Vaughn Smider, MD, PhD
@vvsmider.bsky.social
Biomedical researcher, antibody investigator (especially cow antibodies 🐮, which are the best), drug discoverer, entrepreneur 🇺🇸 🇺🇦
Founder and President at Applied Biomedical Science Institute:
https://absinstitute.org
Founder and President at Applied Biomedical Science Institute:
https://absinstitute.org
Pinned
DOGE ends America’s golden age of biomedical research
Biomedical research impacts all of us. I became curious about how drugs work after my mom was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis when I was a small boy. She received “gold shots” as treatment, which ...
www.vindy.com
I’m a biomedical researcher who lost his wife to cancer. Finding cures is personal to me. What’s happening at the NIH is devastating. Here’s my editorial in my hometown newspaper.
www.vindy.com/opinion/edit...
www.vindy.com/opinion/edit...
Reposted by Vaughn Smider, MD, PhD
New preprint from my lab (with Arya Kaul, @fernpizza.bsky.social, and @brinda.eu), in which we explore new genes hitchhiking on the beneficial deletion that fused them together, and find them in the LTEE, M. Tb/bovis, and across the bacterial tree of life
Novel genes arise from genomic deletions across the bacterial tree of life https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.01.05.697752v1
January 6, 2026 at 4:12 PM
New preprint from my lab (with Arya Kaul, @fernpizza.bsky.social, and @brinda.eu), in which we explore new genes hitchhiking on the beneficial deletion that fused them together, and find them in the LTEE, M. Tb/bovis, and across the bacterial tree of life
Reposted by Vaughn Smider, MD, PhD
The Enshittification of Academic Publishing
1. Values shift from merit to marketability
2. Proliferation of pay-to-publish journals
3. Compromised peer review and oversight
4. Massive volume of publications
5. Literature no longer serves to advance knowledge
theconversation.com/the-5-stages...
1. Values shift from merit to marketability
2. Proliferation of pay-to-publish journals
3. Compromised peer review and oversight
4. Massive volume of publications
5. Literature no longer serves to advance knowledge
theconversation.com/the-5-stages...
The 5 stages of the ‘enshittification’ of academic publishing
Academic publishing now shows the same decline that has hit social media and online marketplaces.
theconversation.com
January 6, 2026 at 3:45 PM
The Enshittification of Academic Publishing
1. Values shift from merit to marketability
2. Proliferation of pay-to-publish journals
3. Compromised peer review and oversight
4. Massive volume of publications
5. Literature no longer serves to advance knowledge
theconversation.com/the-5-stages...
1. Values shift from merit to marketability
2. Proliferation of pay-to-publish journals
3. Compromised peer review and oversight
4. Massive volume of publications
5. Literature no longer serves to advance knowledge
theconversation.com/the-5-stages...
Reposted by Vaughn Smider, MD, PhD
ICYMI over the holidays: Colossal Biosciences wins 2025 The Screamers Science Hype Award on dire wolf de-extinction claim ipscell.com/2025/12/colo... #stemcells #genetics #cloning
Colossal Biosciences wins 2025 The Screamers Award for science hype on dire wolf de-extinction claim - The Niche
Biologist awards Colossal Biosciences as the winner of the 2025 The Screamers science hype award for their dire wolf de-extinction claims.
ipscell.com
January 6, 2026 at 12:08 AM
ICYMI over the holidays: Colossal Biosciences wins 2025 The Screamers Science Hype Award on dire wolf de-extinction claim ipscell.com/2025/12/colo... #stemcells #genetics #cloning
Reposted by Vaughn Smider, MD, PhD
How likely is ‘likely’? Does ‘likely’ have a higher probability than ‘probable’? I put together a quick quiz so you can see how you interpret probability phrases, then see how you compare with others: probability.kucharski.io
January 3, 2026 at 4:15 PM
How likely is ‘likely’? Does ‘likely’ have a higher probability than ‘probable’? I put together a quick quiz so you can see how you interpret probability phrases, then see how you compare with others: probability.kucharski.io
Reposted by Vaughn Smider, MD, PhD
"Experiments never err. Only your expectations."
Success lies on top of the rungs of failure.
The recent success in the treatment for Huntington's disease came from failures. A previous clinical trial had failed in 2021 b/c an antisense nucleotide did not stay intact.
