Kris Willis
@kawillis.bsky.social
Systems biologist, data scientist, policy wonk, runner. Former NIH-funded investigator, former NIH program official. Founder, Woodley Park Institute. Writing about understanding and accelerating scientific progress at https://theprogressbarwpi.org
Things have not been ok for a long time @aaas.org. Scientists have made do and mended, but we have been leaving advances on the table. Innovation has suffered. Rigor has been compromised. Grateful for the continued support from Congress but we need to address the problems.
Same, AAAS Fellow and member and institute leader - while it's great that Congress is supportive of funding, science and scientists are not ok, @aaas.org
Hey @aaas.org I am a member and Fellow and am appalled by that statement. The devastating impact on trainees and their fellowships, the anxiety all have felt, and the devastating cuts in some fields are just some examples. Perhaps you all could respond directly??
January 10, 2026 at 9:55 PM
Things have not been ok for a long time @aaas.org. Scientists have made do and mended, but we have been leaving advances on the table. Innovation has suffered. Rigor has been compromised. Grateful for the continued support from Congress but we need to address the problems.
Reposted by Kris Willis
A long-awaited update of federal employment data shows crippling staff reductions in some federal agencies and offices:
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
220,000 Fewer Workers: How Trump’s Cuts Affected Every Federal Agency (Gift Article)
New data offers the first clear view of the impact of the buyouts and firings.
www.nytimes.com
January 9, 2026 at 9:33 PM
A long-awaited update of federal employment data shows crippling staff reductions in some federal agencies and offices:
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Reposted by Kris Willis
"The system has become hyper-competitive — so much so that it is dangerous & corrosive. The many problems that the grant system has — incremental research, the loss of innovation — are symptoms of the fact that too many scientists are chasing after too few grant dollars."
“The system of funding science is fundamentally broken. In some respects, it’s been an unmitigated disaster. It was a house of cards, and it’s not surprising that it’s now falling apart.”
-Mike Lauer, former director of extramural research 🧪
www.statecraft.pub/p/whats-wron...
-Mike Lauer, former director of extramural research 🧪
www.statecraft.pub/p/whats-wron...
What’s Wrong with NIH Grants?
“Science is fundamentally different than remodeling a kitchen”
www.statecraft.pub
January 10, 2026 at 4:42 AM
"The system has become hyper-competitive — so much so that it is dangerous & corrosive. The many problems that the grant system has — incremental research, the loss of innovation — are symptoms of the fact that too many scientists are chasing after too few grant dollars."
Reposted by Kris Willis
”never-ending rapid growth in biomedical science has created an unsustainable hypercompetitive system that is discouraging even the most outstanding prospective students from entering our profession--and making it difficult for seasoned investigators to produce their best work”
Rescuing US biomedical research from its systemic flaws - PubMed
The long-held but erroneous assumption of never-ending rapid growth in biomedical science has created an unsustainable hypercompetitive system that is discouraging even the most outstanding prospective students from entering our profession--and making it difficult for seasoned investigators to produ …
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
January 10, 2026 at 4:37 AM
”never-ending rapid growth in biomedical science has created an unsustainable hypercompetitive system that is discouraging even the most outstanding prospective students from entering our profession--and making it difficult for seasoned investigators to produce their best work”
“The system of funding science is fundamentally broken. In some respects, it’s been an unmitigated disaster. It was a house of cards, and it’s not surprising that it’s now falling apart.”
-Mike Lauer, former director of extramural research 🧪
www.statecraft.pub/p/whats-wron...
-Mike Lauer, former director of extramural research 🧪
www.statecraft.pub/p/whats-wron...
What’s Wrong with NIH Grants?
“Science is fundamentally different than remodeling a kitchen”
www.statecraft.pub
January 10, 2026 at 1:44 AM
“The system of funding science is fundamentally broken. In some respects, it’s been an unmitigated disaster. It was a house of cards, and it’s not surprising that it’s now falling apart.”
-Mike Lauer, former director of extramural research 🧪
www.statecraft.pub/p/whats-wron...
-Mike Lauer, former director of extramural research 🧪
www.statecraft.pub/p/whats-wron...
