Helen Ward
@profhelenward.bsky.social
Prof Public Health Imperial College. she/her. Social, genetic & environmental factors in health. Research & advocacy in long COVID, STI/HIV, inequalities. Patient Experience Research Centre
Pinned
Helen Ward
@profhelenward.bsky.social
· Nov 18
Graphic stories of the impact of Long COVID on people's lives, produced from words of many people and illustrated by Monique Jackson as part of the REACT study.
www.imperial.ac.uk/medicine/res...
www.imperial.ac.uk/medicine/res...
Congratulations Jeanne!
IDSA has selected Jeanne Marrazzo, MD, MPH, FIDSA, as its next chief executive officer, effective Jan. 12, 2026.
Learn more: bit.ly/4pHt2nF
Learn more: bit.ly/4pHt2nF
December 19, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Congratulations Jeanne!
Jeanne has long been one of my heroes. Now even more!
INBOX: Former NIAID director Jeanne Marrazzo is suing the Trump administration.
She alleges the NIH violated her constitutional rights and illegally fired her after she blew the whistle on actions that jeopardized public health and violated federal law.
She alleges the NIH violated her constitutional rights and illegally fired her after she blew the whistle on actions that jeopardized public health and violated federal law.
December 16, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Jeanne has long been one of my heroes. Now even more!
Reposted by Helen Ward
Way to go, Dr. Marrazzo!
Push back and hold these folks accountable for their actions!
Push back and hold these folks accountable for their actions!
December 16, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Way to go, Dr. Marrazzo!
Push back and hold these folks accountable for their actions!
Push back and hold these folks accountable for their actions!
Interesting - I've recently received several draft articles from my research group for my comment/edits. I'm assuming they were all on their "must do by Xmas" list... Now i've got to see if I can turn them all round by then as well....!
December 12, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Interesting - I've recently received several draft articles from my research group for my comment/edits. I'm assuming they were all on their "must do by Xmas" list... Now i've got to see if I can turn them all round by then as well....!
Reposted by Helen Ward
Nature: 'Long-COVID research just got a big funding boost: will it find new treatments?'
'The German government has committed half a billion euros for research on long COVID and other post-infection syndromes.'
By Michael Marshall
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
'The German government has committed half a billion euros for research on long COVID and other post-infection syndromes.'
By Michael Marshall
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Long-COVID research just got a big funding boost: will it find new treatments?
The German government has committed half a billion euros for research on long COVID and other post-infection syndromes.
www.nature.com
December 8, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Nature: 'Long-COVID research just got a big funding boost: will it find new treatments?'
'The German government has committed half a billion euros for research on long COVID and other post-infection syndromes.'
By Michael Marshall
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
'The German government has committed half a billion euros for research on long COVID and other post-infection syndromes.'
By Michael Marshall
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Helen Ward
Sec. Kennedy must appear before the HELP Committee to explain why his vaccine advisory committee, in strong disagreement with the medical & scientific community, voted to end a decades-long recommendation that newborns receive the hepatitis B vaccine.
This vaccine saves lives.
This vaccine saves lives.
Breaking News: A federal vaccine committee voted to end the decades-long recommendation that all newborns be immunized at birth against hepatitis B, a highly infectious virus that leads to chronic liver disease in most infected children.
An End to Hepatitis B Shots for All Newborns
A federal panel voted on Friday to recommend halting the at-birth shots for all infants, in a step toward Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s goal of upending the nation’s vaccine policy.
nyti.ms
December 5, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Sec. Kennedy must appear before the HELP Committee to explain why his vaccine advisory committee, in strong disagreement with the medical & scientific community, voted to end a decades-long recommendation that newborns receive the hepatitis B vaccine.
This vaccine saves lives.
This vaccine saves lives.
