Reposted by Alec Stapp
New research by Pierre Azoulay, Danielle Li, Bhaven Sampat and me.
Earlier this year, the President’s budget proposed a 40% cut to the budget of the NIH. This motivated us to ask: what if the NIH had been 40% smaller?
Earlier this year, the President’s budget proposed a 40% cut to the budget of the NIH. This motivated us to ask: what if the NIH had been 40% smaller?
September 25, 2025 at 6:43 PM
New research by Pierre Azoulay, Danielle Li, Bhaven Sampat and me.
Earlier this year, the President’s budget proposed a 40% cut to the budget of the NIH. This motivated us to ask: what if the NIH had been 40% smaller?
Earlier this year, the President’s budget proposed a 40% cut to the budget of the NIH. This motivated us to ask: what if the NIH had been 40% smaller?
Reposted by Alec Stapp
I had a great time talking with Santi Ruiz @ifp.bsky.social about how to reduce infrastructure costs. Here's the podcast.
www.statecraft.pub/p/what-is-am...
www.statecraft.pub/p/what-is-am...
What is America’s Infrastructure Cost Problem?
“I'm part of the problem”
www.statecraft.pub
September 17, 2025 at 1:09 PM
I had a great time talking with Santi Ruiz @ifp.bsky.social about how to reduce infrastructure costs. Here's the podcast.
www.statecraft.pub/p/what-is-am...
www.statecraft.pub/p/what-is-am...
Reposted by Alec Stapp
Five years after we started it, I'm super happy to share that Works in Progress is now available as a print magazine! 🥹
It'll have everything on web and more. You can subscribe today for $100/£75 to receive 6 beautiful, 120-page issues of our magazine a year.
worksinprogress.co/print
It'll have everything on web and more. You can subscribe today for $100/£75 to receive 6 beautiful, 120-page issues of our magazine a year.
worksinprogress.co/print
September 17, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Five years after we started it, I'm super happy to share that Works in Progress is now available as a print magazine! 🥹
It'll have everything on web and more. You can subscribe today for $100/£75 to receive 6 beautiful, 120-page issues of our magazine a year.
worksinprogress.co/print
It'll have everything on web and more. You can subscribe today for $100/£75 to receive 6 beautiful, 120-page issues of our magazine a year.
worksinprogress.co/print
Reposted by Alec Stapp
Global emissions from heating are about 4x those from cooling.
Air conditioning is an important and lifesaving adaptation to climate change.
Decarbonize the grid.
Air conditioning is an important and lifesaving adaptation to climate change.
Decarbonize the grid.
July 26, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Global emissions from heating are about 4x those from cooling.
Air conditioning is an important and lifesaving adaptation to climate change.
Decarbonize the grid.
Air conditioning is an important and lifesaving adaptation to climate change.
Decarbonize the grid.
Reposted by Alec Stapp
Sad news:
The dataset behind this famous chart on the decline in costs of genome sequencing has had its NIH funding cut.
I loved this chart because it was the first that made me appreciate the impact of dataviz. But it also tracked progress towards an ambitious goal ($1000 genome) that succeeded.
The dataset behind this famous chart on the decline in costs of genome sequencing has had its NIH funding cut.
I loved this chart because it was the first that made me appreciate the impact of dataviz. But it also tracked progress towards an ambitious goal ($1000 genome) that succeeded.
![The "$1,000 genome" catchphrase was first publicly recorded in December 2001 at a scientific retreat to discuss the future of biomedical research following publication of the first draft of the Human Genome Project (HGP), convened by the National Human Genome Research Institute at Airlie House in Virginia.[5] The phrase neatly highlighted the chasm between the actual cost of the Human Genome Project, estimated at $2.7 billion over a decade, and the benchmark for routine, affordable personal genome sequencing.
On 2 October 2002, Craig Venter introduced the opening session of GSAC (The Genome Sequencing and Analysis Conference) at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston: "The Future of Sequencing: Advancing Towards the $1,000 Genome." Speakers included George M. Church and executives from 454 Life Sciences, Solexa, U.S. Genomics, VisiGen and Amersham plc.[6][7] In 2003, Venter announced that his foundation would earmark $500,000 for a breakthrough leading to the $1,000 genome.[8] That sum was subsequently rolled into the Archon X Prize.
