Ferric Fang, MD
@fangferric.bsky.social
Physician-scientist, microbiologist, infectious diseases specialist, medical school professor. Opinions expressed are my own.
Reposted by Ferric Fang, MD
In 2020, Bhattacharya and Kulldorff pushed back on the "misconception" that they wanted to do "nothing".
Now that they have power, as flu and other pathogens fill up hospitals, that's exactly what they are doing.
Nothing.
Now that they have power, as flu and other pathogens fill up hospitals, that's exactly what they are doing.
Nothing.
January 4, 2026 at 3:36 PM
In 2020, Bhattacharya and Kulldorff pushed back on the "misconception" that they wanted to do "nothing".
Now that they have power, as flu and other pathogens fill up hospitals, that's exactly what they are doing.
Nothing.
Now that they have power, as flu and other pathogens fill up hospitals, that's exactly what they are doing.
Nothing.
Reposted by Ferric Fang, MD
Reposted by Ferric Fang, MD
A history of how the #NIH came to be. The purpose of the NIH is to support science innovation. Government support of science grows the economy, brings power and prosperity to the country. This was part of the budget increase after WWI.
It became our backbone.
🧪 theconversation.com/how-the-nih-...
It became our backbone.
🧪 theconversation.com/how-the-nih-...
How the NIH became the backbone of American medical research and a major driver of innovation and economic growth
The agency’s budget has grown steadily since the 1960s, fueling an industry that creates lifesaving medicines and attracts billions of dollars in investment.
theconversation.com
January 3, 2026 at 6:53 PM
A history of how the #NIH came to be. The purpose of the NIH is to support science innovation. Government support of science grows the economy, brings power and prosperity to the country. This was part of the budget increase after WWI.
It became our backbone.
🧪 theconversation.com/how-the-nih-...
It became our backbone.
🧪 theconversation.com/how-the-nih-...
Beneficial "off-target" effects of vaccines on dementia, pneumonia and cardiovascular disease.
🎁 link
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/h...
🎁 link
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/h...
Vaccines Are Helping Older People More Than We Knew
www.nytimes.com
January 3, 2026 at 5:57 PM
Beneficial "off-target" effects of vaccines on dementia, pneumonia and cardiovascular disease.
🎁 link
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/h...
🎁 link
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/h...
Reposted by Ferric Fang, MD
Seriously though what's the phone number for ICE so I can report two alleged criminals from Venezuela who are being brought here illegally?
January 3, 2026 at 4:14 PM
Seriously though what's the phone number for ICE so I can report two alleged criminals from Venezuela who are being brought here illegally?
Reposted by Ferric Fang, MD
I'm glad that Congress isn't alive to see this
January 3, 2026 at 4:18 PM
I'm glad that Congress isn't alive to see this
Reposted by Ferric Fang, MD
Reposted by Ferric Fang, MD
I'm seriously starting to question the credibility of the FIFA Peace Prize.
January 3, 2026 at 7:51 AM
I'm seriously starting to question the credibility of the FIFA Peace Prize.
He should try selling the house: “Goldilocks would love this fairy-tale cottage. Close to nature. Den bearly used. Owner highly motivated. Best offer.”
Black bear living underneath California house shows no sign of budging as homeowner mulls legal action
Black bear living underneath Altadena house shows no sign of budging as homeowner mulls legal action
The 550-pound black bear has taken up residence in the crawlspace underneath Ken Johnson's home in California for a month.
www.cbsnews.com
January 3, 2026 at 5:29 AM
He should try selling the house: “Goldilocks would love this fairy-tale cottage. Close to nature. Den bearly used. Owner highly motivated. Best offer.”
Reposted by Ferric Fang, MD
The U.S. will very likely lose its measles-elimination status, and Americans will have to confront how difficult this virus can be to control, Katherine J. Wu reports: theatln.tc/bZcb1Wmr
January 3, 2026 at 3:00 AM
The U.S. will very likely lose its measles-elimination status, and Americans will have to confront how difficult this virus can be to control, Katherine J. Wu reports: theatln.tc/bZcb1Wmr
Reposted by Ferric Fang, MD
'How much does the aurora borealis weigh?" It's pretty light.
