Erin Reidy
@papertopolicy.bsky.social
Former healthcare policy wonk and CDC statistician, married to an academic researcher, literally alive because of NIH
Pinned
Erin Reidy
@papertopolicy.bsky.social
· Feb 22
I'm a former policy wonk at a patient advocacy group and former statistician at the CDC. From listening to the conversations between my academic friends, it is clear you are saying things that policymakers and advocates need to hear and I'm hoping to help translate between the two!
Reposted by Erin Reidy
I've seen folks talk about how "in four years" they'll be able to get back to their planned projects and I really don't think that's going to work out. People & projects losing funding now will not be able to hit pause and come back once funding is restored. Hard-won progress & capacity will be lost
I worry that not enough of a big deal is being made about how long-term the devastation of these budget cuts to our scientific and health agencies will be, beyond the absolute ruin they will cause in the acute period.
June 3, 2025 at 8:51 PM
I've seen folks talk about how "in four years" they'll be able to get back to their planned projects and I really don't think that's going to work out. People & projects losing funding now will not be able to hit pause and come back once funding is restored. Hard-won progress & capacity will be lost
Reposted by Erin Reidy
Meanwhile NIH reviewer training admonishes us that we may never, ever feed our assigned grants to AI. While in fact our grants all go into training a black box AI on our intellectual property…
DOGE is now reviewing every NIH grant that goes out, I reported last week.
That review is AI-driven and is screening for DEI, trans health, China, vaccine hesitancy, and the institutions to whom Trump has blocked funding, @hannahnatanson.bsky.social reports.
Gift link: wapo.st/3HhnPSt
That review is AI-driven and is screening for DEI, trans health, China, vaccine hesitancy, and the institutions to whom Trump has blocked funding, @hannahnatanson.bsky.social reports.
Gift link: wapo.st/3HhnPSt
June 2, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Meanwhile NIH reviewer training admonishes us that we may never, ever feed our assigned grants to AI. While in fact our grants all go into training a black box AI on our intellectual property…
Reposted by Erin Reidy
The president's recent budget proposal calls for a 37% cut to #CancerResearch funding.
If this proposal becomes law, it will have life-threatening consequences. That's why we're fighting back.
Send a message to your members of Congress now urging them to reject these outrageous proposed cuts.
If this proposal becomes law, it will have life-threatening consequences. That's why we're fighting back.
Send a message to your members of Congress now urging them to reject these outrageous proposed cuts.
Congress: Cancer Research Funding Cuts Have Consequences
ACS CAN is the leading cancer advocacy organization that is working every day to make cancer issues a national priority.
act.fightcancer.org
June 2, 2025 at 4:46 PM
The president's recent budget proposal calls for a 37% cut to #CancerResearch funding.
If this proposal becomes law, it will have life-threatening consequences. That's why we're fighting back.
Send a message to your members of Congress now urging them to reject these outrageous proposed cuts.
If this proposal becomes law, it will have life-threatening consequences. That's why we're fighting back.
Send a message to your members of Congress now urging them to reject these outrageous proposed cuts.
Reposted by Erin Reidy
The 80-year recipe stoking America’s Prosperity:
1) Free-market capital investments in brilliant ideas…
2) enabled by Engineering Innovations…
3) based on Science Research in Universities…
4) funded by Grants from the US Government.
It’s time more people understood this.
1) Free-market capital investments in brilliant ideas…
2) enabled by Engineering Innovations…
3) based on Science Research in Universities…
4) funded by Grants from the US Government.
It’s time more people understood this.
May 17, 2025 at 1:36 PM
The 80-year recipe stoking America’s Prosperity:
1) Free-market capital investments in brilliant ideas…
2) enabled by Engineering Innovations…
3) based on Science Research in Universities…
4) funded by Grants from the US Government.
It’s time more people understood this.
1) Free-market capital investments in brilliant ideas…
2) enabled by Engineering Innovations…
3) based on Science Research in Universities…
4) funded by Grants from the US Government.
It’s time more people understood this.
"When the people in the world of biomedical research, let’s cut the technical language, disease cure research make sustained contact with the people in each of these dozen or so disease communities and help them understand what’s happening, that’s the point when I think everything will change."
A Path Forward to Save American Bio-Medical Research talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/a-pat...
