Kristian G. Andersen
@kgandersen.bsky.social
Infectious diseases & genomics. Immunologist in (voluntary) exile. Minimal sarcasm. Fierce HOA (Hater of Acronyms). Personal account - opinions expressed are my own and not those of my employer.
Fascinating stuff - the conundrum of why, in extremely rare cases, people ended up getting dangerous blood clotting after having received the adenovirus-based J&J (my first COVID-19 vaccine; Ad26-based) or AstraZeneca (ChAdOx1-based) vaccines has been solved.
Scientists Figured Out the Problem With Johnson & Johnson’s COVID Vaccine
Rare but dangerous blood clotting associated with that vaccine as well as AstraZeneca’s had a genetic cause, according to a new paper.
www.theatlantic.com
February 11, 2026 at 11:02 PM
Fascinating stuff - the conundrum of why, in extremely rare cases, people ended up getting dangerous blood clotting after having received the adenovirus-based J&J (my first COVID-19 vaccine; Ad26-based) or AstraZeneca (ChAdOx1-based) vaccines has been solved.
Reposted by Kristian G. Andersen
Director-General @drtedros.who.int minced no words today when asked about the proposal to run a trial of a hepatitis B vaccine birth dose in Guinea-Bissau. It would be "unethical to proceed with this study," he said. "Maybe it's better to say it bluntly & straight."
www.statnews.com/2026/02/11/h...
www.statnews.com/2026/02/11/h...
WHO director-general calls plans for U.S.-funded vaccine trial ‘unethical’
The director-general of the WHO said a U.S.-funded study of the hepatitis B vaccine in Guinea-Bissau would be “unethical” if it proceeds as planned.
www.statnews.com
February 11, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Director-General @drtedros.who.int minced no words today when asked about the proposal to run a trial of a hepatitis B vaccine birth dose in Guinea-Bissau. It would be "unethical to proceed with this study," he said. "Maybe it's better to say it bluntly & straight."
www.statnews.com/2026/02/11/h...
www.statnews.com/2026/02/11/h...
Reposted by Kristian G. Andersen
This is outrageous, and (though it was completely obvious he should never have held this spot), Vinay Prasad needs to go. This vaccine candidate deserves review, not ideologically motivated rejection. Lives are at stake. www.statnews.com/2026/02/11/m...
Prasad overruled FDA staff to reject Moderna's flu vaccine application
The rejection is the latest instance of Vinay Prasad overruling career FDA scientists to place vaccines under harsher scrutiny.
www.statnews.com
February 11, 2026 at 3:57 PM
This is outrageous, and (though it was completely obvious he should never have held this spot), Vinay Prasad needs to go. This vaccine candidate deserves review, not ideologically motivated rejection. Lives are at stake. www.statnews.com/2026/02/11/m...
Reposted by Kristian G. Andersen
Big @bostonglobe.com / MassINC Polling survey out this morning. "They came to Massachusetts to cure disease. Now they’re packing up their labs." We surveyed NIH funded scientists in Massachusetts about federal funding cuts & policies. Here's what they told us. www.bostonglobe.com/2026/02/09/m...
They came to Massachusetts to cure disease. Now they’re packing up their labs. - The Boston Globe
In a first-of-its-kind survey, the Globe asked hundreds of scientists about the impact of federal funding cuts.
www.bostonglobe.com
February 11, 2026 at 11:25 AM
Big @bostonglobe.com / MassINC Polling survey out this morning. "They came to Massachusetts to cure disease. Now they’re packing up their labs." We surveyed NIH funded scientists in Massachusetts about federal funding cuts & policies. Here's what they told us. www.bostonglobe.com/2026/02/09/m...
Reposted by Kristian G. Andersen
NEW: The F.D.A. refused to accept an application from Moderna for its mRNA flu vaccine.
Its reason: The agency did not think Moderna compared the new vaccine to one of the best flu shots available. The company spent $750M+ on a 41,000 person study.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/h...
Its reason: The agency did not think Moderna compared the new vaccine to one of the best flu shots available. The company spent $750M+ on a 41,000 person study.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/h...
F.D.A. Refuses to Review Moderna Flu Vaccine
www.nytimes.com
February 10, 2026 at 11:12 PM
NEW: The F.D.A. refused to accept an application from Moderna for its mRNA flu vaccine.
Its reason: The agency did not think Moderna compared the new vaccine to one of the best flu shots available. The company spent $750M+ on a 41,000 person study.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/h...
Its reason: The agency did not think Moderna compared the new vaccine to one of the best flu shots available. The company spent $750M+ on a 41,000 person study.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/h...
I know I'm late to the game, but I know absolutely nothing about bunnies or funny-shaped balls...
But that was awesome - even if I understood less than 5% of what was said, I 100% got the meaning.
This was everything that made me feel blessed for becoming part of this experiment back in 2009 🐰🏈🙏🌟.
