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
The protein concentration in the cytoplasm is so high that the average protein has a water hydration shell with a thickness of only ≈ 10 water molecules separating it from the adjacent protein hydration shell.
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November 10, 2025 at 12:57 PM
The protein concentration in the cytoplasm is so high that the average protein has a water hydration shell with a thickness of only ≈ 10 water molecules separating it from the adjacent protein hydration shell.
1/2
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Reposted by Vaughn Smider, MD, PhD
Agency scientists speak out about the irreplaceable facilities, institutional knowledge and training opportunities that the USA is losing
go.nature.com/49CE3Bt
go.nature.com/49CE3Bt
Dismantling of US federal agencies will ‘destroy science’
Nature - From NASA to the National Institutes of Health, federal agencies conduct research that universities cannot. Agency scientists speak out about the irreplaceable facilities, institutional...
go.nature.com
November 9, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Agency scientists speak out about the irreplaceable facilities, institutional knowledge and training opportunities that the USA is losing
go.nature.com/49CE3Bt
go.nature.com/49CE3Bt
Reposted by Vaughn Smider, MD, PhD
Bluetorial-Jim Watson
I met Jim Watson a few times but did not know him well. However, I was greatly influenced by his book “The Double Helix”. He was a complicated human being with some very, very bad features, but some good contributions.
What follows is my personal perspective.
1/41
I met Jim Watson a few times but did not know him well. However, I was greatly influenced by his book “The Double Helix”. He was a complicated human being with some very, very bad features, but some good contributions.
What follows is my personal perspective.
1/41
a cartoon says hey everybody an old man 's talking while bart simpson looks on
ALT: a cartoon says hey everybody an old man 's talking while bart simpson looks on
media.tenor.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Bluetorial-Jim Watson
I met Jim Watson a few times but did not know him well. However, I was greatly influenced by his book “The Double Helix”. He was a complicated human being with some very, very bad features, but some good contributions.
What follows is my personal perspective.
1/41
I met Jim Watson a few times but did not know him well. However, I was greatly influenced by his book “The Double Helix”. He was a complicated human being with some very, very bad features, but some good contributions.
What follows is my personal perspective.
1/41
Reposted by Vaughn Smider, MD, PhD
“”I think this is the turning point for the field of pancreatic cancer,” said Brian Wolpin, director of the Hale Family Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute”
The drug is a unique mutant RAS inhibitor based on discoveries at UCSF.
apple.news/AGm0mNKLJTa6...
The drug is a unique mutant RAS inhibitor based on discoveries at UCSF.
apple.news/AGm0mNKLJTa6...
A pill is raising hope for one of the deadliest cancers. The question is how fast patients should get it. — The Washington Post
Preliminary results have fueled hope for a new cancer drug from Revolution Medicines while posing a test for the Trump administration’s efforts to accelerate drug approvals.
apple.news
November 7, 2025 at 9:18 PM
“”I think this is the turning point for the field of pancreatic cancer,” said Brian Wolpin, director of the Hale Family Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute”
The drug is a unique mutant RAS inhibitor based on discoveries at UCSF.
apple.news/AGm0mNKLJTa6...
The drug is a unique mutant RAS inhibitor based on discoveries at UCSF.
apple.news/AGm0mNKLJTa6...
Reposted by Vaughn Smider, MD, PhD
NYT obituary of Jim Watson.
A long and fairly balanced view of a complicated man who participated in one of the greatest discoveries in biology.
[Gift Link]
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/s...
A long and fairly balanced view of a complicated man who participated in one of the greatest discoveries in biology.
[Gift Link]
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/s...
James Watson, Co-Discoverer of the Structure of DNA, Is Dead at 97
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:59 PM
NYT obituary of Jim Watson.
A long and fairly balanced view of a complicated man who participated in one of the greatest discoveries in biology.
[Gift Link]
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/s...
A long and fairly balanced view of a complicated man who participated in one of the greatest discoveries in biology.