A Path Forward to Save American Bio-Medical Research
Over the past four months I’ve spoken to dozens of biomedical researchers...
talkingpointsmemo.com
May 16, 2025 at 6:51 PM
"When the people in the world of biomedical research, let’s cut the technical language, disease cure research make sustained contact with the people in each of these dozen or so disease communities and help them understand what’s happening, that’s the point when I think everything will change."
Reposted by Erin Reidy
A Path Forward to Save American Bio-Medical Research talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/a-pat...
A Path Forward to Save American Bio-Medical Research
Over the past four months I’ve spoken to dozens of biomedical researchers...
talkingpointsmemo.com
May 16, 2025 at 5:32 PM
A Path Forward to Save American Bio-Medical Research talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/a-pat...
Reposted by Erin Reidy
Cassidy: Why did you cut research on ALS and alzheimers.
RFKJ: The Chinese aren't spending a lot of money on DEI. We have not fired any working scientists.
THIS IS A BALD-FACED LIE.
RFKJ: The Chinese aren't spending a lot of money on DEI. We have not fired any working scientists.
THIS IS A BALD-FACED LIE.
May 14, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Cassidy: Why did you cut research on ALS and alzheimers.
RFKJ: The Chinese aren't spending a lot of money on DEI. We have not fired any working scientists.
THIS IS A BALD-FACED LIE.
RFKJ: The Chinese aren't spending a lot of money on DEI. We have not fired any working scientists.
THIS IS A BALD-FACED LIE.
Reposted by Erin Reidy
"The universities can’t say the grants have been canceled because they in fact have not been canceled. And they’re scared to say they’re not being paid because they’re hoping the White House or the NIH will relent." talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/consp...
Conspiracy of Silence: How Trump is Covertly Strangling Billions in Disease Cure Research
The following is very important news about the Trump White House’s unfolding...
talkingpointsmemo.com
May 7, 2025 at 5:17 PM
"The universities can’t say the grants have been canceled because they in fact have not been canceled. And they’re scared to say they’re not being paid because they’re hoping the White House or the NIH will relent." talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/consp...
Reposted by Erin Reidy
🚨🚨🚨 Four NIH institute directors have been removed from their posts and some offered reassignments to the Indian Health Service, effective today.
These institutes include NIAID (Jeanne Marrazzo), NIMHD (Eliseo Pérez-Stable), NICHD (Diana Bianchi), and NINR (Shannon Zenk).
These institutes include NIAID (Jeanne Marrazzo), NIMHD (Eliseo Pérez-Stable), NICHD (Diana Bianchi), and NINR (Shannon Zenk).
‘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 5:39 PM
🚨🚨🚨 Four NIH institute directors have been removed from their posts and some offered reassignments to the Indian Health Service, effective today.
These institutes include NIAID (Jeanne Marrazzo), NIMHD (Eliseo Pérez-Stable), NICHD (Diana Bianchi), and NINR (Shannon Zenk).
These institutes include NIAID (Jeanne Marrazzo), NIMHD (Eliseo Pérez-Stable), NICHD (Diana Bianchi), and NINR (Shannon Zenk).
Reposted by Erin Reidy
ICYMI (especially if you work in Democratic politics):
Cutting cancer research is one of the things Americans are most worried about.
And one of the things they’ve heard the least about. According to polls from @navigatorsurvey.bsky.social:
1/
Cutting cancer research is one of the things Americans are most worried about.
And one of the things they’ve heard the least about. According to polls from @navigatorsurvey.bsky.social:
1/
March 23, 2025 at 6:03 PM
ICYMI (especially if you work in Democratic politics):
Cutting cancer research is one of the things Americans are most worried about.
And one of the things they’ve heard the least about. According to polls from @navigatorsurvey.bsky.social:
1/
Cutting cancer research is one of the things Americans are most worried about.
And one of the things they’ve heard the least about. According to polls from @navigatorsurvey.bsky.social:
1/
Reposted by Erin Reidy
Again, today would be an excellent day for Ivy League, Big Ten, & all the other chancellors & university presidents to start speaking loudly & collectively against the all-out existential crisis that this assault on US higher ed represents. The silence is deafening.
bsky.app/profile/mcop...
bsky.app/profile/mcop...