Reposted by Kris Willis
Final FY 2026 agreement rejected the massive cuts proposed by the Administration but will still reduce science funding overall. The NSF top line is down 3.4% to $8.75 billion with research flat funded, STEM education down 20%, and facilities up 7.3%. www.aip.org/fyi/congress...
Congress Set to Finalize Science Budgets Rejecting Trump Cuts
The bipartisan deal still reduces funding for many science agencies, including NSF and NASA.
www.aip.org
January 9, 2026 at 9:01 PM
Final FY 2026 agreement rejected the massive cuts proposed by the Administration but will still reduce science funding overall. The NSF top line is down 3.4% to $8.75 billion with research flat funded, STEM education down 20%, and facilities up 7.3%. www.aip.org/fyi/congress...
Reposted by Kris Willis
Please share - @pewresearch.org wants to hire a data archivist who will be an advocate for data users, helping to ensure that our datasets are easy to discover and reuse by researchers, journalists, and the public.
pewtrusts.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/CenterExtern...
pewtrusts.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/CenterExtern...
January 6, 2026 at 6:27 PM
Please share - @pewresearch.org wants to hire a data archivist who will be an advocate for data users, helping to ensure that our datasets are easy to discover and reuse by researchers, journalists, and the public.
pewtrusts.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/CenterExtern...
pewtrusts.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/CenterExtern...
Why do we need to look towards the next frontier to advance science? An accidental thread, with appreciation for the question that prompted it. 🧪
In 1945 Bush wrote a report, The Endless Frontier, persuasively arguing that advances in science lead to new industries, more jobs, and a higher quality of life. Any money the government spent advancing science would be worth it, he argued, because the return on investment would be so high.
January 9, 2026 at 1:59 PM
Why do we need to look towards the next frontier to advance science? An accidental thread, with appreciation for the question that prompted it. 🧪
80 years after Vannevar Bush, we have an opportunity to rework the systems that fund and shape research. We can accelerate scientific progress - if we make the right choices. 🧪
New substack: theprogressbarwpi.org/p/the-next-f...
#metascience
New substack: theprogressbarwpi.org/p/the-next-f...
#metascience
January 8, 2026 at 10:18 PM
80 years after Vannevar Bush, we have an opportunity to rework the systems that fund and shape research. We can accelerate scientific progress - if we make the right choices. 🧪
New substack: theprogressbarwpi.org/p/the-next-f...
#metascience
New substack: theprogressbarwpi.org/p/the-next-f...
#metascience
Reposted by Kris Willis
Project Implicit is facing an existential threat. After almost 30 years, 60 million visitors, and hundreds of published papers, funding for our work has disappeared.
We’ve never held a fundraising drive before, but we need your support to keep our site running. Please consider donating! 🙏
We’ve never held a fundraising drive before, but we need your support to keep our site running. Please consider donating! 🙏
Project Implicit is a research nonprofit behind tools millions use to understand bias. Like many public science orgs, sustaining this work has become increasingly difficult. We are at risk of closing without additional support.
Help protect this impt work by donating here: 4agc.com/donate/impli...
Help protect this impt work by donating here: 4agc.com/donate/impli...
January 8, 2026 at 6:10 PM
Project Implicit is facing an existential threat. After almost 30 years, 60 million visitors, and hundreds of published papers, funding for our work has disappeared.
We’ve never held a fundraising drive before, but we need your support to keep our site running. Please consider donating! 🙏
We’ve never held a fundraising drive before, but we need your support to keep our site running. Please consider donating! 🙏
Reposted by Kris Willis
Fiscal Year 2026 NIH Funding Update
The committed funding for fiscal year 2026 is lagging behind all fiscal years from 2015-2025.
More details to follow.
1/6
The committed funding for fiscal year 2026 is lagging behind all fiscal years from 2015-2025.
More details to follow.
1/6
January 8, 2026 at 4:44 PM
Fiscal Year 2026 NIH Funding Update
The committed funding for fiscal year 2026 is lagging behind all fiscal years from 2015-2025.
More details to follow.
1/6
The committed funding for fiscal year 2026 is lagging behind all fiscal years from 2015-2025.
More details to follow.
