Joshua Weitz
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joshuasweitz.bsky.social
Joshua Weitz
@joshuasweitz.bsky.social
9.9K followers 2.9K following 2K posts

Professor of Biology & Institute for Health Computing, U of Maryland; explores how viruses impact human and environmental health; 'Asymptomatic' (JHU Press, 10/2024) & 'Quantitative Biosciences' (Princeton U Press, 3/2024) & 'Science Matters' substack. .. more

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Joshua S. Weitz is an American biologist. He is both a professor of biology and the Clark Leadership Chair in Data Analytics at the University of Maryland. Previously, he was a professor at Georgia Tech, where he was the founding director of the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Quantitative Biosciences. In 2017, he was elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. .. more

Biology 28%
Environmental science 26%
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joshuasweitz.bsky.social
Joshua Weitz @joshuasweitz.bsky.social · Sep 24
New from #SCIMaP - analysis of the White House’s Proposed FY 2026 National Science Foundation Budget.

Take-home: Slashing NSF by >50% will lead to ~$11 billion in economic loss and extensive job loss and reduced training opportunities in communities nationwide.

Report: osf.io/e8rnc

a 🧵
Economic loss from the White House's NSF FY 2026 Proposed Budget

Reposted by Joshua S. Weitz

jeremymberg.bsky.social
Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 1d
Excellent story from @aniloza.bsky.social and colleague at STAT on the MOSAIC program.

www.statnews.com/2025/12/08/t...

1/4
NIH shut out hundreds of young scientists from funding to start their own labs
Special Report: The NIH has shut out hundreds of young scientists from funding to start their own labs.
www.statnews.com

joshuasweitz.bsky.social
Joshua Weitz @joshuasweitz.bsky.social · 1d
Impressive and essential story from @statnews.com:

"The drop-off in support for early-career researchers could endanger the already-tenuous pipeline that fuels the country’s scientific workforce, according to officials who have studied the scientific career path."

www.statnews.com/2025/12/08/t...
NIH shut out hundreds of young scientists from funding to start their own labs
Special Report: The NIH has shut out hundreds of young scientists from funding to start their own labs.
www.statnews.com

Reposted by Joshua S. Weitz

detenber.bsky.social
Benjamin Detenber @detenber.bsky.social · 1d
Not my lane exactly, but as someone who has done science communication research, I heartily endorse this. Getting the word out, counter messaging, offering clear expert opinion are all part of the road back from science under siege.

joshuasweitz.bsky.social
Joshua Weitz @joshuasweitz.bsky.social · 1d
See additional context here:

joshuasweitz.substack.com/p/revisionis...
Revisionism in the Wake of Covid
A dialogue confronting the premise of revisionist efforts to diminish the pandemic's severity and dismantle public health institutions.
joshuasweitz.substack.com

joshuasweitz.bsky.social
Joshua Weitz @joshuasweitz.bsky.social · 1d
Precisely so, sharing perspectives in an open format is likely to sharpen arguments and bring in new voices to a debate that has enormous implications.

Who's next?

/🧵

joshuasweitz.bsky.social
Joshua Weitz @joshuasweitz.bsky.social · 1d
Each panel will unfold differently, reflecting the perspectives of the moderator, panelists, and the organizations in which they are embedded.

joshuasweitz.bsky.social
Joshua Weitz @joshuasweitz.bsky.social · 1d
Having open conversations on how to improve the US research environment is a key step to reasserting our shared role in shaping the narrative of how to support science and public health.

joshuasweitz.bsky.social
Joshua Weitz @joshuasweitz.bsky.social · 1d
As much as we want to do our science (and must), the reality is: business is not usual.

joshuasweitz.bsky.social
Joshua Weitz @joshuasweitz.bsky.social · 1d
Precisely so, the panel was meant to elevate what is often whispered about in coffee breaks and during professional networking events even as the vast majority of talks focus on the ‘business as usual’ doing of science.

joshuasweitz.bsky.social
Joshua Weitz @joshuasweitz.bsky.social · 1d
Rather than hosting administration leads to share talking points within society events and major conferences (and then leave without Q&A), event organizers should be willing to offer a platform for scientists to talk frankly about ongoing attacks on science.

joshuasweitz.bsky.social
Joshua Weitz @joshuasweitz.bsky.social · 1d
The practical part described in this post is key.

Last week at Epidemics10 in San Diego (500+ attendees), I moderated a panel discussion with a group of 3 panelists in a session w/this title. The panel format represents a template for the 2026 conference calendar.

