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.
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)
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/
It's baffling this isn't discussed more.
February 7, 2026 at 5:52 PM
It's baffling this isn't discussed more.
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!
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...
Reposted by Kristian G. Andersen
Science EIC Thorp would like to have it both ways:
1) Credited for being reasonable in acknowledging the importance of (i) quiet insiders & (ii) activists in confronting cuts to science.
2) Clear on who he thinks really deserves the credit for the wins: insiders.
🧵
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
1) Credited for being reasonable in acknowledging the importance of (i) quiet insiders & (ii) activists in confronting cuts to science.
2) Clear on who he thinks really deserves the credit for the wins: insiders.
🧵
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
A tale of many twos
For the American scientific enterprise, the past year has seemed awash in contradiction. On the one hand, it has produced great upheavals and losses for US science. Many universities experienced some ...
www.science.org
February 6, 2026 at 3:42 PM
Science EIC Thorp would like to have it both ways:
1) Credited for being reasonable in acknowledging the importance of (i) quiet insiders & (ii) activists in confronting cuts to science.
2) Clear on who he thinks really deserves the credit for the wins: insiders.
🧵
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
1) Credited for being reasonable in acknowledging the importance of (i) quiet insiders & (ii) activists in confronting cuts to science.
2) Clear on who he thinks really deserves the credit for the wins: insiders.
🧵
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Kristian G. Andersen
KFF: Poll: Trust and Confidence in the CDC Remain at Low Point After Changes to Recommended Childhood Vaccines
bit.ly/4qmcZLB @kff.org
bit.ly/4qmcZLB @kff.org
Poll: Trust and Confidence in the CDC Remain at Low Point After Changes to Recommended Childhood Vaccines; More Say the Changes Will Hurt than Help Children’s Health | KFF
In the weeks after the Trump administration reduced the number of recommended childhood vaccines for routine use, the public’s trust in the CDC remains at its lowest point. Among those who have heard ...
bit.ly
February 6, 2026 at 1:29 PM
KFF: Poll: Trust and Confidence in the CDC Remain at Low Point After Changes to Recommended Childhood Vaccines
bit.ly/4qmcZLB @kff.org
bit.ly/4qmcZLB @kff.org
Reposted by Kristian G. Andersen
Not really a surprise, but it's still surprising to me that some chose to believe his lie
Newly revealed emails undermine RFK Jr testimony about 2019 Samoa trip ahead of measles outbreak
Kennedy later said the purpose of his trip had nothing to do with vaccines. US embassy and UN staff at the time said otherwise, emails show
www.theguardian.com
February 6, 2026 at 1:53 PM
Not really a surprise, but it's still surprising to me that some chose to believe his lie
Very much agree with everything said here - LLMs are fantastic tools, but scaling isn't going to get us to AGI. Cut the hype.
"The best news here is that with LLM mania subsiding, there might actually be a chance for newcomers to try new things."
garymarcus.substack.com/p/sam-altman...
"The best news here is that with LLM mania subsiding, there might actually be a chance for newcomers to try new things."
garymarcus.substack.com/p/sam-altman...
Sam Altman and the day Nvidia’s meteoric rise came to an end
Happy half anniversary, GPT-5
garymarcus.substack.com
February 4, 2026 at 10:15 PM
Very much agree with everything said here - LLMs are fantastic tools, but scaling isn't going to get us to AGI. Cut the hype.
"The best news here is that with LLM mania subsiding, there might actually be a chance for newcomers to try new things."
garymarcus.substack.com/p/sam-altman...
"The best news here is that with LLM mania subsiding, there might actually be a chance for newcomers to try new things."
garymarcus.substack.com/p/sam-altman...
