John Belmont
@jwbelmon.bsky.social
#MD, #PhD | #Pediatrics | #Medical #Genetics | #Human #Genetics | #Cardiovascular | #Congenital | #Genome #Sequencing | #HealthEcon | #Causal #Inference
belmontgenetics.org
belmontgenetics.org
Pinned
John Belmont
@jwbelmon.bsky.social
· Aug 19
The Causal Pivot: A structural approach to genetic heterogeneity and variant discovery in complex diseases
We present the Causal Pivot (CP) as a structural causal model (SCM) for analyzing genetic heterogeneity in complex diseases. The CP leverages an estab…
www.sciencedirect.com
Causal Pivot is an idea that comes from differential diagnosis in medical practice www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... Chad Shaw and I drew DAGs for molecular diagnosis and gene discovery. He saw an opportunity to exploit collider bias in an interesting way.
Reposted by John Belmont
He has never in his life discovered a new fact about nature and is on a mission to destroy everyone who has.
December 7, 2025 at 5:13 AM
He has never in his life discovered a new fact about nature and is on a mission to destroy everyone who has.
Reposted by John Belmont
why won’t the democratic party pledge to abolish ICE and CBP? they can’t be reformed or redeemed
My constituent, Wilmer, was mauled by an ICE attack dog despite the fact that, as he has consistently explained, he was not resisting arrest or trying to flee—his wife and young children, all U.S. citizens, were forced to watch helplessly as Wilmer was violently attacked and dragged away.
December 6, 2025 at 2:44 AM
why won’t the democratic party pledge to abolish ICE and CBP? they can’t be reformed or redeemed
Reposted by John Belmont
Myself and @doritreiss.bsky.social wrote in 2018 about the tactics now being used at the CDC and FDA.
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
The Anti-Vaccine Movement: A Litany of Fallacy and Errors | Request PDF
Request PDF | The Anti-Vaccine Movement: A Litany of Fallacy and Errors | Vaccines have tremendous benefits and low risks. In spite of that, a vocal minority argues against using them. This chapter ex...
www.researchgate.net
December 6, 2025 at 2:48 AM
Myself and @doritreiss.bsky.social wrote in 2018 about the tactics now being used at the CDC and FDA.
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
Reposted by John Belmont
Reposted by John Belmont
“This irresponsible and purposely misleading guidance will lead to more hepatitis B infections in infants and children.” Read our full statement by AAP President Dr. Susan J. Kressly:
www.aap.org/en/news-room...
www.aap.org/en/news-room...
December 5, 2025 at 7:15 PM
“This irresponsible and purposely misleading guidance will lead to more hepatitis B infections in infants and children.” Read our full statement by AAP President Dr. Susan J. Kressly:
www.aap.org/en/news-room...
www.aap.org/en/news-room...
Reposted by John Belmont
The decision by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to downgrade its recommendations to protect infants from hepatitis B is a dangerous move that will harm children.
Click here to read AAP's full statement: bit.ly/3Y9ZQJT
Click here to read AAP's full statement: bit.ly/3Y9ZQJT
December 5, 2025 at 4:15 PM
The decision by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to downgrade its recommendations to protect infants from hepatitis B is a dangerous move that will harm children.
Click here to read AAP's full statement: bit.ly/3Y9ZQJT
Click here to read AAP's full statement: bit.ly/3Y9ZQJT
Don’t skip the whole thread. Well worth the read.
#ACIP invites anti-vaccine lawyer Aaron Siri to present on the schedule, since apparently they could not find any vaccine experts to do that.
Apparently they invited Drs. Offit and Hotez who refused, maybe because Malone called them "industry experts."
Apparently they invited Drs. Offit and Hotez who refused, maybe because Malone called them "industry experts."
December 5, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Don’t skip the whole thread. Well worth the read.
Reposted by John Belmont
Summary of what happened at Temu ACIP this morning:
As expected, they overturned the 30+ year recommendation for the birth dose of HepB vaccine, which has reduced the incidence of pediatric HepB by 99%.
They provided no credible evidence to support this decision.
As expected, they overturned the 30+ year recommendation for the birth dose of HepB vaccine, which has reduced the incidence of pediatric HepB by 99%.
They provided no credible evidence to support this decision.
December 5, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Summary of what happened at Temu ACIP this morning:
As expected, they overturned the 30+ year recommendation for the birth dose of HepB vaccine, which has reduced the incidence of pediatric HepB by 99%.
They provided no credible evidence to support this decision.
As expected, they overturned the 30+ year recommendation for the birth dose of HepB vaccine, which has reduced the incidence of pediatric HepB by 99%.
They provided no credible evidence to support this decision.
