Ursula Hofer
@hoferu.bsky.social
Desk-chair virologist, EiC of The Lancet Infectious Diseases, previously at different Nature journals, MD PhD. She/her/expert. Opinions my own.
Pinned
Ursula Hofer
@hoferu.bsky.social
· Feb 28
Should science be political?
At this point in time, with US President Trump's administration attacking institutions
such as the US CDC, NIH, USAID, WHO, and their people and functions, whether science
should be political seems li...
www.thelancet.com
This month's editorial:
Should science be political?
In my mind, there's only one response to this question...
And the more pressing question is, how can politics be more scientific?
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Should science be political?
In my mind, there's only one response to this question...
And the more pressing question is, how can politics be more scientific?
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
I don't miss a lot of Swiss food stuff (you can get a lot of the same things here in the UK) but king cake is at the top of the list, so I usually make one. This year's version was a tad burnt, still delicious. I had to abdicate my reign to my hubby though, who got the king.
January 6, 2026 at 7:22 PM
I don't miss a lot of Swiss food stuff (you can get a lot of the same things here in the UK) but king cake is at the top of the list, so I usually make one. This year's version was a tad burnt, still delicious. I had to abdicate my reign to my hubby though, who got the king.
What compels someone to submit a very bad paper on new year's eve? All hypothetical, of course, I'm not talking about your paper.
January 5, 2026 at 4:35 PM
What compels someone to submit a very bad paper on new year's eve? All hypothetical, of course, I'm not talking about your paper.
Reposted by Ursula Hofer
No health without peace
January 3, 2026 at 11:14 AM
No health without peace
Moonrise over the Thames
January 3, 2026 at 4:40 PM
Moonrise over the Thames
Reposted by Ursula Hofer
💬 Viewpoint: Mass abstract submissions in #MedEd have led to inflated metrics, less meaningful research, and misaligned incentives for trainees and institutions.
ja.ma/3MYsmvO
ja.ma/3MYsmvO
January 1, 2026 at 4:00 PM
💬 Viewpoint: Mass abstract submissions in #MedEd have led to inflated metrics, less meaningful research, and misaligned incentives for trainees and institutions.
ja.ma/3MYsmvO
ja.ma/3MYsmvO
Good morning and happy 2026 🔆
January 1, 2026 at 8:20 AM
Good morning and happy 2026 🔆
Reposted by Ursula Hofer
The @natureportfolio.nature.com published a really good spotlight on #influenza two weeks ago. I have not read all the articles yet (but I will). The ones I have read are great, learned a lot. Highly recommend checking them out. #IDSky
www.nature.com/collections/...
www.nature.com/collections/...
Influenza
Every year, there are about one billion cases of influenza globally, causing hundreds of thousands of deaths.
www.nature.com
December 31, 2025 at 2:37 PM
The @natureportfolio.nature.com published a really good spotlight on #influenza two weeks ago. I have not read all the articles yet (but I will). The ones I have read are great, learned a lot. Highly recommend checking them out. #IDSky
www.nature.com/collections/...
www.nature.com/collections/...
Reposted by Ursula Hofer
🎖️📄Top infectious disease journal articles from 2025 is out! May be good for a quick review to see if you missed anything or if you need to pick a journal club article. #pharmacist #infectiousdiseases #pharmacyschool #FYP #IDstewardship @absteward.bsky.social
www.idstewardship.com/year-in-revi...
www.idstewardship.com/year-in-revi...
December 29, 2025 at 5:25 PM
🎖️📄Top infectious disease journal articles from 2025 is out! May be good for a quick review to see if you missed anything or if you need to pick a journal club article. #pharmacist #infectiousdiseases #pharmacyschool #FYP #IDstewardship @absteward.bsky.social
www.idstewardship.com/year-in-revi...
www.idstewardship.com/year-in-revi...
My copy is at my parents but my academic (sorta) origin would be this. Apt in so many ways. Also love On Writing by Stephen King.