Reposted by Kristian G. Andersen
So the question here is mis-specified. There is no "alternative" research funding in any way that would make American biomedical research whole for researchers to seek out. 1/ www.statnews.com/2026/02/03/p... via @statnews.com
We asked whether principal investigators have plans in place for how research can continue without them
Researchers must be mindful of unexpected events that may leave them incapacitated or unable to lead their research projects or labs.
www.statnews.com
February 4, 2026 at 10:35 AM
So the question here is mis-specified. There is no "alternative" research funding in any way that would make American biomedical research whole for researchers to seek out. 1/ www.statnews.com/2026/02/03/p... via @statnews.com
There are only two correct answers in the universe: “42” and “animal style with peppers”.
🤖🍔
🤖🍔
February 3, 2026 at 2:07 AM
There are only two correct answers in the universe: “42” and “animal style with peppers”.
🤖🍔
🤖🍔
Reposted by Kristian G. Andersen
“Scientific integrity is essential to a functioning democracy.”
Our friends at @ucs.org explain how authoritarianism chips away at truth piece by piece—attacking science, silencing experts, and weaponizing propaganda—and lay out what scientists can do to defend democracy, starting now. ⬇️
Our friends at @ucs.org explain how authoritarianism chips away at truth piece by piece—attacking science, silencing experts, and weaponizing propaganda—and lay out what scientists can do to defend democracy, starting now. ⬇️
Scientists Must Act: Five Ways You Can Stand Up to Authoritarianism Today
History provides powerful lessons for the special role that scientists can and must play to defend democracy.
blog.ucs.org
February 2, 2026 at 7:08 PM
“Scientific integrity is essential to a functioning democracy.”
Our friends at @ucs.org explain how authoritarianism chips away at truth piece by piece—attacking science, silencing experts, and weaponizing propaganda—and lay out what scientists can do to defend democracy, starting now. ⬇️
Our friends at @ucs.org explain how authoritarianism chips away at truth piece by piece—attacking science, silencing experts, and weaponizing propaganda—and lay out what scientists can do to defend democracy, starting now. ⬇️
Reposted by Kristian G. Andersen
This is finally out.
Very short take home. All the variation in spike that produced the immune escape characteristics of Omicron can occur in one single persistently infected individual over the period of a year.
This is why persistent infections matter
www.cell.com/cell-reports...
Very short take home. All the variation in spike that produced the immune escape characteristics of Omicron can occur in one single persistently infected individual over the period of a year.
This is why persistent infections matter
www.cell.com/cell-reports...
Antibody escape drives emergence of diverse spike haplotypes resembling variants of concern in persistent SARS-CoV-2 infections
Snell et al. develop sequencing methodology to identify full-length spike haplotypes
and show that persistent SARS-CoV-2 infections drive divergent haplotype emergence,
accelerating viral evolution an...
www.cell.com
February 2, 2026 at 4:09 PM
This is finally out.
Very short take home. All the variation in spike that produced the immune escape characteristics of Omicron can occur in one single persistently infected individual over the period of a year.
This is why persistent infections matter
www.cell.com/cell-reports...
Very short take home. All the variation in spike that produced the immune escape characteristics of Omicron can occur in one single persistently infected individual over the period of a year.
This is why persistent infections matter
www.cell.com/cell-reports...
Reposted by Kristian G. Andersen
It's really quite ironic this administration is using lockdown and social isolation to control the spread of a dangerous virus.
It's almost like they're learning the real lessons of 2020.
It's almost like they're learning the real lessons of 2020.
BREAKING: ICE has halted "all movement" at a Texas detention facility due to measles infections, DHS confirms.
ICE halts "all movement" at Texas detention facility due to measles infections
The measles cases at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center were detected Friday, Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement to CBS News.
cbsn.ws
February 2, 2026 at 10:28 AM
It's really quite ironic this administration is using lockdown and social isolation to control the spread of a dangerous virus.
It's almost like they're learning the real lessons of 2020.
It's almost like they're learning the real lessons of 2020.
I totally forgot - it's Happy Feb 1 Secret Teleconference Day!!!
Luckily - and even now, six years later - the A Team over on The Other Site is already celebrating 🙇🙏🥳.
Luckily - and even now, six years later - the A Team over on The Other Site is already celebrating 🙇🙏🥳.
