Alix Berglund
@alixk.bsky.social
DVM, PhD, Assistant Professor at University of Maryland. Mesenchymal stem cells and TGF-beta signaling. Views are my own.
Reposted by Alix Berglund
Canceling Jimmy Kimmel show is not about Charlie Kirk, just like going after universities was not about antisemitism and occupying DC was not about fighting crime.
September 18, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Canceling Jimmy Kimmel show is not about Charlie Kirk, just like going after universities was not about antisemitism and occupying DC was not about fighting crime.
Reposted by Alix Berglund
We have joined @idsainfo.bsky.social, @asm.org, and 19 other medical, scientific, public health and patient organizations, in calling for the resignation of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to ensure the health of the American people.
Read the statement in full: news.aai.org/2025/09/04/j...
Read the statement in full: news.aai.org/2025/09/04/j...
September 4, 2025 at 4:45 PM
We have joined @idsainfo.bsky.social, @asm.org, and 19 other medical, scientific, public health and patient organizations, in calling for the resignation of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to ensure the health of the American people.
Read the statement in full: news.aai.org/2025/09/04/j...
Read the statement in full: news.aai.org/2025/09/04/j...
Reposted by Alix Berglund
Translation for 🧪 folks:
Vought has been illegally covering up how he’s withholding appropriated $ from NIH, NSF, etc., an appeals court ruled.
The illegal coverup here = hiding data on how OMB/Vought is sending $ to agencies (called “apportionments”)
Vought has been illegally covering up how he’s withholding appropriated $ from NIH, NSF, etc., an appeals court ruled.
The illegal coverup here = hiding data on how OMB/Vought is sending $ to agencies (called “apportionments”)
NEW: A federal appeals court ruled Saturday that the Trump administration's bid to shut off public access to crucial government spending data was an affront to Congress' power of the purse — and a law requiring disclosure.
w/ @joshgerstein
www.politico.com/news/2025/08...
w/ @joshgerstein
www.politico.com/news/2025/08...
August 10, 2025 at 1:37 AM
Translation for 🧪 folks:
Vought has been illegally covering up how he’s withholding appropriated $ from NIH, NSF, etc., an appeals court ruled.
The illegal coverup here = hiding data on how OMB/Vought is sending $ to agencies (called “apportionments”)
Vought has been illegally covering up how he’s withholding appropriated $ from NIH, NSF, etc., an appeals court ruled.
The illegal coverup here = hiding data on how OMB/Vought is sending $ to agencies (called “apportionments”)
Reposted by Alix Berglund
NIH advisory councils are being gutted - reviewers were ousted before starting.
NIH staff were told to nominate Trump-loyal scientists, and warned that even those could be replaced by handpicked cronies.
What’s happening at Trump’s NIH is a hostile takeover of science.
zurl.co/WQS6B
NIH staff were told to nominate Trump-loyal scientists, and warned that even those could be replaced by handpicked cronies.
What’s happening at Trump’s NIH is a hostile takeover of science.
zurl.co/WQS6B
Exclusive: NIH to dismiss dozens of grant reviewers to align with Trump priorities
The move would undo years of work, leaving advisory councils understaffed, and without the full expertise needed for reviews. The move would undo years of work, leaving advisory councils understaffed, and without the full expertise needed for reviews.
www.nature.com
July 16, 2025 at 11:33 AM
NIH advisory councils are being gutted - reviewers were ousted before starting.
NIH staff were told to nominate Trump-loyal scientists, and warned that even those could be replaced by handpicked cronies.
What’s happening at Trump’s NIH is a hostile takeover of science.
zurl.co/WQS6B
NIH staff were told to nominate Trump-loyal scientists, and warned that even those could be replaced by handpicked cronies.
What’s happening at Trump’s NIH is a hostile takeover of science.
zurl.co/WQS6B
Reposted by Alix Berglund
the lowest average gas price in america is in mississippi at $2.70/gallon. this is way beyond george hw bush not knowing how much milk costs
Trump: "The gas has gone to the lowest level in decades. You're seeing $1.99, $1.98, I saw $1.95 at certain states."
