Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Tom Scriba

Nature @nature.com · 8d

Despite political obstacles, officials are on track to disburse all of the research funds allocated to the NIH

go.nature.com/46Mxycw

NIH races to spend its 2025 grant money — but fewer projects win funding

Despite political obstacles, officials are on track to disburse all of the research funds allocated to US biomedical behemoth.

go.nature.com

2 13 42

Reposted by Tom Scriba

Madhu Pai, MD, PhD @madhupai.bsky.social · 9d

Good question to reflect on, as we start the week

Image of Dr Paul Farmer with his quote: "If access to health care is considered a human right, who is considered human enough to have that right?"

1 14 55

Reposted by Tom Scriba

Madhu Pai, MD, PhD @madhupai.bsky.social · 21d

$630 billion annually on bombs, tanks and missiles

But no money for universal health coverage

The BMJ @bmj.com · 26d

Globally we are spending over $630bn annually on weapons of war.

@markabellis.bsky.social argues that it's time to start scrutinising the way the arms industry is telling governments, and their populations, that more weapons are the answer to more conflict.
#DSEI2025
www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_5N...

Arms industry - lobbying, marketing, & media manipulation

YouTube video by The BMJ

www.youtube.com

1 12 30

Reposted by Tom Scriba

Daniel L. Barber, PhD @danbarberphd.bsky.social · 21d

We are looking to hire post-docs to work on T cell responses to M. tuberculosis infection using murine and NHP models. If you know T cells and wanna work on the top global infectious killer check us out. BSL3 experience not required. The NIH intramural program in Bethesda MD is an amazing place!

15 19

Reposted by Tom Scriba

Adam Kucharski @adamjkucharski.bsky.social · Sep 8

Operation Warp Speed was arguably one of the most successful policy initiatives in recent history, accelerating vaccine delivery that saved millions of lives.

It’s remarkable to see some now urging the leaders who backed it to disown the achievement.

2 30 140

Reposted by Tom Scriba

John Green @johngreensbluesky.bsky.social · Sep 3

As we see ANOTHER huge drop in the cost of curing tuberculosis, I am reminded that 1. drugs are not expensive because they're made of platinum or something, and 2. the fruits of activism are often harvested over many years. Thanks to all the folks who made this happen. www.stoptb.org/news/breakin...

Breaking News: Historical Drop of DR-TB Treatment Cost Below $300 After Third Major Cut in 2025 by Stop TB’s Global Drug Facility | Stop TB Partnership

www.stoptb.org

15 180 1.1K

Reposted by Tom Scriba

Joanne Flynn @joanneflynn19.bsky.social · Aug 20

We are hiring! The Dept of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics is looking for faculty at the Assistant or Associate professor level (tenure track). Please consider joining our vibrant microbiology and immunology community at the University of Pittsburgh School of medicine

1 110 110

Tom Scriba @tomscriba.bsky.social · Aug 19

The Playbook Used to ‘Prove’ Vaccines Cause Autism www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

Opinion | The Playbook Used to ‘Prove’ Vaccines Cause Autism

Data can easily be manipulated to show causation that doesn’t exist.

www.nytimes.com

1 2

Reposted by Tom Scriba

Madhu Pai, MD, PhD @madhupai.bsky.social · Aug 14

Scientists’ role in defending democracy

www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Scientists’ role in defending democracy

The United States’ democratic leadership, commitment to freedom of expression, and investment in the pursuit of knowledge have long enabled its preeminence in science and technology. Yet today we are ...

www.science.org

15 22

Reposted by Tom Scriba

Madhu Pai, MD, PhD @madhupai.bsky.social · Aug 12

Some positive stories 👇🏾

“Countries with widespread HPV vaccination and regular cervical cancer screenings are already seeing dramatic reductions in cancer rates. They demonstrate that it’s possible to effectively eliminate the disease”

@scientificdiscovery.dev

ourworldindata.org/hpv-vaccinat...

HPV vaccination: How the world can eliminate cervical cancer

HPV vaccines offer a rare opportunity to effectively eliminate one type of cancer. By taking this opportunity, it’s possible to save hundreds of thousands of women each year.

ourworldindata.org

2 35 110

Reposted by Tom Scriba

Journal of Experimental Medicine @jem.org · Jul 30

@bengern.bsky.social et al. show that the early interplay between #neutrophils & CD4 T cells is pivotal in determining #TB pathology, and that depleting neutrophils can improve outcomes even at late timepoints, which has therapeutic relevance rupress.org/jem/article/...

3 9

Reposted by Tom Scriba

WHO @who.int · Jun 29

Are vaccines safe?
What’s actually in them?

In this episode of Science in 5, WHO’s Dr. Kate O’Brien breaks down how vaccines are tested, approved, and monitored even after they reach the public. She also explains what happens if a safety concern is flagged.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqur...