And yes, people will come.

joshuasweitz.bsky.social
Joshua Weitz @joshuasweitz.bsky.social · 1d
New post (~4-5 min read) on Confronting Covid's Wake, In Practice... the post describes a template for platforming open conversations within professional societies and conferences amidst ongoing attacks on science and public health.

a brief 🧵

open.substack.com/pub/joshuasw...
Confronting Covid's Wake, In Practice
A template for open conversations within professional societies and conferences amidst ongoing attacks on science
open.substack.com

Reposted by Joshua S. Weitz

Reposted by Joshua S. Weitz

Reposted by David Darmofal

joshuasweitz.bsky.social
Joshua Weitz @joshuasweitz.bsky.social · 4d
Voted yes on RFK Jr when he could have voted no.

Continues to hedge, when he could act.
As a liver doctor who has treated patients with hepatitis B for decades, this change to the vaccine schedule is a mistake. The hepatitis B vaccine is safe and effective. The birth dose is a recommendation, NOT a mandate. Bill Cassidy on X Before the birth dose was recommended, 20,000 newborns a year were infected with hepatitis B. Now, it’s fewer than 20. Ending the recommendation for newborns makes it more likely the number of cases will begin to increase again. This makes America sicker. Acting CDC Director O’Neill should not sign these new recommendations and instead retain the current, evidence-based approach.

Reposted by A. E. Dessler, Joshua S. Weitz, Scott L. Greer , and 2 more

ameracadpeds.bsky.social
The American Academy of Pediatrics @ameracadpeds.bsky.social · 4d
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

Reposted by Joshua S. Weitz

joshuasweitz.bsky.social
Joshua Weitz @joshuasweitz.bsky.social · 4d
What is Isaac Chotiner doing and why isn't he already interviewing the ACIP members who voted yes...
nbcnews.com NBC News @nbcnews.com · 4d
BREAKING: Vaccine panel appointed by RFK Jr. votes to roll back newborn hepatitis B vaccine recommendations, upending years of CDC guidance and public health consensus.
CDC advisory panel rolls back universal hepatitis B vaccine recommendation
The change upends decades of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance and goes against widespread public health consensus.
nbcnews.to

Reposted by Joshua S. Weitz

nbcnews.com
NBC News @nbcnews.com · 4d
BREAKING: Vaccine panel appointed by RFK Jr. votes to roll back newborn hepatitis B vaccine recommendations, upending years of CDC guidance and public health consensus.
CDC advisory panel rolls back universal hepatitis B vaccine recommendation
The change upends decades of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance and goes against widespread public health consensus.
nbcnews.to

Reposted by Joshua S. Weitz

standupforscience.bsky.social
Stand Up for Science! @standupforscience.bsky.social · 4d
ACIP votes to end universal HBV birth dose for newborns. The consequence? Prepare to see a reversal of our rates of chronic liver disease and liver cancer as more children are left unprotected.

The birth dose has an up to 90% efficacy rate of protecting newborns from Hep B, which is incurable.
ACIP votes to abandon universal hepatitis B vaccination for newborns
Vaccine advisers to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are meeting today on what could be a major change to the childhood vaccination schedule. Follow here for live updates.
www.cnn.com

Reposted by Janet Murray

joshuasweitz.bsky.social
Joshua Weitz @joshuasweitz.bsky.social · 4d
Breaking news story via @statnews.com from @helenbranswell.bsky.social sky.social.

As the subtitle makes clear:
"The change is likely to increase the number of people who develop chronic infections and liver cancer."

"Breaking" is the correct adjective.

www.statnews.com/2025/12/05/c...
CDC panel recommends delaying birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine
The CDC's ACIP panel voted to recommend delaying the birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine, ending a policy that has reined in the virus.
www.statnews.com

Reposted by Lisa W. Fazio, Brendan Nyhan, Joshua S. Weitz , and 3 more

brandyzadrozny.bsky.social
Brandy Zadrozny @brandyzadrozny.bsky.social · 4d
Kennedy's zombie ACIP panel just voted to restrict hepatitis B vaccine for newborns. Experts say it will harm children for no reason. www.ms.now/news/rfk-cdc...

ACIP member Dr. Cody Meissner:

"'Do no harm' is a moral imperative. We are doing harm by changing this wording. And I vote no."
RFK Jr.’s CDC panel: No more hepatitis B vaccine for some newborns
The CDC's vaccine advisory panel, stocked with anti-vaccine activists and loyalists to RFK Jr., voted Friday to stop recommending a birth dose of vaccine.
www.ms.now

joshuasweitz.bsky.social
Joshua Weitz @joshuasweitz.bsky.social · 4d
Mark this day and vote... and those who voted for it.
defendpublichealth.bsky.social Defend Public Health @defendpublichealth.bsky.social · 4d
On vote 1: Yes- 8, No-3 - vote passes. The universal birth dose of Hep B will no longer be recommended by ACIP to children whose mothers are negative for HepBsAg.