In October 2004, NHGRI introduced the first in a series of '$1,000 Genome' grants designed to advance "the development of breakthrough technologies that will enable a human-sized genome to be sequenced for $1,000 or less."[9]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:73aicoale2mqwrap63rdzwep/bafkreigcypk33xduk2wsfjyvwbnfzzb76p5m6jl3owhbb3ft32clwov37i@jpeg)
July 19, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Sad news:
The dataset behind this famous chart on the decline in costs of genome sequencing has had its NIH funding cut.
I loved this chart because it was the first that made me appreciate the impact of dataviz. But it also tracked progress towards an ambitious goal ($1000 genome) that succeeded.
The dataset behind this famous chart on the decline in costs of genome sequencing has had its NIH funding cut.
I loved this chart because it was the first that made me appreciate the impact of dataviz. But it also tracked progress towards an ambitious goal ($1000 genome) that succeeded.
Reposted by Alec Stapp
What’s the return on government support for R&D?
To try to get a credible answer, Open Philanthropy and the Sloan Foundation are committing up to $1 million to trying something new: we call it a Pop-Up Journal.
To try to get a credible answer, Open Philanthropy and the Sloan Foundation are committing up to $1 million to trying something new: we call it a Pop-Up Journal.
June 17, 2025 at 3:40 PM
What’s the return on government support for R&D?
To try to get a credible answer, Open Philanthropy and the Sloan Foundation are committing up to $1 million to trying something new: we call it a Pop-Up Journal.
To try to get a credible answer, Open Philanthropy and the Sloan Foundation are committing up to $1 million to trying something new: we call it a Pop-Up Journal.
Reposted by Alec Stapp
New blog post, on 52 pieces of science writing I've learned from over the last two years.
Thank you, from one reader, to all the authors! blog.jacobtrefethen.com/science-writ...
Thank you, from one reader, to all the authors! blog.jacobtrefethen.com/science-writ...
Science writing from the last two years that stuck with me
This list consists of writing that ticked two boxes: 1) did I think about the article again more than a week after reading it?, and 2) was it written for a popular audience? So, academic papers, inclu...
blog.jacobtrefethen.com
June 10, 2025 at 7:35 AM
New blog post, on 52 pieces of science writing I've learned from over the last two years.
Thank you, from one reader, to all the authors! blog.jacobtrefethen.com/science-writ...
Thank you, from one reader, to all the authors! blog.jacobtrefethen.com/science-writ...
Reposted by Alec Stapp
LAUNCH DAY 🚀
Today I’m launching a new podcast, Hard Drugs, with Jacob Trefethen (@jacobtref.bsky.social)
Our first episode is about lenacapavir — a new HIV drug that blocks infections with an efficacy rate of nearly 100%, and which could completely change the fight against HIV worldwide.
Today I’m launching a new podcast, Hard Drugs, with Jacob Trefethen (@jacobtref.bsky.social)
Our first episode is about lenacapavir — a new HIV drug that blocks infections with an efficacy rate of nearly 100%, and which could completely change the fight against HIV worldwide.
Lenacapavir: The miracle drug that could end AIDS
Hard Drugs · Episode
open.spotify.com
June 11, 2025 at 2:16 PM
LAUNCH DAY 🚀
Today I’m launching a new podcast, Hard Drugs, with Jacob Trefethen (@jacobtref.bsky.social)
Our first episode is about lenacapavir — a new HIV drug that blocks infections with an efficacy rate of nearly 100%, and which could completely change the fight against HIV worldwide.
Today I’m launching a new podcast, Hard Drugs, with Jacob Trefethen (@jacobtref.bsky.social)
Our first episode is about lenacapavir — a new HIV drug that blocks infections with an efficacy rate of nearly 100%, and which could completely change the fight against HIV worldwide.
Not sure how many people realize that battery storage already supplies 30% of California’s electricity demand at peak.
Batteries aren’t the future — they’re here now.
Batteries aren’t the future — they’re here now.
May 23, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Not sure how many people realize that battery storage already supplies 30% of California’s electricity demand at peak.
Batteries aren’t the future — they’re here now.
Batteries aren’t the future — they’re here now.
Wonder what Austin is doing differently than other cities, guess we'll never know
April 18, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Wonder what Austin is doing differently than other cities, guess we'll never know
Reposted by Alec Stapp
Impressive effort mapping gaps across 100 areas of science and technology to work on. I’m going to make a big pot of coffee and click around:
We (mostly @adammarblestone.bsky.social
and Mary with the help of the amazing scientists in our network) made a map of “fundamental development” gaps in science and technology. Go explore gap-map.org.
and Mary with the help of the amazing scientists in our network) made a map of “fundamental development” gaps in science and technology. Go explore gap-map.org.
