Isabel Ruehl is a former editorial intern at Spectrum. She recently graduated from Columbia Journalism School and, before that, earned an M.Phil. in Health, Medicine and Society from Cambridge University in the United Kingdom.
Isabel Ruehl
Former news intern
Spectrum
From this contributor
‘Science working as it should’: Autism blood signature study earns open post-publication review
Shortly after the study’s publication, experts critiqued it on PubPeer and other online platforms.
‘Science working as it should’: Autism blood signature study earns open post-publication review
By
Isabel Ruehl
10 January 2023 | 5 min read
Whole-genome trove ties new genes, variants to autism
A massive update to the MSSNG dataset gives qualified researchers ready access to explore autism’s genetic architecture on a cloud-based platform.
Whole-genome trove ties new genes, variants to autism
By
Isabel Ruehl
12 December 2022 | 4 min read
Autism incidence in England varies by ethnicity, class, location
High rates of autism are linked to lower socioeconomic status and minority ethnic groups, according to the largest-ever autism incidence study.
Autism incidence in England varies by ethnicity, class, location
By
Isabel Ruehl
6 December 2022 | 5 min read
‘Assembloids’ lay bare autism-linked genes that hamper neuron development
The model enables the study of autism-linked genes at the earliest stages of neural development.
‘Assembloids’ lay bare autism-linked genes that hamper neuron development
By
Isabel Ruehl
30 November 2022 | 4 min read
Lab-grown ‘embryoids’ offer new window into gene-trait relationships
The developmental models have advantages over natural embryos and other synthetic models, such as organoids, but present technical and ethical challenges.
Lab-grown ‘embryoids’ offer new window into gene-trait relationships
By
Isabel Ruehl
26 October 2022 | 4 min read
Explore more from The Transmitter
Nuclear location helps control gene activity during brain development
A study of developing human brain tissue suggests that genes switch on more strongly when they move from the nucleus’s edge toward structures that contain proteins involved in making and processing RNA.
Nuclear location helps control gene activity during brain development
A study of developing human brain tissue suggests that genes switch on more strongly when they move from the nucleus’s edge toward structures that contain proteins involved in making and processing RNA.
By
Giorgia Guglielmi
20 August 2026 | 4 min read
Five-year-old human brain organoids aged on schedule
The cultured spheres typically mimic only prenatal development, but the five-year-old ones grown in Paola Arlotta’s lab acquired postnatal features.
Five-year-old human brain organoids aged on schedule
The cultured spheres typically mimic only prenatal development, but the five-year-old ones grown in Paola Arlotta’s lab acquired postnatal features.
By
Claudia López Lloreda
19 August 2026 | 5 min read
Marco Facchin explores the ever-shifting landscape of neuroscience theory and philosophy
Computational explanations of cognition, though powerful, aren't the only game in town.
Marco Facchin explores the ever-shifting landscape of neuroscience theory and philosophy
Computational explanations of cognition, though powerful, aren't the only game in town.
By
Paul Middlebrooks
19 August 2026 | 1 min read