Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Emily Wong @emilybethwong.bsky.social · Aug 21

We are hiring! Please circulate in your networks. Join us in beautiful warm and wonderful KZN to answer some important questions about asymptomatic / subclinical TB.

#TBsky #IDsky 🧪

Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) @ahri-news.bsky.social · Aug 21

📢 AHRI is #hiring for 2️⃣ key roles for an exciting new study on asymptomatic TB transmission.

Successful candidates will join the leadership of the study, working closely with our director for clinical trials Limakatso Lebina & @emilybethwong.bsky.social

More ➡️ ahri.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/AHRI1

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Reposted by Emily Wong

Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · Jun 9

Here is a link you can blast out to all of your networks to ask them to consider signing on in support of our NIH heroes.

actionnetwork.org/forms/add-na...

We are at 5000 folks who have signed on. But we can do better

Only for people who have ever been sick or knows someone who has been.

ADD YOUR NAME: Sign the Open Letter in Support of NIH Staff

Join the courageous and committed National Institutes of Health (NIH) public servants by adding your name now.

actionnetwork.org

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Emily Wong @emilybethwong.bsky.social · May 31

This is a research ethics emergency 🚨 on the scale of those we know from history - the Tuskegee syphilis study, Nazi “scientific”atrocities. The impact on the global clinical research field is immense. Will we (scientists, participants, communities, ethics committees) ever trust funders again?

Nature @nature.com · May 30

NIH funding will abruptly cease for dozens, if not hundreds, of ongoing overseas trials of drugs and treatments. Its policy change puts thousands of trial participants in limbo.

https://go.nature.com/3Z8xNM1

NIH grant cuts will axe clinical trials abroad — and could leave thousands without care

US agency’s new policy could abruptly end studies of infectious diseases and cancer, leaving researchers scrambling for funds.

go.nature.com

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Reposted by Emily Wong

Stand Up for Science! @standupforscience.bsky.social · May 14

At the end of this summer, the future of U.S. science and research will be decided.

From weather alerts to cancer breakthroughs, science shapes every part of our lives.
We need everyone in this fight.

The Summer Fight for Science starts now. Are you in?

The fight starts here: bit.ly/4ddiuqU

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Emily Wong @emilybethwong.bsky.social · May 16

Watching our field get torn apart in a matter of months makes me sick

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health @hsph.harvard.edu · May 16

With nearly all of Harvard Chan School’s direct federal grants terminated, we are relying on philanthropy to power our research and support our educational programs. Every gift, regardless of size, advances our vision of health, dignity, and justice for every human. Support our work: hsph.me/whygive

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Reposted by Emily Wong

Peter van Heusden (he/him) 🗿 @pvanheus.bsky.social · May 16

"TAG, MSF and the SAMRC have appealed for “alternative funds to sustain TB and HIV research in South Africa”. - VITAL VITAL VITAL - the USA failure is happening in the context of global shifts towards arms, away from health/research/etc

Thiru Balasubramaniam @thirugeneva.bsky.social · May 16

NIH Cuts To South Africa Will Cause Global Loss Of TB And HIV Research Capacity - Health Policy Watch

These are some of the impacts on South Africa of the decision by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) barely a week ago to prohibit United States

healthpolicy-watch.news

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Reposted by Emily Wong

Madhu Pai, MD, PhD @madhupai.bsky.social · May 16

This is truly sad

nearly every single federal grant terminated at one of the largest schools of public health

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health @hsph.harvard.edu · May 16

With nearly all of Harvard Chan School’s direct federal grants terminated, we are relying on philanthropy to power our research and support our educational programs. Every gift, regardless of size, advances our vision of health, dignity, and justice for every human. Support our work: hsph.me/whygive

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Emily Wong @emilybethwong.bsky.social · May 16

More sad news for 🇺🇸 science. Trying to keep steady in these times, but it’s hard. Difficult to give hope to early career scientists.

