Irini Hadjisavva
dririnih.bsky.social
Irini Hadjisavva
@dririnih.bsky.social
PhD Molecular & Cellular Oncology
Sci Comm Microbiome & Guthealth
📖Author 🧬Educator 🎙️Host of IG Live "Love Plants" @dririnih
Director Sci Comm @thosenerdygirls.bsky.social

Pinned
I am a PhD molecular & cellular biologist and I do #sciencecommunication and spread awareness on #guthealth and the #gutmicrobiome. I am also an avid plant-based food lover. I am co-author of the book Stop Bloating & Heal Your Gut and the host of the IG live series “Love Plants.”
Reposted by Irini Hadjisavva
1/ Pretty amazing new results showing an unexpected benefit of mRNA vaccines. Patients who received a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine within 100 days of starting immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy survived almost twice as long. jenndowd.substack.com/p/can-mrna-v... #episky #medsky #cancer
November 10, 2025 at 12:12 PM
🌱I was thrilled to start Love Plants Season 5 with a chat on all things #foodallergies with allergist/immunologist Dr. Farah Khan, MD, (@farah.khan.md)

We discussed symptoms, diagnosis, treatments, and so much more!

👀 Stay tuned for the episode coming out soon!
November 8, 2025 at 5:51 AM
Reposted by Irini Hadjisavva
“Ultimately, science isn’t just the pursuit of new knowledge, it is a daily practice of hope happening in labs, clinics, and quiet offices. We are all connected through this hope, even when the progress toward it seems invisible”

open.substack.com/pub/fromthes...
open.substack.com
November 2, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Reposted by Irini Hadjisavva
Are the cardiovascular benefits of GLP-1s just a result of losing weight? Probably not--a significant portion of risk reduction seems to be independent of weight loss.

jenndowd.substack.com/p/ozempic-fo... #publichealth #episky #medsky
November 3, 2025 at 7:30 PM
1/ For people with sensitive guts, high fiber foods (which play a significantly positive role in our health) could cause problems like bloating, diarrhea, constipation and abdominal pain.
November 7, 2025 at 9:22 AM
1/ ⁉Has there been people that kept up with their gut health & still ended up with unwanted diseases like cancer?
Yes, it’s possible for someone to take great care of their gut & still develop diseases like cancer or other illnesses. Gut health is only one part of a much bigger picture.
November 7, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Reposted by Irini Hadjisavva
Nerdy Girl and OB/GYN Dr. Katherine Cartwright explains the reasons the flu, RSV, Tdap, and COVID vaccines are recommended during pregnancy.

youtube.com/shorts/7pnnR...
Why do we give different vaccines during pregnancy?
YouTube video by Those Nerdy Girls
youtube.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:30 AM
1/ A big gut health misconception is when people think they should only be taking care of their gut (& gut microbiome) if they suffer from gut symptoms.
November 4, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Excited to be recording a session on food allergies with Board Certified Allergist Dr. Farah Khan today.
Stay tuned for the upcoming clips.
#foodallergy
November 3, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Reposted by Irini Hadjisavva
1/ Don’t let statements about imprinting stop you from getting your annual vaccines for COVID and flu. Immune imprinting refers to the fact that our immune response to a vaccine (or infection) is affected by previous exposures to similar vaccines (or infections).
November 3, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Let’s talk #foodallergies! Join us on Instagram Live with Dr. Farah Khan, MD, as we discuss what food allergies are, their symptoms, treatments, and more.

📍 Live on Instagram @dririnih & @farah.khan.md
October 30, 2025 at 7:14 PM
1/ Cancer #screening is so important because it can detect cancer early. When cancer is caught early, before it grows a lot or spreads, treatment is often more successful and survival rates are improved.
 
That’s why it’s vital to make screening a priority.
October 29, 2025 at 9:20 AM
1/ I recently did a workshop recording on the importance of #cancerscreening and early #detection.

