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KMW

@kmwil.bsky.social

I’m a liberal, a recovering Capitol Hill staffer, a science policy nerd, and the father of an LGBTQ+ kid. If you don’t like any of that, too damn bad. Go someplace else.

61 Followers  |  50 Following  |  25 Posts  |  Joined: 17.11.2024  |  2.2125

Latest posts by kmwil.bsky.social on Bluesky

"Sec. 239. None of the funds appropriated by this Act may be used to increase the proportion of multi-year grants awarded by the National Institutes of Health in fiscal year 2026 that are fully funded in the first year of the award, relative to the comparable proportion in fiscal year 2024, unless the National Institutes of Health awards at least the same number of total grants in fiscal year 2026 as in fiscal year 2024."

"Sec. 239. None of the funds appropriated by this Act may be used to increase the proportion of multi-year grants awarded by the National Institutes of Health in fiscal year 2026 that are fully funded in the first year of the award, relative to the comparable proportion in fiscal year 2024, unless the National Institutes of Health awards at least the same number of total grants in fiscal year 2026 as in fiscal year 2024."

Here's the provision to block multi-year funding:

(the bill text PDF will later be updated with this as an adopted amendment: www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/do...)

31.07.2025 20:30 — 👍 8    🔁 9    💬 0    📌 3
“Use It or Lose It!” - ASCB Fourteen Republican Senators have written to Russell Vought, Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB)—the agency responsible for developing the President’s annual budget propo...

Lawmakers to NIH: Use it or lose it.
14 Republican Senators—including key appropriators—are urging the White House to release NIH FY25 funds without delay, warning that stalled spending could harm future research budgets.
Read more: www.ascb.org/science-poli...

30.07.2025 17:15 — 👍 20    🔁 18    💬 0    📌 0

In June, CLS predicted that success rates would PLUMMET if NIH implemented multiyear funding.

NCI just confirmed.

9% down to 4%!!!!

#MathIsntHard

24.07.2025 16:40 — 👍 4    🔁 3    💬 0    📌 0
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CLS Objects to Multi-Year Funding Proposal - The Coalition for the Life Sciences The President's Budget for Fiscal Year 2026 includes a seemingly innocuous proposal to transition up to half of research projects grants to "multiyear funding." CLS predicts application success rates ...

Today CLS brings attention to a sleeper cell proposal in the President's NIH Budget for FY26: Multi-Year Awards.

Read our statement to learn why this "nothing to see here" boring-sounding proposal would actually be DEVASTATING to research.

www.coalitionforlifesciences.org/cls-objects-...

06.06.2025 16:51 — 👍 8    🔁 9    💬 0    📌 1
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CLS Objects to Multi-Year Funding Proposal - The Coalition for the Life Sciences The President's Budget for Fiscal Year 2026 includes a seemingly innocuous proposal to transition up to half of research projects grants to "multiyear funding." CLS predicts application success rates ...

Statement from the Coalition for Life Sciences:

28.07.2025 20:24 — 👍 16    🔁 12    💬 0    📌 0

Nope

03.07.2025 12:13 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
Society News Archives - ASCB

We can’t depend on a filibuster to “solve” a bad budget for either the NIH or NSF. You need to follow this advocacy alert and make sure those budgets are better than the huge cuts proposed. www.ascb.org/society-news...

02.07.2025 11:49 — 👍 2    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0
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Protect NIH and NSF Funding – Your Voice Is Urgently Needed - ASCB In the next six weeks, Congressional committees will decide how much funding the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) will receive for Fiscal Year 2026. While ...

We can’t depend on a filibuster to “solve” a bad budget for either the NIH or NSF. You need to follow this advocacy alert and make sure those budgets are better than the huge cuts proposed. www.ascb.org/society-news...

02.07.2025 11:48 — 👍 3    🔁 4    💬 0    📌 0
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🔊 Listen Now: NIH scientists sign Bethesda Declaration to protect biomedical science through Trump administration Here & Now from WBUR on NPR One | 6:30

If you missed the brave and articulate Jenna Norton - one of the hero researchers at #NIH who signed the Bethesda Declaration - on #NPR yesterday, check her extraordinary interview here.

one.npr.org?sharedMediaI...

#StandUpForScience
#BethesdaDeclaration
#SaveNIH
#StopTrump
#KillTheBill

11.06.2025 11:00 — 👍 107    🔁 34    💬 0    📌 2
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Bethesda Declaration — STAND UP FOR SCIENCE Support NIH Staff Now!

Today, @nihfellowsunited.bsky.social staff sent a powerful letter to the NIH Director outlining serious concerns about the agency’s direction. Thousands have already signed in support—add your name. – Mary Munson, ASCB President www.standupforscience.net/bethesda-dec...

09.06.2025 20:52 — 👍 126    🔁 49    💬 3    📌 3

So wrong 👩‍🔬#HigherEd

29.05.2025 03:37 — 👍 12    🔁 8    💬 0    📌 0
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NIH Research Funding at Risk—Take Action Now! - ASCB Along with supporting important scientific discoveries, federally funded scientific research has significant impact on state and local economies. It is estimated that, on average, every $1 of National...

