Ben Pierce
@benfpiercephd.bsky.social
Health, real world data, data science, stats, science, vaccines, research. Pro-science. All views/opinions are my own.
Pinned
Ben Pierce
@benfpiercephd.bsky.social
· Mar 7
Real-world evidence: state-of-the-art and future perspectives
Recent developments in digital infrastructure, advanced analytical approaches, and
regulatory settings have facilitated the broadened use of real-world evidence (RWE)
in population health management a...
becarispublishing.com
Very happy to share my first corresponding author paper : a review of real-world data and its use/impact in England. We looked at a wide range of health areas and evaluated how RWD has been used in Technology Assessments by NICE. #science #scicomm 🧪📊📈
👇👇👇
becarispublishing.com/doi/10.57264...
👇👇👇
becarispublishing.com/doi/10.57264...
Reposted by Ben Pierce
In 1519, the year Spaniards arrived in Mexico, the population there was between 15 - 30 million.
By 1600, that dwindled to 2 million.
For lots of reasons, but as much as 70% of those deaths were the result of an UNKNOWN hemorrhagic fever.
Let's talk about the mystery of the COCOLIZTLI epidemics.
By 1600, that dwindled to 2 million.
For lots of reasons, but as much as 70% of those deaths were the result of an UNKNOWN hemorrhagic fever.
Let's talk about the mystery of the COCOLIZTLI epidemics.
October 29, 2025 at 12:51 PM
In 1519, the year Spaniards arrived in Mexico, the population there was between 15 - 30 million.
By 1600, that dwindled to 2 million.
For lots of reasons, but as much as 70% of those deaths were the result of an UNKNOWN hemorrhagic fever.
Let's talk about the mystery of the COCOLIZTLI epidemics.
By 1600, that dwindled to 2 million.
For lots of reasons, but as much as 70% of those deaths were the result of an UNKNOWN hemorrhagic fever.
Let's talk about the mystery of the COCOLIZTLI epidemics.
Reposted by Ben Pierce
🧵Remember the preprint claiming SARS-CoV-2 has a "synthetic fingerprint"?
It said a restriction map was "extremely unlikely to have arisen by random evolution.”
I took its claims seriously.
The "synthetic fingerprint" hypothesis collapses. My new preprint explains why.
arxiv.org/abs/2510.23833
It said a restriction map was "extremely unlikely to have arisen by random evolution.”
I took its claims seriously.
The "synthetic fingerprint" hypothesis collapses. My new preprint explains why.
arxiv.org/abs/2510.23833
October 29, 2025 at 7:32 AM
🧵Remember the preprint claiming SARS-CoV-2 has a "synthetic fingerprint"?
It said a restriction map was "extremely unlikely to have arisen by random evolution.”
I took its claims seriously.
The "synthetic fingerprint" hypothesis collapses. My new preprint explains why.
arxiv.org/abs/2510.23833
It said a restriction map was "extremely unlikely to have arisen by random evolution.”
I took its claims seriously.
The "synthetic fingerprint" hypothesis collapses. My new preprint explains why.
arxiv.org/abs/2510.23833
Reposted by Ben Pierce
We’ve identified a highly divergent betacoronavirus from South American bat that encodes a functional furin cleavage site.
Another fascinating reminder of how diverse coronavirus evolution is in wildlife reservoirs.
#Virology #VirusEvolution #Bats #Coronavirus
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Another fascinating reminder of how diverse coronavirus evolution is in wildlife reservoirs.
#Virology #VirusEvolution #Bats #Coronavirus
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
A divergent betacoronavirus with a functional furin cleavage site in South American bats
Bats are natural reservoirs for a wide range of RNA viruses. Members of the genus Betacoronavirus, including Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome...
www.biorxiv.org
October 27, 2025 at 9:32 PM
We’ve identified a highly divergent betacoronavirus from South American bat that encodes a functional furin cleavage site.
Another fascinating reminder of how diverse coronavirus evolution is in wildlife reservoirs.
#Virology #VirusEvolution #Bats #Coronavirus
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Another fascinating reminder of how diverse coronavirus evolution is in wildlife reservoirs.
#Virology #VirusEvolution #Bats #Coronavirus
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Good science needs time.