They are coming for every university, if you think you’re safe because it hasn’t been yours yet I don’t know what to tell you. Join AAUP, refuse to comply, organize your colleagues
Trump administration freezes $175 million in federal funding to Penn
According to a White House tweet, Wednesday's decision is a result of Penn's
www.thedp.com
March 19, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Again, today would be an excellent day for Ivy League, Big Ten, & all the other chancellors & university presidents to start speaking loudly & collectively against the all-out existential crisis that this assault on US higher ed represents. The silence is deafening.
bsky.app/profile/mcop...
bsky.app/profile/mcop...
Reposted by Erin Reidy
If there is one thing scientists need to know right now it’s this.
Every effort you make now has to be directed at reaching the average normal person. That means reaching off Bluesky.
Hold local events, write local papers, get on local TV. Go to any space average people get info.
Every effort you make now has to be directed at reaching the average normal person. That means reaching off Bluesky.
Hold local events, write local papers, get on local TV. Go to any space average people get info.
need you to constantly remind yourself that the average normal person has no idea that any of the stuff we are rightly getting upset about is going on. they dont know. and we need to do everything we individually can to make them know.
March 18, 2025 at 5:42 PM
If there is one thing scientists need to know right now it’s this.
Every effort you make now has to be directed at reaching the average normal person. That means reaching off Bluesky.
Hold local events, write local papers, get on local TV. Go to any space average people get info.
Every effort you make now has to be directed at reaching the average normal person. That means reaching off Bluesky.
Hold local events, write local papers, get on local TV. Go to any space average people get info.
Reposted by Erin Reidy
Everybody (me included) is getting bogged down on the details of events at NIH et al. Fatal mistake. The big picture is Musk/Trump are trying to shut down all gov-funded Medical/Disease research in the US. Have to understand that to have any hope of stopping it. talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/act-now
Act Now
I may do a longer, maybe several longer versions of this post....
talkingpointsmemo.com
March 6, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Everybody (me included) is getting bogged down on the details of events at NIH et al. Fatal mistake. The big picture is Musk/Trump are trying to shut down all gov-funded Medical/Disease research in the US. Have to understand that to have any hope of stopping it. talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/act-now
Reposted by Erin Reidy
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is a major NIH-supported hospital and research center in Seattle.
And NIH funds many essential clinical trials that cannot be supported by the private sector. This is devastating.
And NIH funds many essential clinical trials that cannot be supported by the private sector. This is devastating.
An oncology nurse told me yesterday that NIH supported (but not pharma supported) clinical trials have been paused at Fred Hutch 😢
March 4, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is a major NIH-supported hospital and research center in Seattle.
And NIH funds many essential clinical trials that cannot be supported by the private sector. This is devastating.
And NIH funds many essential clinical trials that cannot be supported by the private sector. This is devastating.
Reposted by Erin Reidy
This story is not just for us nerds. Find ways to connect with non-scientists.
DNA diagnostics, ancestry, etc.
DNA diagnostics, ancestry, etc.
March 3, 2025 at 7:53 AM
This story is not just for us nerds. Find ways to connect with non-scientists.
DNA diagnostics, ancestry, etc.
DNA diagnostics, ancestry, etc.
"PubMed is the backbone of biomedical research in the U.S....It's housed under the NIH and is essentially our national library for public health and medical research information.
#cansky #medsky #NIH #Resist
#cansky #medsky #NIH #Resist
PubMed has been down for at least 11 hours and we are EXTREMELY concerned. We hope it’s mere incompetence and not an official action. If any of our followers have media events today, please mention it.
Opinion | Will They Come for PubMed Next?
Here's what we lose if the administration takes away this invaluable resource
www.medpagetoday.com
March 2, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Agreed! So many loose connections that I talk to do NOT understand what is happening. Scientists--please share how these cuts, website deletions, contract cancellations, etc are hurting you!
#cansky #medsky #NIH #Resist
#cansky #medsky #NIH #Resist
Important:
Most people in America do not know that Musk is shredding the government, stopping cancer cures for a generation, killing people, ending consumer protections, and enriching himself at our expense.
Our job now is to get the word out to all Americans. Because they don’t support this.
Most people in America do not know that Musk is shredding the government, stopping cancer cures for a generation, killing people, ending consumer protections, and enriching himself at our expense.
Our job now is to get the word out to all Americans. Because they don’t support this.