December 27, 2025 at 3:19 PM
My copy is at my parents but my academic (sorta) origin would be this. Apt in so many ways. Also love On Writing by Stephen King.
Went to see Wayne Thiebault at the Courtauld. Amazing!
December 27, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Went to see Wayne Thiebault at the Courtauld. Amazing!
Lovely to see!
I used to live just down the road from Altadena and the exuberance of American Christmas and Halloween decorations was a delight for this tempered European.
[Also loved the Mexican takeaway where they just spoke Spanish and made the best carne asada.]
I used to live just down the road from Altadena and the exuberance of American Christmas and Halloween decorations was a delight for this tempered European.
[Also loved the Mexican takeaway where they just spoke Spanish and made the best carne asada.]
As hurricane-force winds showered fire embers down on Altadena in January, it seemed almost impossible that much would survive. But while some of the towering deodar cedars lining Santa Rosa Avenue were singed by fire and damaged by wind, they survived. www.nytimes.com/card/2025/12...
December 26, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Lovely to see!
I used to live just down the road from Altadena and the exuberance of American Christmas and Halloween decorations was a delight for this tempered European.
[Also loved the Mexican takeaway where they just spoke Spanish and made the best carne asada.]
I used to live just down the road from Altadena and the exuberance of American Christmas and Halloween decorations was a delight for this tempered European.
[Also loved the Mexican takeaway where they just spoke Spanish and made the best carne asada.]
Love seeing all the books people got for Christmas! My wishlist is burgeoning...
December 26, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Love seeing all the books people got for Christmas! My wishlist is burgeoning...
Novocaine is a Christmas movie.
December 24, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Novocaine is a Christmas movie.
Reposted by Ursula Hofer
The "pharma shill" charge persists not because it's true but because it's useful. It discredits doctors while shielding those who actually profit from vaccine doubt. I examined the economics here: open.substack.com/pub/jakescot...
The Pharma Shill Paradox: Who Actually Profits from Vaccine Mistrust
A physician examines the financial anatomy of an insult
open.substack.com
December 23, 2025 at 4:06 PM
The "pharma shill" charge persists not because it's true but because it's useful. It discredits doctors while shielding those who actually profit from vaccine doubt. I examined the economics here: open.substack.com/pub/jakescot...
Wrapping Christmas presents and I'm giddy -- my family is a bunch of weirdos (love y'all!) and this year, I think I really nailed their presents, if I can say so myself.
December 23, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Wrapping Christmas presents and I'm giddy -- my family is a bunch of weirdos (love y'all!) and this year, I think I really nailed their presents, if I can say so myself.
Reposted by Ursula Hofer
Five real global health wins in 2025
1.HPV vaccination scaled faster than expected;
2. measles/rubella eliminated in several countries;
3. long-acting HIV PrEP (lenacapavir) approved;
4. progress on TB vaccines/diagnostics;
5. A promising new antimalarial.
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
1.HPV vaccination scaled faster than expected;
2. measles/rubella eliminated in several countries;
3. long-acting HIV PrEP (lenacapavir) approved;
4. progress on TB vaccines/diagnostics;
5. A promising new antimalarial.
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
Five big global health wins in 2025 that will save millions of lives
From HIV to TB, scientists and doctors made breakthroughs in treatment and prevention of some of the world’s deadliest diseases
www.theguardian.com
December 23, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Five real global health wins in 2025
1.HPV vaccination scaled faster than expected;
2. measles/rubella eliminated in several countries;
3. long-acting HIV PrEP (lenacapavir) approved;
4. progress on TB vaccines/diagnostics;
5. A promising new antimalarial.
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
1.HPV vaccination scaled faster than expected;
2. measles/rubella eliminated in several countries;
3. long-acting HIV PrEP (lenacapavir) approved;
4. progress on TB vaccines/diagnostics;
5. A promising new antimalarial.
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
Reposted by Ursula Hofer
🧵 Essential ID Papers for 2025: A Clinician’s Guide
Each year brings a flood of amazing ID literature.
