Andrew Smith
@itsandysmith.bsky.social
Helping biopharma humanise their healthcare & corporate communication, with a side order of guitar (mostly musical theatre)
Reposted by Andrew Smith
Apparently the journalist contacted some of the supposed "authors" of the studies who said they had never heard of such studies (and certainly hadn't conducted them). www.notus.org/health-scien...
The MAHA Report Cites Studies That Don’t Exist
The Trump administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” report misinterprets some studies and cites others that don’t exist, according to the listed authors.
www.notus.org
May 29, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Apparently the journalist contacted some of the supposed "authors" of the studies who said they had never heard of such studies (and certainly hadn't conducted them). www.notus.org/health-scien...
Reposted by Andrew Smith
FDA’s rare disease hub continues after staff cuts, with just one departure, director Amy Comstock Rick says — though broader agency changes will still affect its work.
Rare disease hub at CDER and CBER faces new reality with staff crunch
Amy Comstock Rick, who directs the FDA's CDER-CBER joint rare disease hub, spoke about the impact of job cuts at the agency and the hub's future.
endpts.com
April 7, 2025 at 8:45 PM
FDA’s rare disease hub continues after staff cuts, with just one departure, director Amy Comstock Rick says — though broader agency changes will still affect its work.
Reposted by Andrew Smith
Even in 2025, some things still shock. Like the apparent selection of a long-time vaccine opponent who was disciplined & fined for practicing medicine without a license to conduct a new HHS study into whether there's a link between vaccines and autism.
www.statnews.com/2025/03/26/r...
www.statnews.com/2025/03/26/r...
Vaccine critic’s apparent selection to head HHS autism study shocks experts
The apparent choice of a major player in the anti-vaccine community to conduct an HHS study on autism has shocked vaccine experts.
www.statnews.com
March 26, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Even in 2025, some things still shock. Like the apparent selection of a long-time vaccine opponent who was disciplined & fined for practicing medicine without a license to conduct a new HHS study into whether there's a link between vaccines and autism.
www.statnews.com/2025/03/26/r...
www.statnews.com/2025/03/26/r...
PubMed, a free online database of medical literature, appears to have been taken down overnight! (Shocking, but somehow not surprising in the context of recent events.) Thankfully for anyone in urgent need of the latest medical info, Europe PMC covers much of the same territory
Try its cousin from across the pond: europepmc.org.
Europe PMCHome - Europe PMC
Europe PMC is an archive of life sciences journal literature.
europepmc.org
March 2, 2025 at 9:05 AM
PubMed, a free online database of medical literature, appears to have been taken down overnight! (Shocking, but somehow not surprising in the context of recent events.) Thankfully for anyone in urgent need of the latest medical info, Europe PMC covers much of the same territory
Reposted by Andrew Smith
Francis Collins, the NIH Director for 12 years, led the Human Genome Project and other NIH efforts for 32 years, resigned today. Key words from his resignation letter
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/01/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/01/u...
March 1, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Francis Collins, the NIH Director for 12 years, led the Human Genome Project and other NIH efforts for 32 years, resigned today. Key words from his resignation letter
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/01/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/01/u...
I've been proud to be part of of developing and writing this report. #RareNext is a broad look at the tensions and challenges facing the #RareDisease community, drawn from experts throughout the #Havas Health Network, with insights and potential routes towards collaborative solutions.
havasrarenext.com
February 26, 2025 at 10:38 PM
I've been proud to be part of of developing and writing this report. #RareNext is a broad look at the tensions and challenges facing the #RareDisease community, drawn from experts throughout the #Havas Health Network, with insights and potential routes towards collaborative solutions.
Reposted by Andrew Smith
A new approach to academic publishing: just pour right-wing money into your own vanity journal. “Peer reviewers” paid $500 per review but are not allowed to advise against publishing the article. Wonder who’s on the editorial board…
www.importantcontext.news/p/a-new-acad...
www.importantcontext.news/p/a-new-acad...
“A New Academic Publishing Model”: Right-Wing Dark Money Group Launches Fringe Medical Journal
The right-wing RealClear Foundation’s foray into public health has been called “a mockery of scientific process.”
www.importantcontext.news
February 8, 2025 at 6:18 AM
A new approach to academic publishing: just pour right-wing money into your own vanity journal. “Peer reviewers” paid $500 per review but are not allowed to advise against publishing the article. Wonder who’s on the editorial board…
www.importantcontext.news/p/a-new-acad...
www.importantcontext.news/p/a-new-acad...