[Gift Link]
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/s...
Reposted by Vaughn Smider, MD, PhD
Did you know?
In 2025, the U.S. quarter features Vera Rubin, honoring her landmark discovery of the existence of dark matter — a tribute that perfectly coincides with the first light of the Rubin Observatory(@vrubinobs.bsky.social), celebrating her enduring legacy in unveiling the unseen universe.
In 2025, the U.S. quarter features Vera Rubin, honoring her landmark discovery of the existence of dark matter — a tribute that perfectly coincides with the first light of the Rubin Observatory(@vrubinobs.bsky.social), celebrating her enduring legacy in unveiling the unseen universe.
November 7, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Did you know?
In 2025, the U.S. quarter features Vera Rubin, honoring her landmark discovery of the existence of dark matter — a tribute that perfectly coincides with the first light of the Rubin Observatory(@vrubinobs.bsky.social), celebrating her enduring legacy in unveiling the unseen universe.
In 2025, the U.S. quarter features Vera Rubin, honoring her landmark discovery of the existence of dark matter — a tribute that perfectly coincides with the first light of the Rubin Observatory(@vrubinobs.bsky.social), celebrating her enduring legacy in unveiling the unseen universe.
Reposted by Vaughn Smider, MD, PhD
My quote of the day
As I reflect on my life, I recognize that our greatest achievements often arise from our most profound struggles. Embrace challenges and view failures as opportunities for growth. It is through these trials that we learn, adapt, and ultimately succeed.
Marie Curie
As I reflect on my life, I recognize that our greatest achievements often arise from our most profound struggles. Embrace challenges and view failures as opportunities for growth. It is through these trials that we learn, adapt, and ultimately succeed.
Marie Curie
November 7, 2025 at 10:57 AM
My quote of the day
As I reflect on my life, I recognize that our greatest achievements often arise from our most profound struggles. Embrace challenges and view failures as opportunities for growth. It is through these trials that we learn, adapt, and ultimately succeed.
Marie Curie
As I reflect on my life, I recognize that our greatest achievements often arise from our most profound struggles. Embrace challenges and view failures as opportunities for growth. It is through these trials that we learn, adapt, and ultimately succeed.
Marie Curie
Reposted by Vaughn Smider, MD, PhD
The developing brain? Yeah, we have it covered.
The first brain cell atlas of the developing mammalian brain is now available to curious minds and researchers everywhere.
Check out the findings in @nature.com: www.nature.com/collections/...
🎨 Cover art by Jasiek Krzysztofiak
The first brain cell atlas of the developing mammalian brain is now available to curious minds and researchers everywhere.
Check out the findings in @nature.com: www.nature.com/collections/...
🎨 Cover art by Jasiek Krzysztofiak
November 7, 2025 at 9:41 PM
The developing brain? Yeah, we have it covered.
The first brain cell atlas of the developing mammalian brain is now available to curious minds and researchers everywhere.
Check out the findings in @nature.com: www.nature.com/collections/...
🎨 Cover art by Jasiek Krzysztofiak
The first brain cell atlas of the developing mammalian brain is now available to curious minds and researchers everywhere.
Check out the findings in @nature.com: www.nature.com/collections/...
🎨 Cover art by Jasiek Krzysztofiak
Reposted by Vaughn Smider, MD, PhD
On the event of James Watson's death, I highly recommend this 2023 commentary from @matthewcobb.bsky.social and Nathaniel Comfort with crucial new insights into the discovery of the double helix. (And also check out Cobb's brand new biography of Francis Crick) www.nature.com/articles/d41...
What Rosalind Franklin truly contributed to the discovery of DNA’s structure
Franklin was no victim in how the DNA double helix was solved. An overlooked letter and an unpublished news article, both written in 1953, reveal that she was an equal player.
www.nature.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:25 PM
On the event of James Watson's death, I highly recommend this 2023 commentary from @matthewcobb.bsky.social and Nathaniel Comfort with crucial new insights into the discovery of the double helix. (And also check out Cobb's brand new biography of Francis Crick) www.nature.com/articles/d41...
