Demi Sandel
@demisandel.bsky.social
5th year PhD candidate in Biomedical Sciences @ UCSF in the Rutishauser and Spitzer labs | formerly Jacks lab @ MIT and Newman lab @ LA Tech | Studying CD8+ T cell responses in HIV and cancer
Reposted by Demi Sandel
🚨HUGE SCIENCE WIN ALERT🚨
NIH Grants to be restored en masse!!! Thank you Judge Young for standing up for science!
#StandUpforScience
#SummerFightforScience
NIH Grants to be restored en masse!!! Thank you Judge Young for standing up for science!
#StandUpforScience
#SummerFightforScience
BREAKING: A federal judge in Massachusetts (the Reagan-appointed William Young) has declared the Trump administration's cuts to NIH grants — ostensibly over Trump's EOs on gender ideology and DEI — are "illegal" and "void." He's ordering many grants restored.
June 16, 2025 at 6:54 PM
🚨HUGE SCIENCE WIN ALERT🚨
NIH Grants to be restored en masse!!! Thank you Judge Young for standing up for science!
#StandUpforScience
#SummerFightforScience
NIH Grants to be restored en masse!!! Thank you Judge Young for standing up for science!
#StandUpforScience
#SummerFightforScience
Reposted by Demi Sandel
THIS IS IT! THIS IS HUGE!!
PLAINTIFF'S WIN!!
Judge Young rules that the NIH grant terminations at issue in these cases are illegal and therefore vacated. BOOM!
PLAINTIFF'S WIN!!
Judge Young rules that the NIH grant terminations at issue in these cases are illegal and therefore vacated. BOOM!
"This Court rules that the challenged directives . . . are arbitrary and capricious."
"They are of no force and effect."
"They are illegal and so are each of the terminations before this Court"
"They are of no force and effect."
"They are illegal and so are each of the terminations before this Court"
June 16, 2025 at 6:21 PM
THIS IS IT! THIS IS HUGE!!
PLAINTIFF'S WIN!!
Judge Young rules that the NIH grant terminations at issue in these cases are illegal and therefore vacated. BOOM!
PLAINTIFF'S WIN!!
Judge Young rules that the NIH grant terminations at issue in these cases are illegal and therefore vacated. BOOM!
Reposted by Demi Sandel
New from me: Everything feels overwhelming. But here is a tangible thing you can do: write a comment to oppose Trump's plan to convert 50,000 career civil servants into political appointees. Deadline is May 23. Please share!
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/here-is-a-...
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/here-is-a-...
Here is a specific thing you can do to fight Trump's politicization of public services
Plus: what I wrote in Science about the revised Schedule F
donmoynihan.substack.com
May 9, 2025 at 12:33 PM
New from me: Everything feels overwhelming. But here is a tangible thing you can do: write a comment to oppose Trump's plan to convert 50,000 career civil servants into political appointees. Deadline is May 23. Please share!
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/here-is-a-...
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/here-is-a-...
Reposted by Demi Sandel
With a torrent of executive orders, President Donald Trump has turned U.S. science upside down in his first 100 days, and the onslaught isn’t likely to end soon. scim.ag/3Yti8Xg
After 100 days of upheaval, what’s next for U.S. science?
Fights over research spending and pending court rulings loom large
scim.ag
May 1, 2025 at 5:48 PM
With a torrent of executive orders, President Donald Trump has turned U.S. science upside down in his first 100 days, and the onslaught isn’t likely to end soon. scim.ag/3Yti8Xg
Reposted by Demi Sandel
April 21, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Reposted by Demi Sandel
🧪 Our Terminated NSF Grant Tracker is live 🧪
🔴 114 NSF grants listed so far
🔴 Cancelled grants focused on
→ Training scientists
→ Misinformation
→ AI
→ Climate change
Credit to @noamross.net for all the work to build this & to all PIs who submitted their info.
Link: airtable.com/appGKlSVeXni...