I went to the tesla protest for a thing I'm working on and I talked to several onlookers - not protesters - and asked them what they knew about Elon and Doge and I'm telling you people don't know
March 2, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Reposted by Erin Reidy
Graduate programs ceasing admissions in the US due to funding being cut off is going to cause a really interesting predicament for private industry when companies want to hire trained researchers in 4-5 years.
March 1, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Graduate programs ceasing admissions in the US due to funding being cut off is going to cause a really interesting predicament for private industry when companies want to hire trained researchers in 4-5 years.
Reposted by Erin Reidy
Yes, the NIH is *still* violating a court order and freezing funds for new and competitive awards.
But I guess the law is more guidelines than rules these days.
But I guess the law is more guidelines than rules these days.
Extending my grant update this morning. Here are data limited to new and competitive renewal applications.
The Pause is dead, Long live the Pause...
The Pause is dead, Long live the Pause...
March 1, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Yes, the NIH is *still* violating a court order and freezing funds for new and competitive awards.
But I guess the law is more guidelines than rules these days.
But I guess the law is more guidelines than rules these days.
Reposted by Erin Reidy
talking with reporters about the current chaos at the NIH, it's super clear how much of the convo is about HOW the NIH and federal funding of biomedical research works. Super grateful to the education I've received on twitter and from blogs, especially @drugmonkey.bsky.social's and physioproffe's
February 28, 2025 at 8:07 PM
talking with reporters about the current chaos at the NIH, it's super clear how much of the convo is about HOW the NIH and federal funding of biomedical research works. Super grateful to the education I've received on twitter and from blogs, especially @drugmonkey.bsky.social's and physioproffe's
👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻This. And is why it's so important for scientists to share their story with neighbors, parents in the school pick up line, etc
#cansky #medsky #academicsky #NIH #Resist
#cansky #medsky #academicsky #NIH #Resist
I don’t think a lot of people outside science understand the symbiotic relationship we have between public, private, and educational sectors. We all lean on each other for help, support, and R&D. In most cases, we aren’t competing so much as all rowing different boats in the same direction.
February 28, 2025 at 7:14 PM
👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻This. And is why it's so important for scientists to share their story with neighbors, parents in the school pick up line, etc
#cansky #medsky #academicsky #NIH #Resist
#cansky #medsky #academicsky #NIH #Resist
Reposted by Erin Reidy
If you’re a Dem elected and you’re not mentioning the massive cuts to cancer cure and social security funding in every public appearance you’re just not doing your job.
February 28, 2025 at 4:56 PM
If you’re a Dem elected and you’re not mentioning the massive cuts to cancer cure and social security funding in every public appearance you’re just not doing your job.
Reposted by Erin Reidy
Voters are freaked when they hear about Trump and Musk shutting down cancer research in the US. Even 71% of indy voters.
February 28, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Voters are freaked when they hear about Trump and Musk shutting down cancer research in the US. Even 71% of indy voters.
Reposted by Erin Reidy
Of the 4000 researchers at NIH, only 20% are tenured. They’re going to fire all the rest as their contracts come up for renewal, absolutely decimating research at the NIH. This is catastrophic, not just for Americans, but for the whole world.
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
NIH ban on renewing senior scientists adds to assaults on its in-house research
Policy follows firings of tenure-track scientists and suspension of training programs
www.science.org
February 28, 2025 at 6:19 AM
Of the 4000 researchers at NIH, only 20% are tenured. They’re going to fire all the rest as their contracts come up for renewal, absolutely decimating research at the NIH. This is catastrophic, not just for Americans, but for the whole world.
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Erin Reidy
So true. My mother is being treated for non-hereditary breast cancer. She's taking estrogen blockers & progesterone blockers, the latter of which is potently anti-metastatic.
Kamala Harris' mother became a citizen on a visa which involved research IDing & describing mammary hormone receptor cells.
Kamala Harris' mother became a citizen on a visa which involved research IDing & describing mammary hormone receptor cells.
February 27, 2025 at 11:27 PM
So true. My mother is being treated for non-hereditary breast cancer. She's taking estrogen blockers & progesterone blockers, the latter of which is potently anti-metastatic.
Kamala Harris' mother became a citizen on a visa which involved research IDing & describing mammary hormone receptor cells.
Kamala Harris' mother became a citizen on a visa which involved research IDing & describing mammary hormone receptor cells.