“”I think this is the turning point for the field of pancreatic cancer,” said Brian Wolpin, director of the Hale Family Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute”
The drug is a unique mutant RAS inhibitor based on discoveries at UCSF.
apple.news/AGm0mNKLJTa6...
The drug is a unique mutant RAS inhibitor based on discoveries at UCSF.
apple.news/AGm0mNKLJTa6...
A pill is raising hope for one of the deadliest cancers. The question is how fast patients should get it. — The Washington Post
Preliminary results have fueled hope for a new cancer drug from Revolution Medicines while posing a test for the Trump administration’s efforts to accelerate drug approvals.
apple.news
November 7, 2025 at 9:18 PM
“”I think this is the turning point for the field of pancreatic cancer,” said Brian Wolpin, director of the Hale Family Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute”
The drug is a unique mutant RAS inhibitor based on discoveries at UCSF.
apple.news/AGm0mNKLJTa6...
The drug is a unique mutant RAS inhibitor based on discoveries at UCSF.
apple.news/AGm0mNKLJTa6...
Reposted by Vaughn Smider, MD, PhD
My quote of the day
Hope lies in dreams, in imagination, and in the courage of those who dare to make dreams into reality.
Jonas Salk
Hope lies in dreams, in imagination, and in the courage of those who dare to make dreams into reality.
Jonas Salk
November 6, 2025 at 11:53 AM
My quote of the day
Hope lies in dreams, in imagination, and in the courage of those who dare to make dreams into reality.
Jonas Salk
Hope lies in dreams, in imagination, and in the courage of those who dare to make dreams into reality.
Jonas Salk
Reposted by Vaughn Smider, MD, PhD
As a neuroscientist, I’d suggest there is a profound disconnect between what *some* computer scientists think is representative of “intelligence”, cognitive ability, or descriptions of consciousness from some in AI work.
LLMs are not how neural systems process information, nor how brains function.
LLMs are not how neural systems process information, nor how brains function.
November 6, 2025 at 5:19 PM
As a neuroscientist, I’d suggest there is a profound disconnect between what *some* computer scientists think is representative of “intelligence”, cognitive ability, or descriptions of consciousness from some in AI work.
LLMs are not how neural systems process information, nor how brains function.
LLMs are not how neural systems process information, nor how brains function.
Reposted by Vaughn Smider, MD, PhD
NEW STUDY! Building on pioneering work by Dr. Alison Goate, an international team of researchers, led by #IcahnMountSinai's Anne Schaefer, ID'd distinct population of neuroprotective #Microglia that may point to new therapeutic approach for #Alzheimers. @nature.com 👉 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
November 5, 2025 at 11:51 PM
NEW STUDY! Building on pioneering work by Dr. Alison Goate, an international team of researchers, led by #IcahnMountSinai's Anne Schaefer, ID'd distinct population of neuroprotective #Microglia that may point to new therapeutic approach for #Alzheimers. @nature.com 👉 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Vaughn Smider, MD, PhD
They say the sincerest form of flattery is mimicry, and we really love histidine! ❤️ Check out our most recent work on histidine mimics: Genetic incorporation of diverse non-canonical amino acids for histidine substitution. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
November 6, 2025 at 8:30 AM
They say the sincerest form of flattery is mimicry, and we really love histidine! ❤️ Check out our most recent work on histidine mimics: Genetic incorporation of diverse non-canonical amino acids for histidine substitution. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Vaughn Smider, MD, PhD
Please RT. Post-doc opportunity alert! 💥 closing 10th December.. Come join our team (www.thelowlab.org) at Imperial, London, working on the structure and mechanism of bacterial secretion systems.
For more details and to apply please see
www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...
For more details and to apply please see
www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...
