Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Dr Cara Croft

Dementia Research Team - Centre for Preventive Neurology QMUL @qmuldementia.bsky.social · 20d

🚨 New pre-print! 🚨

Dr. Avi Chandra and Ben Jacobs study dementia genetics in underrepresented populations. 🧬✨

In 51,000+ British South Asians, they show APOE influences dementia risk, underscoring the need for equitable care.

Read more: www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...

The contribution of Apoliproprotein E genetic variation to dementia risk in British South Asians

INTRODUCTION Understanding the genetic basis of dementia in diverse populations is essential to ensure that efforts to predict, prevent, and treat dementia are equitable. The strongest genetic risk fa...

www.medrxiv.org

3 1

Reposted by Dr Cara Croft

Sherry Pagoto, PhD @drsherrypagoto.bsky.social · May 30

Viewpoint in JAMA details the consequences of the proposed cuts to NIH:

❌15% reduction in new therapies
❌reduction in life expectancy by 83M life years in the US = $8.2T
❌loss of $51B in economic output annually

All to save $20B annually. The math ain't mathin.'
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

Cutting the NIH—The $8 Trillion Health Care Catastrophe

This JAMA Forum discusses the recent budget cuts to National Institutes of Health (NIH), the effects of these cuts on scientific research and health of individuals in the US, and the prospects for cha...

jamanetwork.com

1 65 78

Reposted by Dr Cara Croft

Dementia Researcher @dementiaresearcher.bsky.social · Apr 16

Join NIHR DeNPRU-QM at Queen Mary as a Research Assistant to support dementia & neurodegeneration policy research. 18-month role, apply by 6th May @denpru-qm.bsky.social

www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/job/research...

Research Assistant: Equitable health and social care

Join NIHR DeNPRU-QM at Queen Mary as a Research Assistant to support dementia & neurodegeneration policy research. 18-month role starts after 6 Aug 2025.

www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk

4 4

Reposted by Dr Cara Croft

Adam Smith @betterresearch.bsky.social · Apr 12

Thrilled to share our latest publication in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: a global survey on experiences and perceptions of sexism in dementia research careers.

Grateful to my incredible co-authors for their collaboration on this important topic.

alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

Experiences and perceptions of sexism in dementia research careers: A global cross‐sectional survey

INTRODUCTION Sexism is prevalent in academia and is a crucial factor driving women out of the academic workforce. However, sexism in dementia research remains underexplored. This study aimed to unde.....

alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com

1 11 41

Reposted by Dr Cara Croft

Women in Neuroscience UK @womeninneurouk.bsky.social · Mar 31

🔬Women in STEM: Breaking Barriers & Building Equality👩‍🔬✨
How does sex & gender impact research? What career challenges do women face & how can we overcome them?
Join us for an expert panel on April 2, 1-5 PM at the Rosalind Franklin Institute
@rosfrankinst.bsky.social @caracroft.bsky.social
(1/2)

2 3 9

Reposted by Dr Cara Croft

Eric Topol @erictopol.bsky.social · Mar 13

A metric that reflects reality and the @bluesky platform as the preferred one to transmit science publications with collegial communication

Altmetric @altmetric.com · Mar 13

Mike spotted this before the rest of us. 🫡

Publications from 2025 are shared more on Bluesky than on X/Twitter.

herrison2000.bsky.social @herrison2000.bsky.social · Mar 13

About to talk to medical affairs colleagues, with the news that Bluesky is carrying more posts about new journal publications than X #bluesky #altmetrics #x #xparrot

1 58 360

Reposted by Dr Cara Croft

Seb Walsh @sebwalsh.bsky.social · Mar 14

Reality check on AD biomarkers from @cdufouil.bsky.social at DPUK conference

In MEMENTO, minimal variability of BBMs explained by clinical factors. And BBMs add little predictive ability beyond standard demographic/neuropsych tests

What happens when outcome = people instead of PET scans!