Science is under attack. Proposed 40% NIH cut threatens jobs, research, and medical progress. Call your reps, governor, and mayor now—urge them to stand up for science.

www.ascb.org/science-poli...

09.05.2025 16:35 — 👍 62    🔁 40    💬 1    📌 1

Four scientific societies file amicus brief in APHA vs NIH (ACLU and others) lawsuit. These are some of the organizations involved in the MOSAIC program.

asm.org/press-releas...

02.05.2025 23:52 — 👍 143    🔁 46    💬 1    📌 1
NOT-OD-25-080: Rescission of the Final Scientific Integrity Policy of the National Institutes of Health NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts: Rescission of the Final Scientific Integrity Policy of the National Institutes of Health NOT-OD-25-080. OD

NIH has rescinded its scientific integrity policy. Hard to see this as anything other than clearing the way for shoddy research on things like vaccines. Regardless of the rationale, it's bad news for public health.

grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...

29.03.2025 20:04 — 👍 3755    🔁 1493    💬 119    📌 174
Peter Marks, MD, PhD
Director, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research U.S. Food and Drug Administration
10903 New Hampshire Avenue
Silver Spring, MD 20903
March 28, 2025
Sara Brenner, MD, MPH
Acting Commissioner of Food and Drugs
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
10903 New Hampshire Avenue
Silver Spring, MD 20903
Dear Dr. Brenner:
It is with a heavy heart that I have decided to resign from FDA and retire from federal service as Director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research effective April 5, 2025. I leave behind a staff of professionals who are undoubtedly the most devoted to protecting and promoting the public health of any group of people that I have encountered during my four decades working in the public and private sectors. I have always done my best to advocate for their well-being and I would ask that you do the same during this very difficult time during which their critical importance to the safety and security of our nation may be underappreciated.
Over the past years I have been involved in enhancing the safety of our nation's blood supply, in advancing the field of cell and gene therapy, and in responding to public health emergencies. In the last of these, during the COVID-19 pandemic I had the privilege of watching the vision that I conceived for Operation Warp Speed in March 2020 in collaboration with Dr. Robert Kadlec become a reality under the leadership of HHS Secretary Azar and President Trump due to the unwavering commitment of public servants at FDA and elsewhere across the government. At FDA, the tireless efforts of staff across the agency resulted in remarkably expediting the development of vaccines against the virus, meeting the standards for quality, safety, and effectiveness expected by the American public. The vaccines undoubtedly markedly reduced morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 in the United States and elsewhere. Many of these same individuals applied learnings from the pandemic during a flawless response helping…

Peter Marks, MD, PhD Director, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research U.S. Food and Drug Administration 10903 New Hampshire Avenue Silver Spring, MD 20903 March 28, 2025 Sara Brenner, MD, MPH Acting Commissioner of Food and Drugs U.S. Food and Drug Administration 10903 New Hampshire Avenue Silver Spring, MD 20903 Dear Dr. Brenner: It is with a heavy heart that I have decided to resign from FDA and retire from federal service as Director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research effective April 5, 2025. I leave behind a staff of professionals who are undoubtedly the most devoted to protecting and promoting the public health of any group of people that I have encountered during my four decades working in the public and private sectors. I have always done my best to advocate for their well-being and I would ask that you do the same during this very difficult time during which their critical importance to the safety and security of our nation may be underappreciated. Over the past years I have been involved in enhancing the safety of our nation's blood supply, in advancing the field of cell and gene therapy, and in responding to public health emergencies. In the last of these, during the COVID-19 pandemic I had the privilege of watching the vision that I conceived for Operation Warp Speed in March 2020 in collaboration with Dr. Robert Kadlec become a reality under the leadership of HHS Secretary Azar and President Trump due to the unwavering commitment of public servants at FDA and elsewhere across the government. At FDA, the tireless efforts of staff across the agency resulted in remarkably expediting the development of vaccines against the virus, meeting the standards for quality, safety, and effectiveness expected by the American public. The vaccines undoubtedly markedly reduced morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 in the United States and elsewhere. Many of these same individuals applied learnings from the pandemic during a flawless response helping…

ongoing multistate measles outbreak that is particularly severe in Texas reminds us of what happens when confidence in well-established science underlying public health and well-being is undermined.
Measles, which killed more than 100,000 unvaccinated children last year in Africa and Asia owing to pneumonitis and encephalitis caused by the virus, had been eliminated from our shores. The two-dose measles, mumps, rubella vaccine regimen (MMR) using over the past decades has a remarkably favorable benefit-risk profile. The MMR vaccine is 97% or more effective in preventing measles following the two-dose series, and its safety has been remarkably well studied. Though rarely followed by a single fever-related seizure, or very rarely by allergic reactions or blood clotting disorders, the vaccine very simply does not cause autism, nor is it associated with encephalitis or death. It does, however, protect against a potential devasting consequence of prior measles infection, subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), which is an untreatable, relentlessly progressive neurologic disorder leading to death in about 1 in 10,000 individuals infected with measles. Undermining confidence in well-established vaccines that have met the high standards for quality, safety, and effectiveness that have been in place for decades at FDA is irresponsible, detrimental to public health, and a clear danger to our nation's health, safety. and security.
In the years following the pandemic, at the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research we have applied the same unwavering commitment to public health priorities to the development of cell and gene therapies to address both hereditary and acquired rare diseases. During my tenure as Center Director we have approved 22 gene therapies, including the first gene therapy ever to be approved in the United States. However, we know that we must do better to expedite the development of treatments for those individual suffering from any one of the thousan…

