Kate Cooper
@katecooperoma.bsky.social
Biomedical informatics, consumer health informatics, science education🧬💻🧐🔥 she/her. opinions are my own, reskeets != endorsements.
Reposted by Kate Cooper
1/ When should you use a package vs. solving from scratch in bioinformatics?
I get asked this all the time. Here’s my approach: 👇
I get asked this all the time. Here’s my approach: 👇
November 25, 2025 at 2:15 PM
1/ When should you use a package vs. solving from scratch in bioinformatics?
I get asked this all the time. Here’s my approach: 👇
I get asked this all the time. Here’s my approach: 👇
Reposted by Kate Cooper
Scientific breakthroughs are rarely unique; someone else would’ve made them soon enough. But when prominent scientists cause harm, that harm isn’t inevitable; the world might simply have been better had the harm not been inflicted.
liorpachter.wordpress.com/2018/05/18/j...
liorpachter.wordpress.com/2018/05/18/j...
James Watson in his own words
“Some anti-Semitism is justified” “Whenever you interview fat people, you feel bad, because you know you’re not going to hire them” “Japan should be bombed for d…
liorpachter.wordpress.com
November 8, 2025 at 4:29 AM
Scientific breakthroughs are rarely unique; someone else would’ve made them soon enough. But when prominent scientists cause harm, that harm isn’t inevitable; the world might simply have been better had the harm not been inflicted.
liorpachter.wordpress.com/2018/05/18/j...
liorpachter.wordpress.com/2018/05/18/j...
Reposted by Kate Cooper
⏳ Apply by 8 p.m. ET!
Whether you’re a student on the East Coast, West Coast, or any state in between: Tech needs your perspective, and we want to recognize eligible 9th-12th graders who'll build and design the tech the world needs! 🖥️
👉🏼 Submit your application today: aspirations.org/AiCHSAward
Whether you’re a student on the East Coast, West Coast, or any state in between: Tech needs your perspective, and we want to recognize eligible 9th-12th graders who'll build and design the tech the world needs! 🖥️
👉🏼 Submit your application today: aspirations.org/AiCHSAward
NCWIT Aspirations in Computing High School Award
Technology too often has a culture of invisibility, otherness, self-doubt, and closed doors. Aspirations in Computing seeks to turn barriers into possibilities through exclusive awards, scholarships, ...
aspirations.org
October 28, 2025 at 4:13 PM
⏳ Apply by 8 p.m. ET!
Whether you’re a student on the East Coast, West Coast, or any state in between: Tech needs your perspective, and we want to recognize eligible 9th-12th graders who'll build and design the tech the world needs! 🖥️
👉🏼 Submit your application today: aspirations.org/AiCHSAward
Whether you’re a student on the East Coast, West Coast, or any state in between: Tech needs your perspective, and we want to recognize eligible 9th-12th graders who'll build and design the tech the world needs! 🖥️
👉🏼 Submit your application today: aspirations.org/AiCHSAward
Reposted by Kate Cooper
Preliminary results show that the current framework of "AI" makes ppl less likely to help or seek help from other humans, or to seek to soothe conflict, and that people actively prefer that framework to any others, literally serving to make them more dependent on it.
Sycophantic AI Decreases Prosocial Intentions and Promotes Dependence
Both the general public and academic communities have raised concerns about sycophancy, the phenomenon of artificial intelligence (AI) excessively agreeing with or flattering users. Yet, beyond isolat...
arxiv.org
October 5, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Preliminary results show that the current framework of "AI" makes ppl less likely to help or seek help from other humans, or to seek to soothe conflict, and that people actively prefer that framework to any others, literally serving to make them more dependent on it.
Reposted by Kate Cooper
With the AWS outage, now‘s as good a time as any to post this old strip.
October 20, 2025 at 10:18 AM
With the AWS outage, now‘s as good a time as any to post this old strip.
Reposted by Kate Cooper
Biology is much more complicated than most non-biologists can imagine. And AI is not going to change this anytime soon.
blog.genesmindsmachines.com/p/we-still-c...
blog.genesmindsmachines.com/p/we-still-c...
