drwillzacharias.bsky.social - Profile | ThreadSky | a Reddit-style client for Bluesky

“If you are taking an F.D.A.-approved drug that is improving the quality or length of your life, there is a 99 percent chance N.I.H. was involved in the pathway to its discovery.” www.nytimes.com/2025/03/24/h...

submitted 34 days ago • 0 comments

From 2010 to 2016 (latest data I have ), NIH research contributed to EVERY drug approved by the FDA

submitted 36 days ago • 749 comments

You seem stressed. Here's some footage of the double-decker trolley bus, a transport world rara avis. Trackless trolleys in West London (Twickenham, Isleworth, Chiswick) the early 1960s. Don't you feel better now?

submitted 37 days ago • 11 comments

This level of toxicity and disorganization at NIH is heartbreaking and terrifying.

submitted 44 days ago • 0 comments

This is completely fucked up. I know everything is fucked up, but THIS is why universities need to stand up and fight, not cave like Columbia did. NOTHING will satisfy them, and all the capitulation just leads to more demands and humiliation.

submitted 45 days ago • 58 comments

Get Rekt

submitted 45 days ago • 220 comments

New report shows that NIH grants fueled $95 billion in economic activity and 407,782 jobs in 2024. That's not to mention the countless lives that biomedical research has saved. Show me a better investment than that. www.forbes.com/sites/michae...

submitted 46 days ago • 26 comments

NIH website and all of its subsites are down. NSF and CDC remain up.

submitted 57 days ago • 1 comment

The Department of Health and Human Services has pressed the NIH to ignore court orders, dismissing NIH lawyers' advice to resume business as usual, @katherinejwu.com reports. As of this week, some institutes and centers are still not issuing any new grants: theatln.tc/MVl9uWmj

submitted 59 days ago • 12 comments

The FDA cancelled an upcoming meeting of experts scheduled to discuss next year’s flu shots, stoking fears among scientists who worry that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will use his position as health secretary to sow doubts about vaccines.

submitted 60 days ago • 44 comments

Many politicians & CEOs are ignorant about / indifferent to science, but with Trump–Musk and their stooges, it's more. They outright hate science. Presumably this is another manifestation of their insecurity, a deep resentment because scientists get credit for their hard work and good brains.

submitted 65 days ago • 11 comments

I chatted with a program director at NIH for a half hour just now It's clear that the people who make American science happen are doing everything they can to keep making it happen in a very difficult environment They deserve our respect and gratitude

submitted 65 days ago • 5 comments

NEW Republican Congressman Troy Balderson, who reps an R+18 district in Ohio, says President Trump’s executive orders are “getting out of control.” “Congress has to decide whether or not the Departmnet of Education goes away. Not the president. Not Elon Musk. Congress decides,” Balderson said.

submitted 66 days ago • 120 comments

www.nytimes.com/2025/02/18/u...

submitted 68 days ago • 0 comments

Special shout out this AM to NIH 🧪 grant mgmt specialists, POs, and SROs during this chaotic time - THANK YOU for caring for our grants and uploading scores/summary statements despite the unprecedented challenges you may be facing. You are science warriors and we APPRECIATE & SUPPORT YOU 🫶

submitted 69 days ago • 0 comments

Non-smoking lung cancer patient: “NIH funding cuts could cost me my life, and that of millions of others” thehill.com/opinion/heal...

submitted 69 days ago • 0 comments

The Trump admin has "disrupted the response" to bird flu by withholding reports and canceling meetings with both Congress and state health officials, leading to confusion and concern among federal staff, states, veterinarians and health experts. www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...

submitted 72 days ago • 87 comments

This is the message for your “normal” friends. The administration is the best ally of cancer in the US currently.

submitted 72 days ago • 0 comments

Viewpoint: The US faces a crisis in child and adolescent health and well-being, necessitating a transformation of the health care system. ja.ma/41mWIgp #MedSky

submitted 74 days ago • 2 comments

Project 2025 was unpopular because of things like the plan for Trump to shut down the CFPB, which helps you get your money back if a bank cheats you.

submitted 75 days ago • 558 comments

Today is International Day for Women and Girls in Science. Given the massive onslaught on DEI initiatives in the US right now, this day feels incredibly important to make a note of. Science is improved by diversity, and diversity does not happen on its own. #idwgs

submitted 75 days ago • 0 comments

All scientific and good governance concerns aside (and lord knows there’s a lot) the economic argument that there will be an incredibly negative impact by cutting NIH dollars is important to get out to the general public and representatives in both parties.

submitted 76 days ago • 0 comments

I’m on an airplane today and I’m the only one in a mask. Several folks around me clearly with URI. One I want to give tamiflu empirically. It’s bad out here! Be safe.

submitted 76 days ago • 0 comments

UPMC, the largest healthcare system in Pennsylvania (and our largest employer) is reinstating a masking mandate beginning on Wednesday in response to the levels of COVID, RSV and influenza. Take that as a sign. If you have stopped masking, there's no reason not to start again.

submitted 76 days ago • 3 comments

Aside from the many other concerns, this NIH cut would be catastrophic to the economy of states like Ohio.