The Gap Map
Explore R&D Gaps and their related Foundational Capabilities.
gap-map.org
April 15, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Impressive effort mapping gaps across 100 areas of science and technology to work on. I’m going to make a big pot of coffee and click around:
🚨 We're hiring!
Join @ifp.bsky.social’s metascience team to rethink how science gets funded and organized.
Fellow & Senior Fellow roles open — $3K referral bonus if we hire your recommendation.
Apply by May 11:
ifp.org/come-work-wi...
Join @ifp.bsky.social’s metascience team to rethink how science gets funded and organized.
Fellow & Senior Fellow roles open — $3K referral bonus if we hire your recommendation.
Apply by May 11:
ifp.org/come-work-wi...
Come Work with IFP | IFP
IFP is currently hiring — join the team!
ifp.org
April 15, 2025 at 12:07 PM
🚨 We're hiring!
Join @ifp.bsky.social’s metascience team to rethink how science gets funded and organized.
Fellow & Senior Fellow roles open — $3K referral bonus if we hire your recommendation.
Apply by May 11:
ifp.org/come-work-wi...
Join @ifp.bsky.social’s metascience team to rethink how science gets funded and organized.
Fellow & Senior Fellow roles open — $3K referral bonus if we hire your recommendation.
Apply by May 11:
ifp.org/come-work-wi...
Reposted by Alec Stapp
Harrison, whose plasma contained a rare antibody, rolled up his sleeve 1,173 times from 1954 to 2018. The Australian is credited with helping 2.4 million babies and advancing scientific research.
James Harrison, whose blood donations saved over 2 million babies, has died
Harrison, whose plasma contained a rare antibody, rolled up his sleeve 1,173 times from 1954 to 2018. The Australian is credited with helping 2.4 million babies and advancing scientific research.
www.npr.org
March 4, 2025 at 2:06 AM
Harrison, whose plasma contained a rare antibody, rolled up his sleeve 1,173 times from 1954 to 2018. The Australian is credited with helping 2.4 million babies and advancing scientific research.
Reposted by Alec Stapp
This year's Econ job market has, by all accounts, been brutal. If you're still not sure what you're doing next year, applying for external funding to continue your work is a great way to buy yourself time & options. It's a way to "build your own post-doc." Check out AV's open RFPs!
Back by popular demand! We just released another call for proposals using RCTs and quasi-experiments.
3-page LOIs are due March 14. Details here: bit.ly/4ambjv3
(1/2)
3-page LOIs are due March 14. Details here: bit.ly/4ambjv3
(1/2)
Arnold Ventures | Two New Ways to Learn What Actually Works
The Evidence and Evaluation team has launched two new requests for proposals to strengthen and build evidence of proven programs, policies, and…
bit.ly
February 15, 2025 at 1:33 AM
This year's Econ job market has, by all accounts, been brutal. If you're still not sure what you're doing next year, applying for external funding to continue your work is a great way to buy yourself time & options. It's a way to "build your own post-doc." Check out AV's open RFPs!
Reposted by Alec Stapp
Sorry, but we now have a once-per-six-months PrEP injection with a 96% efficacy in reducing HIV infections, and the response is to limit PrEP to only pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers? What?!
It's going to be much more expensive to provide lifelong treatment than work on prevention.
It's going to be much more expensive to provide lifelong treatment than work on prevention.
February 14, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Sorry, but we now have a once-per-six-months PrEP injection with a 96% efficacy in reducing HIV infections, and the response is to limit PrEP to only pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers? What?!
It's going to be much more expensive to provide lifelong treatment than work on prevention.
It's going to be much more expensive to provide lifelong treatment than work on prevention.
Reposted by Alec Stapp
Some great news: the FDA just approved a new chikungunya vaccine for people aged 12 and older.
February 15, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Some great news: the FDA just approved a new chikungunya vaccine for people aged 12 and older.
