Anthony Barente
@anthonybarente.bsky.social
PhD in Proteomics and Data Science from the University of Washington | Just trying to understand nature's little machines | He/Him
Signal: anthony.261
https://grant-watch.us
Signal: anthony.261
https://grant-watch.us
Reposted by Anthony Barente
BREAKING: A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore millions of dollars in canceled grants to University of California researchers, calling the terminations flagrantly illegal and unconstitutional. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
June 24, 2025 at 1:07 AM
BREAKING: A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore millions of dollars in canceled grants to University of California researchers, calling the terminations flagrantly illegal and unconstitutional. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by Anthony Barente
From the Tennessean:
"About 500 are being let go in June, due in part to federal cuts to indirect costs previously covered through research grants from the NIH"
As we wrote in Nat Hum Behav: "NIH IDC cuts will impact the economy and employment". rdcu.be/eo3Hp
www.tennessean.com/story/news/h...
"About 500 are being let go in June, due in part to federal cuts to indirect costs previously covered through research grants from the NIH"
As we wrote in Nat Hum Behav: "NIH IDC cuts will impact the economy and employment". rdcu.be/eo3Hp
www.tennessean.com/story/news/h...
Vanderbilt University Medical Center announces up to 650 layoffs due to fed funding cuts
Vanderbilt University Medical Center announces up to 650 layoffs after federal cuts, including to research grants.
www.tennessean.com
June 20, 2025 at 7:04 PM
From the Tennessean:
"About 500 are being let go in June, due in part to federal cuts to indirect costs previously covered through research grants from the NIH"
As we wrote in Nat Hum Behav: "NIH IDC cuts will impact the economy and employment". rdcu.be/eo3Hp
www.tennessean.com/story/news/h...
"About 500 are being let go in June, due in part to federal cuts to indirect costs previously covered through research grants from the NIH"
As we wrote in Nat Hum Behav: "NIH IDC cuts will impact the economy and employment". rdcu.be/eo3Hp
www.tennessean.com/story/news/h...
Reposted by Anthony Barente
In an email to staff, NIH deputy director Matt Memoli says: "It has come to our attention that some staff are giving guidance... that the word 'diversity' may not be used in any context."
"Obviously this is bad guidance... Please ask your staff to use common sense when implementing NIH priorities."
"Obviously this is bad guidance... Please ask your staff to use common sense when implementing NIH priorities."
June 16, 2025 at 4:43 PM
In an email to staff, NIH deputy director Matt Memoli says: "It has come to our attention that some staff are giving guidance... that the word 'diversity' may not be used in any context."
"Obviously this is bad guidance... Please ask your staff to use common sense when implementing NIH priorities."
"Obviously this is bad guidance... Please ask your staff to use common sense when implementing NIH priorities."
Reposted by Anthony Barente
An NIH staffer reacts to today's ruling:
"I'm looking forward to the day that we are so slammed with work trying to reinstate everything that we had to terminate illegally — I'll work 24/7 to make that happen if I can."
"I'm looking forward to the day that we are so slammed with work trying to reinstate everything that we had to terminate illegally — I'll work 24/7 to make that happen if I can."
🚨 BREAKING: Nearly 4 months the NIH cut its first grants, a judge has ruled that the directives and process that led to cuts are arbitrary and capricious.
"The explanations are bereft of reasoning — virtually in their entirety... unsupported by [facts]."
Each of them are VOID and ILLEGAL, he says.
"The explanations are bereft of reasoning — virtually in their entirety... unsupported by [facts]."
Each of them are VOID and ILLEGAL, he says.
June 16, 2025 at 10:24 PM
An NIH staffer reacts to today's ruling:
"I'm looking forward to the day that we are so slammed with work trying to reinstate everything that we had to terminate illegally — I'll work 24/7 to make that happen if I can."
"I'm looking forward to the day that we are so slammed with work trying to reinstate everything that we had to terminate illegally — I'll work 24/7 to make that happen if I can."
Reposted by Anthony Barente
📢BREAKING: Just left the courthouse for our NIH grant termination case
Judge ruled terminations are “VOID & ILLEGAL”
As a plaintiff, I felt a wave of relief & hope; he acknowledged the discrimination & harm
Closed by asking, ‘Have we fallen so low? Have we no shame?’
Judge ruled terminations are “VOID & ILLEGAL”
As a plaintiff, I felt a wave of relief & hope; he acknowledged the discrimination & harm
Closed by asking, ‘Have we fallen so low? Have we no shame?’
