Kristina Visscher

Every reputable expert I know considers mRNA vaccine technology to be one of the most revolutionary advances in medicine in our lifetimes. Its inventors won the Nobel Prize in 2023. Shutting it down now is pointless self-harm to humanity.

I recently spoke with a promising early stage physician scientist who has decided to focus on clinical duties rather than get stuck writing grants that are unlikely to be funded. Sad for the field to lose this people like this!!!

Week 28 July 28 - Aug 1, 2025 - failing down the garden path

Each Friday I summarize what happened in science 🧪& higher ed. This was Week 28:

- $300M frozen at UCLA + updates on university “deals”
- jobs report, Bureau of Labor Statistics firing & data quality fears
- Corporation for Public Broadcasting shutting down

+ more at buttondown.com/liminalcreat...

🌍🧠 Join us for the OHBM & SEA-SIG Virtual Satellite Meeting!
📅 Sept 10–12, 2025 | 🕛 12–15 UTC
💻 Online via Zoom
🔗 More info: https://humanbrainmapping.org/25SEASIG
#OHBM #SEASIG

It goes without saying that it is complete and utter bullshit to imply that funding is controlled by a small group of highly paid, unaccountable insiders.

Every grant is reviewed by a panel of other researchers and ranked for scientific merit. And it’s not just one panel. There are more than 175.

Each review panel has 20-40 different members.

In conclusion, a “small group” of “unaccountable insiders” do not control scientific research.

public.csr.nih.gov/StudySection...

14 Republican senators urge White House to release delayed #NIH funds. #sciencenews #scipolicy www.politico.com/news/2025/07...

Just completed the last cycle in a 4-year stint as a member of the "Neurobiology of Motivated Behavior" study section, which reviews NIH grant proposals. Each meeting has left me impressed with the dedication and professionalism of fellow reviewers and NIH staff - its been an honor!

For the life of me, I cannot fathom the rationale for any of this. Utter wanton destruction of one of the best research ecosystems in the world.

Trump Administration Puts New Chokehold on Billions in Health-Research Funding The National Institutes of Health can’t award grants to outside researchers under a new White House restriction.

The NIH can’t award ANY grants to outside researchers under new WH restriction, reports @wsj.com.

The pause came in the form of a footnote from OMB Director Vought, in a document that doles out federal funds to the NIH.

Prelude to rescissions, especially after his comments over the weekend?

Everyone call tomorrow. Vought needs to be outed as the extremist he is. Chances are those 14 republicans already knew this was coming when they addressed the letter to HIM last Friday asking him to use the appropriated funds for FY2025.

'Significant evidence' ties air pollution with dementia, study finds - UPI.com British researchers say data from more than 29 million people across four continents strengthens the evidence of a link between air pollution and dementia.

UPI: 'Significant evidence' ties air pollution with dementia, study finds

#Dementia #Alzheimers
#BrainHealth #Aging
#Seniors #AirQuality
#AirPollution

"They also concluded the risks of dementia go up as the levels of exposure increase ..."

www.upi.com/Health_News/...

The oil industry buys off Congress. No action on climate.

The NRA buys off Congress. No action on guns.

Insurance companies buy off Congress. No action on health care.

The list goes on and on.

Money in politics is the root of our dysfunction.

NIH: The quiet engine of science is being dismantled And what you can do

"Federal research is the quiet engine behind the treatments, vaccines, and tools that keep us healthy. Americans are now getting at least 5,500 fewer research questions answered."
yourlocalepidemiologist.substack.com/p/nih-the-qu...

Media registration now open for Neuroscience 2025 — the world’s premier neuroscience event | EurekAlert! www.eurekalert.org/news-release...

I am no constitutional scholar, but I can't help but feel that "the President gets to dictate what every university can teach and what every television station should broadcast" is closer to what the founding fathers were worried about when it comes to free speech than trigger warnings on syllabi.

An exciting collaboration is underway. @neuromatch.bsky.social is partnering with @thetransmitter.bsky.social to serve the #ComputationalNeuroscience community and help connect #neuroscientists across all career stages.

➡️ Sign up now: neuromatch.io/mailing-list/

The UK did have one standout product that was considered globally valuable- universities- and unilaterally decided to stop providing the product because it was more important to be xenophobic than successful

No advice, but I have been having the exact conversation this week. Interested in what you end up with. My thinking is, it would be only for raw data. But it does seem like a PITA.

WGA statement on Paramount’s decision to cancel the Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

When the shakedown is rewarded, the goons keep doing it.

Image 1

🔗: https://www.al.com/politics/2025/07/10-good-trouble-alabama-protests-planned-against-trump-immigration-policies-health-care-cuts.html

The nationwide protests are in response to recent ICE raids and health care cuts carried out by the Trump administration.

Today the nation celebrates the life of John Lewis. “When you see something that is not the way it should be, don’t be afraid. Speak up, speak out, be courageous.”
— John Lewis, Carry On
@indivisible.org @50501alabama.bsky.social

The independence of the Fed is critical to the stability of our financial markets.

If Donald Trump destroys that, then he tanks our markets and causes more economic pain for Americans.

“He said: ‘You know why I do it? I do it to discredit you all and demean you all so that when you write negative stories about me no one will believe you.’"
Stahl paused for a moment after quoting Trump to the assembled journalists.
“He said that. So, put that in your head for a minute.”

I confess I’ve made this exact claim for years without solid evidential support. But maybe it’s true! www.cambridge.org/core/journal... via @justincaouette.bsky.social

STANFORD BIOSCIENCES AFFIRMATION** September 23, 2019 As I embark on my career as a scientist, I willingly pledge that: I will practice and support a scientific process that is based on logic, intellectual rigor, personal integrity, and an uncompromising respect for the truth; I will perform my professional activities and interactions with scientific integrity and respect for the field and my peers; I will acknowledge that science involves failures and can be frustrating, thus I will treat myself and my colleagues with kindness and compassion as we deal with temporary setbacks on the path to progress; I will acknowledge my role as an ambassador of science to the public, and will strive to be honest, respectful, and unbiased while engaging the public; I will never let the potential for personal recognition, profit or advancement cause me to act in a way that violates the public trust in science or in me as a scientist; I will foster a community that is inclusive of all and recognize that diversity cultivates innovation, creativity, and progress; I will acknowledge and honor the contributions of scientists who have preceded me and become a worthy role model deserving of respect by those who follow me; And I will always be cognizant that my work is for the advancement of knowledge and the benefit of all humanity and our world.

This is an excellent statement of scientific values that we should all strive to uphold. 🧪🧠🤖

Sharing from @suryaganguli.bsky.social , who said this is the Stanford Med affirmation that all their PhD grads sign. 1/

Tapping the sign that says “NSF, NIH, and public investment into basic research are the real engines of US innovation”

Image 1

The City of Homewood is asking for the petition filed by Jabari Peoples’ family seeking release of video in his June 23 shooting death to be dismissed.

Read more: https://www.al.com/news/2025/07/homewood-fights-effort-to-release-video-of-jabari-peoples-shooting-death.html