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.

This is NOT the America I know

Posted on 14 January 2018 by Steve Caplan

This is NOT the America I know I am an American by birth, although until the age of 34, I never lived in the United States except as a baby. Thus, I am here by choice. And I am saddened … Continue reading →

Posted in freedom, Haiti, immigrant, immigrants, Mexico, science, shithole, Trump, United States | Comments Off on This is NOT the America I know

Run with Science, Dr. Julia Biggins!

Posted on 7 January 2018 by Steve Caplan

Dr. Julia Biggins, Democratic candidate for Representative of Virginia’s 10th District One of the few positive outcomes of the Trump presidency, is that some people have become so fed up with the quality of those in elected office, that they … Continue reading →

Posted in 2018 midterm elections, anti-science, CDC, Dr. Julia Biggins, EPA, evidence based, no puppet, Pruitt, Research, science, science-based, scientists, stable genius, truth, Virginia 10th District, war-on-science, war-on-truth | Comments Off on Run with Science, Dr. Julia Biggins!

Reversing Copernicus

Posted on 16 December 2017 by Steve Caplan

The revolutionary advance in our understanding of the universe, as proposed by Copernicus. Donald Trump heads the single most anti-science administration that has ever set foot in the White House. It is fortunate that this self-centered, narcissistic personality, who born … Continue reading →

Posted in anti-science, evidence based, incompetent, science, science-based, Trump, White house | Comments Off on Reversing Copernicus

A Sad Sign of the Times

Posted on 9 December 2017 by Steve Caplan

This past week, my graduate student, my post-doctoral fellow, and I flew out to Philadelphia for the annual American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) meeting. This 2007 meeting was my 20th year as an ASCB member, and marks 20 years … Continue reading →

Posted in American Society for Cell Biology, ASCB, immigration, postdoc, posters, presentation, public policy committee, Research, science, student | Comments Off on A Sad Sign of the Times

Prayer works–or does it? Shall we ask the murdered?

Posted on 8 November 2017 by Steve Caplan

No sooner had I penned my piece exposing the hypocrisy and weak-kneed leadership of Republican Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, when he has made new headlines with another smug, holier-than-thou, awful and divisive statement–that is also wrong. Following the … Continue reading →

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Paul Ryan, it’s time to go home

Posted on 4 November 2017 by Steve Caplan

It has now been a full year since the elections that brought a morally reprehensible person into the White House. By now, any remaining negligible hope that the man who was elected president might “pivot” and show even a semblance … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, election, hostage video, Jason Chaffetz, Mitt Romney, moral clarity, Paul Ryan, president, Republicans, tax reform, USA, White house | Comments Off on Paul Ryan, it’s time to go home

A danger to science and so much more

Posted on 29 October 2017 by Steve Caplan

Recent polls demonstrate that a shocking number of Americans believe ridiculous conspiracy theories. For example, nearly 1/3 of Americans believe that the Federal Drug Administration in the US deliberately withholds new drugs that target cancer from the American public. In addition, … Continue reading →

Posted in conspiracy theories, Conway, education, facts, Obama, science, science Trump, truth | Comments Off on A danger to science and so much more

Why we need to better educate the public about science–and stop bill “S. 1973, The Basic Research Act”

Posted on 24 October 2017 by Steve Caplan

The 20th and 21st centuries have arguably been the “Golden Age” for science in the US and other developed countries. Within a generation we have gone from people routinely dying as a result of simple bacterial infections to the power … Continue reading →

Posted in bill S. 1973, biomedical research, CRISP/Cas9, Darwin, education, enzymes, funding, grant review, medical advances, National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, NIH, NSF, peer review, Rand Paul, Research, science, taxpayer advocate, The Basic research Act, vaccinations | Comments Off on Why we need to better educate the public about science–and stop bill “S. 1973, The Basic Research Act”

Thin slicing a thin-skinned president

Posted on 21 October 2017 by Steve Caplan

A wonderful elementary school friend who I haven’t seen for over 40 years recently drew my attention to a Canadian journalist and author named Malcolm Gladwell. I first read his book “Outliers,” a book that examined how the very most … Continue reading →

Posted in Blink, Gladwell, Outliers, Politics, president, Research, science, thin slicing, Trump | Comments Off on Thin slicing a thin-skinned president

Corruption is contagious: just ask the former US Health and Human Services Secretary

Posted on 30 September 2017 by Steve Caplan

This week, as Caribbean Islands including Puerto Rico are struggling from the horrific effects of Hurricane Maria, as running water and electricity have all but disappeared, and as the first rumors of possible cholera have emerged from the rubble, America’s … Continue reading →

Posted in chartered jets, CRISPR/Cas9, Dan Diamond, Doudna, funding, grants, NIH, private jets, Rachana Pradhan, Research, science, Tom Price, Trump, waste, Zhang | Comments Off on Corruption is contagious: just ask the former US Health and Human Services Secretary