November 4, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Please RT. Post-doc opportunity alert! 💥 closing 10th December.. Come join our team (www.thelowlab.org) at Imperial, London, working on the structure and mechanism of bacterial secretion systems.
For more details and to apply please see
www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...
For more details and to apply please see
www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...
Reposted by Vaughn Smider, MD, PhD
The brain drain cont'd.
Trump's attacks on Higher Ed- in the form of banned words, broad & vague anti-DEI sentiment, funding cuts, grant terminations & pulling investment from mRNA technology development is pushing our scientists to apply for funding in Europe.
🧪 archive.today/O7a3J
Trump's attacks on Higher Ed- in the form of banned words, broad & vague anti-DEI sentiment, funding cuts, grant terminations & pulling investment from mRNA technology development is pushing our scientists to apply for funding in Europe.
🧪 archive.today/O7a3J
Trump’s university backlash drives US researchers towards Europe
EU grant applications hit record in 2025 amid surge in interest from American academics
www.ft.com
November 4, 2025 at 3:45 PM
The brain drain cont'd.
Trump's attacks on Higher Ed- in the form of banned words, broad & vague anti-DEI sentiment, funding cuts, grant terminations & pulling investment from mRNA technology development is pushing our scientists to apply for funding in Europe.
🧪 archive.today/O7a3J
Trump's attacks on Higher Ed- in the form of banned words, broad & vague anti-DEI sentiment, funding cuts, grant terminations & pulling investment from mRNA technology development is pushing our scientists to apply for funding in Europe.
🧪 archive.today/O7a3J
Reposted by Vaughn Smider, MD, PhD
I could not disagree more. There are many reasons that MMR is given as one shot. Separating it out means:
-Babies more vulnerable to preventable disease for no reason
-Three times as many doc visits
-Three times more shitty days for baby
-Three times more copays
-Three times more work absences
-Babies more vulnerable to preventable disease for no reason
-Three times as many doc visits
-Three times more shitty days for baby
-Three times more copays
-Three times more work absences
Better 3 monovalent vaccines than no vaccines at all.
Perfect is the enemy of the good.
Perfect is the enemy of the good.
November 4, 2025 at 12:30 AM
I could not disagree more. There are many reasons that MMR is given as one shot. Separating it out means:
-Babies more vulnerable to preventable disease for no reason
-Three times as many doc visits
-Three times more shitty days for baby
-Three times more copays
-Three times more work absences
-Babies more vulnerable to preventable disease for no reason
-Three times as many doc visits
-Three times more shitty days for baby
-Three times more copays
-Three times more work absences
Reposted by Vaughn Smider, MD, PhD
Nature suggests you use their "Manuscript Adviser" bot to get advice before submitting
I uploaded the classic Watson & Crick paper about DNA structure, and the Adviser had this to say about one of the greatest paper endings of the century:
I uploaded the classic Watson & Crick paper about DNA structure, and the Adviser had this to say about one of the greatest paper endings of the century:
November 3, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Nature suggests you use their "Manuscript Adviser" bot to get advice before submitting
I uploaded the classic Watson & Crick paper about DNA structure, and the Adviser had this to say about one of the greatest paper endings of the century:
I uploaded the classic Watson & Crick paper about DNA structure, and the Adviser had this to say about one of the greatest paper endings of the century:
Reposted by Vaughn Smider, MD, PhD
harvard medical school got bombed yesterday and it barely made news
A device exploded inside the Goldenson Building in Harvard’s Longwood medical campus early Saturday morning, according to a message from the Harvard University Police Department to University affiliates.
Matan H. Josephy and Laurel M. Shugart report.
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
Matan H. Josephy and Laurel M. Shugart report.