Ya'el Courtney, PhD @scienceyael.bsky.social · May 16

As a former @hhmi.org Gilliam fellow, I’m deeply disappointed to see HHMI cancel the Hanna Gray this year and pause all competitions.

@leslievosshall.bsky.social, Erin O’Shea — this was a moment to lead with vision, not retreat.

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Reposted by Emily Wong

Molly Franke @mollyfranke.bsky.social · May 15

All 4 of my NIH research grants are terminated. These were grants on MDR-TB treatment & strategies for supporting adolescents living w/ HIV. This is a massive waste of resources. I am heartbroken for my Harvard team, my partners in Peru, the next generation of scientists & our country. Shame.

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Emily Wong @emilybethwong.bsky.social · May 16

So very sorry to hear this awful news. Solidarity.

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Emily Wong @emilybethwong.bsky.social · May 10

Who is the author of this quote?

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Emily Wong @emilybethwong.bsky.social · May 9

Thinking about cool science makes me happy these days. Also art, music and writing (all only if made by humans, not machines). Congrats to @oehlerslab.org and look forward to thinking about the human relevance of this finding.

Stefan Oehlers @oehlerslab.org · May 9

Why are prior and concurrent #TB such huge risk factors for M. abscessus infection? #zebrafish preprint lead by our research officer Denise Wee discovers tuberculous granulomas (yellow blob) act as a safe haven for opportunistic mycobacterial pathogens (magenta blobs).

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Emily Wong @emilybethwong.bsky.social · Apr 30

Yes this is happening to me. Is it bots?

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Emily Wong @emilybethwong.bsky.social · Apr 17

Congratulations @jaynesutherlandtb.bsky.social - very exciting results for Xpert HR and a 3 protein biomarker!!

Jayne Sutherland @jaynesutherlandtb.bsky.social · Apr 16

Very happy to share our latest publication evaluating not 1, but 2 fingerstick blood screening tests for TB: Cepheid 3 gene test and a 3 protein test using lateral flow technology. Coming soon: evaluation in children and household contracts. Stay tuned...
academic.oup.com/cid/advance-...

Performance of 2 Finger-Stick Blood Tests to Triage Adults With Symptoms of Pulmonary Tuberculosis: A Prospective Multisite Diagnostic Accuracy Study

Two finger-stick blood tests to triage people with symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis by measuring 3 host proteins (multibiomarker test) or 3 host RNA tran

academic.oup.com

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Emily Wong @emilybethwong.bsky.social · Apr 8

Being involved in this #TBsky “moonshot” program has been one of the high points of my career. Through the IMPAcTB contracts our 🇿🇦 team has into discovered insights into asymptomatic TB from #Vukuzazi in rural KZN and worked with the best and most fun scientists from around the 🌎. Targeting 🧪 is 💔🤯!

Joanne Flynn @joanneflynn19.bsky.social · Apr 8

Tuberculosis is not going away. If the cutting edge research goes away, #TB will rage on. Harvard is being targeted including the TB Immunology contract and that trickles down to all of us working on these studies. Progress will be halted. And TB will flourish. www.bostonglobe.com/2025/04/08/m...

‘This looks bad.’ A Harvard infectious disease researcher is targeted in Trump’s review. - The Boston Globe

Sarah Fortune’s tuberculosis research was the number one project on a list of threatened funding.

www.bostonglobe.com

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Reposted by Emily Wong

Jason Andrews @jasonandrews.bsky.social · Apr 2

My sincere thanks to Jeanne Marrazzo for her service as NIAID director. She delivered the Merigan lecture last year & then kindly met w/our trainees & faculty, listening openly to ideas & suggestions for how to make NIAID stronger. A brilliant yet humble physician-scientist. This is such a loss

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Emily Wong @emilybethwong.bsky.social · Apr 2

Wholeheartedly agree

Josh Barocas, MD ⭕️ @jabarocas.bsky.social · Apr 2

For what it’s worth, Jeanne Marrazzo is a national treasure.

