessons from a global pandemic” on March 8, before my self-imposed sequestration at home for the past 6 weeks, I find it too depressing to write a sequel on additional lessons. Much has … Continue reading →

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Preliminary lessons from a global pandemic

Posted on 8 March 2020 by Steve Caplan

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) map of COVID-19 infections as of March 8, 2020 1)         All humans on this planet are one species, with a genetically identical composition. The Coronavirus doesn’t distinguish between any of the so-called “races” … Continue reading →

Posted in CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Coronavirus, COVID-19, infections, pandemic, Research, science | Comments Off on Preliminary lessons from a global pandemic