July 14, 2025 at 5:49 PM
the lowest average gas price in america is in mississippi at $2.70/gallon. this is way beyond george hw bush not knowing how much milk costs
The NIH and FDA are accepting feedback on reducing animal testing in biomedical research until 7/14 here: www.fda.gov/news-events/...
FDA-NIH Workshop: Reducing Animal Testing
The FDA is hosting a workshop on reducing animal testing. The workshop is open to current FDA and NIH employees.
www.fda.gov
July 8, 2025 at 8:09 PM
The NIH and FDA are accepting feedback on reducing animal testing in biomedical research until 7/14 here: www.fda.gov/news-events/...
Reposted by Alix Berglund
BREAKING: Scientists are staging a “science fair” in the lobby of a Congressional building to tell elected officials about the critical knowledge the US will lose because their research grants have been canceled.
July 8, 2025 at 3:31 PM
BREAKING: Scientists are staging a “science fair” in the lobby of a Congressional building to tell elected officials about the critical knowledge the US will lose because their research grants have been canceled.
How does FedEx always manage to mess up deliveries when I am expecting something extremely valuable on dry ice?
July 2, 2025 at 4:49 PM
How does FedEx always manage to mess up deliveries when I am expecting something extremely valuable on dry ice?
Reposted by Alix Berglund
SCOOP: NIH appears to be disregarding last week's court order to stop screening grants using a process a judge ruled illegal.
This has many NIH staffers confused and worried about the legality of their actions.
This has many NIH staffers confused and worried about the legality of their actions.
Exclusive: NIH still screens grants in process a judge ruled illegal
Directives by the Trump administration are still being applied to grant applications despite court order.
www.nature.com
June 27, 2025 at 5:29 PM
SCOOP: NIH appears to be disregarding last week's court order to stop screening grants using a process a judge ruled illegal.
This has many NIH staffers confused and worried about the legality of their actions.
This has many NIH staffers confused and worried about the legality of their actions.
Reposted by Alix Berglund
When ICE agents look like this, it is ENTIRELY APPROPRIATE for state and local law enforcement to step in and demand they identify themselves and show judicial warrants before detaining anyone from an immigration court.
Democratic mayor and governors can take action on this.
Democratic mayor and governors can take action on this.
June 18, 2025 at 12:56 PM
When ICE agents look like this, it is ENTIRELY APPROPRIATE for state and local law enforcement to step in and demand they identify themselves and show judicial warrants before detaining anyone from an immigration court.
Democratic mayor and governors can take action on this.
Democratic mayor and governors can take action on this.
Reposted by Alix Berglund
Over the next 25 years, if proposed cuts in NIH funding are made real, “In a population of more than 340 million, this reflects **82 million** fewer years of life.”
In the US alone.
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
In the US alone.
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Cutting the NIH—The $8 Trillion Health Care Catastrophe
This JAMA Forum discusses the recent budget cuts to National Institutes of Health (NIH), the effects of these cuts on scientific research and health of individuals in the US, and the prospects for cha...
jamanetwork.com
June 15, 2025 at 1:55 AM
Over the next 25 years, if proposed cuts in NIH funding are made real, “In a population of more than 340 million, this reflects **82 million** fewer years of life.”
In the US alone.
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
In the US alone.
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Reposted by Alix Berglund
It isn’t lost on me that the suspect in the assassination of one of the most prominent women in Minnesota politics had a target list with abortion providers and advocates. Misogyny is deadly. My heart is with the victims, their families, and everyone affected.
June 14, 2025 at 5:59 PM
It isn’t lost on me that the suspect in the assassination of one of the most prominent women in Minnesota politics had a target list with abortion providers and advocates. Misogyny is deadly. My heart is with the victims, their families, and everyone affected.
Reposted by Alix Berglund
so in other words they are achieving their goal of re-segregating American organizations
(that were never all that integrated to begin with but even a little bit was too much)
(that were never all that integrated to begin with but even a little bit was too much)
Been helping the folks at CBS news think through admissions data in a post-sffa world. They collected the largest dataset so far of uni's fall 2024 enrollment by race (and standardized it). Caveat caveat caveat, the clearest trend is:
www.cbsnews.com/news/college...
www.cbsnews.com/news/college...