WHO's Science in 5 - The truth about vaccine safety - 30 April 2025

YouTube video by World Health Organization (WHO)

www.youtube.com

7 130 350

Reposted by Tom Scriba

Ed Hawkins @edhawkins.org · Jun 21

Every country is warming.

Every country is experiencing more extreme weather events because of climate change, mainly caused by burning fossil fuels. www.ShowYourStripes.info

Time to #ShowYourStripes and start climate conversations to prompt actions to reduce emissions, personally & collectively.

13 350 600

Reposted by Tom Scriba

Shaun Lintern @shaunlintern.bsky.social · Jun 15

Meet the antivax whisperer trying to turnaround Britain's child vaccine slump one family at a time. How does she do it? What does she say?

Interview with Professor Elizabeth Whittaker:
www.thetimes.com/article/26a8...

Meet the antivax whisperer fighting the vaccine slump

Professor Elizabeth Whittaker convinces reluctant parents to get their children jabbed — and has seen the horrors that unchecked diseases like measles inflict

www.thetimes.com

3 18 55

Reposted by Tom Scriba

satviuct.bsky.social @satviuct.bsky.social · Jun 9

‪
‪Wednesday 18 June 2025: Professor Mark Hatherill, SATVI Director, to present seminar titled "A century of TB vaccine development" at Wolfson Pavilion, at the Institute for Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine
@cidri-africa.bsky.social; @tomscriba.bsky.social
idm.uct.ac.za/events/idm-c...

Seminar Mark Hatherill 18 June Century of TB vaccine Development

2 1

Reposted by Tom Scriba

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

6 8

Reposted by Tom Scriba

Gabriele Pollara @gpollara.bsky.social · Jun 7

This graph on UK childhood vaccine uptake from the article (source @ukhsa.bsky.social ) is quite alarming.

I wonder how impactful this move with health visitors will be, but I guess vaccine hesitancy is multi factorial, so it's well worth trying multiple strategies.

#IDSky #vaccination #MedSky

3 5 10

Reposted by Tom Scriba

John Morales @johnmoralestv.bsky.social · Jun 3

Cuts have consequences, illustrated. As seen on TV 📺

840 9.5K 24K

Reposted by Tom Scriba

Eric Topol @erictopol.bsky.social · Jun 1

The remarkable benefit of exercise was just extended to improved survival after cancer in a randomized trial
@nejm.org
nejm.org/doi/full/10....

12 130 500

Reposted by Tom Scriba

Madhu Pai, MD, PhD @madhupai.bsky.social · May 26

Some basic facts about international students, who they are and who they are not

Please pass on the message

@shashikalb.bsky.social

2 41 110

Reposted by Tom Scriba

Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism @bhekisisa.org · May 21

In today’s newsletter @miamalan looks at why the health department is snubbing the very #HIV same scientists they relied on during #COVID19. mailchi.mp/bhekisisa.or...

1 1

Reposted by Tom Scriba

Katharine Hayhoe @katharinehayhoe.com · May 18

I love that over a hundred climate activists - oh no excuse me, Environmental and Natural Resource Economists! - are objecting to the "quiet cancellation of this important leadership initiative & critical public resource," calling it "as shortsighted as it is unlawful."

Read more: support-nca.org

A screen shot of the declaration, called "defending the national climate assessment" with 130 signatures.

4 99 430

Reposted by Tom Scriba

IPBS Toulouse @ipbstoulouse.bsky.social · May 17

🚨 PhD opportunity in Toulouse!
Join a dynamic team to study membrane proteins & transporters of therapeutic interest using cryo-EM, enzymology & biophysics.

📅 Deadline: June 19, 2025
🔗 Funded by @frm-officiel.bsky.social

#StructuralBiology #MicroSky

More details 👇
shorturl.at/OaVMI

PhD position in structural biology and infectious diseases - IPBS-Toulouse

We are currently looking for highly motivated PhD student with a strong interest in structural[…]

shorturl.at

10 6

Reposted by Tom Scriba

Lilo Pozzo @lilopozzo.bsky.social · May 10

Please share broadly. We all need to rise up for #NSF75 thank you @marvimatos.bsky.social for your leadership in the National Science Board. If not now, when?!?! 🧪

marvimatos.bsky.social @marvimatos.bsky.social · May 10

On the subject of the National Science Foundation

17 57

Reposted by Tom Scriba

Science Magazine @science.org · May 10

The National Institutes of Health's Vaccine Research Center has lost dozens of contractor staff. scim.ag/4dckdNn

NIH’s key vaccine center slammed by contract cuts

Antibody and vaccine work is slowed after the National Institutes of Health loses as many as 2200 contract workers

scim.ag

4 66 110