🔴 114 NSF grants listed so far
🔴 Cancelled grants focused on
→ Training scientists
→ Misinformation
→ AI
→ Climate change
Credit to @noamross.net for all the work to build this & to all PIs who submitted their info.
Link: airtable.com/appGKlSVeXni...
April 21, 2025 at 7:59 PM
🧪 Our Terminated NSF Grant Tracker is live 🧪
🔴 114 NSF grants listed so far
🔴 Cancelled grants focused on
→ Training scientists
→ Misinformation
→ AI
→ Climate change
Credit to @noamross.net for all the work to build this & to all PIs who submitted their info.
Link: airtable.com/appGKlSVeXni...
🔴 114 NSF grants listed so far
🔴 Cancelled grants focused on
→ Training scientists
→ Misinformation
→ AI
→ Climate change
Credit to @noamross.net for all the work to build this & to all PIs who submitted their info.
Link: airtable.com/appGKlSVeXni...
Reposted by Demi Sandel
Absolutely devastating reporting from Hana Kiros on what "life-saving aid" has come to mean and not mean, and the many children dying as a result. www.theatlantic.com/health/archi...
‘In Three Months, Half of Them Will Be Dead’
Elon Musk promised to preserve lifesaving aid to foreign children. Then the Trump administration quietly canceled it.
www.theatlantic.com
April 21, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Absolutely devastating reporting from Hana Kiros on what "life-saving aid" has come to mean and not mean, and the many children dying as a result. www.theatlantic.com/health/archi...
Reposted by Demi Sandel
“The Trump administration is now tearing down that legacy. It has cut funding and programs for HIV research, treatment, and prevention so deeply that “we’re watching the field burn to the ground,” Rebecca Fielding-Miller, a behavioral scientist and an HIV researcher at UC San Diego, told me.”
Trump’s Revenge on Public Health
The attacks on HIV research are just the beginning of unraveling decades of progress.
www.theatlantic.com
April 12, 2025 at 10:15 PM
“The Trump administration is now tearing down that legacy. It has cut funding and programs for HIV research, treatment, and prevention so deeply that “we’re watching the field burn to the ground,” Rebecca Fielding-Miller, a behavioral scientist and an HIV researcher at UC San Diego, told me.”
Reposted by Demi Sandel
I have learned that the directors of ALL: PREP, IMSD, and IRACDA programs across the country have received similar cancelation notices. This follows previous cancellations of MARC and URISE programs. This further dismantles the mechanisms that enable scientific training opportunities for SO MANY.
You want to know the best way to show thanks for chairing a study section? Early the next morning sent them a termination notice for their PREP training grant.
Just completed day 2 of chairing a NIH study section. Brain is tired after intently listening and leading discussions of ~40 apps. So fulfilling to hear the passion people have for others' science, and heartwarming to see so many people who care about the training and environment of others 🫶 (299!)
April 2, 2025 at 8:49 PM
I have learned that the directors of ALL: PREP, IMSD, and IRACDA programs across the country have received similar cancelation notices. This follows previous cancellations of MARC and URISE programs. This further dismantles the mechanisms that enable scientific training opportunities for SO MANY.
Reposted by Demi Sandel
An important point getting overlooked:
When NIH cancels "diversity" grants (e.g., diversity supplements, Fs, Ks, etc), they aren't canceling the grants based on *what* the grant studies.
They're cancelling them based on *who* is doing the research. And that disallowed "who" is anyone not white.
When NIH cancels "diversity" grants (e.g., diversity supplements, Fs, Ks, etc), they aren't canceling the grants based on *what* the grant studies.
They're cancelling them based on *who* is doing the research. And that disallowed "who" is anyone not white.
April 4, 2025 at 1:24 PM
An important point getting overlooked:
When NIH cancels "diversity" grants (e.g., diversity supplements, Fs, Ks, etc), they aren't canceling the grants based on *what* the grant studies.
They're cancelling them based on *who* is doing the research. And that disallowed "who" is anyone not white.
When NIH cancels "diversity" grants (e.g., diversity supplements, Fs, Ks, etc), they aren't canceling the grants based on *what* the grant studies.