Reposted by John Belmont
I put together two roundups from posit::conf(2025):
• Shiny talks + full workshop materials
shiny.posit.co/blog/posts/c...
• Quarto talks playlist and summaries
quarto.org/docs/blog/po...
• Shiny talks + full workshop materials
shiny.posit.co/blog/posts/c...
• Quarto talks playlist and summaries
quarto.org/docs/blog/po...
shiny.posit.co
December 4, 2025 at 4:48 PM
I put together two roundups from posit::conf(2025):
• Shiny talks + full workshop materials
shiny.posit.co/blog/posts/c...
• Quarto talks playlist and summaries
quarto.org/docs/blog/po...
• Shiny talks + full workshop materials
shiny.posit.co/blog/posts/c...
• Quarto talks playlist and summaries
quarto.org/docs/blog/po...
Reposted by John Belmont
Without a functioning FDA, CDC and NIH we are in big trouble. And we are moving close to the precipice.
December 4, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Without a functioning FDA, CDC and NIH we are in big trouble. And we are moving close to the precipice.
Reposted by John Belmont
The US is close to an institutional collapse across multiple public health agencies. Trump/RFK have purged anyone with expertise, many have fled and they’ve been replaced w functionaries who are either incompetent or malicious. I don’t think many understand how close to the edge we are right now.
a night time view of a city with a few buildings lit up
ALT: a night time view of a city with a few buildings lit up
media.tenor.com
December 4, 2025 at 7:06 PM
The US is close to an institutional collapse across multiple public health agencies. Trump/RFK have purged anyone with expertise, many have fled and they’ve been replaced w functionaries who are either incompetent or malicious. I don’t think many understand how close to the edge we are right now.
Reposted by John Belmont
The use of em dashes — is supposed to be an AI writing tell. In Spanish the word for these — is ‘rayas’ — a beautiful word and I’m never going back. Fuck em (dash)
December 4, 2025 at 9:06 AM
The use of em dashes — is supposed to be an AI writing tell. In Spanish the word for these — is ‘rayas’ — a beautiful word and I’m never going back. Fuck em (dash)
Reposted by John Belmont
To be very clear, Kennedy's team is messing with a vaccine which has led to a 99 percent drop in the incidence of hepatitis B, which kills, early and painfully, 25 percent of the people who get it as children. lnk.thebulwark.com/3Xt957M
RFK’s Anti-Vax Team Readies Its Next Moves
“Their game is, let’s really destabilize trust in the vaccine, and make people really anxious about it.”
lnk.thebulwark.com
December 4, 2025 at 3:00 AM
To be very clear, Kennedy's team is messing with a vaccine which has led to a 99 percent drop in the incidence of hepatitis B, which kills, early and painfully, 25 percent of the people who get it as children. lnk.thebulwark.com/3Xt957M
Reposted by John Belmont
Context:
Kennedy has suggested letting bird flu spread for herd immunity (Great Barrington Declaration style).
Right-wing groups and operatives have been laying the groundwork, downplaying concerns about the virus and pre-politicizing government efforts to control it (like they did with COVID).
Kennedy has suggested letting bird flu spread for herd immunity (Great Barrington Declaration style).
Right-wing groups and operatives have been laying the groundwork, downplaying concerns about the virus and pre-politicizing government efforts to control it (like they did with COVID).
December 4, 2025 at 6:18 AM
Context:
Kennedy has suggested letting bird flu spread for herd immunity (Great Barrington Declaration style).
Right-wing groups and operatives have been laying the groundwork, downplaying concerns about the virus and pre-politicizing government efforts to control it (like they did with COVID).
Kennedy has suggested letting bird flu spread for herd immunity (Great Barrington Declaration style).
Right-wing groups and operatives have been laying the groundwork, downplaying concerns about the virus and pre-politicizing government efforts to control it (like they did with COVID).
Reposted by John Belmont
"California unveiled an online portal to report potentially illegal activity by federal law enforcement, including ICE agents, to the state Department of Justice."
You can now report crimes by federal agents in California
California unveiled an online portal to report potentially illegal activity by federal law enforcement, including ICE agents, to the state Department of Justice.
oaklandside.org
December 4, 2025 at 6:01 AM
"California unveiled an online portal to report potentially illegal activity by federal law enforcement, including ICE agents, to the state Department of Justice."
Reposted by John Belmont
Remember, Tracy Beth Hoeg, who will likely present the VAERS data on COVID vaccines in kids to ACIP is a quack. She peddles "orthobiologic platelet rich plasma, proliferative therapy such as dextrose as well as bone marrow aspirate."
December 3, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Remember, Tracy Beth Hoeg, who will likely present the VAERS data on COVID vaccines in kids to ACIP is a quack. She peddles "orthobiologic platelet rich plasma, proliferative therapy such as dextrose as well as bone marrow aspirate."