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
Authorities Investigating Explosion on Harvard’s Medical Campus, Believed To Be Intentional | News | The Harvard Crimson
A device exploded inside the Goldenson Building in Harvard’s Longwood medical campus early Saturday morning, according to a message from the Harvard University Police Department to University…
www.thecrimson.com
November 2, 2025 at 7:14 PM
harvard medical school got bombed yesterday and it barely made news
Reposted by Vaughn Smider, MD, PhD
Those marketing (totally bunk) "stem cell" supplements love lean on meaningless wellness-woo phrases, like natural, GMO-free, pure, organic, toxin-free...
Science-y nonsense + wellness nonsense = BS Supergroup!
Our study: www.cell.com/stem-cell-re... cc @stemcellnetwork.ca @isscr.org
Science-y nonsense + wellness nonsense = BS Supergroup!
Our study: www.cell.com/stem-cell-re... cc @stemcellnetwork.ca @isscr.org
November 2, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Those marketing (totally bunk) "stem cell" supplements love lean on meaningless wellness-woo phrases, like natural, GMO-free, pure, organic, toxin-free...
Science-y nonsense + wellness nonsense = BS Supergroup!
Our study: www.cell.com/stem-cell-re... cc @stemcellnetwork.ca @isscr.org
Science-y nonsense + wellness nonsense = BS Supergroup!
Our study: www.cell.com/stem-cell-re... cc @stemcellnetwork.ca @isscr.org
This post is natural, GMO-free, pure, and organic…
Everyone should like it.
Everyone should like it.
Those marketing (totally bunk) "stem cell" supplements love lean on meaningless wellness-woo phrases, like natural, GMO-free, pure, organic, toxin-free...
Science-y nonsense + wellness nonsense = BS Supergroup!
Our study: www.cell.com/stem-cell-re... cc @stemcellnetwork.ca @isscr.org
Science-y nonsense + wellness nonsense = BS Supergroup!
Our study: www.cell.com/stem-cell-re... cc @stemcellnetwork.ca @isscr.org
November 3, 2025 at 6:48 AM
This post is natural, GMO-free, pure, and organic…
Everyone should like it.
Everyone should like it.
Reposted by Vaughn Smider, MD, PhD
A word that has become a euphemism for promoting and selling things without data or evidence
November 2, 2025 at 6:19 PM
A word that has become a euphemism for promoting and selling things without data or evidence
“two myths should be dispelled: that fundamental science is less important than other types of research, and that it has no long-term impact.”
🧪
🧪
Funders must recognise that great discoveries often come from studies that seeks to advance knowledge for its own sake
go.nature.com/3X5lbUg
go.nature.com/3X5lbUg
From MRI to Ozempic: breakthroughs that show why fundamental research must be protected
Nature - In these financially straitened times, funders must recognize that great discoveries often arise from work that was looking for something completely different.
go.nature.com
November 1, 2025 at 4:39 PM
“two myths should be dispelled: that fundamental science is less important than other types of research, and that it has no long-term impact.”
🧪
🧪
Perhaps that’s the reason. Or it might be the ultralong CDR3 antibodies that give them immune superpowers.
www.nature.com/articles/nat...
www.nature.com/articles/nat...
November 1, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Perhaps that’s the reason. Or it might be the ultralong CDR3 antibodies that give them immune superpowers.
www.nature.com/articles/nat...
www.nature.com/articles/nat...
“ future studies should focus on how UA shapes the immune system in patients with systemic malignancy and how it can be potentially harnessed to enhance response to immune-based therapies.”
The supplement Urolithin A, in a small randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial of adults (mean age 53 years), shifted the immune system away from age-related decline
nature.com/articles/s43...
nature.com/articles/s43...
Effect of the mitophagy inducer urolithin A on age-related immune decline: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial - Nature Aging
Immune aging fosters multimorbidity and compromises control of infection and cancer. In a phase 1 randomized controlled trial in middle-aged adults, Denk and colleagues administer the mitophagy induce...
nature.com
November 1, 2025 at 2:02 AM
“ future studies should focus on how UA shapes the immune system in patients with systemic malignancy and how it can be potentially harnessed to enhance response to immune-based therapies.”