1/6
Reposted by Kris Willis
A federal appeals court maintains the block on the NIH's proposed cap on indirect costs ... but it ~could~ still be brought up to the Supreme Court @jonathanwosen.bsky.social writes
www.statnews.com/2026/01/05/f...
www.statnews.com/2026/01/05/f...
Federal appeals court upholds ruling blocking NIH cap on research overhead payments
Federal appeals court judges upheld a lower court’s ruling preventing the NIH from cutting billions of dollars in support for research overhead.
www.statnews.com
January 6, 2026 at 2:42 PM
A federal appeals court maintains the block on the NIH's proposed cap on indirect costs ... but it ~could~ still be brought up to the Supreme Court @jonathanwosen.bsky.social writes
www.statnews.com/2026/01/05/f...
www.statnews.com/2026/01/05/f...
Resurfacing this for anyone who missed it over the holiday break 🧪
Today is a big day.
After many years of work, I’m excited to finally share a paper describing a novel approach to identifying potential breakthroughs in biomedical research, up to twelve years before the breakthrough itself occurs. 1/15
After many years of work, I’m excited to finally share a paper describing a novel approach to identifying potential breakthroughs in biomedical research, up to twelve years before the breakthrough itself occurs. 1/15
January 5, 2026 at 4:55 PM
Resurfacing this for anyone who missed it over the holiday break 🧪
My recommended Sunday read, from The Good Science Project:
“We are systematically underutilizing our collective capacity for discovery …Our own funding mechanisms have become a bottleneck rather than a catalyst”
x.com/stuartbuck1/...
“We are systematically underutilizing our collective capacity for discovery …Our own funding mechanisms have become a bottleneck rather than a catalyst”
x.com/stuartbuck1/...
Stuart Buck on X: "New piece at the Good Science Project, from the brilliant @aishdoingthings: https://t.co/GWMV4XozmV https://t.co/uy1SBHdF2O" / X
New piece at the Good Science Project, from the brilliant @aishdoingthings: https://t.co/GWMV4XozmV https://t.co/uy1SBHdF2O
x.com
January 4, 2026 at 1:01 PM
My recommended Sunday read, from The Good Science Project:
“We are systematically underutilizing our collective capacity for discovery …Our own funding mechanisms have become a bottleneck rather than a catalyst”
x.com/stuartbuck1/...
“We are systematically underutilizing our collective capacity for discovery …Our own funding mechanisms have become a bottleneck rather than a catalyst”
x.com/stuartbuck1/...
Reposted by Kris Willis
Ran out of words so it isn't as clear as it should have been. Basically the argument is people on the "out" who have very bad experiences don't return and "in" people have a good experience so keep coming back. Such a situation would give you the same good numbers as a "fair" system.
January 2, 2026 at 11:45 PM
Ran out of words so it isn't as clear as it should have been. Basically the argument is people on the "out" who have very bad experiences don't return and "in" people have a good experience so keep coming back. Such a situation would give you the same good numbers as a "fair" system.
New year, new Substack.
I'll be writing about understanding scientific progress and how we can leverage models of it to produce more breakthroughs in less time. If that sounds interesting, join me:
theprogressbarwpi.org
I'll be writing about understanding scientific progress and how we can leverage models of it to produce more breakthroughs in less time. If that sounds interesting, join me:
theprogressbarwpi.org
The Progress Bar | Kris Willis | Substack
Notes on understanding and accelerating scientific progress. Click to read The Progress Bar, by Kris Willis, a Substack publication. Launched 7 days ago.
theprogressbarwpi.org
January 2, 2026 at 1:24 PM
New year, new Substack.
I'll be writing about understanding scientific progress and how we can leverage models of it to produce more breakthroughs in less time. If that sounds interesting, join me:
theprogressbarwpi.org
I'll be writing about understanding scientific progress and how we can leverage models of it to produce more breakthroughs in less time. If that sounds interesting, join me:
theprogressbarwpi.org
Reposted by Kris Willis
You can also use the map in the story to look up vaccination rates in your local schools! This was a HUGE data lift: we reviewed and mapped tens of thousands of individual schools’ data, assembling the most comprehensive public database. And we published this data here: github.com/washingtonpo...
