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

I think there's a much bigger conversation to be had about the business model of R1 universities. If you're at a public uni, your Department's state funding may be contingent on meeting PhD admissions quotas that 'justify' the continued existence of its grad programs.

submitted 13 hours ago • 3 comments

I want to say again to academics who are interested in public writing. Look locally. Sure national outlets are good and I do that too, but this kind of visibility in your community can have a real impact.

submitted 1 day ago • 16 comments

Climate change is the biggest crisis humanity faces in the 21st century and just because they are trying to eliminate all mentions of the word “climate“ doesn’t actually solve anything.

submitted 17 hours ago • 27 comments

The entire business model of American R1 universities is not viable without restoration of federal funding, & every individual institution pretending it can solve this problem alone is also not viable. University presidents need to be speaking out, collectively & loudly about this, in DC, right now.

submitted 1 day ago • 40 comments

It looks like more universities (Pitt/Penn) are freezing, pausing, even rescinding admissions offers since we wrote this story last week. (But some, like USC, are now resuming offers) Please reply to this or repost with that info if you know of more. www.statnews.com/2025/02/19/t...

submitted 14 hours ago • 3 comments

Amazing. She became an advocate at age 10. www.dailynews.com/2025/02/21/z...

submitted 16 hours ago • 0 comments

Re-sharing – now without the editorializing! “On Friday, Penn notified department chairs that it will cut admissions across graduate programs, a decision faculty members say was made after programs had already accepted students.”

submitted 1 day ago • 8 comments

I will be very interested to see what organizations that have already scrubbed/removed DEI content (National Academies, American Society of Microbiology -- see my stories) will do if these orders are deemed to be illegal and violate constitutional rights. www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

submitted 1 day ago • 1 comment

www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

submitted 1 day ago • 0 comments

The National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine are elite clubs whose membership is mostly tenured old white men led by three presidents each with a salary of $1,000,000 per year. If anyone is safe and should be taking a principled stand, it should be them. But, they aren't. 🧪🧵

submitted 1 day ago • 1 comment

More PhD programs stopping/slowing admissions. This is going to be a very stressful period for those hoping to enter research careers.

submitted 1 day ago • 0 comments

Scores of federal workers w/ disabilities were let go in last week's "Valentine's Day Massacre." Here's a story about the pain, anger and bewilderment I heard from so many people this week. @statnews.com #disability www.statnews.com/2025/02/21/l...

submitted 1 day ago • 1 comment

UPDATED with response from National Academies denying they are removing words not aligned with Trump EO and that such actions are part of normal review process - but authors of a protest letter disagree. NASEM also confirms removal of DEI action plan to comply w/ EO. www.statnews.com/2025/02/20/n...

submitted 1 day ago • 0 comments

BREAKING: Cap on indirect cuts still frozen. By @aniloza.bsky.social www.statnews.com/2025/02/21/t...

submitted 1 day ago • 0 comments

I’ve signed, as an International Fellow of the US Academy of Medicine.

submitted 1 day ago • 4 comments

Proud to be one of the signatories of this letter. We cannot remain silent on the face of tyranny

submitted 2 days ago • 1 comment

For those who saw my reporting on the National Academy removing words like “equity” offensive to the Trump administration, here’s a report I wrote on the academy’s historically important report on racism and health disparities. Back when they didn’t mince words. www.statnews.com/2022/02/23/l...

submitted 2 days ago • 0 comments

NASEM, you have the opportunity to show leadership during these times and speak up for science and for Americans. I understand the political pressures but you're the creme de la creme of American excellence. What are we doing here.

submitted 2 days ago • 1 comment

I’m calling their contact number tomorrow, but wish I could do more. Follow Usha

submitted 2 days ago • 0 comments

NASEM reports represent YEARS of intensive work by leaders in their respective fields. Their publication of Unequal Treatment was, of course, foundational to our understanding of health disparities in this country.

submitted 2 days ago • 1 comment

I sit on a committee for the Excellence in ScComm awards. This afternoon, I wrote to my fellow members that unless & until @nationalacademies.org “actively combat political censorship instead of capitulating to illegal, racist demands, I will not participate in any further service on their behalf.“

submitted 2 days ago • 7 comments

SCOOP: The National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, arguably the nation's most powerful scientific organization, is bending to political pressure and removing terms like "health equity" from pending reports. Members are not happy. Story by me: www.statnews.com/2025/02/20/n...

submitted 2 days ago • 35 comments

I see they started with the copyeditors.

submitted 2 days ago • 41 comments

Great article by @eliowa.bsky.social saying thank you & discussing importance of the Department of Veterans Affairs, VA researchers & our nations veterans for 100 years of service on the battlefield & their commitment towards improving medical care through research www.thegazette.com/guest-column...

