Dr Alexis B Webb
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lexbwebb.bsky.social
Dr Alexis B Webb
@lexbwebb.bsky.social
620 followers 1.4K following 36 posts
American in Scotland. Schnauzer mum. Neuroscience PhD delivering the Big Data for Complex Disease programme at Health Data Research UK. Talks science, politics, music, food.
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lexbwebb.bsky.social
Dr Alexis B Webb @lexbwebb.bsky.social · Oct 18
👋🏻 Hello to everyone who’s moved over from the other place in the past few days. I’m a research professional with programme management experience in neuroscience, early cancer detection, and large scale health data.

I also like music and food and dogs and progressive politics.
lexbwebb.bsky.social
My Watson memory: I was interviewing for a postdoc at the LMB in the late 00s, arriving in Cambridge from the US to find that JW was also giving a talk that day.

The other students and postdocs had an over/under of 5 on how many racist or sexist comments might be littered in his talk. The overs won
jennyrohn.bsky.social Prof Jenny Rohn @jennyrohn.bsky.social · 6d
My Watson memory: wine & cheese party on his lawn at Cold Spring Harbor during the Retrovirus meeting, early ‘90s. He zeroed in solely on groups of young women (eventually the one I was standing in), saying inappropriate things about our summer attire. No filter whatsoever. Deeply uncomfortable.
November 9, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Reposted by Dr Alexis B Webb
ox.ac.uk
NEW: Oxford-led researchers have delivered the most comprehensive analysis yet of cancer diagnosis in patients with vague symptoms (like fatigue or weight loss) - tackling one of primary care’s biggest challenges.

Find out more ⬇️
New study evaluates effectiveness of cancer diagnosis pathway for
A major UK study, led by researchers at the University of Oxford’s Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, the National Institute for
www.ox.ac.uk
September 11, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Reposted by Dr Alexis B Webb
hirosh7.bsky.social
The paper:

A survey of over 800 scientists, educators, and communicators reveals a clear shift: for networking, public engagement, and staying informed, they now find Bluesky more effective than X—marking a significant platform change for the science community.
Scientists no Longer Find Twitter Professionally Useful, and have Switched to Bluesky
Synopsis. Social media has become widely used by the scientific community for a variety of professional uses, including networking and public outreach. For
academic.oup.com
August 30, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Reposted by Dr Alexis B Webb
rygraham.bsky.social
The pro-pediatric brain cancer administration.
amockingbird.bsky.social Mockingbird, MPH, CHES @amockingbird.bsky.social · Aug 29
Four million dollars. They’re cutting a program to test treatments for children with brain cancer to save four million dollars a year.
Pediatric Brain Cancer Trial Group to Be Phased Out
www.nytimes.com
August 29, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Reposted by Dr Alexis B Webb
whysharksmatter.bsky.social
Here is a press release/ summary blog post about our new paper.

Key conclusion: For every single professional use that scientists used to use Twitter for, Twitter is much worse now than it used to be, and Bluesky is better that Twitter currently is.

www.southernfriedscience.com/twitter-suck...
“Twitter sucks now and all the cool kids are moving to Bluesky:” Our new survey shows that scientists no longer find Twitter professionally useful or pleasant
My colleague Dr. Julia Wester and I have a new paper out in the journal Integrative and Comparative Biology reporting on the results of a survey distributed to over 800 scientists, science educator…
www.southernfriedscience.com
August 19, 2025 at 2:34 PM
lexbwebb.bsky.social
Slightly diminish a band: Minivan Halen
mthrjo.bsky.social Jo Kershaw @mthrjo.bsky.social · Aug 13
Slightly Diminish a Band: Thrupenny Bit None The Richer
canadianerrant.bsky.social Dr Samuel McLean @canadianerrant.bsky.social · Aug 13
Slightly Diminish a Band: Fourpenceback
August 13, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Reposted by Dr Alexis B Webb
jwoodgett.bsky.social
Good grief, the US National Cancer Institute projects it will fund only one in 25 RO1 grant applications in 2026. This is massively defunding cancer research. Despicable vandalism. www.cancer.gov/grants-train...
National Cancer Institute projection of a 4% pay line in FY2026.
July 24, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Reposted by Dr Alexis B Webb
atrupar.com
Durbin to Bhattacharya: "I can't understand it. I disagree w/ this admin on so many things. But this is the one that really gets to me personally. To think this nation would walk away from medical research. For God's sake...cancer, your budget requests a 38% cut to the National Cancer Institute"
June 10, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Reposted by Dr Alexis B Webb
chanda.blacksky.app
Just gonna re-up these slides about how the Nazis destroyed German physics 🧪
chanda.blacksky.app Chanda Prescod-Weinstein 🌌 @chanda.blacksky.app · Jan 31
In light of this deeply illegal activity at NSF and the ongoing attack on American science, I'm posting the slides from my 2017 talk at the American Physical Society about the Nazi take over of German physics/why German is no longer science's lingua franca 🧪

