Brianne Barker
@bioprofbarker.bsky.social
Immunologist/Virologist teaching and doing research with undergrads at Drew University. 1x Jeopardy Champ. Science communicator podcasting on TWiV and Immune. Duke sports fan and cat mom.
Reposted by Brianne Barker
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:39 PM
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
I’ve been struggling processing this and my thoughts on it knowing how many in my community are hurting. I think K.T. has pretty much summed up my thoughts
I had no idea that as many as 1 in 8 Americans relied on SNAP
ONE IN EIGHT
I'm sick over my students, kids' classmates, & neighbors who are hungry right now
But I'm furious that we live in a society where *1 in 8 need food assistance as our status quo*. That this is our normal is APPALLING
ONE IN EIGHT
I'm sick over my students, kids' classmates, & neighbors who are hungry right now
But I'm furious that we live in a society where *1 in 8 need food assistance as our status quo*. That this is our normal is APPALLING
November 8, 2025 at 10:40 PM
I’ve been struggling processing this and my thoughts on it knowing how many in my community are hurting. I think K.T. has pretty much summed up my thoughts
Saving because my students don’t believe me when I tell them about civet coffee when it comes up in class (re: what is a civet when discussing zoonotic spillovers) www.newscientist.com/article/2501...
Civet coffee: The real chemistry behind this bizarre luxury drink
Scientists are finding out how coffee beans are transformed when they pass through the guts of Asian palm civets in the hope of replicating the process without using animals
www.newscientist.com
October 31, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Saving because my students don’t believe me when I tell them about civet coffee when it comes up in class (re: what is a civet when discussing zoonotic spillovers) www.newscientist.com/article/2501...
Currently giving an Immunology exam while dressed as a (half-assed) Jedi…I am calling it Jedi on a casual Friday. I made the entire exam Star Wars themed. Overly proud of figuring out that I could make the peptide sequence of a peptide presented on Class I PALPATINE.
October 31, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Currently giving an Immunology exam while dressed as a (half-assed) Jedi…I am calling it Jedi on a casual Friday. I made the entire exam Star Wars themed. Overly proud of figuring out that I could make the peptide sequence of a peptide presented on Class I PALPATINE.
Reposted by Brianne Barker
Seats are limited! Tell a friend
@bioprofbarker.bsky.social @cindyleifer.bsky.social @stephanielangel.bsky.social
@bioprofbarker.bsky.social @cindyleifer.bsky.social @stephanielangel.bsky.social
IMMUNE 100 — LIVE IN NYC
Join us at The Incubator for Immune’s 100th episode — a live recording with guests, science conversation, and celebration!
immune100nyc.eventbrite.com
October 11, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Seats are limited! Tell a friend
@bioprofbarker.bsky.social @cindyleifer.bsky.social @stephanielangel.bsky.social
@bioprofbarker.bsky.social @cindyleifer.bsky.social @stephanielangel.bsky.social
Reposted by Brianne Barker
Do you love #immunology? Do you live near NYC? Come see MicrobeTV.tv’s live recording of the 100th episode of Immune! With @stephanielangel.bsky.social @bioprofbarker.bsky.social and special guests @drshrutinaik.bsky.social and Gretchen Diehl
October 19, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Do you love #immunology? Do you live near NYC? Come see MicrobeTV.tv’s live recording of the 100th episode of Immune! With @stephanielangel.bsky.social @bioprofbarker.bsky.social and special guests @drshrutinaik.bsky.social and Gretchen Diehl
Once upon a time, I would read Nobel Prize announcements and be awed by some canon in the field I had learned in classes.
This year: another example of reading and thinking “oh yeah, I remember those papers and when this went from being not a thing to a thing”.
Apparently I am old.
This year: another example of reading and thinking “oh yeah, I remember those papers and when this went from being not a thing to a thing”.
Apparently I am old.
October 6, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Once upon a time, I would read Nobel Prize announcements and be awed by some canon in the field I had learned in classes.