We still can’t predict much of anything in biology
Biology is hard. Yes, even for AI.
blog.genesmindsmachines.com
October 7, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Biology is much more complicated than most non-biologists can imagine. And AI is not going to change this anytime soon.
blog.genesmindsmachines.com/p/we-still-c...
blog.genesmindsmachines.com/p/we-still-c...
Reposted by Kate Cooper
🧪 In a key development, a House spending panel has moved to protect the NIH budget from proposed cuts. Yet, the bill also calls for a 37% cut to ARPA-H, a 19% cut to the CDC, and bans on certain pathogen and fetal tissue research. #Academicsky
House Republicans add to support for maintaining NIH budget in 2026
Both chambers of Congress have now rejected Trump’s proposed 40% cut
www.science.org
September 3, 2025 at 3:01 PM
🧪 In a key development, a House spending panel has moved to protect the NIH budget from proposed cuts. Yet, the bill also calls for a 37% cut to ARPA-H, a 19% cut to the CDC, and bans on certain pathogen and fetal tissue research. #Academicsky
Reposted by Kate Cooper
age 15: Computers are amazing! I'm going to do amazing things with computers!
age 45: explaining to the fourth person this week why Chat GPT is not a replacement for google or the library or friends
age 45: explaining to the fourth person this week why Chat GPT is not a replacement for google or the library or friends
August 21, 2025 at 10:38 PM
age 15: Computers are amazing! I'm going to do amazing things with computers!
age 45: explaining to the fourth person this week why Chat GPT is not a replacement for google or the library or friends
age 45: explaining to the fourth person this week why Chat GPT is not a replacement for google or the library or friends
Reposted by Kate Cooper
Every reputable expert I know considers mRNA vaccine technology to be one of the most revolutionary advances in medicine in our lifetimes. Its inventors won the Nobel Prize in 2023. Shutting it down now is pointless self-harm to humanity.
Release from HHS: HHS will wind down its development of the mRNA vaccine development activities under the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).
August 5, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Every reputable expert I know considers mRNA vaccine technology to be one of the most revolutionary advances in medicine in our lifetimes. Its inventors won the Nobel Prize in 2023. Shutting it down now is pointless self-harm to humanity.
Reposted by Kate Cooper
Today, the AAUP released a new report, "Artificial Intelligence & Academic Professions." The report calls for policies that prioritize economic security, faculty working & student learning conditions as AI tech accelerates.
www.aaup.org/news/new-rep...
🧵1/9
www.aaup.org/news/new-rep...
🧵1/9
New Report Calls for Faculty Control in AI Decisions
Today, the AAUP released a new report, Artificial Intelligence and the Academic Professions, sharing survey findings and calling for the establishment of policies in colleges and universities that pri...
www.aaup.org
July 22, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Today, the AAUP released a new report, "Artificial Intelligence & Academic Professions." The report calls for policies that prioritize economic security, faculty working & student learning conditions as AI tech accelerates.
www.aaup.org/news/new-rep...
🧵1/9
www.aaup.org/news/new-rep...
🧵1/9
Reposted by Kate Cooper
Reposted by Kate Cooper
New data on why ultra-processed food (UPF) intake should be limited. Adding protein to UPF didn't reduce overeating in a randomized, crossover study
www.nature.com/articles/s42... @naturemetabolism.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s42... @naturemetabolism.bsky.social
Short-term effects of high-protein, lower-carbohydrate ultra-processed foods on human energy balance - Nature Metabolism
This single-blind crossover trial shows that the short-term consumption of protein-enriched ultra-processed foods does not prevent overeating but favourably affects energy partitioning.
www.nature.com
March 13, 2025 at 1:59 PM
New data on why ultra-processed food (UPF) intake should be limited. Adding protein to UPF didn't reduce overeating in a randomized, crossover study
www.nature.com/articles/s42... @naturemetabolism.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s42... @naturemetabolism.bsky.social
Reposted by Kate Cooper
Just so you know, up to 60,000 children go blind from measles every year
March 4, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Just so you know, up to 60,000 children go blind from measles every year
Reposted by Kate Cooper
Reposted by Kate Cooper
US taxpayers funded these data. They belong to the public. The government is not empowered to arbitrarily decide whether the public has a right to it.
