Ben Gewurz
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bgewurz.bsky.social
Ben Gewurz
@bgewurz.bsky.social
George and Sandra K. Schussel Associate Professor. Associate Chair, Program in Virology. Interested in Epstein-Barr virus, B cells, cancer, lymphoma, gastric cancer, nasopharyngealcarcinoma, immunometabolism, CRISPR, multiple sclerosis
Interesting that ebv oncogene lmp1 is suggested to be related to multiple sclerosis in the study. among other things, the CD40 mimic LMP1 upregulates b cell antigen presentation to and activation of T cells.
March 13, 2025 at 12:32 AM
Reposted by Ben Gewurz
The cancers with the highest cure rates are actually childhood cancers, partly because most of these kids are in clinical trials, which is how we advance science
We often hear people asking “Why are there no cures for cancer yet?”

I’m not sure the public realizes we have the ability right now to eradicate an entire type of cancer. Eliminate it. But that’s likely not going to happen now if vaxx #s decline
March 8, 2025 at 7:27 PM
This is taken for granted, but very literally change the world
🌍📚 Happy World Book Day! 📚🌍

Our recommendation is an amazing book that chronicles the world-changing research that turned penicillin from a scientific curiosity into a drug that saved millions of lives.

Conflict of interest: This incredible story took place right here at @dunnschool.bsky.social!
March 6, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Reposted by Ben Gewurz
More than 2 million people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer this year.

Now is not the time to pull back on discovering new cancer treatments, screening methods, and cures.

Join us and urge Congress to continue to invest in #CancerResearch. Every moment counts. ⬇️
Cancer progress is at risk. Urge Congress to prioritize funding for cancer research!
ACS CAN is the leading cancer advocacy organization that is working every day to make cancer issues a national priority.
act.fightcancer.org
February 27, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Reposted by Ben Gewurz
Yo-we can't buy your products if you don't labor to reverse the funding freeze, and you'll have to close your plant in Mebane NC
@milliporesigma.bsky.social

@thermofishersci.bsky.social

@sigmaaldrich.bsky.social
Please reskeet and tag your favorite lab supply/tech companies, biotech, pharma, journals, etc. etc. accounts!
I hope that everyone in the private sector who depends on federal grants to train their researchers and staff, pay for their services and products, or benefits in any other way from federal funding will come out to #standupforscience!
February 22, 2025 at 12:20 AM
This is for study, but raises the question of whether EBV is driving this as well. The relative risk between EBV and multiple sclerosis is higher than that between smoking and lung cancer, based on a study of military members who were EBV negative at time of recruitment.
Deep cervical lymph nodes of patients with multiple sclerosis have an altered B cell compartment that transcriptionally resembles an EBV infection
@sciimmunology.bsky.social
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
February 21, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Reposted by Ben Gewurz
"Cuts to the HHS workforce have the potential to dismantle the critical government infrastructure that has played a pivotal role in cancer survivorship for 18 million individuals who are alive today in the U.S. resulting in more suffering from cancer nationwide." - @llacasseacscan.bsky.social
Significant Reduction in Workforce at Critical Health Agencies Puts the Nation’s Leadership in the Fight Against Cancer at Risk
“Government has a responsibility to continually assess the best application of national resources; however, indiscriminate cuts to our nation’s health and research infrastructure funding significantly...
www.fightcancer.org
February 19, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Reposted by Ben Gewurz
Can you explain your doctoral research through interpretive dance?

The 17th annual #DanceYourPhD competition is open! Submit by 28 March for a chance to win $2000: https://scim.ag/4gKMnz9
February 19, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Cool title for a review on bacterial subversion of host cell pathways
February 18, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Reposted by Ben Gewurz
Are you travelling abroad soon?

Open the Uber app.

Click Account.

Click Wallet.

Click Preferred Currency.

Select No Preferred Currency - always pay in the local currency of your ride.

If you don't select this, Uber will add a 1.5% conversion fee to your trip fare.
February 18, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Reposted by Ben Gewurz
CAR-T-cell therapy treated a girl with a rare childhood cancer, raising hopes for future recipients of the approach

https://go.nature.com/42XLYpK
Woman in cancer remission for record 19 years after CAR-T immune treatment
CAR-T-cell therapy treated a girl with a rare childhood cancer, raising hopes for future recipients of the approach.
go.nature.com
February 17, 2025 at 5:02 PM
It was wonderful to have Italo Tempera join us in Boston today for a seminar and visit
February 13, 2025 at 1:21 AM
Reposted by Ben Gewurz
NIH freeze on grants, indirect-cost research cuts lead young scientists to look at opportunities abroad. "A fire sale on American academics right now."
Trump policies spark fears of brain drain, threatening to undermine U.S. dominance in biomedicine
A torrent of Trump administration policies is alarming scientists who fear the current climate is weakening researchers’ resolve to stick with careers in academic science.
buff.ly
February 12, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Reposted by Ben Gewurz
This is outstanding. All academic scientists should be required to watch this.
Make sure you, your trainees, and anyone else who might listen to you understands what "indirects" actually are, how they are established, and what Universities contribute. H/T @rodallab.bsky.social

Please share widely!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxTD...
Facilities and Administrative (F&A) Costs Explainer
YouTube video by Association of American Universities
www.youtube.com
February 11, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Reposted by Ben Gewurz
JUST IN: A federal judge in Massachusetts has blocked the Trump administration's rate change to NIH grants.

storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
February 10, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Reposted by Ben Gewurz
CRISPR-Cas, cheap genomic sequencing, mRNA vaccines and other products, paired with AI protein folding prediction technology (eg Alphafold) are the likely core of the next big thing. and it's where a big chunk of 2 decades of US R&D have gone. Cumulative US R&D by top spenders / by sector, 2004-2023
February 8, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Reposted by Ben Gewurz
This Sunday, students who live in Boston and their families have free access to nine of the City’s world-class cultural institutions through #BostonFamilyDays.

Before heading out tomorrow, please check the institutions’ websites for closures and schedule changes.
February 8, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Reposted by Ben Gewurz
Your Action Is Needed!

Congress needs to hear from scientists. Call your representatives to oppose funding freezes and restrictions on research. Find contact info at govtrack.us and make your voice heard today! #SciencePolicy

www.ascb.org/science-poli...
February 5, 2025 at 3:39 PM