RFK Jr is a national embarrassment.

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Emily Wong @emilybethwong.bsky.social · Apr 1

Thank you for giving us a glimmer of hope on this grim day @booker.senate.gov

View from Argus @viewfromargus.bsky.social · Apr 1

Save the soul of America:

#CoryBooker

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Emily Wong @emilybethwong.bsky.social · Apr 1

💔This is a sad & scary day. Jeanne Marrazzo is so smart & such a good leader. With her at the helm our field could sleep a little easier. Losing her leadership is devestating to #IDsky 🧪 & 🌍 health. These ✂️ to NIH workforce put us in grave danger. Now & for a long time.

www.cnn.com/2025/04/01/h...

‘It’s a bloodbath’: Massive wave of job cuts began at US health agencies | CNN

A massive wave of job cuts began at US health agencies early Tuesday, with some employees receiving early morning emails that their jobs were eliminated and some unable to access the building when the...

www.cnn.com

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Emily Wong @emilybethwong.bsky.social · Apr 1

💔

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Reposted by Emily Wong

WuTangIsForTheChildren @wutangforchildren.bsky.social · Mar 31

💯🎯

#TransDayOfVisibility

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Emily Wong @emilybethwong.bsky.social · Mar 29

5 alarm fire 🚨 🚨 🚨 🚨 🚨

Ilan Schwartz @germhuntermd.bsky.social · Mar 28

The CDC has been captured.

CDC statement on measles vaccination:

“The decision to vaccinate is a personal one. People should consult with their healthcare provider to understand their options to get a vaccine and should be informed about the potential risks and benefits associated with vaccines.”

ProPublica @propublica.org · Mar 28

NEW: The move — along with the CDC’s explanation — is a sign that the nation’s top public health agency may be falling in line under HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime critic of vaccines.

By @sheinvestigates.bsky.social

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Reposted by Emily Wong

Jim Woodgett @jwoodgett.bsky.social · Mar 28

Unless the medical research community unites to come to the aid of the NIH staff, who are the only hope for stopping the descent of the whole system, that community itself will be shredded. There is no plan B to defunding NIH. Business cannot go on. Stop normalizing.

Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · Mar 28

Try to imagine a situation where you are not allowed to do your job (e.g. working with applicants to formulate successful proposals), you and and your long-time colleagues are fearful of losing their job, ...

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The Walking Dolbow @jdolbow.bsky.social · Mar 28

Thanks for sharing this. As dire as things are, it’s vital we have some insight on what it’s like for the people working inside the agency.

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Emily Wong @emilybethwong.bsky.social · Mar 28

I have been continuously funded by the NIH for HIV/TB research in 🇿🇦 since 2008. Fogarty fellow & mentor x 3, T32, K08, R21, R01 subs, IMPAcTB subcontracts. I am proud of this body of work. My 💔’s for participants, colleagues, the next gen of scientists and my family.

bhekisisa.org/health-news-...

[BREAKING] SA research grants potentially on hold, says leaked memo - Bhekisisa

A leaked memo for grant management staff of the US government’s National Institutes of Health (NIH), dated March 25, instructs officers to hold “all [research] awards to entities located in South Afri...

bhekisisa.org

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Reposted by Emily Wong

Alt NIH Bluesky 🧪 @altnih4science.bsky.social · Mar 28

Yes. The situation at NIH is worse than the public realizes.

The #NIH is on track to be effectively ended as a funder of evidence-based research within a year.

That is not an exaggeration. The firings and consolidation announced today will create a new, MUCH worse NIH.
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Josh Marshall @joshtpm.bsky.social · Mar 27

The situation at the NIH and for all biomedical and cancer cure research in the United States is MUCH MUCH WORSE than you realize.

Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · Mar 27

Ruining studies and potentially harming research subjects...

Abruptly terminating clinical trials...

Ignorant and evil

www.theatlantic.com/health/archi...

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