June 3, 2025 at 7:35 PM
so in other words they are achieving their goal of re-segregating American organizations
(that were never all that integrated to begin with but even a little bit was too much)
(that were never all that integrated to begin with but even a little bit was too much)
Reposted by Alix Berglund
⚖️🍿 Alright, let’s do it.
Live-tweeting oral arguments on a motion for preliminary injunction in APHA v NIH.
Hearing starts at 11a EDT today
This is scheduled to be an argument about whether the Court should reinstate terminated NIH grants on topics like DEI, trans health, HIV prevention. But...
Live-tweeting oral arguments on a motion for preliminary injunction in APHA v NIH.
Hearing starts at 11a EDT today
This is scheduled to be an argument about whether the Court should reinstate terminated NIH grants on topics like DEI, trans health, HIV prevention. But...
May 22, 2025 at 2:47 PM
⚖️🍿 Alright, let’s do it.
Live-tweeting oral arguments on a motion for preliminary injunction in APHA v NIH.
Hearing starts at 11a EDT today
This is scheduled to be an argument about whether the Court should reinstate terminated NIH grants on topics like DEI, trans health, HIV prevention. But...
Live-tweeting oral arguments on a motion for preliminary injunction in APHA v NIH.
Hearing starts at 11a EDT today
This is scheduled to be an argument about whether the Court should reinstate terminated NIH grants on topics like DEI, trans health, HIV prevention. But...
Reposted by Alix Berglund
Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith refuses to read a line from Republican's legislation that would provide a tax break for owners of tanning beds.
Fernandez: "So if you have a tanning bed, you get a little bit of a tax break and if you need a hospital bed in rural America, you're out of luck."
Fernandez: "So if you have a tanning bed, you get a little bit of a tax break and if you need a hospital bed in rural America, you're out of luck."
May 21, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith refuses to read a line from Republican's legislation that would provide a tax break for owners of tanning beds.
Fernandez: "So if you have a tanning bed, you get a little bit of a tax break and if you need a hospital bed in rural America, you're out of luck."
Fernandez: "So if you have a tanning bed, you get a little bit of a tax break and if you need a hospital bed in rural America, you're out of luck."
Reposted by Alix Berglund
say it again:
4 million people work in higher ed, the largest employer in 10 states, second largest employer in 10 more, and in 60 of the 100 biggest cities
ROI for NIH and NSF for local economies is conservatively 4x, often close to 10x
demolishing higher education is economic sabotage
4 million people work in higher ed, the largest employer in 10 states, second largest employer in 10 more, and in 60 of the 100 biggest cities
ROI for NIH and NSF for local economies is conservatively 4x, often close to 10x
demolishing higher education is economic sabotage
There is a false dichotomy drawn between "the ivory tower" and "the real world," and I'm here to report that in a post-industrial society, your real-world economy absolutely hinges on the university.
University towns are factory towns. Universities drive economic activity, not the other way around.
University towns are factory towns. Universities drive economic activity, not the other way around.
A must read
May 18, 2025 at 1:45 PM
say it again:
4 million people work in higher ed, the largest employer in 10 states, second largest employer in 10 more, and in 60 of the 100 biggest cities
ROI for NIH and NSF for local economies is conservatively 4x, often close to 10x
demolishing higher education is economic sabotage
4 million people work in higher ed, the largest employer in 10 states, second largest employer in 10 more, and in 60 of the 100 biggest cities
ROI for NIH and NSF for local economies is conservatively 4x, often close to 10x
demolishing higher education is economic sabotage
Reposted by Alix Berglund
Violence against healthcare workers and violence against women are both normalized everyday occurrences in the US
May 18, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Violence against healthcare workers and violence against women are both normalized everyday occurrences in the US
Reposted by Alix Berglund
BUT HERE IS THE THING
Per JCT, Congress' official scorekeeper, the bottom 20% of households - tens of millions of Americans - will see a TAX INCREASE beginning in 2029.
Republicans are cutting taxes for billionaires AND RAISING TAXES ON WORKING PEOPLE
Per JCT, Congress' official scorekeeper, the bottom 20% of households - tens of millions of Americans - will see a TAX INCREASE beginning in 2029.
Republicans are cutting taxes for billionaires AND RAISING TAXES ON WORKING PEOPLE
May 16, 2025 at 7:16 PM
BUT HERE IS THE THING
Per JCT, Congress' official scorekeeper, the bottom 20% of households - tens of millions of Americans - will see a TAX INCREASE beginning in 2029.
