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Alison Farrell
@alisonfarrell.bsky.social
13 followers 8 following 22 posts
Biomedical science editor & communicator, aspiring orchardist, fascinated by mechanisms of human disease.
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Alison Farrell @alisonfarrell.bsky.social · 10d
Exciting first day at #ERSCongress in Amsterdam and hearing all the updates in #respiratorymedicine. Can you see your study in #PLOSMedicine? If so, please reach out! #ERS2025 @plos.org
Alison Farrell @alisonfarrell.bsky.social · Sep 4
As well as the modelling study by Molaro and colleagues that looks specifically at the effects of #health #aid reductions in #Malawi
journals.plos.org/plosmedicine...
@plos.org
The potential impact of declining development assistance for health on population health in Malawi: A modelling study
Author summary Why was this study done? Development assistance for health (DAH) is an important source of funding for public healthcare services in Malawi. Its contribution is expected to decline...
journals.plos.org
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Alison Farrell @alisonfarrell.bsky.social · Sep 4
Check out this new Perspective by #PLOSMedicine academic editor @petermacp.bsky.social and colleagues on the devastating effects on progress of health funding cuts in Africa:
journals.plos.org/plosmedicine...
@plos.org
Reductions in development assistance for health funding threaten decades of progress in Africa
Countries across Africa face health crises driven by aid cuts, shifting demography, and infectious and environmental threats. Renewed public health strategies, smarter investment, and stronger surveil...
journals.plos.org
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Alison Farrell @alisonfarrell.bsky.social · Aug 5
This is extraordinarily shortsighted and limits the US' ability to respond to a pandemic:
www.msn.com/en-us/politi...
MSN
www.msn.com
Alison Farrell @alisonfarrell.bsky.social · Aug 4
PLOS Medicine has a new team and is setting priorities to help address global health challenges. Read the editorial here: dx.plos.org/10.1371/jour...
@plos.org
Charting the future of PLOS Medicine: Priorities for evidence, impact, and equity
As PLOS Medicine enters a new chapter, its leadership sets out a bold editorial vision grounded in evidence, impact and equity. In a rapidly evolving global health landscape, the journal reaffirms its...
dx.plos.org
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Alison Farrell @alisonfarrell.bsky.social · Apr 28
SPIRIT 2025 is now live at PLOS Medicine! doi.org/10.1371/jour... Hot on the heels of the CONSORT 2025 statement, these updates aim to improve transparency and reporting quality of clinical protocols and randomized trials, respectively. See our accompanying editorial here doi.org/10.1371/jour...
SPIRIT 2025 statement: Updated guideline for protocols of randomised trials
A complete, transparent, and accessible protocol is critical for the planning, conduct, reporting, and external review of randomised trials The SPIRIT (Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for I...
journals.plos.org
Alison Farrell @alisonfarrell.bsky.social · Mar 29
Massive loss to #FDA, #vaccine research and safety and #science
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/28/h...
Top FDA Vaccine Official Resigns, Citing Kennedy’s ‘Misinformation and Lies’
Dr. Peter Marks, a veteran of the agency, wrote that undermining confidence in vaccines is irresponsible and a danger to public health.
www.nytimes.com
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Alison Farrell @alisonfarrell.bsky.social · Mar 20
See the last sentence of this article, a quote from MItchell Warren. So important!

Trump Administration Considers Scaling Back H.I.V. Efforts at C.D.C. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/19/h...
Trump Administration Considers Scaling Back H.I.V. Efforts at C.D.C.
The move comes after a series of cuts to prevention and treatment efforts worldwide. Some functions might be moved to another agency, officials said.
www.nytimes.com
Alison Farrell @alisonfarrell.bsky.social · Mar 5
#CROI2025 starts this Sunday in San Francisco, the best #HIV conference! I am super excited to attend & hope to see you there!
www.croiconference.org/croi-2025-in...
www.croiconference.org
Alison Farrell @alisonfarrell.bsky.social · Feb 21
sadly relevant all over again
journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
We need leaders that believe in scientific evidence
In a world beset by attempts to undermine scientific evidence and evidence-based policy, we emphasize their important role in helping humanity rise to the challenges of our time.
journals.plos.org
Alison Farrell @alisonfarrell.bsky.social · Feb 21
Statement from PLOS in response to the EOs:
theplosblog.plos.org/2025/02/plos...
PLOS statement on recent US Executive Orders and scientific integrity - The Official PLOS Blog
Since its founding over twenty five years ago PLOS has been dedicated to advancing open science, ensuring that knowledge is accessible to…
theplosblog.plos.org
Alison Farrell @alisonfarrell.bsky.social · Feb 21
very powerful piece
www.theguardian.com/sport/commen...
Trump singled me out for ruining women’s sport. This is my response to him | Austin Killips
The president talks about trans athletes ‘invading’ women’s sports, while doing nothing at all to elevate, fund or support women athletes
www.theguardian.com
Alison Farrell @alisonfarrell.bsky.social · Feb 12
Staying silent is tacit endorsement and helps no-one.

