folks, I've never lived through years of mass political violence but I do study it for a living: you don't want to live through years of political violence.

It’s not simply important to denounce political violence because it looks bad not to. It’s the right thing to do on the merits. Even more specifically to this moment it’s important because the forces of fascism are inherently better at political violence than the forces of civic democracy.

Wow. New NBC poll finds 78% support vaccines, including 72% of independents and 67% of Republicans. As I keep trying to argue, Democrats should polarize the shit out of the vaccine/public health debate. Make people take sides. It will split Republicans and MAGA. See this:

MAHA gold-standard science. By @glaucomflecken.bsky.social

The US could see a 30-40% decline in new international student enrollment, resulting in nearly $7 billion in lost revenue and more than 60,000 fewer American jobs. https://www.nafsa.org/fall-2025-international-student-enrollment-outlook-and-economic-impact

This is the message we have to keep trying to send. NIH is good on its merits and good on the economics. Regular people have NO IDEA. Keep communicating with the normal folks in your circle about the economic impacts of these cuts. It’s not on TV or in the paper.

“If you are taking an F.D.A.-approved drug that is improving the quality or length of your life, there is a 99 percent chance N.I.H. was involved in the pathway to its discovery.” www.nytimes.com/2025/03/24/h...

From 2010 to 2016 (latest data I have ), NIH research contributed to EVERY drug approved by the FDA

You seem stressed. Here's some footage of the double-decker trolley bus, a transport world rara avis. Trackless trolleys in West London (Twickenham, Isleworth, Chiswick) the early 1960s. Don't you feel better now?

This level of toxicity and disorganization at NIH is heartbreaking and terrifying.

This is completely fucked up. I know everything is fucked up, but THIS is why universities need to stand up and fight, not cave like Columbia did. NOTHING will satisfy them, and all the capitulation just leads to more demands and humiliation.

Get Rekt

New report shows that NIH grants fueled $95 billion in economic activity and 407,782 jobs in 2024. That's not to mention the countless lives that biomedical research has saved. Show me a better investment than that. www.forbes.com/sites/michae...

NIH website and all of its subsites are down. NSF and CDC remain up.

The Department of Health and Human Services has pressed the NIH to ignore court orders, dismissing NIH lawyers' advice to resume business as usual, @katherinejwu.com reports. As of this week, some institutes and centers are still not issuing any new grants: theatln.tc/MVl9uWmj

The FDA cancelled an upcoming meeting of experts scheduled to discuss next year’s flu shots, stoking fears among scientists who worry that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will use his position as health secretary to sow doubts about vaccines.

Many politicians & CEOs are ignorant about / indifferent to science, but with Trump–Musk and their stooges, it's more. They outright hate science. Presumably this is another manifestation of their insecurity, a deep resentment because scientists get credit for their hard work and good brains.

I chatted with a program director at NIH for a half hour just now It's clear that the people who make American science happen are doing everything they can to keep making it happen in a very difficult environment They deserve our respect and gratitude

NEW Republican Congressman Troy Balderson, who reps an R+18 district in Ohio, says President Trump’s executive orders are “getting out of control.” “Congress has to decide whether or not the Departmnet of Education goes away. Not the president. Not Elon Musk. Congress decides,” Balderson said.

Special shout out this AM to NIH 🧪 grant mgmt specialists, POs, and SROs during this chaotic time - THANK YOU for caring for our grants and uploading scores/summary statements despite the unprecedented challenges you may be facing. You are science warriors and we APPRECIATE & SUPPORT YOU 🫶

Non-smoking lung cancer patient: “NIH funding cuts could cost me my life, and that of millions of others” thehill.com/opinion/heal...

The Trump admin has "disrupted the response" to bird flu by withholding reports and canceling meetings with both Congress and state health officials, leading to confusion and concern among federal staff, states, veterinarians and health experts. www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...

This is the message for your “normal” friends. The administration is the best ally of cancer in the US currently.

Viewpoint: The US faces a crisis in child and adolescent health and well-being, necessitating a transformation of the health care system. ja.ma/41mWIgp #MedSky

Project 2025 was unpopular because of things like the plan for Trump to shut down the CFPB, which helps you get your money back if a bank cheats you.