June 16, 2025 at 9:26 PM
📢BREAKING: Just left the courthouse for our NIH grant termination case
Judge ruled terminations are “VOID & ILLEGAL”
As a plaintiff, I felt a wave of relief & hope; he acknowledged the discrimination & harm
Closed by asking, ‘Have we fallen so low? Have we no shame?’
Judge ruled terminations are “VOID & ILLEGAL”
As a plaintiff, I felt a wave of relief & hope; he acknowledged the discrimination & harm
Closed by asking, ‘Have we fallen so low? Have we no shame?’
Reposted by Anthony Barente
After ruling the NIH grant terminations illegal, Judge Young ended the hearing with an eye-opening speech.
“This represents racial discrimination, and discrimination against America’s LGBTQ community. That's what this is. I would be blind not to call it out. My duty is to call it out. And I do so.”
“This represents racial discrimination, and discrimination against America’s LGBTQ community. That's what this is. I would be blind not to call it out. My duty is to call it out. And I do so.”
THIS IS IT! THIS IS HUGE!!
PLAINTIFF'S WIN!!
Judge Young rules that the NIH grant terminations at issue in these cases are illegal and therefore vacated. BOOM!
PLAINTIFF'S WIN!!
Judge Young rules that the NIH grant terminations at issue in these cases are illegal and therefore vacated. BOOM!
"This Court rules that the challenged directives . . . are arbitrary and capricious."
"They are of no force and effect."
"They are illegal and so are each of the terminations before this Court"
"They are of no force and effect."
"They are illegal and so are each of the terminations before this Court"
June 16, 2025 at 7:12 PM
After ruling the NIH grant terminations illegal, Judge Young ended the hearing with an eye-opening speech.
“This represents racial discrimination, and discrimination against America’s LGBTQ community. That's what this is. I would be blind not to call it out. My duty is to call it out. And I do so.”
“This represents racial discrimination, and discrimination against America’s LGBTQ community. That's what this is. I would be blind not to call it out. My duty is to call it out. And I do so.”
Reposted by Anthony Barente
THIS IS IT! THIS IS HUGE!!
PLAINTIFF'S WIN!!
Judge Young rules that the NIH grant terminations at issue in these cases are illegal and therefore vacated. BOOM!
PLAINTIFF'S WIN!!
Judge Young rules that the NIH grant terminations at issue in these cases are illegal and therefore vacated. BOOM!
"This Court rules that the challenged directives . . . are arbitrary and capricious."
"They are of no force and effect."
"They are illegal and so are each of the terminations before this Court"
"They are of no force and effect."
"They are illegal and so are each of the terminations before this Court"
June 16, 2025 at 6:21 PM
THIS IS IT! THIS IS HUGE!!
PLAINTIFF'S WIN!!
Judge Young rules that the NIH grant terminations at issue in these cases are illegal and therefore vacated. BOOM!
PLAINTIFF'S WIN!!
Judge Young rules that the NIH grant terminations at issue in these cases are illegal and therefore vacated. BOOM!
Reposted by Anthony Barente
After ruling, with anger in his voice, Judge Young:
"This represents racial discrimination. And discrimination against America's LGBTQ community. That's what this is. I would be blind not to call it out. My duty is to call it out. And I do so."
"This represents racial discrimination. And discrimination against America's LGBTQ community. That's what this is. I would be blind not to call it out. My duty is to call it out. And I do so."
June 16, 2025 at 6:24 PM
After ruling, with anger in his voice, Judge Young:
"This represents racial discrimination. And discrimination against America's LGBTQ community. That's what this is. I would be blind not to call it out. My duty is to call it out. And I do so."
"This represents racial discrimination. And discrimination against America's LGBTQ community. That's what this is. I would be blind not to call it out. My duty is to call it out. And I do so."
Reposted by Anthony Barente
In a swift response to this morning's hearing, District Court Judge William G. Young has just ruled that the directives that led to 100s of grant terminations at the NIH are arbitrary and capricious.
The directives + subsequent terminations are illegal, he said.
"They are of no force and effect."
The directives + subsequent terminations are illegal, he said.
"They are of no force and effect."
Happening this morning: A key hearing in the cases challenging the NIH grant terminations.
Plaintiffs, including multiple state AGs + researchers, are requesting an injunction to reverse the terminations.
Our reporting has tracked what's at stake: projects.propublica.org/nih-cuts-res...