December 31, 2025 at 2:29 PM
You can also use the map in the story to look up vaccination rates in your local schools! This was a HUGE data lift: we reviewed and mapped tens of thousands of individual schools’ data, assembling the most comprehensive public database. And we published this data here: github.com/washingtonpo...
Highly recommend giving this a read. It’s a great framing of how far biomedicine has come in a short time and the progress we’re still striving every day to make
New post!
There was a lot of innovation in medicine and biomedical research this year, and I've tried to summarize the biggest ones in this blogpost.
Medical breakthroughs in 2025. Plus a serious note at the end.
www.scientificdiscovery.dev/p/medical-br...
There was a lot of innovation in medicine and biomedical research this year, and I've tried to summarize the biggest ones in this blogpost.
Medical breakthroughs in 2025. Plus a serious note at the end.
www.scientificdiscovery.dev/p/medical-br...
Medical breakthroughs in 2025
... and a happy new year.
www.scientificdiscovery.dev
December 31, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Highly recommend giving this a read. It’s a great framing of how far biomedicine has come in a short time and the progress we’re still striving every day to make
Happy almost New Year from Zoo Lights!
December 31, 2025 at 12:19 AM
Happy almost New Year from Zoo Lights!
PubMed wrapped: categorizing the top 5 high-level topics of papers published in 2025. LLM-based classification of 1,783,299 documents in total 1/3
December 29, 2025 at 9:30 PM
PubMed wrapped: categorizing the top 5 high-level topics of papers published in 2025. LLM-based classification of 1,783,299 documents in total 1/3
Reposted by Kris Willis
"We also find that approximately half of researchers never publish in a venue with an impact factor above 15, which, under journal-level evaluation regimes, may exclude them from consideration for opportunities. Many of these researchers publish equally influential work"
Most researchers would receive more recognition if assessed by article-level metrics than by journal-level metrics
Are authors fairly judged by assessment of the prestige of the journals in which their work is published? This study compares article level metrics with journal level metrics, finding that the vast ma...
journals.plos.org
December 29, 2025 at 4:40 PM
"We also find that approximately half of researchers never publish in a venue with an impact factor above 15, which, under journal-level evaluation regimes, may exclude them from consideration for opportunities. Many of these researchers publish equally influential work"
Great story illustrating the impact of recent funding instability on lab techs, who are often underpaid, under-credited, and under-appreciated by the modern research enterprise.
www.statnews.com/2025/12/04/r...
www.statnews.com/2025/12/04/r...
Working with monkeys was this lab tech’s dream job. Now she’s staffing an IT help desk
Trump’s reshaping of science has fueled fears researchers will leave the U.S. This lab tech's story shows it can drive people out of science altogether.
www.statnews.com
December 28, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Great story illustrating the impact of recent funding instability on lab techs, who are often underpaid, under-credited, and under-appreciated by the modern research enterprise.
www.statnews.com/2025/12/04/r...
www.statnews.com/2025/12/04/r...
Reposted by Kris Willis
Picard honesty tip: Don't let anyone else tell you how many lights you see.
December 28, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Picard honesty tip: Don't let anyone else tell you how many lights you see.
Reposted by Kris Willis
Repeat after me: GENE 👏 EXPRESSION 👏 PROFILING 👏 DOES 👏 NOT 👏 A 👏 VIRTUAL 👏 CELL 👏 MAKE 👏
December 26, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Repeat after me: GENE 👏 EXPRESSION 👏 PROFILING 👏 DOES 👏 NOT 👏 A 👏 VIRTUAL 👏 CELL 👏 MAKE 👏
Reposted by Kris Willis
OSTP has issued a request for information, please share with them your ideas for how to improve government functions related to science funding and policy
www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...
www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...
Notice of Request for Information; Accelerating the American Scientific Enterprise
The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) requests input from all interested parties on Federal policy updates that aim to accelerate the American scientific enterprise, enable groundbreaking...
www.federalregister.gov
December 23, 2025 at 10:56 PM
OSTP has issued a request for information, please share with them your ideas for how to improve government functions related to science funding and policy
www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...
www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...