February 1, 2026 at 6:34 PM
I totally forgot - it's Happy Feb 1 Secret Teleconference Day!!!
Luckily - and even now, six years later - the A Team over on The Other Site is already celebrating 🙇🙏🥳.
Luckily - and even now, six years later - the A Team over on The Other Site is already celebrating 🙇🙏🥳.
Reposted by Kristian G. Andersen
In case you want to hear me rant about this to a different person!
Today on Volts: I'm joined by the great @michaelhobbes.bsky.social to discuss "reactionary centrism," an intellectual tendency that's come to dominate US public life. You know the type: would never view themselves as conservative, yet finds voluntary pronoun use vastly more aggravating than fascism.
All about "reactionary centrism"
Michael Hobbes joins me to diagnose the pundit class's obsession with scolding the left while the right burns down the house.
www.volts.wtf
January 30, 2026 at 9:51 PM
In case you want to hear me rant about this to a different person!
Reposted by Kristian G. Andersen
This is Nathan Wolfe. Nathan is a virus hunter. Nathan has a bit of a reputation. Through the years, I've told multiple journalists stories I've heard, like "Nathan thanks Jeffrey Epstein in his book." Somehow no one ever wrote anything up. Want to see what Nathan was up to in today's Epstein files?
January 31, 2026 at 12:03 AM
This is Nathan Wolfe. Nathan is a virus hunter. Nathan has a bit of a reputation. Through the years, I've told multiple journalists stories I've heard, like "Nathan thanks Jeffrey Epstein in his book." Somehow no one ever wrote anything up. Want to see what Nathan was up to in today's Epstein files?
New NIH funding strategy has been formalized.
I really do hope scientists understand what this means for the future of science (funding) - it's not subtle.
www.niaid.nih.gov/about/unifie...
I really do hope scientists understand what this means for the future of science (funding) - it's not subtle.
www.niaid.nih.gov/about/unifie...
NIH Unified Funding Strategy
Objective peer review, and HHS- and NIH- specific priorities, and a standardized, transparent process for incorporating NIAID-specific priorities will guide funding selections.
www.niaid.nih.gov
January 30, 2026 at 8:31 PM
New NIH funding strategy has been formalized.
I really do hope scientists understand what this means for the future of science (funding) - it's not subtle.
www.niaid.nih.gov/about/unifie...
I really do hope scientists understand what this means for the future of science (funding) - it's not subtle.
www.niaid.nih.gov/about/unifie...
The critical bit missing in this @nytimes.com article is the actual numbers - *last* year, only 6% (!!!) of Greenlanders chose the US over Denmark.
6%.
Now it's, what, 2%?
Can it be any clearer?
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/29/w...
6%.
Now it's, what, 2%?
Can it be any clearer?
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/29/w...
January 29, 2026 at 7:45 PM
The critical bit missing in this @nytimes.com article is the actual numbers - *last* year, only 6% (!!!) of Greenlanders chose the US over Denmark.
6%.
Now it's, what, 2%?
Can it be any clearer?
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/29/w...
6%.
Now it's, what, 2%?
Can it be any clearer?
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/29/w...
Reposted by Kristian G. Andersen
Today's @nytimes.com dialogue with Ross Douthat & Jay Bhattacharya is tough sledding. I wrote a book on how silent transmission made COVID harder to stop and drove misleading narratives. The interview continues to mislead as a means to seize more power.
a 🧵
www.amazon.com/Asymptomatic...
a 🧵
www.amazon.com/Asymptomatic...
Asymptomatic: The Silent Spread of COVID-19 and the Future of Pandemics
Asymptomatic: The Silent Spread of COVID-19 and the Future of Pandemics
www.amazon.com
January 29, 2026 at 2:19 PM
Today's @nytimes.com dialogue with Ross Douthat & Jay Bhattacharya is tough sledding. I wrote a book on how silent transmission made COVID harder to stop and drove misleading narratives. The interview continues to mislead as a means to seize more power.
a 🧵
www.amazon.com/Asymptomatic...
a 🧵
www.amazon.com/Asymptomatic...