Plaintiffs, including multiple state AGs + researchers, are requesting an injunction to reverse the terminations.
Our reporting has tracked what's at stake: projects.propublica.org/nih-cuts-res...
June 16, 2025 at 6:57 PM
In a swift response to this morning's hearing, District Court Judge William G. Young has just ruled that the directives that led to 100s of grant terminations at the NIH are arbitrary and capricious.
The directives + subsequent terminations are illegal, he said.
"They are of no force and effect."
The directives + subsequent terminations are illegal, he said.
"They are of no force and effect."
Reposted by Anthony Barente
⚖️ HUGE day today in the NIH terminations cases
There's a trial (of sorts) at 10a ET in Boston today for arguments that NIH unlawfully terminated 100s of grants.
It's a 3 hour hearing and I'll post periodic updates.
Of note: this is the 1st lawsuit filed against the Trump Admin to go to trial.
There's a trial (of sorts) at 10a ET in Boston today for arguments that NIH unlawfully terminated 100s of grants.
It's a 3 hour hearing and I'll post periodic updates.
Of note: this is the 1st lawsuit filed against the Trump Admin to go to trial.
June 16, 2025 at 2:00 PM
⚖️ HUGE day today in the NIH terminations cases
There's a trial (of sorts) at 10a ET in Boston today for arguments that NIH unlawfully terminated 100s of grants.
It's a 3 hour hearing and I'll post periodic updates.
Of note: this is the 1st lawsuit filed against the Trump Admin to go to trial.
There's a trial (of sorts) at 10a ET in Boston today for arguments that NIH unlawfully terminated 100s of grants.
It's a 3 hour hearing and I'll post periodic updates.
Of note: this is the 1st lawsuit filed against the Trump Admin to go to trial.
To add to this, I've had the chance to look at abstracts from year to year and see where some have changed. Whether by force or fear of reprisal, there are instances where even the mention of health disparities have been removed or altered.
We can't solve problems if we can't talk about them.
We can't solve problems if we can't talk about them.
I've spent the last few months examining the +1,450 grants terminated at the NIH, including reading hundreds of abstracts.
Many were studying how to solve or improve health disparities – not just identify or explain them.
Some of the terminated grants (h/t to @scott-delaney.bsky.social + team)
Many were studying how to solve or improve health disparities – not just identify or explain them.
Some of the terminated grants (h/t to @scott-delaney.bsky.social + team)
June 14, 2025 at 3:36 AM
To add to this, I've had the chance to look at abstracts from year to year and see where some have changed. Whether by force or fear of reprisal, there are instances where even the mention of health disparities have been removed or altered.
We can't solve problems if we can't talk about them.
We can't solve problems if we can't talk about them.
Reposted by Anthony Barente
Dr. Bhattacharya's first line of his Monday PM response to The Bethesda Declaration was
"We all want NIH to succeed".
Like the OSTP Director, the rhetorical 'we' implies that HHS leadership are engaged in good-faith negotiations with the best interests of America's health in mind.
(they aren't)
"We all want NIH to succeed".
Like the OSTP Director, the rhetorical 'we' implies that HHS leadership are engaged in good-faith negotiations with the best interests of America's health in mind.
(they aren't)
June 10, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Dr. Bhattacharya's first line of his Monday PM response to The Bethesda Declaration was
"We all want NIH to succeed".
Like the OSTP Director, the rhetorical 'we' implies that HHS leadership are engaged in good-faith negotiations with the best interests of America's health in mind.
(they aren't)
"We all want NIH to succeed".
Like the OSTP Director, the rhetorical 'we' implies that HHS leadership are engaged in good-faith negotiations with the best interests of America's health in mind.
(they aren't)
Reposted by Anthony Barente
Bhattacharya responds to the Bethesda Declaration, saying, "We are reviewing each termination case carefully..."
As I reported last month, DOGE sent a spreadsheet of projects and demanded that NIH staff terminate them without any scientific review.
As I reported last month, DOGE sent a spreadsheet of projects and demanded that NIH staff terminate them without any scientific review.
June 9, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Bhattacharya responds to the Bethesda Declaration, saying, "We are reviewing each termination case carefully..."
As I reported last month, DOGE sent a spreadsheet of projects and demanded that NIH staff terminate them without any scientific review.
As I reported last month, DOGE sent a spreadsheet of projects and demanded that NIH staff terminate them without any scientific review.