Finally, a functional furin cleavage site found in the S1/S2 junction of a bat coronavirus. 🧪
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Finally, a functional furin cleavage site found in the S1/S2 junction of a bat coronavirus. 🧪
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org
October 30, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Good science needs time.
Finally, a functional furin cleavage site found in the S1/S2 junction of a bat coronavirus. 🧪
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Finally, a functional furin cleavage site found in the S1/S2 junction of a bat coronavirus. 🧪
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Women in the US are now being forced to have babies and carry in the most painful way possible.
The #autism announcement yesterday was not based at all on science. The correlations found in that 1 study are not sound: the follow up times were unbalanced, leading to bias and misleading associations.
The #autism announcement yesterday was not based at all on science. The correlations found in that 1 study are not sound: the follow up times were unbalanced, leading to bias and misleading associations.
September 23, 2025 at 5:59 AM
Women in the US are now being forced to have babies and carry in the most painful way possible.
The #autism announcement yesterday was not based at all on science. The correlations found in that 1 study are not sound: the follow up times were unbalanced, leading to bias and misleading associations.
The #autism announcement yesterday was not based at all on science. The correlations found in that 1 study are not sound: the follow up times were unbalanced, leading to bias and misleading associations.
Reposted by Ben Pierce
Occultation! Venus is about to disappear behind the 5% lit Moon! #astronomy #astrophotography #Occultation #Moon #Venus @stormhour.com @photohour.bsky.social 1/2
September 19, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Occultation! Venus is about to disappear behind the 5% lit Moon! #astronomy #astrophotography #Occultation #Moon #Venus @stormhour.com @photohour.bsky.social 1/2
My favorite thing: one of the CDC's COVID-19 risk factors is vaccination status, so one has an increased risk when discussing the COVID-19 vaccine prior to being vaccinated.
So meta! And so meaningless from the ACIP.
This #ACIP is not helping Americans.
So meta! And so meaningless from the ACIP.
This #ACIP is not helping Americans.
September 19, 2025 at 7:31 PM
My favorite thing: one of the CDC's COVID-19 risk factors is vaccination status, so one has an increased risk when discussing the COVID-19 vaccine prior to being vaccinated.
So meta! And so meaningless from the ACIP.
This #ACIP is not helping Americans.
So meta! And so meaningless from the ACIP.
This #ACIP is not helping Americans.
Listening to the ACIP meeting in the background....
When voting, there were several comments about postponing the Hep B vote until a future meeting, but the motion was actually that the Hep B vote be postponed indefinitely.
When voting, there were several comments about postponing the Hep B vote until a future meeting, but the motion was actually that the Hep B vote be postponed indefinitely.
September 19, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Listening to the ACIP meeting in the background....
When voting, there were several comments about postponing the Hep B vote until a future meeting, but the motion was actually that the Hep B vote be postponed indefinitely.
When voting, there were several comments about postponing the Hep B vote until a future meeting, but the motion was actually that the Hep B vote be postponed indefinitely.
Excellent news and hard work pays off - one of our studies, "Health outcomes of women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in North West London: a 10-year longitudinal study" accepted in BMJ Public Health 🥳🎉
September 11, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Excellent news and hard work pays off - one of our studies, "Health outcomes of women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in North West London: a 10-year longitudinal study" accepted in BMJ Public Health 🥳🎉
Reposted by Ben Pierce
#Birdflu still circulating: Scientists are testing a #birdflu vaccine in seals. If results show promise, the shots could be given to endangered Hawaiian monk seals. #H5N1 birdflu virus has devastated marine mammals globally. It tore thru Argentina's Valdés Peninsula killing ~17,400 seal pups 👇
Scientists Begin Testing Bird Flu Vaccine in Seals
www.nytimes.com
September 11, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Reposted by Ben Pierce
My latest for @jama.com:
Top medical groups warn that HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr poses a risk to US public health amid vaccine policy turmoil. Here’s the latest on the mounting pressure to remove him from the HHS. ja.ma/4n5gPb9
September 10, 2025 at 4:25 PM
My latest for @jama.com:
Reposted by Ben Pierce
@zachhensel.bsky.social and I have a new paper on the origin of SARS-CoV-2! 🧪
There are a lot of reviews on the topic already, so we tried to do something different: characterize "lab leak" scenarios, and directly address those on SARS-CoV-2's furin cleavage site.▫️1/9
doi.org/10.5802/crbi...