🧵 1/26
drive.google.com/file/d/1_MCm...
May 31, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Reposted by Dr Alexis B Webb
petergleick.bsky.social
There are 2 previous historical cases of countries destroying their science and universities, crippling them for decades: Lysenkoism in the USSR and Nazi Germany. The Trump administration will be the 3rd.
It's not just budgets but research, institutions, expertise, and training the next generation.
Graphs showing 25 years of budgets for the National Institute of Health, NASA, and the NSF. In all cases, the proposed budget for next year is far, far below any year of the previous quarter century.
May 31, 2025 at 4:43 AM
Reposted by Dr Alexis B Webb
reichlinmelnick.bsky.social
Here's the letter Noem sent Harvard, as posted on X. Nothing alleges ANY specific violation of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. Nothing. She cites no law violated, no regulation broken, no policy ignored.

I don't care what you think of Harvard; this is clear weaponization of government.
Secretary Kristi Noem @Sec_Noem This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus. It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments. Harvard had plenty of opportunity to do the right thing. It refused. They have lost their Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification as a result of their failure to adhere to the law. Let this serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country. Harvard's Student and Exchange Visitor Program Decertification I am writing to inform you that effective immediately, Harvard University's Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification is revoked. As I explained to you in my April letter, it is a privilege to enroll foreign students, and it is also a privilege to employ aliens on campus. All universities must comply with Department of Homeland Security requirements, including reporting requirements under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program regulations, to maintain this privilege. As a result of your refusal to comply with multiple requests to provide the Department of Homeland Security pertinent information while perpetuating an unsafe campus environment that is hostile to Jewish students, promotes pro-Hamas sympathies, and employs racist "diversity, equity, and inclusion" policies, you have lost this privilege. The revocation of your Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification means that Harvard is prohibited from having any aliens on F- or J- nonimmigrant status for the 2025-2026 academic school year. This decertification also means that existing aliens on F- or J- nonimmigrant status must transfer to another university in order to maintain their nonimmigrant status. This action should not surprise you and is the unfortunate result of Harvard's failure to comply with simple reporting requirements. On April 16, 2025, I requested records pertaining to nonimmigrant students enrolled at Harvard University, including information regarding misconduct and other offenses that would render foreign students inadmissible or removable. On April 30, 2025, Harvard's counsel provided information that he represented as responsive to my request. It was not. As a courtesy that Harvard was not legally entitled to, the Acting DHS General Counsel responded on my behalf and afforded Harvard another opportunity to comply. Harvard again provided an insufficient response. Consequences must follow to send a clear signal to… If Harvard would like the opportunity of regaining Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification before the upcoming academic school year, you must provide all of the information requested below within 72 hours. Please be advised that providing materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent information may subject you to criminal prosecution under 18 U.S.C. § 1001. Other criminal and civil sanctions may also apply. I expect full and complete responses to the following requests: 1. Any and all records, whether official or informal, in the possession of Harvard University, including electronic records and audio or video footage, regarding illegal activity whether on or off campus, by a nonimmigrant student enrolled in Harvard University in the last five years. 2. Any and all records, whether official or informal, in the possession of Harvard University, including electronic records and audio or video footage, regarding dangerous or violent activity whether on or off campus, by a nonimmigrant student enrolled in Harvard University in the last five years. 3. Any and all records, whether official or informal, in the possession of Harvard University, including electronic records and audio or video footage, regarding threats to other students or university personnel whether on or off campus, by a nonimmigrant student enrolled in Harvard University in the last five years. 4. Any and all records, whether official or informal, in the possession of Harvard University, including electronic records and audio or video footage, regarding deprivation of rights of other classmates or university personnel whether on or off campus, by a nonimmigrant student enrolled in Harvard University in the last five years. 5. Any and all disciplinary records of all nonimmigrant students enrolled in Harvard University in the last five years. 6. Any and all audio or video footage, in the possession of Harvard University, of any protest activity involving a nonimmigrant student on a Harvard Univer…
May 22, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Reposted by Dr Alexis B Webb
reichlinmelnick.bsky.social
There is no doubt that Trump and Noem's actions here are that of an authoritarian; using the federal government to blow a hole in Harvard's budget and punish thousands of students who have done nothing wrong just because they don't like Harvard.