🧪 youtube.com/shorts/81ltA...
Success lies on top of the rungs of failure.
The recent success in the treatment for Huntington's disease came from failures. A previous clinical trial had failed in 2021 b/c an antisense nucleotide did not stay intact.
🧪 youtube.com/shorts/81ltA...
Nobel Winner Katalin Karikó on Failure
YouTube video by CUNY Graduate Center
youtube.com
January 4, 2026 at 2:08 AM
"Experiments never err. Only your expectations."
Success lies on top of the rungs of failure.
The recent success in the treatment for Huntington's disease came from failures. A previous clinical trial had failed in 2021 b/c an antisense nucleotide did not stay intact.
🧪 youtube.com/shorts/81ltA...
Success lies on top of the rungs of failure.
The recent success in the treatment for Huntington's disease came from failures. A previous clinical trial had failed in 2021 b/c an antisense nucleotide did not stay intact.
🧪 youtube.com/shorts/81ltA...
January 4, 2026 at 4:32 AM
Reposted by Vaughn Smider, MD, PhD
A tribute to Stuart Kornfeld, pioneering #glycotime scientist whose work on mannose-6-phosphate receptor lysosomal trafficking (among many other contributions) was highly influential to our work 🫡
www.jci.org/articles/vie...
www.jci.org/articles/vie...
JCI -
A tribute to Stuart A. Kornfeld (1936–2025)
www.jci.org
January 3, 2026 at 3:08 AM
A tribute to Stuart Kornfeld, pioneering #glycotime scientist whose work on mannose-6-phosphate receptor lysosomal trafficking (among many other contributions) was highly influential to our work 🫡
www.jci.org/articles/vie...
www.jci.org/articles/vie...
Reposted by Vaughn Smider, MD, PhD
When I explain to people what is involved with writing a successful grant, they simply don’t believe me.
I explained it once to a famous person from Pixar, and he looked me square in the eye and said: You mean all the cancer and Alzheimer’s grants work that way? You’ve gotta be &$%#ing kidding me!
I explained it once to a famous person from Pixar, and he looked me square in the eye and said: You mean all the cancer and Alzheimer’s grants work that way? You’ve gotta be &$%#ing kidding me!
I don't think you non-science people realize what it takes to get a grant funded by NIH. Started experiments in Sept 2021 to generate 3 new mouse mutants to model human disease. Prelim dara shows they have relevant disease phenotypes worthy of study. Need a small grant first to characterize /1
January 3, 2026 at 1:14 AM
When I explain to people what is involved with writing a successful grant, they simply don’t believe me.
I explained it once to a famous person from Pixar, and he looked me square in the eye and said: You mean all the cancer and Alzheimer’s grants work that way? You’ve gotta be &$%#ing kidding me!
I explained it once to a famous person from Pixar, and he looked me square in the eye and said: You mean all the cancer and Alzheimer’s grants work that way? You’ve gotta be &$%#ing kidding me!
Reposted by Vaughn Smider, MD, PhD
Good review on what’s going on at NIH.
“Polling consistently shows strong majorities favor federal investment in health research. The dismantling we’re witnessing is instead the result of a political moment in which a minority viewpoint holds disproportionate power.”
“Polling consistently shows strong majorities favor federal investment in health research. The dismantling we’re witnessing is instead the result of a political moment in which a minority viewpoint holds disproportionate power.”
January 3, 2026 at 12:46 AM
Good review on what’s going on at NIH.
“Polling consistently shows strong majorities favor federal investment in health research. The dismantling we’re witnessing is instead the result of a political moment in which a minority viewpoint holds disproportionate power.”
“Polling consistently shows strong majorities favor federal investment in health research. The dismantling we’re witnessing is instead the result of a political moment in which a minority viewpoint holds disproportionate power.”