submitted 2 days ago • 0 comments

California asked the Trump administration to please test soil in areas burned by the Eaton and Palisades fires for toxic chemicals. The Trump administration promptly said, "No." Full story: www.latimes.com/environment/... via @latimes.com

submitted 3 days ago • 0 comments

If you're wondering about if this important vaccine advisory committee meeting is still happening, it's not. @helenbranswell.bsky.social with the scoop www.statnews.com/2025/02/20/a...

submitted 2 days ago • 0 comments

At least the British will still fund and study racial health disparities

submitted 2 days ago • 1 comment

Such great reporting. www.texasobserver.org/ice-prosecut...

submitted 2 days ago • 2 comments

National Science Foundation FIRED ALL OF ITS SCIENCE EXPERTS, a class of contract workers who are specialists in niche scientific fields “The removal of experts was completely at the agency’s discretion." www.politico.com/news/2025/02...

submitted 2 days ago • 0 comments

Seeing such excellent reporting today from many outlets on what people see as a full out assault on science by the Trump administration. Here's our story from yesterday if you missed it. (w/ @mmolteni.bsky.social @angusrohan.bsky.social @jonathanwosen.bsky.social) www.statnews.com/2025/02/19/t...

submitted 2 days ago • 2 comments

I'm expecting Dr. Pan (and CDPH) to be an important voice in public health in the next few years if federal agencies are muzzled.

submitted 2 days ago • 0 comments

In its speed, severity, and sheer scope, the first month of the second Trump administration has been a completely unprecedented assault on US science. Story w/ @alexwitze.bsky.social, @maxkozlov.bsky.social, and Jeff Tollefson: www.nature.com/articles/d41...

submitted 2 days ago • 3 comments

Sweeping layoffs. Funding freezes. Executive orders. The Trump administration has provoked outcry among federal researchers and their university partners for undermining decades of research into rare disorders and their potential cures. nbcnews.to/3QmKePd

submitted 2 days ago • 46 comments

I had two grant proposals up for review in the NIH Bacterial Virulence (BV) study section. It was canceled without notice this morning. Without those grants, my lab must close within a year. And so the purge of scientific research in the US continues 🤬 #MicroSky 🦠🧫🧪🧬🔬

submitted 3 days ago • 56 comments

Six months!

submitted 2 days ago • 0 comments

It’s becoming apparent to me through multiple conversations with people over the last 3 days that NIH funding mechanisms that have not already gone through review and council will be delayed by AT LEAST 6 months.

submitted 2 days ago • 9 comments

41/47 (87%) of NIH study sections are cancelled this week Frustrating to see all this good research stalled (& not funded) You can search for study sections that ‘did not meet as scheduled’ here with ones with * ⤵️ www.csr.nih.gov/RevPanelsAnd...

submitted 3 days ago • 10 comments

Trio of civil rights organizations file federal lawsuit charging three of President Trump’s executive orders on DEI and accessibility in the federal government violate their free speech rights and hinder their ability to help marginalized communities.

submitted 3 days ago • 14 comments

At STAT, we're following ways universities are being pressured to disavow and dismantle DEI activities in order to receive federal funding. I'd like to hear what's happening at your university or nonprofit. Can be confidential. Signal: usha.22 www.statnews.com/2025/01/30/t...

submitted 3 days ago • 0 comments

a grim but essential read, if you care about American science the system was already under stress from underfunding over many years (nominal increases were sub-inflationary) but this is a sudden and severe shock to the system

submitted 3 days ago • 0 comments

NEW: Trump actions on science may affect a generation as pauses + cuts in graduate admissions begin. “We had just flown them out, we told them we love you, we want to admit you, and then everything just stopped." "It's freezing everybody into inaction." www.statnews.com/2025/02/19/t...

submitted 3 days ago • 5 comments

Um, Associated Press is... free

submitted 3 days ago • 2 comments

This is incredibly stressful to our Alzheimer's community (families and researchers). There are Alzheimer Disease Research Centers that are in limbo now - no council meetings means no notice of awards, means all the research we are doing to slow or prevent this disease is paused indefinitely.

submitted 5 days ago • 0 comments

When thousands of homes were reduced to ash by the Eaton Fire, one of the few things left behind were the chimneys — and the historic kiln-fired tiles that adorned them. A group called Save The Tiles is working to painstakingly map and preserve them. (via @laist.com)

submitted 5 days ago • 19 comments

Want to go visit the national parks this year? Sorry. The reservation system is shut down, EMT personnel are gone, so don't get hurt or lost. No one can clean the bathrooms or cabins, so they'll be closed. Rangers are fired. www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...

submitted 5 days ago • 845 comments