1 1

Reposted by Dr Cara Croft

Eric Topol @erictopol.bsky.social · Mar 10

99% of new medicines developed by the pharmaceutical industry depend on NIH research jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

Comparison of Research Spending on New Drug Approvals by the NIH vs the Pharmaceutical Industry

This cross-sectional study examines National Institutes of Health and pharmaceutical industry investments in recent drug approvals.

jamanetwork.com

18 440 890

Dr Cara Croft @caracroft.bsky.social · Mar 8

Hang it in the louvre.
I marched for science in 2017 threatened in Trump's first term. Scientists again marching in 2025 to save science under its most threat in modern day history.
It's simple SCIENCE = CURES
NO FUNDING = NO CURES

Dr. Ahna Skop @ahnaskop.bsky.social · Mar 8

Another fave

4

Reposted by Dr Cara Croft

Prof Sheena Cruickshank @sheencr.bsky.social · Feb 28

Excellent from @kityates.bsky.social on how we should not be complacent about threats to science in UK and what we can do to stand to for science!🧪

The populist right is damaging US science. The UK could be next.

What we should be doing now to insulate UK science against the populist anti-science agenda

open.substack.com

2 33 81

Reposted by Dr Cara Croft

Charles Marshall @charlesmarshall.bsky.social · Feb 26

What symptoms do people tell their GP about when they are developing dementia?

Lots of non-cognitive symptoms - and in a highly diverse population we can see that it is culturally influenced.

Recognising this is key to equitable diagnosis

alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

Early presentations of dementia in a diverse population

INTRODUCTION Improved recognition of non-cognitive presentations of dementia could reduce inequalities in dementia diagnosis, particularly if sociocultural factors influence help-seeking for cogniti...

alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com

2 12 27

Reposted by Dr Cara Croft

Celeste Karch @karchlab.bsky.social · Feb 22

In January, we were closer than ever before to finding life changing treatments for Alzheimer’s disease. The funding stoppage has slowed this progress.

Trump Administration Stalls Scientific Research Despite Court Ruling

Using an arcane law, officials have effectively delayed funding from the National Institutes of Health, leaving medical studies in jeopardy.

www.nytimes.com

1 8 14

Reposted by Dr Cara Croft

MaRtiNA Hallegger @martinahallegger.bsky.social · Feb 21

Great opportunity for clinicians to gain early-career experience in a fully-funded, translational medicine programme in Oxford.
If you know anyone interested, please share this link. There is a wide range of projects, including mine. Deadline Fr 14 March 2025
www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/g...

DPhil in Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (Oxford-GSK) | University

About the courseThe DPhil in Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (Oxford-GSK) aims to address an unmet need among clinicians for training in data science and translational medicine. The course provides

www.ox.ac.uk

4 2

Reposted by Dr Cara Croft

Stephen Curry @scurry.bsky.social · Feb 18

Signature tally now closing in on 3000. Please keep discussing, sharing and signing to put as much pressure on the Royal Society to respond as possible. forms.gle/AuYvuWqytx8K...

Open letter to the President of the Royal Society – time to stand up for your values

If you wish to show your support for the letter below regarding apparent inaction by the Royal Society in the face of breaches of its code of conduct by Elon Musk FRS, please sign below. I invite anyo...

forms.gle

2 53 63

Reposted by Dr Cara Croft

Stephen Curry @scurry.bsky.social · Feb 14

Tally just ticked past 1900 signatures. Please keep spreading the word about the letter & asking people to sign. It's important to make the Royal Society aware (at their meeting on 03 March) just how much the scientific community wants them to speak up for their values. forms.gle/SfsDemyS8QhP...

3 88 110

Reposted by Dr Cara Croft

Meredith Wadman @meredithwadman.bsky.social · Feb 14

‘Wrecking ball’: RFK Jr. moves to fire thousands of health agency employees | Science | AAAS brought to you by @science.org www.science.org/content/arti...

