Mark English

Perspective "Without access to accurate and timely data, scientists’ work will become more difficult, and we will understand less about the world." "Disappearing Data at the U.S. Federal Government" by Janet Freilich, J.D., W. Nicholson Price II, J.D., Ph.D., and Aaron S. Kesselheim, M.D., J.D., M.P.H.

Starting in January 2025, various government health datasets were removed, restored, manipulated, or not posted as planned. The authors of a new Perspective write that the consequences of these changes could be far-reaching. Read the full Perspective: nej.md/4bYvujL

#MedSky #HealthPolicy

Agree - they give such valuable input. I’m hoping I can work on more of these projects

CDC Staff Prohibited From Co-Authoring Papers With World Health Organization Personnel It’s just the latest “Orwellian” crackdown on government scientists.

I don’t even know how this could be presented as being in service of anything other than hindering scientific progress.

‘A bloodbath’: HIV field is reeling after billions in U.S. funding are axed USAID’s promises to support lifesaving efforts are broken, putting millions in peril

"Bloodbath" is an apt description. The number of deaths that will occur as a direct result of U.S. funding being axed is no different from indiscriminate bombing erasing entire populations during a war. It is tantamount to genocide. The U.S. was once the "good" guy.
www.science.org/content/arti...

Dr. Collins noted that when he was recruited to the institutes, and through many of the years that followed, “investment in medical research was seen as a high priority and a nonpolitical bipartisan effort — saving countless lives, relieving human suffering and contributing substantially to the U.S. economy.” “N.I.H. is the largest supporter of biomedical research in the world,” he wrote. “It is the main piston of a biomedical discovery engine that is the envy of the globe. Yet it is not a household name. It should be.” He went on: “When you hear about patients surviving stage 4 cancer because of immunotherapy, that was based on N.I.H. research over many decades. When you hear about sickle-cell disease being cured because of CRISPR gene editing, that was built on many years of research supported by N.I.H.”

Francis Collins led the mapping of the human genome, and chose to do big scientific to benefit the public. He is a a former NIH Director.
He just resigned his position in government. His resignation letter:
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/01/u...

Anyone got any inkling of the FDA job cuts affecting drug approvals? During a call today, my client was concerned there could be a delay on a FDA decision on an IND application. I’m not sure if this is a one-off concern or other companies are concerned #medcomms

Freelance medical writers, what are you doing when a client gives you a KM curve and you want to edit the x and y axis labels for a journal submission. How do you do it? Prism, pay for a graphic design to do it, or something else? TIA 😊 #medcomms

Great variety there Jane. Enjoy!

Sounds fab! You’re covering quite a few therapies there 😊

Done! 😊

Ooh, I miss on-site work. Such a buzz. Enjoy!

So, #medcomms folks. What is your week looking like? I have a haem-onc manuscript to work on, tidy up some project admin from when I was very busy and some projects ongoing publication management for my biotech client. I’m still not sure if it’s a busy or bitty week so I haven’t pushed for more work

I am hoping there is the opportunity for more informal discussions here vs some of the more showy posts I see on LinkedIn, e.g. We are going to ISMPP etc. Nothing wrong with those posts, but if I am not going to ISMPP, it gives me nothing.

Sounds similar. In the past, I only worked with one client so I could be reactive and a true team member on an account. About a year ago, I realised I couldn’t do this any more.

You have a very good presence on LinkedIn, I am not surprised that you have had more work from it. Good for you 😊

Oh good! I always feel very nervous when driving to Sedbergh

The same happened on Twitter a few years ago when I started out freelancing. I got an about 5 years of work from posting about oncology. The pool of freelancers is much much larger now, so I’m not sure if that would happen again.

What’s the latest on #medcomms layoffs? I’ve a friend in a US office of a UK-based agency who has been laid off. Are layoffs widespread or is this a rarity? If you know of any US-based jobs for medical directors, do let me know and I will pass it on. New Jersey based, remote ideal.

Good question. I did post an enthusiastic post about on oncology two years ago and winged a freelance publications manager role for a cancer vaccine biotech two years ago which is ongoing but I don’t market myself at all. That was just a day in which I verbalised my enthusiasm for oncology.

I’m seeing two types of freelancers in #medcomms: those who market themselves enthusiastically on LinkedIn and those who find the whole LinkedIn thing exhausting. I’m sitting between the two, but I am starting to think about marketing myself a bit better on LinkedIn. What about you?

Are the Internet and AI affecting our memory? What the science says Search engines, GPS maps and other tech can alter our ability to learn and remember. Now scientists are working out what AI might do.

Are people using Google as a memory bank - weakening their own memory?

https://go.nature.com/42KG3V1

I loved Eleanor’s comment that work is no longer falling out of the sky. I think it’s a great description. I have been very fortunate and still have lots of work but the reassurance of never needing to market myself has gone. I suspect a website update is due given it’s terribly old!

Here is my updated #medcomms starter pack. Who else do I need to add? go.bsky.app/TMnsFvs

Who else is playing project pass the parcel this week? Lots of clients are trying to flick jobs off this week I notice #medcomms

go.bsky.app/TMnsFvs

The #medcomms starter pack is growing. Who else do I need to add?
If you want to be removed, do message me 😊

2/2… My understanding is that this comes under the commercial permission request and NCCN do not disclose the commercial costs on their website. I am really just looking for a rough guide, I.e. is it 100’s or 1,000’s of dollars?

#medcomms hivemind - I need your help. Does anyone have examples of the costs for citing NCCN guidelines in a clinical trial manuscript funded by a pharmaceutical company?

#AcademicSky #MedSky #Metascience

THREAD

So your Attention Score went down because people are rage-deleting their Twitter accounts.

Why is that happening? Should I be worried? Should I see my doctor?

Let's get into what the Attention Score actually is, how it's impacted by posts and deletions, WITH THE HELP OF MEMES.
1/20

Up early on a Saturday to work on a funding application for a U.S. biotech. I have not done anything like this since my days in academia. I love the variety that freelancing in #medcomms gives