Reposted by Vaughn Smider, MD, PhD
RIP in 2025:
Jane Goodall (April 3, 1934 – October 1, 2025)
Primatologist
Jane Goodall (April 3, 1934 – October 1, 2025)
Primatologist
January 1, 2026 at 5:10 AM
RIP in 2025:
Jane Goodall (April 3, 1934 – October 1, 2025)
Primatologist
Jane Goodall (April 3, 1934 – October 1, 2025)
Primatologist
Reposted by Vaughn Smider, MD, PhD
So the site currently isn’t working, but if you’re a California resident this is probably worth bookmarking to check out once it’s back up
If you are a resident of California, the state now has a portal where you can demand deletion of your personal data from 500+ registered data brokers with a single request form, for free.
consumer.drop.privacy.ca.gov
consumer.drop.privacy.ca.gov
consumer.drop.privacy.ca.gov
January 2, 2026 at 3:02 AM
So the site currently isn’t working, but if you’re a California resident this is probably worth bookmarking to check out once it’s back up
Reposted by Vaughn Smider, MD, PhD
I don't think you non-science people realize what it takes to get a grant funded by NIH. Started experiments in Sept 2021 to generate 3 new mouse mutants to model human disease. Prelim dara shows they have relevant disease phenotypes worthy of study. Need a small grant first to characterize /1
January 2, 2026 at 3:19 AM
I don't think you non-science people realize what it takes to get a grant funded by NIH. Started experiments in Sept 2021 to generate 3 new mouse mutants to model human disease. Prelim dara shows they have relevant disease phenotypes worthy of study. Need a small grant first to characterize /1
Reposted by Vaughn Smider, MD, PhD
I wrote a reflection on how I experienced this year, as a physician, a scientist, and a human being.
If you’ve been carrying a lot too, this one’s for you.
Thanks for reading and engaging with me here and on other platforms. There's plenty of work ahead!
bktitanji.substack.com/p/how-i-expe...
If you’ve been carrying a lot too, this one’s for you.
Thanks for reading and engaging with me here and on other platforms. There's plenty of work ahead!
bktitanji.substack.com/p/how-i-expe...
How I Experienced This Year
Living through 2025 as a Physician, Scientist and Advocate
bktitanji.substack.com
December 28, 2025 at 1:49 PM
I wrote a reflection on how I experienced this year, as a physician, a scientist, and a human being.
If you’ve been carrying a lot too, this one’s for you.
Thanks for reading and engaging with me here and on other platforms. There's plenty of work ahead!
bktitanji.substack.com/p/how-i-expe...
If you’ve been carrying a lot too, this one’s for you.
Thanks for reading and engaging with me here and on other platforms. There's plenty of work ahead!
bktitanji.substack.com/p/how-i-expe...
“the new instability of American science may also be driving away the people necessary to power that future work. Several universities have been forced to downsize Ph.D. programs…”
apple.news/Am9YpATbQTfa...
apple.news/Am9YpATbQTfa...
The Trump Administration’s Most Paralyzing Blow to Science — The Atlantic
Cuts to research may have spoiled the country’s appetite for bold exploration.
apple.news
December 30, 2025 at 4:48 PM
“the new instability of American science may also be driving away the people necessary to power that future work. Several universities have been forced to downsize Ph.D. programs…”
apple.news/Am9YpATbQTfa...
apple.news/Am9YpATbQTfa...
Reposted by Vaughn Smider, MD, PhD
I'm reviewing abstracts for an upcoming scientific conference, helping the planning team to select which attendees get a chance to present their work.
Some are amazingly good.
Some suggest that the applicant has not ever been taught how to write an abstract.
Here are some basic tips:
🧪
Some are amazingly good.
Some suggest that the applicant has not ever been taught how to write an abstract.
Here are some basic tips:
🧪
December 29, 2025 at 8:26 PM
I'm reviewing abstracts for an upcoming scientific conference, helping the planning team to select which attendees get a chance to present their work.
Some are amazingly good.
Some suggest that the applicant has not ever been taught how to write an abstract.
Here are some basic tips:
🧪
Some are amazingly good.
Some suggest that the applicant has not ever been taught how to write an abstract.
Here are some basic tips:
🧪
Reposted by Vaughn Smider, MD, PhD
"Resolutions Scientists and Academics need to make" from a very wise scientist:
www.forbes.com/sites/marsha...
www.forbes.com/sites/marsha...
www.forbes.com
December 29, 2025 at 4:58 AM
"Resolutions Scientists and Academics need to make" from a very wise scientist:
www.forbes.com/sites/marsha...
www.forbes.com/sites/marsha...
Reposted by Vaughn Smider, MD, PhD
This is an outstanding essay describing some of the important roles and influences of NIH program officers (from an insider perspective).
Read!
elizabethginexi.substack.com/p/the-quiet-...