‘Wrecking ball’: RFK Jr. moves to fire thousands of health agency employees

Supervisors deliver bad news across NIH, CDC

www.science.org

7 62 150

Reposted by Dr Cara Croft

Derek Lowe @dereklowe.bsky.social · Feb 12

Biopharma companies and CEOs are keeping their heads down at their own peril. They should speak up about what’s happening to the NIH and other science agencies before it’s too late.

Silence gives consent. And no one should consent to this.

Stand Up And Be Counted

www.science.org

17 160 390

Reposted by Dr Cara Croft

Stephen Curry @scurry.bsky.social · Feb 11

Members of the U.K. and international scientific community are invited to sign to show their support: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Open letter to the President of the Royal Society – time to stand up for your values

If you wish to show your support for the letter below regarding apparent inaction by the Royal Society in the face of breaches of its code of conduct by Elon Musk FRS, please sign below. I invite anyo...

docs.google.com

5 70 110

Reposted by Dr Cara Croft

Prof Jenny Rohn @jennyrohn.bsky.social · Feb 11

On this celebratory day of women and girls in science, let’s reflect that the US National Science Foundation has put the words “women” and “female” (but not “men” and “male”) on the list of forbidden words that will get your grant slated for the reject bin.

3 75 110

Reposted by Dr Cara Croft

Dr Duncan Robertson @duncanrobertson.bsky.social · Feb 10

If flagship AI messes up cheese facts, maybe we shouldn't let it take over the running of the US Treasury quite yet eh.

BBC News - Google remakes Super Bowl ad after AI cheese gaffe
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Google remakes Super Bowl ad after AI cheese gaffe

Its Gemini tool wildly overestimated global gouda consumption in ad that was meant to show off its capabilities.

www.bbc.com

9 52 180

Dr Cara Croft @caracroft.bsky.social · Feb 8

As someone who looks back on my time working and training in research in the US so fondly this beggars belief. Musk, Trump, RFK Jr et al need to be stopped. This has to be illegal.

Dr. Lucky Tran @luckytran.com · Feb 8

The NIH announced it will slash billions of dollars of support to universities and research centers.

This is one of the biggest attacks on science we have ever seen. It could dismantle the biomedical research system, shut down clinical trials, and halt development of treatments.

5

Reposted by Dr Cara Croft

Dementia Research Team - Centre for Preventive Neurology QMUL @qmuldementia.bsky.social · Feb 7

Introducing Prof. Charles Marshall, who leads the dementia team at the CPN, is a Consultant Neurologist, and is a Clinical Director for the NHS London Dementia Network.

Watch this video to hear about his research interests, as well as the excitement and challenges in current dementia research!

1 1 2

Reposted by Dr Cara Croft

Dementia Researcher @dementiaresearcher.bsky.social · Feb 7

🔬 @alzheimerssoc.bsky.social & UK Dementia Trials Network are improving access to clinical trials. They need input from people with dementia & their carers.

📝 Share this survey & help shape the future of research!

www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/uk-dementia-...

3 3

Reposted by Dr Cara Croft

Black In Neuro @blackinneuro.bsky.social · Jan 28

🚨 Exciting news! 🚨 The Black in Neuro Mentorship Program 2025 is coming soon! 🌟 Interested in being a mentor or mentee? Scan the QR code to fill out an interest form or reach out via email. Let’s build the future of #neuroscience together! 💜 #BlackInNeuroMentorship #Mentorship #PhDSky #BlackInSTEM 🧪

1 51 99

Reposted by Dr Cara Croft

Ruth Dobson @drruthdobson.bsky.social · Jan 27

A lovely review of some of the things that we have done over the past 7 years @preventiveneur1.bsky.social It’s been a real privilege and joy to do this with our team. Huge thanks to Bart’s Charity for the belief and support. www.bartscharity.org.uk/our-news/gro...

Ground-breaking research at the Centre for Preventive Neurology

In 2017, we funded the Preventive Neurology Unit, which has since expanded to become a Centre - the first of its kind in the UK.

www.bartscharity.org.uk

1 8 9