Today is International Day for Women and Girls in Science. Given the massive onslaught on DEI initiatives in the US right now, this day feels incredibly important to make a note of. Science is improved by diversity, and diversity does not happen on its own. #idwgs

All scientific and good governance concerns aside (and lord knows there’s a lot) the economic argument that there will be an incredibly negative impact by cutting NIH dollars is important to get out to the general public and representatives in both parties.

I’m on an airplane today and I’m the only one in a mask. Several folks around me clearly with URI. One I want to give tamiflu empirically. It’s bad out here! Be safe.

UPMC, the largest healthcare system in Pennsylvania (and our largest employer) is reinstating a masking mandate beginning on Wednesday in response to the levels of COVID, RSV and influenza. Take that as a sign. If you have stopped masking, there's no reason not to start again.

Aside from the many other concerns, this NIH cut would be catastrophic to the economy of states like Ohio.

A few factoids about NIH grants: - The max salary NIH will pay is capped ($221,900) - The max budget for an R01 (the standard research grant) is $500K, unchanged since 1993 (!) - Only 1 in 5 submitted grants are funded, after intense peer review NIH is a careful steward of taxpayer money.

Elon Musk wants to strip out payments for the indirect costs of doing vital research for the federal govt — while SpaceX gets to keep its undisclosed indirect rate.

The ATS applauds 22 state attorneys general in challenging NIH medical research funding cut. Friday's NIH action to cut life-saving medical research is prohibited by law. www.nbcboston.com/news/local/n...

Helpful table to determine how much your University or health system is set to lose if the NIH indirect cap is suddenly lowered to 15%. For SJSU it is $374k which is on the smaller end but devastating considering our other budget issues. datawrapper.dwcdn.net/l0ZqA/8/

This is the most relevant article to NIH and research cuts I’ve seen. Imagine if this was today , how many people would be saying “Why are we studying Gila Monsters and their impact on diabetes ? That’s wasted money !” globalnews.ca/news/9793403...

The NIH’s drastic cut to indirect cost rates is a critical threat to U.S. research infrastructure These costs are not a waste or luxury — they make groundbreaking discoveries possible www.statnews.com/2025/02/08/n...

Pfizer and the cancer drugs they make would not exist without the NIH and the infrastructure support of the US government.

Pro tip: when explaining the NIH cuts to friends and family, use "research infrastructure" rather than "indirect costs" or, godforbid, "overhead." DOGE just slashed the budget for research infrastructure. It's accurate and it drives home that the fight is over jobs and facilities, not "waste."

My #Yale colleague Harlan Krumholz explains why the cuts to indirect costs are a disaster for biomedical research in the United States. Want to do something about it? I'll list those who have to hear from us below. Share, recruit friends and family to help. 1/ www.statnews.com/2025/02/08/n....

Good explainer about NIH events and impact today. My instinct is that about 10-20% of research institutions will survive this change.

As someone who regularly used AI for things much simpler than routing airplanes, and who has recently flown a lot, this is completely terrifying.

If you have feelings about RFK and his overall fitness to run HHS, here is some information on how to call your senators in whichever state you live and work!

I am writing two NIH grants and co-organizing a meeting set for 2026. I have no idea what will even happen tomorrow! Cognitive dissonance is a major aspect of physician scientist life generally but this is definitely a bit much.

Destabilization of reality in the US is about to reach surreal heights. Protect your mind. Monitor stress levels. Do not doomscroll--it does not help. Be selective about when and how long you expose your brain to this. Do what you can when you can.

This story is bananas. "A team including current and former employees of Musk assumed command of OPM on Jan. 20 ... They have moved sofa beds onto the fifth floor of the agency's headquarters, which contains the director's office and can only be accessed with a security badge or a security escort."

If you have feelings about RFK and his overall fitness to run HHS, here is some information on how to call your senators in whichever state you live and work!

Really cannot urge you enough to call your members of Congress right now. I just talked to my very red state, Trump-supporting senator's office. Much to my surprise, they were very receptive to my feedback and seemed extremely concerned. This feels like a rare opportunity to be heard.

PSA: Take a break from the doom scrolling. One of the most important things you can do today is CALL your elected officials and voice your concerns. Every call matters as staff keep count of how many care about an issue, which gives officials justification to speak up and fight.

SRO seems confident that the mid-Feb IRL study section I'm slated for will be held as planned, and my travel was purchased this afternoon thru the NIH World Travel link... 😬