There are a lot of reviews on the topic already, so we tried to do something different: characterize "lab leak" scenarios, and directly address those on SARS-CoV-2's furin cleavage site.▫️1/9
doi.org/10.5802/crbi...
doi.org
September 8, 2025 at 4:23 PM
@zachhensel.bsky.social and I have a new paper on the origin of SARS-CoV-2! 🧪
There are a lot of reviews on the topic already, so we tried to do something different: characterize "lab leak" scenarios, and directly address those on SARS-CoV-2's furin cleavage site.▫️1/9
doi.org/10.5802/crbi...
There are a lot of reviews on the topic already, so we tried to do something different: characterize "lab leak" scenarios, and directly address those on SARS-CoV-2's furin cleavage site.▫️1/9
doi.org/10.5802/crbi...
Reposted by Ben Pierce
Our 2021 review on COVID #vaccines was open access and provides a full report of effectiveness. Thanks to @carlzimmer.com and @apoorvanyt.bsky.social for their terrific article in NYT 👍
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/02/h...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/02/h...
www.nytimes.com
September 3, 2025 at 5:27 AM
Our 2021 review on COVID #vaccines was open access and provides a full report of effectiveness. Thanks to @carlzimmer.com and @apoorvanyt.bsky.social for their terrific article in NYT 👍
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/02/h...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/02/h...
Reposted by Ben Pierce
There was a slew of false statements made about COVID19 mRNA vaccines yesterday.
I can’t recommend highly enough this article from May by Dr. Deborah Fuller to clear up a lot of the chaff.
I can’t recommend highly enough this article from May by Dr. Deborah Fuller to clear up a lot of the chaff.
How RFK Jr.’s misguided science on mRNA vaccines is shaping policy − a vaccine expert examines the false claims
Chaos at the CDC and the sharp move away from mRNA vaccines has public health experts alarmed.
theconversation.com
September 5, 2025 at 4:48 PM
There was a slew of false statements made about COVID19 mRNA vaccines yesterday.
I can’t recommend highly enough this article from May by Dr. Deborah Fuller to clear up a lot of the chaff.
I can’t recommend highly enough this article from May by Dr. Deborah Fuller to clear up a lot of the chaff.
Show me these data and I will find you at least 30 confounders. The language will be most important, particularly how strong (that is, poor) are the report's claims of causality.
www.wsj.com/health/healt...
www.wsj.com/health/healt...
Exclusive | RFK Jr., HHS to Link Autism to Tylenol Use in Pregnancy and Folate Deficiencies
Kennedy’s autism report, touted by Trump, will suggest that using the pain reliever during pregnancy might be linked to the developmental disorder.
www.wsj.com
September 5, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Show me these data and I will find you at least 30 confounders. The language will be most important, particularly how strong (that is, poor) are the report's claims of causality.
www.wsj.com/health/healt...
www.wsj.com/health/healt...
Lots of disturbing takeaways from the RFK Jr hearing, most prominently that he's listening only to Bhattacharya and Makary - non-experts - about vaccines rather than others (or reading any papers).
However, there's another major question:
However, there's another major question:
September 5, 2025 at 6:34 AM
Lots of disturbing takeaways from the RFK Jr hearing, most prominently that he's listening only to Bhattacharya and Makary - non-experts - about vaccines rather than others (or reading any papers).
However, there's another major question:
However, there's another major question:
Reposted by Ben Pierce
He is a predator. He will prey upon the nation and the world if he is not stopped.
Necessary reading from @gregggonsalves.bsky.social
www.thenation.com/article/soci...
Necessary reading from @gregggonsalves.bsky.social
www.thenation.com/article/soci...
RFK Jr., American Psycho
He needs to go. Now.
www.thenation.com
September 5, 2025 at 3:19 AM
He is a predator. He will prey upon the nation and the world if he is not stopped.
Necessary reading from @gregggonsalves.bsky.social
www.thenation.com/article/soci...
Necessary reading from @gregggonsalves.bsky.social
www.thenation.com/article/soci...
Reposted by Ben Pierce
In under 24h following the newly identified outbreak of #Ebola in the DRC, the virus has been isolated, sequenced and the virus sequence data made publicly available.
virological.org/t/the-16th-e...
virological.org/t/the-16th-e...
