Mark Fortner
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markfortner.bsky.social
Mark Fortner
@markfortner.bsky.social
CEO @ https://aspen.bio, bioinformatics, cheminformatics, cancer research, AI in Drug Discovery, Research Project & Portfolio Management, FAIR data, semantic web, web components, java, groovy, genomics, proteomics, DEL, TPDs, Pancreatic Cancer
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Does your #DrugDiscovery strategy feel like... AI-fueled robot monkeys hammering away and hoping for a miracle? 🐒🤖

The race for funding is real, but chaos isn't a plan. It's time to swap the monkeys for a real #DigitalTransformation roadmap.
youtu.be/R0n__5HOOe8?...
Digital Transformation with Robot Monkeys
YouTube video by Aspen Biosciences
youtu.be
New Nasal Nanodrops Eradicate Brain Tumors in Mice | #cancer
New Nasal Nanodrops Eradicate Brain Tumors in Mice
A nasal nanotherapy triggers a potent immune assault on glioblastoma and eradicates tumors in mice.
scitechdaily.com
November 30, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Parkinson's Link to Gut Bacteria Suggests Unexpectedly Simple Treatment| #ParkinsonsDisease
Parkinson's Link to Gut Bacteria Suggests Unexpectedly Simple Treatment
Researchers have suspected for some time that the link between our gut and brain plays a role in the onset of Parkinson's disease.
www.sciencealert.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Reposted by Mark Fortner
UK scientists tested more than 1,000 chemicals on gut bacteria samples in a lab, and identified 168 that appear harmful.
Scientists identify 168 chemicals that could be toxic for gut health
UK scientists tested more than 1,000 chemicals on gut bacteria samples in a lab, and identified 168 that appear harmful.
l.euronews.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Reposted by Mark Fortner
Bitopic ligands comprise a #pharmacophore & a linked moiety that bind to separate sites. @rche54.bsky.social &co show that #GPCRs that bind small molecules can be potently activated by #bitopic #nanobody -ligand conjugates to selectively target pairs of GPCRs @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/4p3VOyH
November 25, 2025 at 5:30 PM
An interesting talk by Ben Cravatt at Scripps | #chemsky #DrugDiscovery #DrugTargets
Expanding the drug target universe
YouTube video by Scripps Research
youtube.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Atlas Ventures Year in Review:2025 | #vc #biotech
Atlas Venture Year in Review 2025 - B. Booth
YouTube video by Atlas Venture
youtube.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Gemini 3 Prompting Best Practices | #AI #Gemini #Google
November 25, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Hmm. I guess this was just an accident of timing. @gilman.bsky.social
November 25, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Brain has five ‘eras’, scientists say – with adult mode not starting until early 30s
Brain has five ‘eras’, scientists say – with adult mode not starting until early 30s
Study suggests brain development has four pivotal ‘turning points’ at around the ages of nine, 32, 66 and 83
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:06 PM
John Singer Sargent: The American Painter Who Became An Honorary Frenchman | #art #Sargent
John Singer Sargent: The American painter who became an honorary Frenchman
Sargent: Dazzling Paris, a sumptuous exhibition at the Musée d’Orsay, tells the story of the artist’s formative decade in Paris
www.irishtimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:30 AM
Understanding intrinsically disordered protein regions and their roles in #cancer | #proteomics
Understanding intrinsically disordered protein regions and their roles in cancer
Every function in a cell is associated with a particular protein or group of proteins, typically in a well-defined three-dimensional structure. However, intrinsically disordered regions of proteins de...
phys.org
November 24, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Keele University researcher discovers infant brain tumor cure | #cancer #glioma
Keele University researcher discovers infant brain tumor cure
The discovery by the Institute for Cancer Research is saving lives of infants with rare disease.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 23, 2025 at 2:42 PM
We lived a rather peripatetic life when I was growing up. But no matter where we lived, my father planted roses for my mother. I've continued the tradition with my wife. Here are a couple of examples of Playboy roses from our garden. #bloomscrolling #roses
November 22, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Reposted by Mark Fortner
Even though most Maya books were burned by Spanish conquistadors and Catholic priests, four surviving hieroglyphic codices have managed to provide a window into their remarkably accurate timekeeping tradition.
Scientists found the key to accurate Maya eclipse tables
Eclipse tables in the Dresden Codex were based on lunar tables and adjusted for slippage over time.
arstechnica.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Reposted by Mark Fortner
Generative AI meets the genome
Genes with related functions cluster together, and the AI uses that.
arstechnica.com
November 21, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Recursion’s incoming CEO: Beyond hype on AI-driven drug development, it’s time to show results | #AI @recursionpharma.bsky.social
Recursion’s incoming CEO: Beyond hype on AI-driven drug development, it’s time to show results
In a Q&A, Recursion’s incoming CEO acknowledges hype around the idea of using AI to expedite drug development, and says it's time to show results.
www.statnews.com
November 22, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Reposted by Mark Fortner
“Smear microscopy is basically how we’ve been diagnosing tuberculosis since 1882, and I really think it’s time to say goodbye”

@johngreensbluesky.bsky.social nailed it!!

It really is time to offer a WHO approved rapid molecular test to all people with presumed tuberculosis!!
November 21, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Reposted by Mark Fortner
Sunny. Peachy. May you have whatever type of day you would like this #FlowersOnFriday to be. #Bloomscrolling #Flowers #FlowerReport 🌱 #OnlyBeautifulThings #EastCoastKin #photography #macrophotography
November 22, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Reposted by Mark Fortner
GeneRanger is a web-server application that provides access to processed data about the expression of human genes and proteins across human cell types, tissues, and cell lines from several atlases. generanger.maayanlab.cloud/en/gene/A1C...
November 22, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Reposted by Mark Fortner
Dahlia love 💗
#flowers #garden
November 22, 2025 at 12:29 AM
Reposted by Mark Fortner
World Pancreatic Cancer Day at the Henry Ford Pancreatic Cancer Center
November 20, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Reposted by Mark Fortner
Flower of the Day - this Dahlia in the rain at Floors Castle, Kelso, Scotland (WHAT? RAIN IN SCOTLAND?) last September for #FloralFriday #BloomScrolling
November 21, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Reposted by Mark Fortner
𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫: BiotechTV visited the new offices of @seaporttx.bsky.social today and was given a tour by Founder & CEO @daphnezohar.bsky.social
July 21, 2025 at 11:46 PM
The Trump administration recently declared that nursing was not "professional" thus affecting student loans. We need more nurses not fewer. Hospitals are often understaffed and so much of our routine healthcare tasks are carried out by nurses.
Full list of degrees not classed as ‘professional’ by Trump admin
Certain students may no longer receive the same loan for their studies as what counts as "professional" will determine how much they get.
www.newsweek.com
November 21, 2025 at 2:56 PM