Feels like a good day to wear that hat I bought on vacation in #Quebec.

“That is the mutation found in the first human case, which was extremely pathogenic in ferrets,” said Yoshihiro Kawoaka, an infectious disease expert at the University of Wisconsin, Madison and the University of Tokyo. “Finding the same mutation in cows is significant.”

I agree with Yoshi. Seeing PB2 E627K pop up in cows isn't great, but it is important to note that this change alone may not render H5N1 transmissible between humans. AFAIK this virus hasn't acquired mutations in HA that would allow efficient use of the "human" receptor.

Science and shoes | Meghan May | TEDxYorkBeach YouTube video by TEDx Talks

For a couple of reasons, I re-watched my #TEDTalk today. Impressions: 1.) I mentioned walking on #Mars, which now feels a little odd; 2.) WOW, those stage lights accentuate my redhead cred. I swear, I'm a brunette in person. #AIDS #Shoes #HIV #Science
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYbw...

💯💯💯

Since people seem to be masking their arguments in science, as a scientist, I am perpetually awaiting a persuasive explanation as to how a young person with XY chromosomes on puberty blockers would be at a physical advantage. That makes zero sense.

(Was rather fun to be watching at a sports bar where we were eating lunch in between runs on the slopes 😊)

🤬🤬🤬🤬

I’m shocked. SHOCKED.

That was 👩‍🍳💋

I was there during your flagging! Just got home after a week in Quebec 🇨🇦 🏒⚜️

I wonder how much money the (extremely warranted) wrongful termination lawsuits are going to cost the Federal government. Super efficient.

➡️ NIH grants in '23 included $26B of direct costs and $9B of F&A = 26% of total costs or 35% of total direct costs. These are LOW overhead rates for any R&D-intensive industry. Academic biomedical research is an efficient bargain.

➡️ Every $1 of NIH support generates ~$2.50 of economic activity.

Did you see Janet Mills clap back at him to his face an hour or so ago? It was excellent. #Dirigo #Maine

This is going to be the longest, most aggravating “I told you so” ever.

As #EggPrices top $7 per dozen on average, our second largest #Egg producer has been hit with #H5N1 #BirdFlu per 01/29/2025 report. If my high school level understanding of economics is correct, this problem will get worse.

Avian flu strikes second biggest US egg producer

My daily alert from #USAHA had bad news on this front: #H5N1 #BirdFlu has been detected at Rose Acre, the second-largest egg producer in the US (per @cidrap.bsky.social ). So... that's not promising.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/avian-influe...

Apparently one of the dogs dove under the bed and has yet to re-emerge. She seems to be taking it far harder than the rest of us, who all thought it was a giant truck driving by.

Earthquake off Maine coast rattles New England Moderate shaking was reported in parts of Maine, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

Ooh we’re famous! #earthquake #Maine #York www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcn...

I was university faculty with NIH funding for years, but now work in the private sector. There are implications for government, academic, and ultimately industry research, and major/immediate impacts on the employment of many talented scientists. Your brain drain point was spot on.

I was planning to reach out to you after hear your and Tim’s discussion yesterday. Happy to offer context, but also recommend speaking with @johnstreicher.bsky.social at University of Arizona - he is a highly talented investigator with a lot of funding and a lot to say on this issue.

Going to give this nonsense a hard pass, JVL.

This is what happens when you play political games with science funding. We lose knowledge and talent and research programs in progress. It harms all of us.

H5N1 strikes more US poultry flocks, pet cats

Outbreaks include broiler farms in 3 states, as tests confirmed more H5N1 in pet cats from 5 states.

www.cidrap.umn.edu/a...

It could also impair progress of non-university scientific advancement, as most research builds on prior findings that have been published. This will also cause a lot of talented people to lose their jobs. #NIH

Hi there - emerging diseases person here!

I would have read them all in the line of duty. Alas. #H5N1 #MMWR #CDC

Gobsmacked.

You too - glad to see all is going well! I’ve actually joined the ranks of industry (R&D for diagnostics) these days, and honestly I could t be happier with the decision 😊

#FDA and #CDC Health alerts are how we learn about disease outbreaks and food recalls. #MMWR published the first report of the syndrome that would come to be known as #AIDS. This makes everyone less safe, and significant harm seems predictable. Gift link in original post.

Congrats Vaughn - great news!!