Republicans are cutting taxes for billionaires AND RAISING TAXES ON WORKING PEOPLE
Per JCT, Congress' official scorekeeper, the bottom 20% of households - tens of millions of Americans - will see a TAX INCREASE beginning in 2029.
Republicans are cutting taxes for billionaires AND RAISING TAXES ON WORKING PEOPLE
Reposted by Alix Berglund
"Women are PIs on 58% of the canceled grants, although they are PIs on only 34% of all active NSF grants.
Similarly, Blacks are PIs on 17% of the terminated grants, although they make only 4% of the total pool. Hispanic PIs and those with disabilities were twice as likely to lose a grant."
Similarly, Blacks are PIs on 17% of the terminated grants, although they make only 4% of the total pool. Hispanic PIs and those with disabilities were twice as likely to lose a grant."
Another scoop from Jeff Mervis (@policyhound.bsky.social): NSF's ~1400 grant terminations have disproportionately affected PIs from groups underrepresented in science: women, racial & ethnic minorities, & those with disabilities. 1/3
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
Trump officials take steps toward a radically different NSF
Efforts to shrink staff, budget, and focus have alarmed members of Congress
www.science.org
May 13, 2025 at 10:09 PM
"Women are PIs on 58% of the canceled grants, although they are PIs on only 34% of all active NSF grants.
Similarly, Blacks are PIs on 17% of the terminated grants, although they make only 4% of the total pool. Hispanic PIs and those with disabilities were twice as likely to lose a grant."
Similarly, Blacks are PIs on 17% of the terminated grants, although they make only 4% of the total pool. Hispanic PIs and those with disabilities were twice as likely to lose a grant."
Reposted by Alix Berglund
OMFG.
If there's any agency that is NOT top-heavy, it's NSF. Over 95% of the money flowing through NSF goes to awards.
If there's any agency that is NOT top-heavy, it's NSF. Over 95% of the money flowing through NSF goes to awards.
Exclusive: NSF faces radical shake-up as officials abolish its 37 divisions | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...
Exclusive: NSF faces radical shake-up as officials abolish its 37 divisions
Changes seen as a response to presidential directives on what research to fund
www.science.org
May 8, 2025 at 11:59 PM
OMFG.
If there's any agency that is NOT top-heavy, it's NSF. Over 95% of the money flowing through NSF goes to awards.
If there's any agency that is NOT top-heavy, it's NSF. Over 95% of the money flowing through NSF goes to awards.
Reposted by Alix Berglund
American conservatives calling the pope woke and Marxist is a great indicator for people who don’t realize just how unhinged American conservatives have gotten
May 8, 2025 at 7:05 PM
American conservatives calling the pope woke and Marxist is a great indicator for people who don’t realize just how unhinged American conservatives have gotten
Reposted by Alix Berglund
Women: hey it would be great if men stepped up and did chores and helped out with childcare instead of dumping it all on us
Men: how about robot maids?
Men: how about robot maids?
May 7, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Women: hey it would be great if men stepped up and did chores and helped out with childcare instead of dumping it all on us
Men: how about robot maids?
Men: how about robot maids?
I’m teaching a class on Animal Health Policy and Communication in the fall and we’ve had to increase the number of seats due to so many students wanting to enroll. It’s encouraging to hear Gen Z wants to learn about policy and how it affects their field!
May 7, 2025 at 5:27 PM
I’m teaching a class on Animal Health Policy and Communication in the fall and we’ve had to increase the number of seats due to so many students wanting to enroll. It’s encouraging to hear Gen Z wants to learn about policy and how it affects their field!
Reposted by Alix Berglund
Thinking about devastating cuts to NSF: US gov-funded science has been the engine upon which most of the tech wealth was generated. But the oligarchs (currently hoarding much of that $) think it’s their own brilliance & not the accident of standing close to the scientific engine that made them rich.
May 4, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Thinking about devastating cuts to NSF: US gov-funded science has been the engine upon which most of the tech wealth was generated. But the oligarchs (currently hoarding much of that $) think it’s their own brilliance & not the accident of standing close to the scientific engine that made them rich.