Fascinating paper in today's Lancet, suggesting that NICE recommendations for funding new NHS treatments have displaced more health value than they added. But the analysis hinges on estimated NHS cost-effectiveness that's a decade old. www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Population-health impact of new drugs recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence in England during 2000–20: a retrospective analysis
During 2000–20, NHS coverage of new drugs displaced more population health than it generated. Our results highlight the inherent trade-offs between individuals who directly benefit from new drugs and those who forgo health due to the reallocation of resources towards new drugs.
www.thelancet.com
January 3, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Fascinating paper in today's Lancet, suggesting that NICE recommendations for funding new NHS treatments have displaced more health value than they added. But the analysis hinges on estimated NHS cost-effectiveness that's a decade old. www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Important to bear in mind with GLP-1s
Muscle matters: the effects of medically induced weight loss on skeletal muscle
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
December 31, 2024 at 11:10 AM
Important to bear in mind with GLP-1s
In tonight's #D&D game, I gave one of my players' characters anaphylaxis from fighting giant shrimp - is this a first?! Thankfully, the rest of the team were able to notice and stabilise him :-)
December 29, 2024 at 10:13 PM
In tonight's #D&D game, I gave one of my players' characters anaphylaxis from fighting giant shrimp - is this a first?! Thankfully, the rest of the team were able to notice and stabilise him :-)
We produce medical animations, and I often end up recording the voiceovers - I totally agree with this!!!
The most effective editing move is still the one I stole from George Saunders: read your draft over and over and over again, out loud, until you have to fix the bad parts because you will literally die if you have to read them more time
December 18, 2024 at 7:48 PM
We produce medical animations, and I often end up recording the voiceovers - I totally agree with this!!!
The first severe case of human H5N1 infection is is deeply concerning. This piece in Science less than 2 weeks ago explains why www.science.org/content/arti...
December 18, 2024 at 5:39 PM
The first severe case of human H5N1 infection is is deeply concerning. This piece in Science less than 2 weeks ago explains why www.science.org/content/arti...
GLP-1 RAs (and related multi-agonists) shouldn't be seen as an isolated "cure" for obesity, but as a tool to jump-start a process of shifting perspective and behaviour. And the benefits of that total package of self-care could compound as people build new habits, even post-treatment
Viewpoint: Francesca Celletti, Francesco Branca, and Jeremy Farrar from @who.int discuss the prevalence of obesity worldwide and whether the novel GLP-1 RAs can help unlock a health system's response to the obesity pandemic.
https://ja.ma/4gHb0wP
https://ja.ma/4gHb0wP
December 18, 2024 at 5:08 PM
GLP-1 RAs (and related multi-agonists) shouldn't be seen as an isolated "cure" for obesity, but as a tool to jump-start a process of shifting perspective and behaviour. And the benefits of that total package of self-care could compound as people build new habits, even post-treatment
Reposted by Andrew Smith
Reposted by Andrew Smith
How to write a good scientific review article. #PhD #scisky #medsky
Open Access
febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Open Access
febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
December 4, 2024 at 11:11 AM
How to write a good scientific review article. #PhD #scisky #medsky
Open Access
febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Open Access
febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Reposted by Andrew Smith
Scientists, academics, researchers: We’re excited to share that @altmetric.com is now tracking mentions of your research on Bluesky! 🧪
There are already many articles for which there is more attention on Bluesky than on other comparable micro-blogging sites, meaning the academic community and the general public have clearly adopted Bluesky as one of its core places to disseminate and discuss new research.
A Place of Joy.
A Place of Joy.
December 3, 2024 at 2:10 PM
Scientists, academics, researchers: We’re excited to share that @altmetric.com is now tracking mentions of your research on Bluesky! 🧪
Reposted by Andrew Smith
Tbilisi now. Sorry, don’t have a picture credit yet.
November 30, 2024 at 8:23 PM
Tbilisi now. Sorry, don’t have a picture credit yet.
Reposted by Andrew Smith
The HPV vaccine has been recommended in the US since 2006. New study out today shows that cervical cancer deaths in young women in the years that followed have plummeted, decreasing 15% per year from 2013-2015.
