Ben Williams
@benwill.bsky.social
Scientist and grantmaker. My personal interests in biomedical research, biotech, and philanthropy. And maybe some baseball
Reposted by Ben Williams
Oooh. Interesting.
Updated update
I downloaded the data from NIH Reporter too soon. The large end of the month update had not occurred.
Here are the results as of this morning.
NIH grants management staff have been busy making awards.
1/2
I downloaded the data from NIH Reporter too soon. The large end of the month update had not occurred.
Here are the results as of this morning.
NIH grants management staff have been busy making awards.
1/2
September 9, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Oooh. Interesting.
Reposted by Ben Williams
More evidence that #genetic variation influences presentation of monogenic #diabetes with diabetes risk ranging from 11% to 81% www.nature.com/articles/s42... @natmetabolism.nature.com
Common genetic variants modify disease risk and clinical presentation in monogenic diabetes - Nature Metabolism
In clinical and population-based cohorts, a strong contribution of polygenic risk for type 2 diabetes (T2D) significantly modifies the onset and phenotypic variability of maturity-onset diabetes of th...
www.nature.com
September 10, 2025 at 10:42 AM
More evidence that #genetic variation influences presentation of monogenic #diabetes with diabetes risk ranging from 11% to 81% www.nature.com/articles/s42... @natmetabolism.nature.com
A good read about a private equity firm funding a Harvard
research lab. A couple thoughts:
research lab. A couple thoughts:
Private equity firm will finance Harvard research lab, in possible template for future
A private equity firm will finance a Harvard University research lab, a possible template for the future as schools nationwide absorb federal funding cuts.
www.statnews.com
June 18, 2025 at 3:35 PM
A good read about a private equity firm funding a Harvard
research lab. A couple thoughts:
research lab. A couple thoughts:
Another Helmsley-supported T1D therapy enters early-stage clinical testing. Congrats to Ranjeny Thomas and everyone who worked so hard getting it there! www.uq.edu.au/news/article...
World-first immunotherapy trial to treat Type 1 diabetes
Researchers at UQ have dosed 5 participants in the first clinical trial of a potentially revolutionary immunotherapy drug to treat Type 1 diabetes.
www.uq.edu.au
May 2, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Another Helmsley-supported T1D therapy enters early-stage clinical testing. Congrats to Ranjeny Thomas and everyone who worked so hard getting it there! www.uq.edu.au/news/article...
Reposted by Ben Williams
We link molecular and functional phenotypes of islet cells from donors with type 1 diabetes to understand impaired insulin and glucagon secretion. Immune signalling, nuclear exclusion, mTOR and lysosomes in alpha cell dysfunction.
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.02.20.639325v1
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.02.20.639325v1
February 21, 2025 at 12:40 PM
We link molecular and functional phenotypes of islet cells from donors with type 1 diabetes to understand impaired insulin and glucagon secretion. Immune signalling, nuclear exclusion, mTOR and lysosomes in alpha cell dysfunction.
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.02.20.639325v1
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.02.20.639325v1
Reposted by Ben Williams
Has anyone reproduced the chemical reprogramming method to make human iPS cells published in 2022?
This team also used this method to make iPS cells to then generate islets than were transplanted into a patient with T1D
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
This team also used this method to make iPS cells to then generate islets than were transplanted into a patient with T1D
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Chemical reprogramming of human somatic cells to pluripotent stem cells - Nature
Human somatic cells were reprogrammed to human chemically induced pluripotent stem cells that demonstrate key features of embryonic stem cells.
www.nature.com
January 6, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Has anyone reproduced the chemical reprogramming method to make human iPS cells published in 2022?
This team also used this method to make iPS cells to then generate islets than were transplanted into a patient with T1D
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
This team also used this method to make iPS cells to then generate islets than were transplanted into a patient with T1D
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Ben Williams
Terrific! Paywalls are disappearing! No more 12 month embargo between when NIH funded work appears in a journal and when it becomes accessible to all (as of December 2025).
www.nih.gov/about-nih/wh...
www.nih.gov/about-nih/wh...
NIH issues new policy to speed access to agency-funded research results
The 12-month embargo period before manuscripts resulting from NIH funding must be made publicly available is removed.
www.nih.gov
December 18, 2024 at 3:41 PM
Terrific! Paywalls are disappearing! No more 12 month embargo between when NIH funded work appears in a journal and when it becomes accessible to all (as of December 2025).
www.nih.gov/about-nih/wh...
www.nih.gov/about-nih/wh...
Reposted by Ben Williams
NIH grant review is changing for proposals submitted starting Jan 25,2025!
The new framework will have 3 review factors instead of 5 criteria, with one factor combining Significance & Innovation, & another combining Investigator and Environment
grants.nih.gov/policy-and-c...
The new framework will have 3 review factors instead of 5 criteria, with one factor combining Significance & Innovation, & another combining Investigator and Environment
grants.nih.gov/policy-and-c...
December 18, 2024 at 9:03 PM
NIH grant review is changing for proposals submitted starting Jan 25,2025!
The new framework will have 3 review factors instead of 5 criteria, with one factor combining Significance & Innovation, & another combining Investigator and Environment
grants.nih.gov/policy-and-c...
The new framework will have 3 review factors instead of 5 criteria, with one factor combining Significance & Innovation, & another combining Investigator and Environment
grants.nih.gov/policy-and-c...
Reposted by Ben Williams
With today's report outlining risks on mirror life www.science.org/doi/full/10.... many have asked:
Could mirror life survive in the wild?
Yes. While mirror life in the wild could have some significant disadvantages (like finding food it can digest), they do not appear to be insurmountable: 🧵
Could mirror life survive in the wild?