January 2, 2026 at 3:29 PM
'How much does the aurora borealis weigh?" It's pretty light.
Reposted by Ferric Fang, MD
Did you know? By replacing your coffee with green tea, you can lose up to 92% of what little joy you still have left in your life.
January 2, 2026 at 8:59 PM
Did you know? By replacing your coffee with green tea, you can lose up to 92% of what little joy you still have left in your life.
Reposted by Ferric Fang, MD
Many don't realize that the most vulnerable or immune compromised depend on the rest getting vaccinated properly to keep diseases from spreading out of control. It's not just “my body, my choice” when it comes to saving lives.
January 2, 2026 at 10:12 PM
Many don't realize that the most vulnerable or immune compromised depend on the rest getting vaccinated properly to keep diseases from spreading out of control. It's not just “my body, my choice” when it comes to saving lives.
Reposted by Ferric Fang, MD
It really is that bad. Grant funded science, supposedly a key piece of American exceptionalism, was already a huge headache. Now it’s looking nearly impossible.
When I explain to people what is involved with writing a successful grant, they simply don’t believe me.
I explained it once to a famous person from Pixar, and he looked me square in the eye and said: You mean all the cancer and Alzheimer’s grants work that way? You’ve gotta be &$%#ing kidding me!
I explained it once to a famous person from Pixar, and he looked me square in the eye and said: You mean all the cancer and Alzheimer’s grants work that way? You’ve gotta be &$%#ing kidding me!
I don't think you non-science people realize what it takes to get a grant funded by NIH. Started experiments in Sept 2021 to generate 3 new mouse mutants to model human disease. Prelim dara shows they have relevant disease phenotypes worthy of study. Need a small grant first to characterize /1
January 3, 2026 at 2:46 AM
It really is that bad. Grant funded science, supposedly a key piece of American exceptionalism, was already a huge headache. Now it’s looking nearly impossible.
Reposted by Ferric Fang, MD
Reactionary extremists like Vought/Vance/Trump hate science, democracy, and accountability so much that they struggle greatly with facts and coherence.
That's why unethical grifters like Lawrence Krauss are so valuable to their enterprise.
Great @nateo.bsky.social piece on what Krauss is doing:
That's why unethical grifters like Lawrence Krauss are so valuable to their enterprise.
Great @nateo.bsky.social piece on what Krauss is doing:
Wars on Science, Real and Otherwise
"The War on Science," ed. Lawrence Krauss, documents an imaginary war on science from the left in order to justify an entirely real war on science from the right.
www.liberalcurrents.com
January 3, 2026 at 2:42 AM
Reactionary extremists like Vought/Vance/Trump hate science, democracy, and accountability so much that they struggle greatly with facts and coherence.
That's why unethical grifters like Lawrence Krauss are so valuable to their enterprise.
Great @nateo.bsky.social piece on what Krauss is doing:
That's why unethical grifters like Lawrence Krauss are so valuable to their enterprise.
Great @nateo.bsky.social piece on what Krauss is doing:
Reposted by Ferric Fang, MD
Review of 200 novel human viruses over a century a reminder that pathogen emergence isn’t rare
www.cidrap.umn.edu/misc-emergin...
www.cidrap.umn.edu/misc-emergin...
Review of 200 novel human viruses over a century a reminder that pathogen emergence isn’t rare
www.cidrap.umn.edu
January 2, 2026 at 10:10 PM
Review of 200 novel human viruses over a century a reminder that pathogen emergence isn’t rare
www.cidrap.umn.edu/misc-emergin...
www.cidrap.umn.edu/misc-emergin...