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Cervical Cancer Mortality Among US Women Younger Than 25 Years
This study examines trends in cervical cancer mortality in US women aged younger than 25 years before and after the introduction of human papillomavirus vaccines.
jamanetwork.com
November 28, 2024 at 2:43 AM
The HPV vaccine has been recommended in the US since 2006. New study out today shows that cervical cancer deaths in young women in the years that followed have plummeted, decreasing 15% per year from 2013-2015.
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
The impact of climate change on health is far broader and more complex than one might think. Could this also mean that the health benefits of positive change on climate might be felt sooner?
“Climate change is here, and we feel it through its impact on our health. Preventing these effects is far cheaper than dealing with the consequences.” — Vanessa Kerry
Vanessa Kerry is on a mission to make the health care system resilient to climate change
Climate change is exacerbating health disparities around the world, says Seed Global Health founder Vanessa Kerry
buff.ly
November 27, 2024 at 10:46 PM
The impact of climate change on health is far broader and more complex than one might think. Could this also mean that the health benefits of positive change on climate might be felt sooner?
Just listened to this fascinating interview while out running. I'm planning to buy her book tomorrow. I already subscribe to @prospectmagazine.bsky.social and recommend you do too!
🎧: From JFK’s assassination to the moon landing, conspiracy theories have always existed. But the rise of social media has enabled fake news to spread like wildfire. Marianna Spring joins us to discuss.
mediaconfidential.ln...
mediaconfidential.ln...
Media Confidential
Alan Rusbridger and Lionel Barber dive into the hugely important world of media.
What—and who—drives it?
What do they get right... And what do they get wrong?
Lionel, former editor of the Financial Times, and Alan, editor of Prospect and former editor of the Guardian, will bring you revealing, high profile interviews and in-depth discussion.
Media Confidential is a Fresh Air production for Prospect Magazine.
About Prospect
Prospect brings rigorously fact-checked analysis, ideas and perspectives to the big topics the world is grappling with.
In addition to being the UK’s leading monthly current affairs magazine, Prospect publishes daily commentary and analysis online. Even more discussion about the ideas that matter is available in our growing range of newsletters and podcasts, the most recent of which is Media Confidential.
mediaconfidential.lnk.to
November 16, 2024 at 4:59 PM
Just listened to this fascinating interview while out running. I'm planning to buy her book tomorrow. I already subscribe to @prospectmagazine.bsky.social and recommend you do too!
Seems that folks are seeding the algorithm, so why not:
🎸Guitar (rock, jazz, country, whatever)
🎷Reeds
🎭Musical theater (in the band, on the stage)
⚛️Sci-fi & modern literature
🎲TTRPGs & actual play (Worlds Without Number, Critical Role)
⚕️Medical / Corporate communications for pharma / biotech
🎸Guitar (rock, jazz, country, whatever)
🎷Reeds
🎭Musical theater (in the band, on the stage)
⚛️Sci-fi & modern literature
🎲TTRPGs & actual play (Worlds Without Number, Critical Role)
⚕️Medical / Corporate communications for pharma / biotech
November 10, 2024 at 12:35 PM
Seems that folks are seeding the algorithm, so why not:
🎸Guitar (rock, jazz, country, whatever)
🎷Reeds
🎭Musical theater (in the band, on the stage)
⚛️Sci-fi & modern literature
🎲TTRPGs & actual play (Worlds Without Number, Critical Role)
⚕️Medical / Corporate communications for pharma / biotech
🎸Guitar (rock, jazz, country, whatever)
🎷Reeds
🎭Musical theater (in the band, on the stage)
⚛️Sci-fi & modern literature
🎲TTRPGs & actual play (Worlds Without Number, Critical Role)
⚕️Medical / Corporate communications for pharma / biotech
A very middle-aged birthday: lazy morning, gentle 10km run and starting to read Naomi Klein's latest book
November 9, 2024 at 8:48 AM
A very middle-aged birthday: lazy morning, gentle 10km run and starting to read Naomi Klein's latest book
Just finished reading The Terraformers by @annaleen.bsky.social . Really enjoyed it: SF that manages to be both wide-angle and very personal, with (too) many contemporary resonances. What to read next? #SF #Books
October 2, 2024 at 1:31 PM
Just finished reading The Terraformers by @annaleen.bsky.social . Really enjoyed it: SF that manages to be both wide-angle and very personal, with (too) many contemporary resonances. What to read next? #SF #Books