This year: another example of reading and thinking “oh yeah, I remember those papers and when this went from being not a thing to a thing”.
Apparently I am old.
This year: another example of reading and thinking “oh yeah, I remember those papers and when this went from being not a thing to a thing”.
Apparently I am old.
Reposted by Brianne Barker
Too many vaccines in the first year?Your child is 44% more likely to survive to one year if they are vaccinated than if they are unvaccinated.
They’re forming a CDC workgroup to decide which line on this graph looks better and their answer may surprise you
June 25, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Too many vaccines in the first year?Your child is 44% more likely to survive to one year if they are vaccinated than if they are unvaccinated.
Reposted by Brianne Barker
Personifying kidneys, depersonalizing humans.
New acting director of CDC Jim O'Neill expressed being pro paid organ donation.
"There are plenty of healthy spare kidneys walking around, unused."
"There are plenty of healthy spare kidneys walking around, unused."
August 30, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Personifying kidneys, depersonalizing humans.
Reposted by Brianne Barker
Maybe the only we survive this is with a twinge of sarcasm and very dark humor😞.
August 29, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Maybe the only we survive this is with a twinge of sarcasm and very dark humor😞.
Reposted by Brianne Barker
Immune 95: Mitochondria for everyone
Immune discusses how cancer cells swap mitochondria with T cells and then digs in for a discussion of an unusual checkpoint blockade that failed for cancer but could be repurposed for autoimmune inflammation.
@cindyleifer.bsky.social @bioprofbarker.bsky.social
Immune discusses how cancer cells swap mitochondria with T cells and then digs in for a discussion of an unusual checkpoint blockade that failed for cancer but could be repurposed for autoimmune inflammation.
@cindyleifer.bsky.social @bioprofbarker.bsky.social
Immune 95: Mitochondria for everyone
YouTube video by MicrobeTV
youtu.be
August 27, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Immune 95: Mitochondria for everyone
Immune discusses how cancer cells swap mitochondria with T cells and then digs in for a discussion of an unusual checkpoint blockade that failed for cancer but could be repurposed for autoimmune inflammation.
@cindyleifer.bsky.social @bioprofbarker.bsky.social
Immune discusses how cancer cells swap mitochondria with T cells and then digs in for a discussion of an unusual checkpoint blockade that failed for cancer but could be repurposed for autoimmune inflammation.
@cindyleifer.bsky.social @bioprofbarker.bsky.social
One of my colleagues is looking for readings for her first-year seminar on Gender, RACE and STEAM and wonders: “Does anyone have suggestions for undergrad accessible articles that focus on how race and/or gender shape research priority bias?”
August 25, 2025 at 12:42 AM
One of my colleagues is looking for readings for her first-year seminar on Gender, RACE and STEAM and wonders: “Does anyone have suggestions for undergrad accessible articles that focus on how race and/or gender shape research priority bias?”
YES. And relatively few people even know it happened
This point isnt being made enough. Last week’s attack on the #CDC could have been a slaughter.
www.statnews.com/2025/08/15/c...
www.statnews.com/2025/08/15/c...
The CDC shooting was public health’s Jan. 6
“In RFK Jr.’s America, it will never be safe to practice public health or medicine," write an epidemiologist and a former CDC staffer.
www.statnews.com
August 16, 2025 at 6:20 AM
YES. And relatively few people even know it happened
I’m in
Every day I draw closer to actually planning what was initially a joke of an idea — a private conference where people who feel absolutely insane in our regular life for not believing robots will save us from our ogliarchs can just get together and latent to be normal for 36 hours. Over drinks.
August 12, 2025 at 8:29 PM
I’m in
Reposted by Brianne Barker
“Dr. Bhattacharya might not realize that many human vaccines are based on live attenuated viruses, where we similarly cannot definitively quantify antigen amounts produced in recipients. The mRNA and live attenuated vaccine platforms have both proven to be safe and effective in clinical studies.”