Reposted by Ferric Fang, MD
Ghastly OpEds by Jay Bhattacharya in 2025
-His justification for canceling funds for mRNA vaxx R&D
-His argument that no pandemic preparedness is needed
As Seth Berkey says: "Magical thinking has no place in public health." We must condemn these "misguided policies"
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
-His justification for canceling funds for mRNA vaxx R&D
-His argument that no pandemic preparedness is needed
As Seth Berkey says: "Magical thinking has no place in public health." We must condemn these "misguided policies"
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Magical thinking will not prevent future pandemics or improve public health
For much of human history, infectious diseases were the main causes of morbidity and mortality. The sciences of public health, epidemiology, microbiology, and vaccine and drug development have dramati...
www.science.org
January 2, 2026 at 7:47 PM
Ghastly OpEds by Jay Bhattacharya in 2025
-His justification for canceling funds for mRNA vaxx R&D
-His argument that no pandemic preparedness is needed
As Seth Berkey says: "Magical thinking has no place in public health." We must condemn these "misguided policies"
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
-His justification for canceling funds for mRNA vaxx R&D
-His argument that no pandemic preparedness is needed
As Seth Berkey says: "Magical thinking has no place in public health." We must condemn these "misguided policies"
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
I'd be more concerned if the patient exhibits other warning signs.
January 2, 2026 at 6:18 PM
I'd be more concerned if the patient exhibits other warning signs.
Reposted by Ferric Fang, MD
RFK Jr. ordered the CDC to terminate their flu vaccination ad campaign immediately after taking office.
Just in case anyone was curious about his silence in the face of what is emerging as an unusually severe flu season and why he’s not out encouraging vaccines.
Just in case anyone was curious about his silence in the face of what is emerging as an unusually severe flu season and why he’s not out encouraging vaccines.
Robert F Kennedy cancels flu vaccination ad campaign and key vaccine policy meeting
The new US health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, has ordered the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to halt its publicity campaign encouraging uptake of this year’s seasonal flu vaccine...
www.bmj.com
January 2, 2026 at 5:34 PM
RFK Jr. ordered the CDC to terminate their flu vaccination ad campaign immediately after taking office.
Just in case anyone was curious about his silence in the face of what is emerging as an unusually severe flu season and why he’s not out encouraging vaccines.
Just in case anyone was curious about his silence in the face of what is emerging as an unusually severe flu season and why he’s not out encouraging vaccines.
Reposted by Ferric Fang, MD
Reposted by Ferric Fang, MD
This story is heartbreaking. Brenna Henn is a wonderful scientist, and the work their lab does is truly insightful. Anger and rage…
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/02/s...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/02/s...
January 2, 2026 at 4:30 PM
This story is heartbreaking. Brenna Henn is a wonderful scientist, and the work their lab does is truly insightful. Anger and rage…
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/02/s...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/02/s...
Reposted by Ferric Fang, MD
Although mRNA vaccines proved their worth vs. Covid, the next frontier is an open question. Early lab & trial data shows they excel at priming the immune system, but real-world results are harder to pin down. Still, lots of promise!
Will 47's admin destroy this research? The Guardian says he can't.
Will 47's admin destroy this research? The Guardian says he can't.
The Guardian view on mRNA vaccines: they are the future – with or without Donald Trump | Editorial
Editorial: Over the holiday period, the Guardian leader column is looking ahead at the themes of 2026. Today we examine how the White House’s war on vaccines has left the future of a key technology uncertain and up for grabs
www.theguardian.com
January 2, 2026 at 4:45 PM
Although mRNA vaccines proved their worth vs. Covid, the next frontier is an open question. Early lab & trial data shows they excel at priming the immune system, but real-world results are harder to pin down. Still, lots of promise!
Will 47's admin destroy this research? The Guardian says he can't.
Will 47's admin destroy this research? The Guardian says he can't.
Reposted by Ferric Fang, MD
First Pipeline post of the year! A statement of purpose, and science topics resume on Monday:
Last Year, and the Year to Come
www.science.org
January 2, 2026 at 4:45 PM
First Pipeline post of the year! A statement of purpose, and science topics resume on Monday:
Reposted by Ferric Fang, MD
How fortunate that two of the things I love the most in life are associated with prolonged survival. Plus, a very important "recent" paper. Happy New Year! #IDsky #Medsky open.substack.com/pub/paulsaxm...
Two Things that Prolong Life and a Great Recent Paper
A Happy New Year gift to me and everyone who shares one or both of these enthusiasms.
open.substack.com
January 1, 2026 at 8:32 PM
How fortunate that two of the things I love the most in life are associated with prolonged survival. Plus, a very important "recent" paper. Happy New Year! #IDsky #Medsky open.substack.com/pub/paulsaxm...