Reposted by Alec Stapp
NBER Innovation Boot Camp is back this summer for a 4th run (thanks open_phil!)! Lectures by Heidi Williams, Pierre Azoulay, Ina Ganguli, Ben Jones, Chad Jones, Kyle Myers, and me, a great policy panel and keynotes, plus attendance at Summer Institute innovation session. www.nber.org/calls-papers...
https://nber.org/calls-papers-a…
January 17, 2025 at 1:13 AM
NBER Innovation Boot Camp is back this summer for a 4th run (thanks open_phil!)! Lectures by Heidi Williams, Pierre Azoulay, Ina Ganguli, Ben Jones, Chad Jones, Kyle Myers, and me, a great policy panel and keynotes, plus attendance at Summer Institute innovation session. www.nber.org/calls-papers...
Reposted by Alec Stapp
Graduate students with interests in innovation, permitting or immigration policy who would like to work on fiscal and economic impacts -- apply now! Applications close on 1/16.
Re-posting this call for applications targeting PhD students and early career researchers (PhDs 2014 or later) doing research on the fiscal and economic effects of three productivity policies: R&D, permitting, and immigration.
Applications due at midnight on Thurs January 16.
Applications due at midnight on Thurs January 16.
Attention: PhD students and early-career researchers interested in the fiscal and economic effects of productivity policies -- particularly R&D, immigration, and infrastructure permitting.
Consider applying to this Sloan Foundation NBER fellowship: www.nber.org/graduate-fel...
Consider applying to this Sloan Foundation NBER fellowship: www.nber.org/graduate-fel...
January 11, 2025 at 12:43 AM
Graduate students with interests in innovation, permitting or immigration policy who would like to work on fiscal and economic impacts -- apply now! Applications close on 1/16.
Reposted by Alec Stapp
@crampell.bsky.social on Biden's legacy: "Despite the $7.5 billion allocated for EV charging stations, only 44 stations have been built nationwide so far. A $42 billion expansion of broadband internet service still has not connected a single household." www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Opinion | The legacy of Bidenomics: Maybe not much at all
Biden struggled to implement economic policies that will endure past his presidency.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 7, 2025 at 9:59 PM
@crampell.bsky.social on Biden's legacy: "Despite the $7.5 billion allocated for EV charging stations, only 44 stations have been built nationwide so far. A $42 billion expansion of broadband internet service still has not connected a single household." www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Mandating all-in upfront pricing is such an obviously good rule
December 18, 2024 at 1:56 PM
Mandating all-in upfront pricing is such an obviously good rule
Very glad to see this trend finally reversing
December 16, 2024 at 8:00 PM
Very glad to see this trend finally reversing
The polio vaccine works.
December 13, 2024 at 6:35 PM
The polio vaccine works.
Reposted by Alec Stapp
1/ I wrote for NYT on a 3-prong strategy for climate progress under Trump.
-innovation & industrial strategy
-pragmatism on fossil fuels
-expand interests that benefit from decarb
This same approach led to IRA/IIJA.
But it did not pass the test for many activist groups.
-innovation & industrial strategy
-pragmatism on fossil fuels
-expand interests that benefit from decarb
This same approach led to IRA/IIJA.
But it did not pass the test for many activist groups.
December 9, 2024 at 11:38 PM
1/ I wrote for NYT on a 3-prong strategy for climate progress under Trump.
-innovation & industrial strategy
-pragmatism on fossil fuels
-expand interests that benefit from decarb
This same approach led to IRA/IIJA.
But it did not pass the test for many activist groups.
-innovation & industrial strategy
-pragmatism on fossil fuels
-expand interests that benefit from decarb
This same approach led to IRA/IIJA.
But it did not pass the test for many activist groups.
Reposted by Alec Stapp
A pragmatic suggestion from @arnabdatta.bsky.social: "As we look toward an uncertain political future, one lesson is clear: The path to lasting climate progress lies not in oil and gas antagonism, but in transforming our opponents into stakeholders in a clean energy future."
Opinion | Climate Activists Need to Radically Change Their Approach Under Trump (Gift Article)
Climate purity is a recipe for failure.
www.nytimes.com
December 9, 2024 at 11:01 AM
A pragmatic suggestion from @arnabdatta.bsky.social: "As we look toward an uncertain political future, one lesson is clear: The path to lasting climate progress lies not in oil and gas antagonism, but in transforming our opponents into stakeholders in a clean energy future."
Thinking again about how one of the most influential environmental activist groups in DC opposed the Inflation Reduction Act
December 9, 2024 at 3:43 AM
Thinking again about how one of the most influential environmental activist groups in DC opposed the Inflation Reduction Act