#NIH director Jay Bhattacharya says the #BARDA mRNA contracts were terminated because the platform isn't viable because people don't trust it.
Experts question some of the claims Bhattacharya made. www.statnews.com/2025/08/11/m...
Experts question some of the claims Bhattacharya made. www.statnews.com/2025/08/11/m...
NIH director: mRNA vaccine contracts were canceled because public lacks trust in technology
NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya offered an explanation for the cancellation of mRNA vaccine contracts that didn't align with that of his boss, health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
www.statnews.com
August 11, 2025 at 5:37 PM
“Dr. Bhattacharya might not realize that many human vaccines are based on live attenuated viruses, where we similarly cannot definitively quantify antigen amounts produced in recipients. The mRNA and live attenuated vaccine platforms have both proven to be safe and effective in clinical studies.”
Reposted by Brianne Barker
This is utter nonsense. A KFF poll in May found that only 16% do not trust mRNA vaccines. Twice as many trust them, and 52% would like more information. This is an educational opportunity, not a justification to terminate research. Unbelievable to hear such nonsense from the NIH Director.
#NIH director Jay Bhattacharya says the #BARDA mRNA contracts were terminated because the platform isn't viable because people don't trust it.
Experts question some of the claims Bhattacharya made. www.statnews.com/2025/08/11/m...
Experts question some of the claims Bhattacharya made. www.statnews.com/2025/08/11/m...
NIH director: mRNA vaccine contracts were canceled because public lacks trust in technology
NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya offered an explanation for the cancellation of mRNA vaccine contracts that didn't align with that of his boss, health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
www.statnews.com
August 11, 2025 at 5:37 PM
This is utter nonsense. A KFF poll in May found that only 16% do not trust mRNA vaccines. Twice as many trust them, and 52% would like more information. This is an educational opportunity, not a justification to terminate research. Unbelievable to hear such nonsense from the NIH Director.
Reposted by Brianne Barker
Great thread about the new @uk.theconversation.com article @sheencr.bsky.social and I wrote about how Kennedy is systematically undermining vaccines in a coordinated and scarily effective way in the US.
full article here:
theconversation.com/how-rfk-jr-i...
full article here:
theconversation.com/how-rfk-jr-i...
Despite the fact that vaccines have saved millions of lives and RFK Jr made promises that he was not anti-vaccine when he was confirmed as HHS and pledged to maintain vaccines and science integrity he is systematically going back on that promise #ImmunoSky 🧪🧵
How RFK Jr is systematically undermining vaccines around the world
Vaccines saved 154 million lives. But as fear of disease fades, so does protection – raising the chilling prospect of a return to the pre-vaccine era.
theconversation.com
August 11, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Great thread about the new @uk.theconversation.com article @sheencr.bsky.social and I wrote about how Kennedy is systematically undermining vaccines in a coordinated and scarily effective way in the US.
full article here:
theconversation.com/how-rfk-jr-i...
full article here:
theconversation.com/how-rfk-jr-i...
Reposted by Brianne Barker
Reposted by Brianne Barker
Damn! I'm copying this whole 🧵 of replies for my #histmed teaching files. Everybody's right: this WAS a great achievement in human ingenuity & cooperation. It should be celebrated, commemorated, & memorialized at every opportunity. #COVIDvax
I got a flu booster today and it made me reflect on the sense of national accomplishment I felt when I drove to a public facility, waited in my car until my number was called on an app, and got my first covid jab. It's fucked the right gets to erase what a moment of technological liberation that was
August 10, 2025 at 2:12 AM
Teaching/mentoring undergrads in public health and biomedical science in 2025 is tough. Struggling to figure out how to give good advice about next steps in the field…trying to tell myself (and mentees) how important it is for people to have the training to rebuild things in the future…
August 9, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Teaching/mentoring undergrads in public health and biomedical science in 2025 is tough. Struggling to figure out how to give good advice about next steps in the field…trying to tell myself (and mentees) how important it is for people to have the training to rebuild things in the future…
Reposted by Brianne Barker
There goes that diversify funding argument
This is not just HHMI. All Chan Zuckerberg Initiative funding calls are CLOSED. The Gates Foundation has no Grand Challenges funding opportunities. I've never seen anything like this. Private foundations have just decided to stop supporting biomedical research.