ongoing multistate measles outbreak that is particularly severe in Texas reminds us of what happens when confidence in well-established science underlying public health and well-being is undermined. Measles, which killed more than 100,000 unvaccinated children last year in Africa and Asia owing to pneumonitis and encephalitis caused by the virus, had been eliminated from our shores. The two-dose measles, mumps, rubella vaccine regimen (MMR) using over the past decades has a remarkably favorable benefit-risk profile. The MMR vaccine is 97% or more effective in preventing measles following the two-dose series, and its safety has been remarkably well studied. Though rarely followed by a single fever-related seizure, or very rarely by allergic reactions or blood clotting disorders, the vaccine very simply does not cause autism, nor is it associated with encephalitis or death. It does, however, protect against a potential devasting consequence of prior measles infection, subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), which is an untreatable, relentlessly progressive neurologic disorder leading to death in about 1 in 10,000 individuals infected with measles. Undermining confidence in well-established vaccines that have met the high standards for quality, safety, and effectiveness that have been in place for decades at FDA is irresponsible, detrimental to public health, and a clear danger to our nation's health, safety. and security. In the years following the pandemic, at the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research we have applied the same unwavering commitment to public health priorities to the development of cell and gene therapies to address both hereditary and acquired rare diseases. During my tenure as Center Director we have approved 22 gene therapies, including the first gene therapy ever to be approved in the United States. However, we know that we must do better to expedite the development of treatments for those individual suffering from any one of the thousan…

Peter Marks’s resignation letter. Everyone should read this.

29.03.2025 02:29 — 👍 624    🔁 340    💬 15    📌 33
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Share Your Story Since January 20, Donald Trump, Elon Musk and Republicans' actions — many of them unconstitutional and in violation of federal law — have led to the firing of essential civil servants with responsibil...

Hey @altnih4science.bsky.social share your story about how the Trump administration is hurting science. democraticleader.house.gov/shareyourstory

27.03.2025 19:18 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

That’s because he’s stupid.

23.03.2025 01:21 — 👍 5    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

If you are represented by a Democratic Senator, you need to call them and ask them to start objecting to unanimous consent requests. A little inconvenience is the least our leaders should have to deal with. Call the main switchboard at 202-224-3121.
/4

12.03.2025 22:27 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

As they watch this country slowly fall apart, Senate Democrats need to realize their convenience is not important.
Fired federal employees don’t know how they are going to pay next month’s mortgage bill and LGBTQ+ kids are being told they don’t exist, to name just two things that are happening. /3

12.03.2025 22:27 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

Since the start of this year, there have been 556 unanimous consent requests in the Senate, 406 by Republicans and 150 by Democrats. Republicans have objected to 29 requests but Democrats have only objected to Republican requests 8 times. /2

/2

12.03.2025 22:26 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

In the Senate, unanimous consent (UC) requests are tools of procedure that allow business to be conducted with as little inconvenience as possible to Senators. If the request is simple there’s no reason to inconvenience Senators. But UCs can also pass bills, adjourn, and other actions. /1

12.03.2025 22:22 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0
Post image

Mark your calendar!

06.03.2025 14:59 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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Defend the National Institutes of Health: March 8 in Bethesda · People For the American Way Defend the National Institutes of Health. Stand up for Science. March 8 • Maryland Democratic Party Weekend of Action • Bethesda Join Congressional and Maryland leaders and advocates to protest the T...

www.mobilize.us/peoplefor/ev...

05.03.2025 22:41 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

It’s ironic that today is Fat Tuesday and Trump is giving the State of the Union Speech. Should we rename it Fat Shit Tuesday?

05.03.2025 00:45 — 👍 1    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0

202-224-2023

04.03.2025 23:01 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

I’m sorry Jeremy, we can’t keep praising these people for doing the minimum. If @baldwin.senate.gov is upset - she should be - she should DO SOMETHING! She belongs to the legislative body that protects rights of the minority party and she has a list of rules available to her. She should use them.

03.03.2025 23:30 — 👍 3    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0

All National Institues of Health websites are down.

02.03.2025 00:57 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Transgender individuals serving honorably in the military should not be purged.

27.02.2025 16:46 — 👍 961    🔁 100    💬 28    📌 6

This is a great way to get our story out in a very personal way that will make the story human!

20.02.2025 22:58 — 👍 19    🔁 9    💬 0    📌 1

@kmwil is following 20 prominent accounts