They're cancelling them based on *who* is doing the research. And that disallowed "who" is anyone not white.
Reposted by Demi Sandel
NEW: “It’s chaos—absolute chaos,” said one NIH senior scientist watching the firings unfold. Some senior NIH officials given hours to decide if the agreed to be reassigned to jobs in Alaska, Oklahoma, and other states. | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...
Trump administration purges U.S. health agency leaders
Reassignment letters come as reduction in force begins
www.science.org
April 1, 2025 at 5:29 PM
NEW: “It’s chaos—absolute chaos,” said one NIH senior scientist watching the firings unfold. Some senior NIH officials given hours to decide if the agreed to be reassigned to jobs in Alaska, Oklahoma, and other states. | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Demi Sandel
Open letter from nearly 2000 NAS member scientists: "We see real danger in this moment. We hold diverse political beliefs, but we are united (...) in wanting to protect independent scientific inquiry. We are sending this SOS to sound a warning: the nation’s scientific enterprise is being decimated."
Public Statement on Supporting Science for the Benefit of All Citizens
TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE We all rely on science. Science gave us the smartphones in our pockets, the navigation systems in our cars, and life-saving medical care. We count on engineers when we drive acr...
docs.google.com
March 31, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Open letter from nearly 2000 NAS member scientists: "We see real danger in this moment. We hold diverse political beliefs, but we are united (...) in wanting to protect independent scientific inquiry. We are sending this SOS to sound a warning: the nation’s scientific enterprise is being decimated."
Reposted by Demi Sandel
We fell down the staircase: A conversation with @stephanienolen.bsky.social about tuberculosis and making our future more perilous. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/27/h...
For John Green, It’s Tuberculosis All the Way Down
The best-selling author “got a little emotional” while talking with The Times about tuberculosis. Listen to the conversation.
www.nytimes.com
March 28, 2025 at 6:08 PM
We fell down the staircase: A conversation with @stephanienolen.bsky.social about tuberculosis and making our future more perilous. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/27/h...
Reposted by Demi Sandel
On a letter I signed
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/31/s...
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/31/s...
Trump Administration Has Begun a War on Science, Researchers Say (Gift Article)
Nearly 2,000 scientists urged that Congress restore funding to federal agencies decimated by recent cuts.
www.nytimes.com
March 31, 2025 at 4:08 PM
On a letter I signed
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/31/s...
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/31/s...
Reposted by Demi Sandel
They are cutting cancer research. They are cutting cancer research. They can deny it all they want, but they are cutting cancer research. These are the cuts being made the DoD CDMRP cancer funding mechanism www.fightcancer.org/sites/defaul...
March 27, 2025 at 10:11 AM
They are cutting cancer research. They are cutting cancer research. They can deny it all they want, but they are cutting cancer research. These are the cuts being made the DoD CDMRP cancer funding mechanism www.fightcancer.org/sites/defaul...
Reposted by Demi Sandel
Working with an interdisciplinary team, we have developed a website to communicate how the White House's proposed cuts to health research would cause losses of $16B and 68,500 jobs.
Find out how your community may be impacted.
Explore more at SCIMaP: scienceimpacts.org
a 🧵
Find out how your community may be impacted.
Explore more at SCIMaP: scienceimpacts.org
a 🧵
March 28, 2025 at 2:15 AM
Working with an interdisciplinary team, we have developed a website to communicate how the White House's proposed cuts to health research would cause losses of $16B and 68,500 jobs.
Find out how your community may be impacted.
Explore more at SCIMaP: scienceimpacts.org
a 🧵
Find out how your community may be impacted.
Explore more at SCIMaP: scienceimpacts.org
a 🧵
Reposted by Demi Sandel
A decline in funding for the HIV response could result in millions of preventable new infections and deaths, with up to 120,000 of these deaths affecting children.
International cooperation is essential to sustain the advances we’ve made in HIV prevention, testing, and treatment.
bit.ly/43uTfxA
International cooperation is essential to sustain the advances we’ve made in HIV prevention, testing, and treatment.
bit.ly/43uTfxA
March 27, 2025 at 4:05 PM
A decline in funding for the HIV response could result in millions of preventable new infections and deaths, with up to 120,000 of these deaths affecting children.