But that was awesome - even if I understood less than 5% of what was said, I 100% got the meaning.
This was everything that made me feel blessed for becoming part of this experiment back in 2009 🐰🏈🙏🌟.
February 10, 2026 at 1:25 AM
I know I'm late to the game, but I know absolutely nothing about bunnies or funny-shaped balls...
But that was awesome - even if I understood less than 5% of what was said, I 100% got the meaning.
This was everything that made me feel blessed for becoming part of this experiment back in 2009 🐰🏈🙏🌟.
But that was awesome - even if I understood less than 5% of what was said, I 100% got the meaning.
This was everything that made me feel blessed for becoming part of this experiment back in 2009 🐰🏈🙏🌟.
Reposted by Kristian G. Andersen
A long time ago in a galaxy far away, there was a SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Our paper, led by @martibartfast.bsky.social
a) correcting errors in 4.5 million genomes & their phylogeny
b) improving representation of the Global South in public data
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
(thread 1/n)
a) correcting errors in 4.5 million genomes & their phylogeny
b) improving representation of the Global South in public data
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
(thread 1/n)
Addressing pandemic-wide systematic errors in the SARS-CoV-2 phylogeny - Nature Methods
This Resource paper presents a global SARS-CoV-2 phylogenetic tree of 4,471,579 high-quality genomes consistently constructed by Viridian, an efficient amplicon-aware assembler.
www.nature.com
February 9, 2026 at 3:16 PM
A long time ago in a galaxy far away, there was a SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Our paper, led by @martibartfast.bsky.social
a) correcting errors in 4.5 million genomes & their phylogeny
b) improving representation of the Global South in public data
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
(thread 1/n)
a) correcting errors in 4.5 million genomes & their phylogeny
b) improving representation of the Global South in public data
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
(thread 1/n)
Element might be an option: element.io/en
Element | Secure collaboration and messaging
Element is a Matrix-based end-to-end encrypted messenger and secure collaboration app. It’s decentralised for digital sovereign self-hosting, or through a hosting service such as Element Matrix Servic...
element.io
February 9, 2026 at 6:51 PM
Element might be an option: element.io/en
Reposted by Kristian G. Andersen
Good thread. Another issue with the editorial is overall NIH funding is not a good measure of success. That doesn't bring back global public health cuts, the lives lost, cancer trials disrupted, vaccine research ended, diversity grants eliminated, foreign subcontracts killed, or grants disrupted.
February 8, 2026 at 6:54 PM
Good thread. Another issue with the editorial is overall NIH funding is not a good measure of success. That doesn't bring back global public health cuts, the lives lost, cancer trials disrupted, vaccine research ended, diversity grants eliminated, foreign subcontracts killed, or grants disrupted.
Reposted by Kristian G. Andersen
In a long-form piece, I address recent claims by the Editor-in-Chief of @science.org that "quiet" insiders rather than "heated" activists should be credited for passage of top-line budget numbers for science and medical research.
joshuasweitz.substack.com/p/science-ad...
joshuasweitz.substack.com/p/science-ad...
Science Advocacy: The Risks of Playing the Long Game vs. Playing the Game For Too Long
Reflecting on the establishment view of recent ‘wins’ for research and what real winning looks like when public-facing advocacy is credited and included in broader coalitions.
joshuasweitz.substack.com
February 8, 2026 at 4:46 PM
In a long-form piece, I address recent claims by the Editor-in-Chief of @science.org that "quiet" insiders rather than "heated" activists should be credited for passage of top-line budget numbers for science and medical research.
joshuasweitz.substack.com/p/science-ad...
joshuasweitz.substack.com/p/science-ad...
Reposted by Kristian G. Andersen
I think we have to be very careful here. The appropriations bills are one thing, but as you all know, this administration has a bag of dirty tricks they have and will continue to use to undermine research and frankly, methodically chip away at it until it is a shell of its former self. 1/
February 8, 2026 at 1:23 PM
I think we have to be very careful here. The appropriations bills are one thing, but as you all know, this administration has a bag of dirty tricks they have and will continue to use to undermine research and frankly, methodically chip away at it until it is a shell of its former self. 1/
Yeah, international economics 101 - except, that one doesn’t work when the currency is also the world currency… I’m sure someone told him 😛
February 7, 2026 at 8:17 PM
Yeah, international economics 101 - except, that one doesn’t work when the currency is also the world currency… I’m sure someone told him 😛
It's baffling this isn't discussed more.
February 7, 2026 at 5:52 PM
It's baffling this isn't discussed more.
Evolutionary biology entered the room... 😆
February 7, 2026 at 5:39 PM
Evolutionary biology entered the room... 😆
This is great to see - about time this made it to the US! The movie isn't really about the origin of the pandemic, but it *is* about those wrongfully being blamed for it - it's important to hear their story, and this movie does it well.