February 11, 2025 at 12:04 PM
US taxpayers funded these data. They belong to the public. The government is not empowered to arbitrarily decide whether the public has a right to it.
Reposted by Kate Cooper
The Senate HELP Committee has jurisdiction over NIH.
GOP members of the committee represent AK, AL, IN, FL, KS, KY, LA, ME, MO, OH, and SC.
Research universities and hospitals in those states need to be extra loud.
GOP members of the committee represent AK, AL, IN, FL, KS, KY, LA, ME, MO, OH, and SC.
Research universities and hospitals in those states need to be extra loud.
February 8, 2025 at 1:24 AM
The Senate HELP Committee has jurisdiction over NIH.
GOP members of the committee represent AK, AL, IN, FL, KS, KY, LA, ME, MO, OH, and SC.
Research universities and hospitals in those states need to be extra loud.
GOP members of the committee represent AK, AL, IN, FL, KS, KY, LA, ME, MO, OH, and SC.
Research universities and hospitals in those states need to be extra loud.
Reposted by Kate Cooper
1. Today the NIH director issued a new directive slashing overhead rates to 15%.
I want to provide some context on what that means and why it matters.
grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
I want to provide some context on what that means and why it matters.
grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
NOT-OD-25-068: Supplemental Guidance to the 2024 NIH Grants Policy Statement: Indirect Cost Rates
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts: Supplemental Guidance to the 2024 NIH Grants Policy Statement: Indirect Cost Rates NOT-OD-25-068. OD
grants.nih.gov
February 8, 2025 at 12:18 AM
1. Today the NIH director issued a new directive slashing overhead rates to 15%.
I want to provide some context on what that means and why it matters.
grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
I want to provide some context on what that means and why it matters.
grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
Reposted by Kate Cooper
🚨RED ALERT for 🧪:
The Trump NIH just gashed indirect costs. This is a direct attack on universities.
“Pursuant to this Supplemental Guidance, there will be a standard rate of 15% across all NIH grants for indirect costs.” 😮
Just a devastating Friday night news dump. #scicomm #academicaky
The Trump NIH just gashed indirect costs. This is a direct attack on universities.
“Pursuant to this Supplemental Guidance, there will be a standard rate of 15% across all NIH grants for indirect costs.” 😮
Just a devastating Friday night news dump. #scicomm #academicaky
February 7, 2025 at 11:40 PM
🚨RED ALERT for 🧪:
The Trump NIH just gashed indirect costs. This is a direct attack on universities.
“Pursuant to this Supplemental Guidance, there will be a standard rate of 15% across all NIH grants for indirect costs.” 😮
Just a devastating Friday night news dump. #scicomm #academicaky
The Trump NIH just gashed indirect costs. This is a direct attack on universities.
“Pursuant to this Supplemental Guidance, there will be a standard rate of 15% across all NIH grants for indirect costs.” 😮
Just a devastating Friday night news dump. #scicomm #academicaky
A ton of NNLM webinar cancellations in my inbox this morning. These were important and relevant topics about AI, data management, and ethics. I am deeply deeply concerned
February 6, 2025 at 4:09 PM
A ton of NNLM webinar cancellations in my inbox this morning. These were important and relevant topics about AI, data management, and ethics. I am deeply deeply concerned
Reposted by Kate Cooper
I just reached out to my senators about the NIH situation. If you need to find out how much impact NIH has in your state in terms of dollars in and their economic impact here's a link: www.unitedformedicalresearch.org/nih-in-your-...
NIH In Your State - United For Medical Research
Select a state on the map to see the impact of NIH funding across America.
www.unitedformedicalresearch.org
January 22, 2025 at 9:34 PM
I just reached out to my senators about the NIH situation. If you need to find out how much impact NIH has in your state in terms of dollars in and their economic impact here's a link: www.unitedformedicalresearch.org/nih-in-your-...