International cooperation is essential to sustain the advances we’ve made in HIV prevention, testing, and treatment.
bit.ly/43uTfxA
International cooperation is essential to sustain the advances we’ve made in HIV prevention, testing, and treatment.
bit.ly/43uTfxA
Reposted by Demi Sandel
The NIH plans to resume posting notices of new solicitations for grant proposals. But there’s a catch: The HHS and DOGE will review each draft notice to ensure the research that will be funded aligns with the priorities of President Trump’s administration, Science has learned. scim.ag/3DJsafL
Trump officials will screen NIH funding opportunities
Staff at biomedical agency worry about political interference in setting priorities
scim.ag
March 27, 2025 at 12:47 PM
The NIH plans to resume posting notices of new solicitations for grant proposals. But there’s a catch: The HHS and DOGE will review each draft notice to ensure the research that will be funded aligns with the priorities of President Trump’s administration, Science has learned. scim.ag/3DJsafL
Reposted by Demi Sandel
“The cancellations stunned scientists who had depended on the government’s support.
“The idea that we don’t need further research to learn how to treat health problems caused by coronaviruses and prevent future pandemics because ‘Covid-19 is over’ is absurd,” said Pamela Bjorkman”
“The idea that we don’t need further research to learn how to treat health problems caused by coronaviruses and prevent future pandemics because ‘Covid-19 is over’ is absurd,” said Pamela Bjorkman”
H.H.S. Scraps Studies of Vaccines and Treatments for Future Pandemics
Federal officials cited the end of the Covid-19 pandemic in halting the research. But much of the work was focused on preventing outbreaks of other pathogens.
www.nytimes.com
March 26, 2025 at 11:54 PM
“The cancellations stunned scientists who had depended on the government’s support.
“The idea that we don’t need further research to learn how to treat health problems caused by coronaviruses and prevent future pandemics because ‘Covid-19 is over’ is absurd,” said Pamela Bjorkman”
“The idea that we don’t need further research to learn how to treat health problems caused by coronaviruses and prevent future pandemics because ‘Covid-19 is over’ is absurd,” said Pamela Bjorkman”
Reposted by Demi Sandel
“Until I left last week, I led the CDC’s public health messaging. Now we need something to replace it.” When the government becomes a health misinformation superspreader www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Opinion | When the government becomes a health misinformation superspreader
Until I left last week, I led the CDC’s public health messaging. Now we need something to replace it.
www.washingtonpost.com
March 25, 2025 at 10:00 PM
“Until I left last week, I led the CDC’s public health messaging. Now we need something to replace it.” When the government becomes a health misinformation superspreader www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Reposted by Demi Sandel
In <24 hours, Covid funding is DOGEd across HHS, CDC, NIH as if it and Long Covid didn't exist and there is no worry for future pandemics
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...
www.science.org/content/arti...
March 25, 2025 at 10:30 PM
In <24 hours, Covid funding is DOGEd across HHS, CDC, NIH as if it and Long Covid didn't exist and there is no worry for future pandemics
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...
www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Demi Sandel
Combination immunotherapy induces post-intervention control of HIV
www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-6...
www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-6...
March 19, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Combination immunotherapy induces post-intervention control of HIV
www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-6...
www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-6...
Reposted by Demi Sandel
Excited to share this preprint: In trial led by @michaelpelusomd.bsky.social and Steve Deeks, combination immunotherapy=>high rate of HIV control (low VL) after ART pause. @demisandel.bsky.social in our lab found control associated with robust CD8+ T cell proliferation early in response to rebound.
March 20, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Excited to share this preprint: In trial led by @michaelpelusomd.bsky.social and Steve Deeks, combination immunotherapy=>high rate of HIV control (low VL) after ART pause. @demisandel.bsky.social in our lab found control associated with robust CD8+ T cell proliferation early in response to rebound.