Reposted by Anthony Barente
NIH director Jay Bhattacharya's response to the letter hundreds of agency employees sent him:
"The Bethesda Declaration has some fundamental misconceptions about the policy directions the NIH has taken in recent months, including the continuing support of the NIH for international collaboration...
"The Bethesda Declaration has some fundamental misconceptions about the policy directions the NIH has taken in recent months, including the continuing support of the NIH for international collaboration...
June 9, 2025 at 6:59 PM
NIH director Jay Bhattacharya's response to the letter hundreds of agency employees sent him:
"The Bethesda Declaration has some fundamental misconceptions about the policy directions the NIH has taken in recent months, including the continuing support of the NIH for international collaboration...
"The Bethesda Declaration has some fundamental misconceptions about the policy directions the NIH has taken in recent months, including the continuing support of the NIH for international collaboration...
Reposted by Anthony Barente
More complete analysis of NIH outlays (or lack thereof) from grant-watch.us
grant-watch.us/posts/trends...
grant-watch.us/posts/trends...
Trends in NIH outlays: Brown, Columbia, Cornell, and Northwestern funding drops to $0 – Grant Watch
grant-watch.us
June 8, 2025 at 1:58 PM
More complete analysis of NIH outlays (or lack thereof) from grant-watch.us
grant-watch.us/posts/trends...
grant-watch.us/posts/trends...
Reposted by Anthony Barente
Very smart, high ROI initiative from the Spencer Foundation.
Providing bridge funding for canceled NSF grants:
1) directs funds to projects already screened by a top-noch review process.
2) avoids imposing proposal prep costs on researchers.
3) ameliorates the disruption from GOP sabotage.
Providing bridge funding for canceled NSF grants:
1) directs funds to projects already screened by a top-noch review process.
2) avoids imposing proposal prep costs on researchers.
3) ameliorates the disruption from GOP sabotage.
Rapid Response Bridge Funding Program
In the face of recent abrupt shifts in federal funding for education research, including large-scale terminations of National Science Foundation (NSF) research grant awards, we have developed a rap...
www.spencer.org
June 6, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Very smart, high ROI initiative from the Spencer Foundation.
Providing bridge funding for canceled NSF grants:
1) directs funds to projects already screened by a top-noch review process.
2) avoids imposing proposal prep costs on researchers.
3) ameliorates the disruption from GOP sabotage.
Providing bridge funding for canceled NSF grants:
1) directs funds to projects already screened by a top-noch review process.
2) avoids imposing proposal prep costs on researchers.
3) ameliorates the disruption from GOP sabotage.
Reposted by Anthony Barente
BREAKING: Trump has banned all foreign-national Harvard students and researchers from entering the US on student or foreign exchange visas. Shifts legal fight from one over State and DHS powers to presidential powers
June 5, 2025 at 12:26 AM
BREAKING: Trump has banned all foreign-national Harvard students and researchers from entering the US on student or foreign exchange visas. Shifts legal fight from one over State and DHS powers to presidential powers
Reposted by Anthony Barente
BREAKING: Judge Boasberg GRANTS class certification for the people held at CECOT and gives the government ONE WEEK to explain how they're going to facilitate due process for EVERYONE sent there under the Alien Enemies Act. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com
June 4, 2025 at 9:42 PM
BREAKING: Judge Boasberg GRANTS class certification for the people held at CECOT and gives the government ONE WEEK to explain how they're going to facilitate due process for EVERYONE sent there under the Alien Enemies Act. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by Anthony Barente
“The Trump administration has moved to end funding for a broad swath of HIV vaccine research, saying current approaches are enough to counter the virus, several scientists and federal health officials say.” OBVIOUSLY CURRENT APPROACHES ARE NOT ENOUGH, hence the research!🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️
Trump administration ending multiple HIV vaccine studies, scientists and officials say
"This is a setback of probably a decade for HIV vaccine research," one scientist said.
www.cbsnews.com
June 3, 2025 at 12:01 PM
“The Trump administration has moved to end funding for a broad swath of HIV vaccine research, saying current approaches are enough to counter the virus, several scientists and federal health officials say.” OBVIOUSLY CURRENT APPROACHES ARE NOT ENOUGH, hence the research!🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️
Reposted by Anthony Barente
DOGE is now reviewing every NIH grant that goes out, I reported last week.
That review is AI-driven and is screening for DEI, trans health, China, vaccine hesitancy, and the institutions to whom Trump has blocked funding, @hannahnatanson.bsky.social reports.