submitted 76 days ago • 0 comments

A few factoids about NIH grants: - The max salary NIH will pay is capped ($221,900) - The max budget for an R01 (the standard research grant) is $500K, unchanged since 1993 (!) - Only 1 in 5 submitted grants are funded, after intense peer review NIH is a careful steward of taxpayer money.

submitted 76 days ago • 1 comment

Elon Musk wants to strip out payments for the indirect costs of doing vital research for the federal govt — while SpaceX gets to keep its undisclosed indirect rate.

submitted 76 days ago • 4 comments

The ATS applauds 22 state attorneys general in challenging NIH medical research funding cut. Friday's NIH action to cut life-saving medical research is prohibited by law. www.nbcboston.com/news/local/n...

submitted 76 days ago • 1 comment

Helpful table to determine how much your University or health system is set to lose if the NIH indirect cap is suddenly lowered to 15%. For SJSU it is $374k which is on the smaller end but devastating considering our other budget issues. datawrapper.dwcdn.net/l0ZqA/8/

submitted 77 days ago • 15 comments

This is the most relevant article to NIH and research cuts I’ve seen. Imagine if this was today , how many people would be saying “Why are we studying Gila Monsters and their impact on diabetes ? That’s wasted money !” globalnews.ca/news/9793403...

submitted 77 days ago • 1154 comments

The NIH’s drastic cut to indirect cost rates is a critical threat to U.S. research infrastructure These costs are not a waste or luxury — they make groundbreaking discoveries possible www.statnews.com/2025/02/08/n...

submitted 77 days ago • 1 comment

Pfizer and the cancer drugs they make would not exist without the NIH and the infrastructure support of the US government.

submitted 77 days ago • 1 comment

Pro tip: when explaining the NIH cuts to friends and family, use "research infrastructure" rather than "indirect costs" or, godforbid, "overhead." DOGE just slashed the budget for research infrastructure. It's accurate and it drives home that the fight is over jobs and facilities, not "waste."

submitted 77 days ago • 7 comments

My #Yale colleague Harlan Krumholz explains why the cuts to indirect costs are a disaster for biomedical research in the United States. Want to do something about it? I'll list those who have to hear from us below. Share, recruit friends and family to help. 1/ www.statnews.com/2025/02/08/n....

submitted 77 days ago • 24 comments

Good explainer about NIH events and impact today. My instinct is that about 10-20% of research institutions will survive this change.

submitted 79 days ago • 0 comments

As someone who regularly used AI for things much simpler than routing airplanes, and who has recently flown a lot, this is completely terrifying.

submitted 80 days ago • 0 comments

If you have feelings about RFK and his overall fitness to run HHS, here is some information on how to call your senators in whichever state you live and work!

submitted 89 days ago • 0 comments

I am writing two NIH grants and co-organizing a meeting set for 2026. I have no idea what will even happen tomorrow! Cognitive dissonance is a major aspect of physician scientist life generally but this is definitely a bit much.

submitted 81 days ago • 0 comments

Destabilization of reality in the US is about to reach surreal heights. Protect your mind. Monitor stress levels. Do not doomscroll--it does not help. Be selective about when and how long you expose your brain to this. Do what you can when you can.

submitted 86 days ago • 29 comments

This story is bananas. "A team including current and former employees of Musk assumed command of OPM on Jan. 20 ... They have moved sofa beds onto the fifth floor of the agency's headquarters, which contains the director's office and can only be accessed with a security badge or a security escort."

submitted 86 days ago • 214 comments

If you have feelings about RFK and his overall fitness to run HHS, here is some information on how to call your senators in whichever state you live and work!

submitted 89 days ago • 0 comments

Really cannot urge you enough to call your members of Congress right now. I just talked to my very red state, Trump-supporting senator's office. Much to my surprise, they were very receptive to my feedback and seemed extremely concerned. This feels like a rare opportunity to be heard.

submitted 89 days ago • 35 comments

PSA: Take a break from the doom scrolling. One of the most important things you can do today is CALL your elected officials and voice your concerns. Every call matters as staff keep count of how many care about an issue, which gives officials justification to speak up and fight.

submitted 89 days ago • 89 comments

SRO seems confident that the mid-Feb IRL study section I'm slated for will be held as planned, and my travel was purchased this afternoon thru the NIH World Travel link... 😬

submitted 95 days ago • 5 comments

NIH appears to have canceled/postponed all of its study sections—the independent review panels that approve federal grants for health research. Such grants fund the work/salaries of 300k people at more than 2,500 institutions

submitted 95 days ago • 318 comments

“I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo. "So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

submitted 97 days ago • 5 comments

The Bears got their guy. Ben Johnson, architect of one of the best offenses in football, comes to Chicago and the franchise known for its offensive ineptitude to be its 19th head coach.

submitted 97 days ago • 23 comments

Local leadership with empathy and upholding our own values is among the most useful ways of proceeding. It worked for the person being honored today who is worth admiring. Feels wise to focus on peaceful but immovable protest against injustice.

submitted 97 days ago • 0 comments