Peter mentions April, but I believe it's February!
Peter mentions April, but I believe it's February!
Hot News from @naturehealthglobal.bsky.social Re. the documentary Blame: Nominated for major award, released in theaters in Germany/Switzerland, & US PREMIERE at the Sedona Film Festival in April 2026!!! 🧵
naturehealthglobal.org/update-blame...
naturehealthglobal.org/update-blame...
UPDATE! Blame Movie: Awards, Theatrical Release, US Premiere! - Nature.Health.Global
“Blame” is a documentary movie by the Oscar-nominated, Sundance Festival award winning Swiss Director Christian Frei. The film focuses on three scientists,
naturehealthglobal.org
February 7, 2026 at 5:38 PM
This is great to see - about time this made it to the US! The movie isn't really about the origin of the pandemic, but it *is* about those wrongfully being blamed for it - it's important to hear their story, and this movie does it well.
Peter mentions April, but I believe it's February!
Peter mentions April, but I believe it's February!
Always hoping for comments and insights - whether the questions are rhetorical or not 😉
February 6, 2026 at 11:31 PM
Always hoping for comments and insights - whether the questions are rhetorical or not 😉
That's a pretty interesting graph - pretty insane!
February 6, 2026 at 10:36 PM
That's a pretty interesting graph - pretty insane!
And, importantly, make sure fears of theoretical risks don't impede our ability to counter existing risks. In terms of importance H5N1 2.3.4.4b in cattle >>>>> AI MooFlu™.
A framework like that described in the article, would completely stop research on those existing pandemic threats.
A framework like that described in the article, would completely stop research on those existing pandemic threats.
February 6, 2026 at 10:35 PM
And, importantly, make sure fears of theoretical risks don't impede our ability to counter existing risks. In terms of importance H5N1 2.3.4.4b in cattle >>>>> AI MooFlu™.
A framework like that described in the article, would completely stop research on those existing pandemic threats.
A framework like that described in the article, would completely stop research on those existing pandemic threats.
This has "OMG MIRROR LIFE 😱" and 'OMG CHATBOXES WILL LEARN ALL OF VIROLOGY AND AI BIOWEAPONS WILL KILL US ALL 😱😱😱" written all over it.
Interesting topic - that we're trying to do some work in too - however, why is it that theoretical risks always take all focus away from real ones?
Interesting topic - that we're trying to do some work in too - however, why is it that theoretical risks always take all focus away from real ones?
February 6, 2026 at 10:35 PM
This has "OMG MIRROR LIFE 😱" and 'OMG CHATBOXES WILL LEARN ALL OF VIROLOGY AND AI BIOWEAPONS WILL KILL US ALL 😱😱😱" written all over it.
Interesting topic - that we're trying to do some work in too - however, why is it that theoretical risks always take all focus away from real ones?
Interesting topic - that we're trying to do some work in too - however, why is it that theoretical risks always take all focus away from real ones?
Had the authors pressure-tested their own "BDL" system they would realize:
1️⃣ All key pathogen data, including genomic, would fall under BDL-4
2️⃣ Hence, we should no longer share data on key pathogens
Good example of theoretical risks impeding research on real ones.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
1️⃣ All key pathogen data, including genomic, would fall under BDL-4
2️⃣ Hence, we should no longer share data on key pathogens
Good example of theoretical risks impeding research on real ones.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Biological data governance in an age of AI
Tailored access controls on new viral data would reduce misuse risks
www.science.org
February 6, 2026 at 10:26 PM
Had the authors pressure-tested their own "BDL" system they would realize:
1️⃣ All key pathogen data, including genomic, would fall under BDL-4
2️⃣ Hence, we should no longer share data on key pathogens
Good example of theoretical risks impeding research on real ones.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
1️⃣ All key pathogen data, including genomic, would fall under BDL-4
2️⃣ Hence, we should no longer share data on key pathogens
Good example of theoretical risks impeding research on real ones.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
"in July 2023, 80% of Danes said they saw the US as a friend or ally. Now, fewer than 26% do".
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
February 6, 2026 at 10:07 PM
"in July 2023, 80% of Danes said they saw the US as a friend or ally. Now, fewer than 26% do".
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
It's a bit of a shock (the good kind) when you visit Norway - I guess that's what a $2 trillion sovereign wealth fund gets you. Built on oil, no less 😆.
What's also a shock, is the fact that many of the new cars are Chinese and not from legacy brands.
What's also a shock, is the fact that many of the new cars are Chinese and not from legacy brands.
February 6, 2026 at 10:05 PM
It's a bit of a shock (the good kind) when you visit Norway - I guess that's what a $2 trillion sovereign wealth fund gets you. Built on oil, no less 😆.
What's also a shock, is the fact that many of the new cars are Chinese and not from legacy brands.
What's also a shock, is the fact that many of the new cars are Chinese and not from legacy brands.