Here are a few questions you can ask your healthcare provider 👇
October 29, 2025 at 4:21 AM
Reposted by Irini Hadjisavva
Peanut allergies in children ages 0-3 declined 27.2% after a 2015 study resulted in guidance recommending the introduction of peanut products in infancy among children. More from Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez in the New York Times: www.nytimes.com/2025/10/20/w...
October 21, 2025 at 12:28 AM
Reposted by Irini Hadjisavva
The holidays are coming! The lights are up, festive music is playing loudly, and ads are full of big dinners and gift piles. But when money is tight, the #holidays can sting, and joy can become lonely. ⬇️
thosenerdygirls.org/hard-money-t...
Why do the holidays feel harder when money is tight?
The holidays are coming! The lights are up, festive music is playing loudly, and ads are full of big dinners and gift piles. But when money is tight, the
thosenerdygirls.org
October 28, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Reposted by Irini Hadjisavva
☔Community Immunity (aka “herd immunity”) is a really important factor in preventing the spread of infectious diseases… and just like an umbrella can protect you and the person standing next to you from the rain, vaccination can do the same.
Read the full post from @sandylaping.bsky.social here:
What do vaccination and umbrellas have in common?
Community immunity (aka “herd immunity”) is a really important factor in preventing the spread of infectious diseases… and just like an umbrella can
thosenerdygirls.org
October 23, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Reposted by Irini Hadjisavva
📊 Sensitivity & specificity are characteristics of a #medical test that help us determine how useful that test is & how to interpret the result. But, they aren’t the be-all & end-all. We also want to know the positive & negative predictive value. Strap in for the ride, and let’s talk stats! 👇
Q: What are sensitivity and specificity, and why should I care?
A: Good question! Sensitivity and specificity are characteristics of a medical test that help us determine how useful that test is and how to interpret
thosenerdygirls.org
October 27, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Reposted by Irini Hadjisavva
1/ Can a biopsy spread your cancer?

Most #biopsies won’t spread #cancer. For cancers like testicular cancer, a biopsy can spread cancer, which is why physicians will remove suspected cancer rather than biopsy.
Learn more from Rebecca Raskin-Wish here:
thosenerdygirls.substack.com/p/can-a-biop...
Can a biopsy spread your cancer?
Most biopsies won’t spread cancer. For cancers like testicular cancer, a biopsy can spread cancer, which is why physicians will remove suspected cancer rather than biopsy.
thosenerdygirls.substack.com
October 25, 2025 at 1:00 PM
1/ Q: Can one have too many probiotics?
A: While #probiotics can be helpful for certain health conditions (provided good clinical research has been done to support that) taking large amounts doesn’t always mean better results.
October 23, 2025 at 1:03 PM
1/ Fantastic talk from Professor Kevin Whelan at UEG Week 2025 on the "Challenges of Research and Practice in #Diet and #DGBI"
📌 Food is complex, making dietary research and interventions challenging.
📌Placebo effects and dietary adherence impact trial outcomes.
October 23, 2025 at 7:42 AM
Reposted by Irini Hadjisavva
🧠 New Study from our Team: Kids’ emotional bonds with parents can shape how they experience gut pain.

Children with Functional Abdominal Pain who felt less securely attached to their parents had more:
➡️ GI symptoms
➡️ depression
➡️ daily impairment

www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12...
www.mdpi.com
October 15, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Q: Are there different types of gut microbiome, or is everyone’s too different to categorize?

A: Everyone’s #gutmicrobiome is unique like a fingerprint, because it’s shaped by your genetics, diet, environment, and lifestyle.
October 21, 2025 at 10:29 AM
💩 Are home #microbiome #testkits worth it?

➡️ Probably not.

TL;DR: Right now, these tests don’t provide actionable information to diagnose health conditions, guide medical treatments, or tailor our #diets.

Find out more in this post I wrote for @thosenerdygirls.bsky.social :
Are home microbiome test kits worth it?
Are home microbiome test kits worth it? Probably not. TL;DR: Right now, these tests don’t provide actionable information to diagnose health conditions,
thosenerdygirls.org
October 8, 2025 at 6:42 AM
I really enjoyed giving an online guest lecture on the #gutmicrobiome to students at Seton Hill University. 🦠
October 7, 2025 at 9:53 AM
1/ Great talk by Dr. Wendi LeBrett (@socalgastro.doc) on “How to fight fake news in medicine. Lessons from Social Media” @UEGWeek #weareUEG #scicomm
October 6, 2025 at 8:15 AM