August 9, 2025 at 5:12 PM
There goes that diversify funding argument
Reposted by Brianne Barker
CDC workers were terrified as gunman shot at the agency’s headquarters yesterday.
Today they are still reeling from shock, fear — and rage.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/09/u...
Today they are still reeling from shock, fear — and rage.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/09/u...
After Years of Anger Directed at C.D.C., Shooting Manifests Worst Fears
www.nytimes.com
August 9, 2025 at 9:17 PM
CDC workers were terrified as gunman shot at the agency’s headquarters yesterday.
Today they are still reeling from shock, fear — and rage.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/09/u...
Today they are still reeling from shock, fear — and rage.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/09/u...
Reposted by Brianne Barker
Remember when we all used to clap every night to thank doctors, nurses, scientists, and public health workers for saving lives?
Thanks to disinformation, people in these professions are now frequently threatened and attacked. There is no way society can keep functioning like this.
Thanks to disinformation, people in these professions are now frequently threatened and attacked. There is no way society can keep functioning like this.
August 9, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Remember when we all used to clap every night to thank doctors, nurses, scientists, and public health workers for saving lives?
Thanks to disinformation, people in these professions are now frequently threatened and attacked. There is no way society can keep functioning like this.
Thanks to disinformation, people in these professions are now frequently threatened and attacked. There is no way society can keep functioning like this.
Reposted by Brianne Barker
One day after a man who reportedly believed that the COVID vaccine had injured him shot up the CDC, HHS announced that a doctor with a history of casting doubt on the safety of the mRNA vaccines is being reinstated as the FDA’s top vaccine regulator.
www.importantcontext.news/p/vinay-pras...
www.importantcontext.news/p/vinay-pras...
Vinay Prasad Returns to FDA
Within two weeks of his unceremonious departure, the COVID vaccine skeptic is back as the nation’s top vaccine regulator.
www.importantcontext.news
August 9, 2025 at 6:53 PM
One day after a man who reportedly believed that the COVID vaccine had injured him shot up the CDC, HHS announced that a doctor with a history of casting doubt on the safety of the mRNA vaccines is being reinstated as the FDA’s top vaccine regulator.
www.importantcontext.news/p/vinay-pras...
www.importantcontext.news/p/vinay-pras...
Reposted by Brianne Barker
Per ProPublica, RFK Jr and Russell Vought have gone out of their way to demonize the CDC and federal workforce.
Vought, on video: “We want the bureaucrats to be traumatically affected.” Also, he expressed his desire that they be “increasingly viewed as the villains.”
Again, stochastic terrorism.
Vought, on video: “We want the bureaucrats to be traumatically affected.” Also, he expressed his desire that they be “increasingly viewed as the villains.”
Again, stochastic terrorism.
I spent this morning talking to the CDC shooting suspect's neighbors. They said he was polite, helpful and OBSESSED with vaccine conspiracy theories.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/09/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/09/u...
Gunman in Deadly C.D.C. Shooting Fixated on Covid Vaccine, Officials Say
www.nytimes.com
August 9, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Per ProPublica, RFK Jr and Russell Vought have gone out of their way to demonize the CDC and federal workforce.
Vought, on video: “We want the bureaucrats to be traumatically affected.” Also, he expressed his desire that they be “increasingly viewed as the villains.”
Again, stochastic terrorism.
Vought, on video: “We want the bureaucrats to be traumatically affected.” Also, he expressed his desire that they be “increasingly viewed as the villains.”
Again, stochastic terrorism.