Read!
elizabethginexi.substack.com/p/the-quiet-...
The Quiet Power of Program Officers
How invisible decisions shape what science gets done—and whether it matters
elizabethginexi.substack.com
December 28, 2025 at 11:56 AM
This is an outstanding essay describing some of the important roles and influences of NIH program officers (from an insider perspective).
Read!
elizabethginexi.substack.com/p/the-quiet-...
Read!
elizabethginexi.substack.com/p/the-quiet-...
Reposted by Vaughn Smider, MD, PhD
Amazing that this review paper from 2021 just became my most cited paper of my 30+ yr career. I am honored to have been the lead first co-corresponding author with @ChiaWang8. COVID is indeed airborne--as are most other respiratory viruses. @ucsandiego.bsky.social
www.science.org/doi/full/10....
www.science.org/doi/full/10....
Airborne transmission of respiratory viruses
A Review discusses the scientific basis of and factors controlling airborne transmission of respiratory viruses including coronavirus.
www.science.org
December 27, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Amazing that this review paper from 2021 just became my most cited paper of my 30+ yr career. I am honored to have been the lead first co-corresponding author with @ChiaWang8. COVID is indeed airborne--as are most other respiratory viruses. @ucsandiego.bsky.social
www.science.org/doi/full/10....
www.science.org/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Vaughn Smider, MD, PhD
OSTP has issued a request for information, please share with them your ideas for how to improve government functions related to science funding and policy
www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...
www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...
Notice of Request for Information; Accelerating the American Scientific Enterprise
The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) requests input from all interested parties on Federal policy updates that aim to accelerate the American scientific enterprise, enable groundbreaking...
www.federalregister.gov
December 23, 2025 at 10:56 PM
OSTP has issued a request for information, please share with them your ideas for how to improve government functions related to science funding and policy
www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...
www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...
Reposted by Vaughn Smider, MD, PhD
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led a path of gutting and destruction of public, global health, and medical research resources, among others.
How much did it save in federal spending?
Nothing...it led to an increase
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/u...
How much did it save in federal spending?
Nothing...it led to an increase
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/u...
How Did DOGE Disrupt So Much While Saving So Little?
www.nytimes.com
December 23, 2025 at 5:17 PM
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led a path of gutting and destruction of public, global health, and medical research resources, among others.
How much did it save in federal spending?
Nothing...it led to an increase
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/u...
How much did it save in federal spending?
Nothing...it led to an increase
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/u...
Reposted by Vaughn Smider, MD, PhD
Deadline to publish summary statements for NIH grants has been extended from 30 days to 2/26 due to the shut down (=60 d).
If you are waiting for reviews to resubmit again in Cycle 1 you might be out off luck, review might come few days before or even after the deadline.
@jeremymberg.bsky.social
If you are waiting for reviews to resubmit again in Cycle 1 you might be out off luck, review might come few days before or even after the deadline.
@jeremymberg.bsky.social
December 23, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Deadline to publish summary statements for NIH grants has been extended from 30 days to 2/26 due to the shut down (=60 d).
If you are waiting for reviews to resubmit again in Cycle 1 you might be out off luck, review might come few days before or even after the deadline.
@jeremymberg.bsky.social
If you are waiting for reviews to resubmit again in Cycle 1 you might be out off luck, review might come few days before or even after the deadline.
@jeremymberg.bsky.social
Reposted by Vaughn Smider, MD, PhD
The US is not Denmark. Denmark is not the US. The Danish immunization schedule is not adapted for the realities of the American Healthcare system and population.
Let me explain.
This is a long thread so buckle up 🧵
Let me explain.
This is a long thread so buckle up 🧵
December 21, 2025 at 2:38 PM
The US is not Denmark. Denmark is not the US. The Danish immunization schedule is not adapted for the realities of the American Healthcare system and population.
Let me explain.
This is a long thread so buckle up 🧵
Let me explain.
This is a long thread so buckle up 🧵
Reposted by Vaughn Smider, MD, PhD
Given all the recent buzz about how great ChatGPT has gotten, including its prowess with images, I figured I'd check in on its anatomical skills. Nope.
December 19, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Given all the recent buzz about how great ChatGPT has gotten, including its prowess with images, I figured I'd check in on its anatomical skills. Nope.
Reposted by Vaughn Smider, MD, PhD