Here are candidates for some of the most important ID papers of 2025, spanning guidelines, trials, antimicrobials, and vaccines.
👇
Each year brings a flood of amazing ID literature.
Here are candidates for some of the most important ID papers of 2025, spanning guidelines, trials, antimicrobials, and vaccines.
👇
December 22, 2025 at 3:22 PM
🧵 Essential ID Papers for 2025: A Clinician’s Guide
Each year brings a flood of amazing ID literature.
Here are candidates for some of the most important ID papers of 2025, spanning guidelines, trials, antimicrobials, and vaccines.
👇
Each year brings a flood of amazing ID literature.
Here are candidates for some of the most important ID papers of 2025, spanning guidelines, trials, antimicrobials, and vaccines.
👇
I found the last part with Julia Vogel Moore's perspective as a person with long Covid very meaningful and moving. Thanks to both speakers for coming on our podcast.
New Podcast
Apple - podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/j...
Spotify - open.spotify.com/episode/5EjT...
Buzzsprout - www.buzzsprout.com/admin/174031...
Apple - podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/j...
Spotify - open.spotify.com/episode/5EjT...
Buzzsprout - www.buzzsprout.com/admin/174031...
Julia Moore Vogel and Danilo Buonsenso on long COVID
Podcast Episode · The Lancet Infectious Diseases in conversation with · 12/19/2025 · 28m
podcasts.apple.com
December 22, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I found the last part with Julia Vogel Moore's perspective as a person with long Covid very meaningful and moving. Thanks to both speakers for coming on our podcast.
Reposted by Ursula Hofer
Interesting write-up of a new Science paper.
Authors that use LLMs produce up to 40% more preprints, but are less likely to be published.
Take numbers with a grain of salt; still...
Authors that use LLMs produce up to 40% more preprints, but are less likely to be published.
Take numbers with a grain of salt; still...
LLMs’ impact on science: Booming publications, stagnating quality
Once researchers turn to LLMs, paper counts go up, quality does not.
arstechnica.com
December 19, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Interesting write-up of a new Science paper.
Authors that use LLMs produce up to 40% more preprints, but are less likely to be published.
Take numbers with a grain of salt; still...
Authors that use LLMs produce up to 40% more preprints, but are less likely to be published.
Take numbers with a grain of salt; still...
Reposted by Ursula Hofer
I was interviewed for @theguardian.com by the wonderful @melodyschreiber.com, one of the finest health reporters in the world, about what I called a “neocolonialist” study planned by Danish researchers in Guinea-Bissau, funded by RFK Jr. So many red flags 🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
US plan for $1.6m hepatitis B vaccine study in Africa called ‘highly unethical’
Experts decry ‘neocolonialist’ Guinea-Bissau study after Trump administration changed advice for US babies
www.theguardian.com
December 19, 2025 at 5:18 PM
I was interviewed for @theguardian.com by the wonderful @melodyschreiber.com, one of the finest health reporters in the world, about what I called a “neocolonialist” study planned by Danish researchers in Guinea-Bissau, funded by RFK Jr. So many red flags 🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Reposted by Ursula Hofer
It's never truly Xmas till the @alphaville.ft.com Person of Interest list arrives
www.ft.com/content/6d1e...
www.ft.com/content/6d1e...
Person of Interest 2025: the longlist
A 12th annual celebration of cancellation
www.ft.com
December 19, 2025 at 3:06 PM
It's never truly Xmas till the @alphaville.ft.com Person of Interest list arrives
www.ft.com/content/6d1e...
www.ft.com/content/6d1e...
Just put my OoO on, 2 full weeks off, yay! What a year...
a cat is sitting in front of a christmas tree with the words viralhog written below it
Alt: Gif of a tabby cat playing with a red bauble on a twinkly Christmas tree
media.tenor.com
December 19, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Just put my OoO on, 2 full weeks off, yay! What a year...