As outcry builds over Trump cuts to NIH payments, drugmakers are MIA www.statnews.com/2025/02/11/n... via @statnews.com
As outcry builds over Trump cuts to NIH payments, drugmakers are MIA
Drugmakers — major beneficiaries of NIH-backed university research — have been largely silence on the Trump administration's cuts to agency research payments.
www.statnews.com
Alison Farrell @alisonfarrell.bsky.social · Jan 24
This is unconscionable. Dr. Fauci has served the American population for far longer than any president, and far better than so many. I am speechless with the pettiness of these actions.

Trump Terminates Fauci’s Government Security Protection www.nytimes.com/2025/01/24/u...
Anthony Fauci Stripped of Government Security Protection
Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, who was one of the nation’s top health officials for decades, had received death threats during the coronavirus pandemic. He has hired his own security detail.
www.nytimes.com
Alison Farrell @alisonfarrell.bsky.social · Jan 23
how do you maintain supremacy as a world leader in #science and #medicine with actions like this? #NIH

Trump hits NIH with ‘devastating’ freezes on meetings, travel, communications, and hiring | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...
Trump hits NIH with ‘devastating’ freezes on meetings, travel, communications, and hiring
Researchers facing
www.science.org
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Alison Farrell @alisonfarrell.bsky.social · Jan 23
But thankfully Quebecers can still order from Amazon in ON! :)
Alison Farrell @alisonfarrell.bsky.social · Jan 6
This is an important and worrisome development

U.S. records first fatal bird flu case amid growing concerns about virus www.statnews.com/2025/01/06/b... via @statnews.com
U.S. records first fatal bird flu case amid growing concerns about virus
The U.S. has recorded its first fatal case of H5N1 bird flu, in a person from Louisiana who contracted the virus from infected chickens and wild birds in a backyard flock.
www.statnews.com
Alison Farrell @alisonfarrell.bsky.social · Dec 5
Interesting results in @science.org & important to understand prevalence of this and other affinity-enhancing HA mutations from other human cases of #H5N1 #avianinfluenza
A single mutation in bovine influenza H5N1 hemagglutinin switches specificity to human receptors www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
A single mutation in bovine influenza H5N1 hemagglutinin switches specificity to human receptors
In 2024, several human infections with highly pathogenic clade 2.3.4.4b bovine influenza H5N1 viruses in the United States raised concerns about their capability for bovine-to-human or even human-to-h...
www.science.org
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Alison Farrell @alisonfarrell.bsky.social · Nov 25
Incredibly moving Opinion in @nytimes.com and commentary on the disconnect between medicine and palliative care. www.nytimes.com/2024/11/25/o...
Opinion | If My Dying Daughter Could Face Her Mortality, Why Couldn’t the Rest of Us?
A bereaved mother’s case against our grief-phobic culture.
www.nytimes.com
Alison Farrell @alisonfarrell.bsky.social · Nov 15
Exciting step forward with #CARTs for a devastating childhood cancer from Michelle Monje's and Crystal Mackall's labs #StanfordMedicine @mackall-lab.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Intravenous and intracranial GD2-CAR T cells for H3K27M+ diffuse midline gliomas - Nature
We evaluated the use of chimeric antigen receptor-modified T cells targeting GD2 (GD2-CART) for H3K27M+ diffuse midline glioma (DMG), finding that intravenous administration of GD2-CART, followed by i...
www.nature.com
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Alison Farrell @alisonfarrell.bsky.social · Nov 15
We need this on repeat: #CDC Director Mandy Cohen to #CNN Meg Tirrell, " I don't want to have to see us go backwards in order to remind ourselves that
#vaccines work"
milkeninstitute.org/content-hub/...
Panel - Part 2: A Conversation with CDC Director Mandy Cohen | Milken Institute
milkeninstitute.org
Alison Farrell @alisonfarrell.bsky.social · Nov 13
We really need to understand what are the risk factors for severe outcomes in humans for this avian influenza.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/avian-influe...
Canadian teen with suspected avian flu in critical condition
www.cidrap.umn.edu
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