Reposted by Helen Ward
As the COVID Enquiry reports now, some of use made these points at the time
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
We scientists said lock down. But UK politicians refused to listen | Helen Ward
For 11 fateful days in March, the government ignored the best coronavirus advice, says public health professor Helen Ward
www.theguardian.com
November 20, 2025 at 7:09 PM
As the COVID Enquiry reports now, some of use made these points at the time
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
As the COVID Enquiry reports now, some of use made these points at the time
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
We scientists said lock down. But UK politicians refused to listen | Helen Ward
For 11 fateful days in March, the government ignored the best coronavirus advice, says public health professor Helen Ward
www.theguardian.com
November 20, 2025 at 7:09 PM
As the COVID Enquiry reports now, some of use made these points at the time
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
2 weeks to read this before meeting up with the author!! @matthewcobb.bsky.social
November 15, 2025 at 4:46 PM
2 weeks to read this before meeting up with the author!! @matthewcobb.bsky.social
Reposted by Helen Ward
Fresh call, from @rcn.org.uk and @bma.org.uk,
to recognise #LongCovid as occupational disease for #nurses
www.nursinginpractice.com/clinical/res...
to recognise #LongCovid as occupational disease for #nurses
www.nursinginpractice.com/clinical/res...
Fresh call to recognise long Covid as occupational disease for nurses
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and British Medical Association (BMA) have jointly criticised the government's inaction on long Covid
www.nursinginpractice.com
November 13, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Fresh call, from @rcn.org.uk and @bma.org.uk,
to recognise #LongCovid as occupational disease for #nurses
www.nursinginpractice.com/clinical/res...
to recognise #LongCovid as occupational disease for #nurses
www.nursinginpractice.com/clinical/res...
Reposted by Helen Ward
Excellent news.
🙏 Thank you to all who campaigned for the National Covid Memorial to be preserved.
🙏 Thank you to all who campaigned for the National Covid Memorial to be preserved.
The volunteers were at Parliament today to hear the government announce that our beautiful memorial is to be made permanent. It was an emotional day, as we have fought so long and hard to ensure that our beloved dead are not forgotten. We are grateful and happy. ❤️
November 13, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Excellent news.
🙏 Thank you to all who campaigned for the National Covid Memorial to be preserved.
🙏 Thank you to all who campaigned for the National Covid Memorial to be preserved.
This
Presenting our poster with recommendations in patient involvement at the 48th IHF World Hospital Congress in Geneva. The poster is about the unimedsuisse project with all university hospitals. We probably still have way to go.
November 11, 2025 at 11:28 AM
This
This is the statue that the king has apparently removed from Kew Gardens and public view
November 10, 2025 at 8:56 PM
This is the statue that the king has apparently removed from Kew Gardens and public view
Reposted by Helen Ward
OK, I have set up a Substack and posted an article there going into much more detail about Francis Crick and the poet Michael McClure. If the link between science and art is your thing, or you just like psychedelic poetry, have a read:
The Powerful Knowledge: How the Poetry of Michael McClure Influenced the Scientist Francis Crick
In July 1959, the co-discoverer of the DNA double helix, Francis Crick, took a psychedelic trip on peyote through the power of poetry.
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:34 PM
OK, I have set up a Substack and posted an article there going into much more detail about Francis Crick and the poet Michael McClure. If the link between science and art is your thing, or you just like psychedelic poetry, have a read:
Reposted by Helen Ward
UK publication day for this wrist-spraining beauty! Appropriately, I’m travelling to Cambridge, where I’m doing a book launch talk at the LMB tomorrow afternoon.
November 6, 2025 at 6:26 AM
UK publication day for this wrist-spraining beauty! Appropriately, I’m travelling to Cambridge, where I’m doing a book launch talk at the LMB tomorrow afternoon.
Reposted by Helen Ward
The opening paragraph to Crick’s thesis - about protein structure - from July 1953. Ok, he was 37, but even so the writing is so clear. Those last two sentences effectively set out a global research programme that would last decades.
November 6, 2025 at 8:34 AM
The opening paragraph to Crick’s thesis - about protein structure - from July 1953. Ok, he was 37, but even so the writing is so clear. Those last two sentences effectively set out a global research programme that would last decades.
Great review in Nature of new book on Crick by my friend @matthewcobb.bsky.social .