Our country is in crisis.
May 22, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Reposted by Dr Alexis B Webb
jamesbriscoe.bsky.social
New Faraday Fellowships for international applicants moving to the UK

Up to £4 million per researcher over 5-10 years

Fast-track option for mid-career researchers looking to relocate to the UK
royalsociety.org The Royal Society @royalsociety.org · May 19
Today we've announced the new Faraday Fellowship accelerated international route, which will grant up to £30 million in funding over the next two years to attract global talent and support the development of world-leading research groups in the UK: #RSGrants royalsociety.org/news/2025/05...
Royal Society announces £30m fund to attract global talent over next two years | Royal Society
International recruitment scheme comes amid announcement of Government principles for 10-year research funding
royalsociety.org
May 19, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Reposted by Dr Alexis B Webb
bmj.com
The US National Institutes of Health will no longer approve research grants that involve “subawards” to foreign researchers, potentially spelling an end to the type of international multicentre studies that have delivered breakthroughs in many diseases
www.bmj.com/content/389/...
Protests against cuts to NIH
May 7, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Reposted by Dr Alexis B Webb
bernietranders.bsky.social
You’re telling me that right wing voters that Labour was trying to appeal to voted for a right wing party anyway and left wing voters decided not to vote for Labour because they’re too right wing now? Who could have possibly predicted this.
May 2, 2025 at 7:07 AM
Reposted by Dr Alexis B Webb
buzzbaum.bsky.social
With a heavy heart I have decided not to attend a meeting in the US this June. I can’t act as if things are normal when science, universities, dissent & truth are all under threat. And I feel I can’t attend when there are scientists who are not able to travel to the US without fear of arrest.
April 11, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Reposted by Dr Alexis B Webb
apha.org
HHS Secretary RFK Jr. is a danger to the public’s health and should resign or be fired, says APHA. In just a few short weeks, his actions on vacccines, fluoride and other public health science have shown how wrong he is for the job. Read & share our statement: apha.org/news-and-med...
Secretary RFK Jr. is a danger to the public’s health and should resign or be fired, says APHA. Logo
April 9, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Reposted by Dr Alexis B Webb
dangaristo.bsky.social
The NSF's flagship fellowship program typically gives offers to 2,000+ young scientists. This year, in the face of looming budget cuts, that number was halved: only 1,000 received an offer. Our story on what that means for the science talent pipeline: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
NSF slashes prestigious PhD fellowship awards by half
US National Science Foundation announces lowest number of Graduate Research Fellowship Programme recipients in 15 years.
www.nature.com
April 8, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Reposted by Dr Alexis B Webb
resprofnews.bsky.social
UKRI’s budget will fall in 2025-26 compared with the previous year, the government has confirmed.

It will receive £8.8 billion for 2025-26—compared with the £8.9bn initially set out for the previous year, Dsit announces.

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
Ministers confirm UK Research and Innovation budget will fall - Research Professional News
Agency’s 2025-26 allocation drops by £300m compared to previous year’s spending, despite rising Dsit budget
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
April 4, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Reposted by Dr Alexis B Webb
ericboodman.bsky.social
Trump promised to “get the cure for cancer" among other things.

But in the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, there's “No money for kidney cancer. No money for pancreatic cancer. No money for lung cancer."

Must-read from @angusrohan.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2025/03/24/t...
Cancer research, long protected, feels ‘devastating’ effects under Trump
Cancer research has had bipartisan support. But Trump administration budget cuts and delays threaten to reverse progress of recent years, experts say.
www.statnews.com
April 2, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Reposted by Dr Alexis B Webb
jbendery.bsky.social
Were you one of the thousands of HHS/CDC/FDA scientists, public health experts, researchers who Trump just cut?

I am very interested in hearing from you. I want to know more about the good work you did and what is now lost.

jen.bendery@huffpost.com / jbendery@proton.me

On Signal: jbendery.41 🙏
April 2, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Reposted by Dr Alexis B Webb
bachynski.bsky.social
“This will go down as one of the darkest days in modern scientific history in my 50 years in the business,” says Michael Osterholm, an infectious-diseases epidemiologist at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. “These are going to be huge losses to the research community.”
‘One of the darkest days’: NIH purges agency leadership amid mass layoffs
In shock move, four institute directors at the US biomedical agency are removed from their posts.
www.nature.com
April 1, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Reposted by Dr Alexis B Webb
nhannahjones.bsky.social
What happened in Wisconsin is an example of what is most feared: That in a true democracy regular people have more power than a billionaire, that all the money in the world doesn’t change one person one vote.
April 2, 2025 at 10:47 AM