Reposted by Kate Cooper
All NIH study sections canceled indefinitely. This will halt science and devastate research budgets in universities.
January 22, 2025 at 8:46 PM
All NIH study sections canceled indefinitely. This will halt science and devastate research budgets in universities.
Reposted by Kate Cooper
New: Trump officials have paused all external communications at health agencies like CDC, FDA, NIH.
No health alerts and the famed MMWRs; no updates to key websites or social media posts.
And no indication how long the pause will last.
With @rachelroubein.bsky.social + Lena Sun.
No health alerts and the famed MMWRs; no updates to key websites or social media posts.
And no indication how long the pause will last.
With @rachelroubein.bsky.social + Lena Sun.
Trump officials pause health agencies’ communications, citing review
The agencies are charged with making decisions that touch the lives of every American and are the source of crucial information to health-care providers.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 22, 2025 at 12:30 AM
New: Trump officials have paused all external communications at health agencies like CDC, FDA, NIH.
No health alerts and the famed MMWRs; no updates to key websites or social media posts.
And no indication how long the pause will last.
With @rachelroubein.bsky.social + Lena Sun.
No health alerts and the famed MMWRs; no updates to key websites or social media posts.
And no indication how long the pause will last.
With @rachelroubein.bsky.social + Lena Sun.
Reposted by Kate Cooper
Reposted by Kate Cooper
UPDATED: Trump's confirmed picks to lead US health agencies:
HHS - Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
NIH - Jay Bhattacharya
CMS - Mehmet Oz
CDC - Dave Weldon
FDA - Marty Makary
Surgeon General - Janette Nesheiwat
All have spread disinformation on vaccines and public health measures.
HHS - Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
NIH - Jay Bhattacharya
CMS - Mehmet Oz
CDC - Dave Weldon
FDA - Marty Makary
Surgeon General - Janette Nesheiwat
All have spread disinformation on vaccines and public health measures.
November 23, 2024 at 3:12 AM
UPDATED: Trump's confirmed picks to lead US health agencies:
HHS - Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
NIH - Jay Bhattacharya
CMS - Mehmet Oz
CDC - Dave Weldon
FDA - Marty Makary
Surgeon General - Janette Nesheiwat
All have spread disinformation on vaccines and public health measures.
HHS - Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
NIH - Jay Bhattacharya
CMS - Mehmet Oz
CDC - Dave Weldon
FDA - Marty Makary
Surgeon General - Janette Nesheiwat
All have spread disinformation on vaccines and public health measures.
Reposted by Kate Cooper
New @statnews.bsky.social from me:
HHS' Office of Civil Rights hasn't audited HIPAA compliance since 2017.
These audits, required by the HITECH Act, are supposed to assess things like cybersecurity readiness, but even when it conducted audits, OCR only looked at 8 of 180 #HIPAA rules 😳
More: 🩺🖥️
HHS' Office of Civil Rights hasn't audited HIPAA compliance since 2017.
These audits, required by the HITECH Act, are supposed to assess things like cybersecurity readiness, but even when it conducted audits, OCR only looked at 8 of 180 #HIPAA rules 😳
More: 🩺🖥️
Government watchdog calls out HHS for not auditing health care's privacy compliance since 2017
The Office for Civil Rights is not checking if health care providers who handle Americans’ sensitive data comply with health privacy laws.
www.statnews.com
November 26, 2024 at 1:46 PM
New @statnews.bsky.social from me:
HHS' Office of Civil Rights hasn't audited HIPAA compliance since 2017.
These audits, required by the HITECH Act, are supposed to assess things like cybersecurity readiness, but even when it conducted audits, OCR only looked at 8 of 180 #HIPAA rules 😳
More: 🩺🖥️
HHS' Office of Civil Rights hasn't audited HIPAA compliance since 2017.
These audits, required by the HITECH Act, are supposed to assess things like cybersecurity readiness, but even when it conducted audits, OCR only looked at 8 of 180 #HIPAA rules 😳
More: 🩺🖥️