Yes. While mirror life in the wild could have some significant disadvantages (like finding food it can digest), they do not appear to be insurmountable: 🧵
Confronting risks of mirror life
Broad discussion is needed to chart a path forward.
www.science.org
December 12, 2024 at 9:40 PM
With today's report outlining risks on mirror life www.science.org/doi/full/10.... many have asked:
Could mirror life survive in the wild?
Yes. While mirror life in the wild could have some significant disadvantages (like finding food it can digest), they do not appear to be insurmountable: 🧵
Could mirror life survive in the wild?
Yes. While mirror life in the wild could have some significant disadvantages (like finding food it can digest), they do not appear to be insurmountable: 🧵
Reposted by Ben Williams
Saw Wicked last night. Child Elphaba and adult Elphaba wear the same eyeglass frames, despite head growth over time. Did the frames magically grow with her or did she find a manufacturer that sells identical frames in child and adult sizes? Many people are asking this.
December 2, 2024 at 3:42 PM
Saw Wicked last night. Child Elphaba and adult Elphaba wear the same eyeglass frames, despite head growth over time. Did the frames magically grow with her or did she find a manufacturer that sells identical frames in child and adult sizes? Many people are asking this.
Reposted by Ben Williams
Did we conceive the structure of neurons incorrectly all these years?
nature.com/articles/s41...
not smooth, cylindrical strands but a string of pearls?
it's controversial
science.org/content/arti...
@science.org
nature.com/articles/s41...
not smooth, cylindrical strands but a string of pearls?
it's controversial
science.org/content/arti...
@science.org
Membrane mechanics dictate axonal pearls-on-a-string morphology and function - Nature Neuroscience
Axons have always been assumed to be cylindrical. Using in silico modeling and cryopreservation of tissues, Griswold et al. demonstrate that unmyelinated axons of the mammalian central nervous system ...
nature.com
December 2, 2024 at 10:13 PM
Did we conceive the structure of neurons incorrectly all these years?
nature.com/articles/s41...
not smooth, cylindrical strands but a string of pearls?
it's controversial
science.org/content/arti...
@science.org
nature.com/articles/s41...
not smooth, cylindrical strands but a string of pearls?
it's controversial
science.org/content/arti...
@science.org
Reposted by Ben Williams
Excited and thrilled to share our recent work that reports a possible alpha-to-beta transdifferentiation event taking place in human islets with harmine treatment. www.cell.com/cell-reports...
Cycling alpha cells in regenerative drug-treated human pancreatic islets may serve as key beta cell progenitors
Diabetes results from an absolute or functional reduction in human pancreatic beta
cells. Small-molecule DYRK1A inhibitors exemplified by harmine induce human beta cell
proliferation and enhance human...
www.cell.com
December 2, 2024 at 4:07 PM
Excited and thrilled to share our recent work that reports a possible alpha-to-beta transdifferentiation event taking place in human islets with harmine treatment. www.cell.com/cell-reports...
Reposted by Ben Williams
Comparison of pathway-specific polygenic risk score for type 2 diabetes between Europeans (purple) vs South Asians (green; Pakistanis & Bangladeshis).
Hodgson et al. Nat Med
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Hodgson et al. Nat Med
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
November 27, 2024 at 3:24 PM
Comparison of pathway-specific polygenic risk score for type 2 diabetes between Europeans (purple) vs South Asians (green; Pakistanis & Bangladeshis).
Hodgson et al. Nat Med
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Hodgson et al. Nat Med
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
An interesting quote from Warren Buffett on managing grant seekers: “Those who can distribute huge sums are forever regarded as ‘targets of opportunity…This unpleasant reality comes with the territory. Hence, the ‘unanimous decision’ provision [for the foundation run by his adult children].” (1/5)
Warren Buffett Donates Another $1 Billion. He Has Estate-Planning Advice for Everyone.
The legendary investor will again give a portion of his Berkshire Hathaway shares to four family foundations.
www.wsj.com
November 26, 2024 at 2:00 PM
An interesting quote from Warren Buffett on managing grant seekers: “Those who can distribute huge sums are forever regarded as ‘targets of opportunity…This unpleasant reality comes with the territory. Hence, the ‘unanimous decision’ provision [for the foundation run by his adult children].” (1/5)
Reposted by Ben Williams
Access to the paper can be found here: rdcu.be/d1n7G
Inceptor binds to and directs insulin towards lysosomal degradation in β cells
Nature Metabolism - The insulin inhibitory receptor (inceptor) is found to bind to insulin and to regulate insulin stores by directing proinsulin and insulin towards lysosomal degradation.
rdcu.be
November 25, 2024 at 11:16 AM
Access to the paper can be found here: rdcu.be/d1n7G
C-Path and Helmsley partner to advance a promising preclinical drug to treat T1D
c-path.org/c-paths-trxa...
c-path.org/c-paths-trxa...
C-Path’s TRxA Announces $1 Million Award for Drug Development Project in Type 1 Diabetes
TUCSON, Ariz., November 19, 2024 — Critical Path Institute® (C-Path) today announced that its Translational Therapeutics Accelerator (TRxA) program, in partnership with The Leona M. and Harry B. Helms...
c-path.org
November 19, 2024 at 10:29 PM
C-Path and Helmsley partner to advance a promising preclinical drug to treat T1D
c-path.org/c-paths-trxa...
c-path.org/c-paths-trxa...
It’s good news when more funding flows into the T1D hypoglycemia prevention space: www.zucara.ca/news/zucara-...
Zucara Therapeutics Announces Strategic Investment from Sanofi as Part of US$20 Million Series B Financing
www.zucara.ca
November 12, 2024 at 7:02 PM
It’s good news when more funding flows into the T1D hypoglycemia prevention space: www.zucara.ca/news/zucara-...