The 16th Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak in Bulape Health Zone, Kasai, Democratic Republic of the Congo: A new spillover event from an unknown reservoir host
Background The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is currently facing concurrent outbreaks including mpox, cholera and malaria (1-4). The Ministry of Public Health, DRC has declared the 16th Ebola...
virological.org
September 5, 2025 at 12:09 AM
In under 24h following the newly identified outbreak of #Ebola in the DRC, the virus has been isolated, sequenced and the virus sequence data made publicly available.
virological.org/t/the-16th-e...
virological.org/t/the-16th-e...
Reposted by Ben Pierce
RFK Jr.’s tenure as HHS Secretary has been a disgrace. He’s destroying our public health system and putting millions of lives at risk.
He is wholly unfit to serve in this role and should resign immediately.
He is wholly unfit to serve in this role and should resign immediately.
September 4, 2025 at 5:38 PM
RFK Jr.’s tenure as HHS Secretary has been a disgrace. He’s destroying our public health system and putting millions of lives at risk.
He is wholly unfit to serve in this role and should resign immediately.
He is wholly unfit to serve in this role and should resign immediately.
Reposted by Ben Pierce
gift link to dr. susan monarez’s piece in the wall street journal this morning.
Opinion | Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the CDC and Me
I was fired after 29 days because I held the line and insisted on rigorous scientific review.
www.wsj.com
September 4, 2025 at 12:53 PM
gift link to dr. susan monarez’s piece in the wall street journal this morning.
Reposted by Ben Pierce
Florida plans to end school vaccination mandates, the first to do so. The state's controversial surgeon general compared the requirements to "slavery." Joseph Ladapo says "people have a right to make their own decisions, informed decisions"👇
State Plans to End School Vax Mandates, First to Do So
Florida's controversial surgeon general compared the requirements to 'slavery'
www.medpagetoday.com
September 3, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Florida plans to end school vaccination mandates, the first to do so. The state's controversial surgeon general compared the requirements to "slavery." Joseph Ladapo says "people have a right to make their own decisions, informed decisions"👇
Reposted by Ben Pierce
Your periodic reminder that mRNA vaccines are a scientific and public health game-changer. Those that have been approved have passed stringent efficacy and safety checks. They protect you and your child against potentially fatal diseases. You may, however, get a sore arm.
September 3, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Your periodic reminder that mRNA vaccines are a scientific and public health game-changer. Those that have been approved have passed stringent efficacy and safety checks. They protect you and your child against potentially fatal diseases. You may, however, get a sore arm.
Reposted by Ben Pierce
Dr. Paul Offit, a prominent voice on vaccines and frequent critic of RFK Jr, is blocked from participating in FDA’s vaccine advisory committee. HHS says his special government employee status expired. Offit says FDA had asked him to stay on 2 more years: www.cnn.com/2025/09/02/h...
Vaccine expert who is a frequent critic of RFK Jr. is blocked from participating in FDA advisory committee | CNN
Dr. Paul Offit, a frequent critic of US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has been blocked from participating in a panel of independent experts who advise the US Food and Drug...
www.cnn.com
September 3, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Dr. Paul Offit, a prominent voice on vaccines and frequent critic of RFK Jr, is blocked from participating in FDA’s vaccine advisory committee. HHS says his special government employee status expired. Offit says FDA had asked him to stay on 2 more years: www.cnn.com/2025/09/02/h...
Our 2021 review on COVID #vaccines was open access and provides a full report of effectiveness. Thanks to @carlzimmer.com and @apoorvanyt.bsky.social for their terrific article in NYT 👍
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/02/h...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/02/h...
www.nytimes.com
September 3, 2025 at 5:27 AM
Our 2021 review on COVID #vaccines was open access and provides a full report of effectiveness. Thanks to @carlzimmer.com and @apoorvanyt.bsky.social for their terrific article in NYT 👍
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/02/h...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/02/h...
Reposted by Ben Pierce
Bullies bully. It’s what they do. Leaders lead. It’s what they do. You tell me who is the leader and who is the bully. Don’t let anything distract from the fact that what is at risk is health not the fragile egos of men. Fight for health not for clout.
September 3, 2025 at 3:36 AM
Bullies bully. It’s what they do. Leaders lead. It’s what they do. You tell me who is the leader and who is the bully. Don’t let anything distract from the fact that what is at risk is health not the fragile egos of men. Fight for health not for clout.