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Sex, drugs and the conscious brain: Francis Crick beyond the double helix
A thoroughly researched account of the history and relationships that shaped the scientist who co-discovered the structure of DNA.
www.nature.com
November 3, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Great review in Nature of new book on Crick by my friend @matthewcobb.bsky.social .
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
New article exploring how Long COVID affects people at work, highlighting the need for adaptable work accommodations to support employment and well‐being.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
@longcovidsupport.bsky.social @nikki-s.bsky.social @imperialperc.bsky.social @imperialbrc.bsky.social
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
@longcovidsupport.bsky.social @nikki-s.bsky.social @imperialperc.bsky.social @imperialbrc.bsky.social
“I Put a Lot of Emphasis on Work Because I Want to Keep My Job”: A Population‐Based Interview Study of Long Covid and Employment Changes in England
You have to enable JavaScript in your browser's settings in order to use the eReader.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
October 31, 2025 at 2:05 PM
New article exploring how Long COVID affects people at work, highlighting the need for adaptable work accommodations to support employment and well‐being.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
@longcovidsupport.bsky.social @nikki-s.bsky.social @imperialperc.bsky.social @imperialbrc.bsky.social
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
@longcovidsupport.bsky.social @nikki-s.bsky.social @imperialperc.bsky.social @imperialbrc.bsky.social
Why do you call Israeli people held illegally in Gaza “hostages”, but call Palestinian people illegally held in Israel (without charge or trial) “detainees”? @c4news.bsky.social
October 28, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Why do you call Israeli people held illegally in Gaza “hostages”, but call Palestinian people illegally held in Israel (without charge or trial) “detainees”? @c4news.bsky.social
Reposted by Helen Ward
And here we are. Another damn’d thick, square book. A real wrist-sprainer. UK edition (pictured) has endpapers showing Crick and Brenner’s blackboard and colour plates. Both U.K. and US editions have sections heralded by a double page photo as here. Loads of illustrations. Out in November!
September 26, 2025 at 9:36 AM
And here we are. Another damn’d thick, square book. A real wrist-sprainer. UK edition (pictured) has endpapers showing Crick and Brenner’s blackboard and colour plates. Both U.K. and US editions have sections heralded by a double page photo as here. Loads of illustrations. Out in November!
First pic of the moon tonight
September 7, 2025 at 6:54 PM
First pic of the moon tonight
Reposted by Helen Ward
Enough is enough. The health of the country is in danger. Read our resignation letters: insidemedicine.substack.com/p/breaking-n...
Breaking News: Read three top CDC officials' resignation emails.
The end of an era.
insidemedicine.substack.com
August 28, 2025 at 3:38 AM
Enough is enough. The health of the country is in danger. Read our resignation letters: insidemedicine.substack.com/p/breaking-n...
Reposted by Helen Ward
Yes, this is what Starmer should say, but he won't. Because Labour does not dare acknowledge what is obvious to everyone - Brexit was a disaster. Instead, it obediently follows the tramlines set out by May and Johnson, eyed from the sidelines by the Red Wall oldies, the Mail and the Telegraph.
The ever-eloquent @rafaelbehr.bsky.social pointedly refusing to mince his words on what Farage has done for us. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
August 27, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Yes, this is what Starmer should say, but he won't. Because Labour does not dare acknowledge what is obvious to everyone - Brexit was a disaster. Instead, it obediently follows the tramlines set out by May and Johnson, eyed from the sidelines by the Red Wall oldies, the Mail and the Telegraph.
Interesting critique of growing group-think that COVID policies did no good, only harm. Pandemic armchair epidemiologists seem to think public health is about certainty. In reality it's about managing uncertainty. All interventions do harm, some also do some good
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
COVID Revisionism Has Gone Too Far
If the center and left succumb to the view that “nothing worked,” no one will remain to defend sensible public-health measures the next time a pandemic comes around.
www.theatlantic.com
August 26, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Interesting critique of growing group-think that COVID policies did no good, only harm. Pandemic armchair epidemiologists seem to think public health is about certainty. In reality it's about managing uncertainty. All interventions do harm, some also do some good
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...