Reposted by John Belmont
Experts say top FDA official’s claim that Covid vaccines caused kids’ deaths requires more evidence; suggested reforms unclear, too. www.statnews.com/2025/11/29/c... via @statnews.com @matthewherper.bsky.social @helenbranswell.bsky.social
Experts say top FDA official’s claim that Covid vaccines caused kids’ deaths requires more evidence
The FDA’s top vaccine regulator asserted in a staff email that the Covid vaccine caused at least 10 kids' deaths, but experts told STAT they are skeptical of the “extraordinary” claim because it was n...
www.statnews.com
December 2, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Experts say top FDA official’s claim that Covid vaccines caused kids’ deaths requires more evidence; suggested reforms unclear, too. www.statnews.com/2025/11/29/c... via @statnews.com @matthewherper.bsky.social @helenbranswell.bsky.social
Reposted by John Belmont
Today in life under competitive authoritarianism
Scoop: FBI aims to escalate its inquiry into 6 Democrats who made video for troops by pressing domestic terrorism squad to launch a formal seditious conspiracy investigation. Washington Field Office leaders are pushing back b/c they don't see a crime. news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
FBI Seeks ‘Seditious Conspiracy’ Probe of Democratic Lawmakers
The FBI is pressuring domestic terrorism agents to open a seditious conspiracy investigation into six Democratic lawmakers who advised military service members to defy unlawful orders, according to th...
news.bloomberglaw.com
December 4, 2025 at 12:21 AM
Today in life under competitive authoritarianism
Reposted by John Belmont
12 former commissioners of the FDA came together to write a Perspectives piece for the New England Journal of Medicine; raising our concerns about recent changes to vaccine approval policy at the FDA and its implications for patients and public health.
December 3, 2025 at 10:28 PM
12 former commissioners of the FDA came together to write a Perspectives piece for the New England Journal of Medicine; raising our concerns about recent changes to vaccine approval policy at the FDA and its implications for patients and public health.
Reposted by John Belmont
How can we measure the value of #genomics in #healthcare? How can #HTA, #implementation & data management be adapted to suit the rapidly evolving nature of genomics? For insights, read the Review from Zornitza Stark, Ilias Goranitis & colleagues.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-025-04061-3
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-025-04061-3
Determining the value of genomics in healthcare - Nature Medicine
Assessing the value of genomics is key to informing evidence-based policies; this Review outlines how current approaches to health technology assessment, implementation and data management can be adapted to suit the rapidly evolving technology and evidence base.
www.nature.com
December 2, 2025 at 12:30 PM
How can we measure the value of #genomics in #healthcare? How can #HTA, #implementation & data management be adapted to suit the rapidly evolving nature of genomics? For insights, read the Review from Zornitza Stark, Ilias Goranitis & colleagues.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-025-04061-3
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-025-04061-3
Reposted by John Belmont
Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday signed legislation that formally establishes a process for state-level vaccine guidelines and expands pharmacy access to COVID-19 and other shots for young children across Illinois.
Gov. JB Pritzker signs law on Illinois vaccine guidelines amid ongoing tumult with Trump administration
The new law, part of the Illinois governor’s ongoing battle with the Trump administration, expands pharmacy access to COVID-19 and other shots for young children across Illinois, among other …
trib.al
December 3, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday signed legislation that formally establishes a process for state-level vaccine guidelines and expands pharmacy access to COVID-19 and other shots for young children across Illinois.
Reposted by John Belmont
I don't know what to tell you. If you paid $600 to have your toilet photograph your turds, you really deserve anything and everything coming to you.
"Kohler can access data and pictures from toilet camera"
It's amazing what passes for a totally normal sentence in 2025
It's amazing what passes for a totally normal sentence in 2025
Kohler Can Access Data and Pictures from Toilet Camera It Describes as “End-to-End Encrypted” - /var/log/simon
Claimed end-to-end privacy doesn’t fully conceal your rear-end data
varlogsimon.leaflet.pub
December 3, 2025 at 3:49 AM
I don't know what to tell you. If you paid $600 to have your toilet photograph your turds, you really deserve anything and everything coming to you.
Reposted by John Belmont
It’s not clear that Prasad’s new ‘standards’ for vaccine clinical trials could be approved by an IRB
FDA official proposes ‘impossible’ standards for vaccine testing that could curtail access to immunizations | CIDRAP www.cidrap.umn.edu/childhood-va...
FDA official proposes ‘impossible’ standards for vaccine testing that could curtail access to immunizations
www.cidrap.umn.edu
December 2, 2025 at 12:29 AM
It’s not clear that Prasad’s new ‘standards’ for vaccine clinical trials could be approved by an IRB