Gift link: wapo.st/3HhnPSt
That review is AI-driven and is screening for DEI, trans health, China, vaccine hesitancy, and the institutions to whom Trump has blocked funding, @hannahnatanson.bsky.social reports.
Gift link: wapo.st/3HhnPSt
June 2, 2025 at 6:17 PM
DOGE is now reviewing every NIH grant that goes out, I reported last week.
That review is AI-driven and is screening for DEI, trans health, China, vaccine hesitancy, and the institutions to whom Trump has blocked funding, @hannahnatanson.bsky.social reports.
Gift link: wapo.st/3HhnPSt
That review is AI-driven and is screening for DEI, trans health, China, vaccine hesitancy, and the institutions to whom Trump has blocked funding, @hannahnatanson.bsky.social reports.
Gift link: wapo.st/3HhnPSt
Reposted by Anthony Barente
The newest budget numbers out of NSF are... not good. We're looking at worse than worst case scenarios for U.S. research universities. That's in addition to all the other attacks. Every person w/ a word processer and an hour of time should be penning an op-ed to their local papers this weekend.
May 31, 2025 at 8:07 PM
The newest budget numbers out of NSF are... not good. We're looking at worse than worst case scenarios for U.S. research universities. That's in addition to all the other attacks. Every person w/ a word processer and an hour of time should be penning an op-ed to their local papers this weekend.
Reposted by Anthony Barente
Meanwhile (as federal funding to science acts a rug pulled out from under the research universities), some states pile on to undermine the independence of their state universities.
BREAKING: Texas lawmakers passed S.B. 37, which dramatically increases state control of public universities.
Allowing politically appointed bureaucrats to police curricula and override faculty expertise is a direct threat to academic freedom in Texas.
Allowing politically appointed bureaucrats to police curricula and override faculty expertise is a direct threat to academic freedom in Texas.
May 31, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Meanwhile (as federal funding to science acts a rug pulled out from under the research universities), some states pile on to undermine the independence of their state universities.
Reposted by Anthony Barente
@advancejournal.bsky.social is publishing a blog series about the impacts of terminations of NSF grants focused on equity.
www.advancejournal.org/post/3230-pa...
www.advancejournal.org/post/3230-pa...
Pacific Northwest Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation CERSE at the University of Washington | Published by ADVANCE Journal
This blog post is part of ADVANCE Journal's blog series on the impacts of NSF Grants and their terminations.
www.advancejournal.org
May 31, 2025 at 4:18 AM
@advancejournal.bsky.social is publishing a blog series about the impacts of terminations of NSF grants focused on equity.
www.advancejournal.org/post/3230-pa...
www.advancejournal.org/post/3230-pa...
Reposted by Anthony Barente
Absolutely devastating and affecting a lot of my colleagues here at @scripps.edu who dedicated their whole careers to coming up with a vaccine for HIV.
Which, btw, outside HIV, has led to a whole field of much better vaccines and vaccine platforms.
Which, btw, outside HIV, has led to a whole field of much better vaccines and vaccine platforms.
May 31, 2025 at 12:01 AM
Absolutely devastating and affecting a lot of my colleagues here at @scripps.edu who dedicated their whole careers to coming up with a vaccine for HIV.
Which, btw, outside HIV, has led to a whole field of much better vaccines and vaccine platforms.
Which, btw, outside HIV, has led to a whole field of much better vaccines and vaccine platforms.
Reposted by Anthony Barente
To put these top-line budget numbers in context, cuts of this magnitude would effectively mean no new grants in FY2026. The entire extramural budget would go to existing, continuing grants.
An abject failure of American ambition. And a betrayal of our global leadership in health science innovation.
An abject failure of American ambition. And a betrayal of our global leadership in health science innovation.
#BREAKING: New HHS document details deep NIH cuts as part of Trump budget request
www.statnews.com/2025/05/30/n...
www.statnews.com/2025/05/30/n...
New HHS document details deep NIH cuts as part of Trump budget request
Budget documents for Congress provide the most detailed look yet at how the Trump Administration hopes to reshape the National Institutes of Health.
www.statnews.com
May 31, 2025 at 12:23 AM
To put these top-line budget numbers in context, cuts of this magnitude would effectively mean no new grants in FY2026. The entire extramural budget would go to existing, continuing grants.
An abject failure of American ambition. And a betrayal of our global leadership in health science innovation.
An abject failure of American ambition. And a betrayal of our global leadership in health science innovation.