Salma Kaochar
@kaochar.bsky.social
Assistant Professor, Baylor College of Medicine. Research Focus: Cancer Health Disparities, cancer drug development, 📣📣all posts are my own.
Reposted by Salma Kaochar
“They have dropped a bomb on themselves.”
-Katalin Kariko, the Nobel laureate whose work led to the development of the Covid mRNA vaccine.
The majority of the clinical trials have already moved to China.
"China has already taken over. Scientists will move."
🧪 www.thetimes.com/us/news-toda...
-Katalin Kariko, the Nobel laureate whose work led to the development of the Covid mRNA vaccine.
The majority of the clinical trials have already moved to China.
"China has already taken over. Scientists will move."
🧪 www.thetimes.com/us/news-toda...
I developed mRNA vaccines. RFK Jr is endangering US public health
Katalin Karikó says the health secretary’s decision to pull research funding for the technology is akin to ‘dropping a bomb on the US’
www.thetimes.com
August 8, 2025 at 9:14 PM
“They have dropped a bomb on themselves.”
-Katalin Kariko, the Nobel laureate whose work led to the development of the Covid mRNA vaccine.
The majority of the clinical trials have already moved to China.
"China has already taken over. Scientists will move."
🧪 www.thetimes.com/us/news-toda...
-Katalin Kariko, the Nobel laureate whose work led to the development of the Covid mRNA vaccine.
The majority of the clinical trials have already moved to China.
"China has already taken over. Scientists will move."
🧪 www.thetimes.com/us/news-toda...
Reposted by Salma Kaochar
Columbia. Harvard. UPenn. George Mason. UVA. UCLA.
One by one, universities are being attacked—financially, politically, ideologically.
Faculty & staff: don’t wait for it to hit your campus. Join the national movement defending higher ed.
standtogetherhighered.org (sign up on homepage)
One by one, universities are being attacked—financially, politically, ideologically.
Faculty & staff: don’t wait for it to hit your campus. Join the national movement defending higher ed.
standtogetherhighered.org (sign up on homepage)
August 2, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Columbia. Harvard. UPenn. George Mason. UVA. UCLA.
One by one, universities are being attacked—financially, politically, ideologically.
Faculty & staff: don’t wait for it to hit your campus. Join the national movement defending higher ed.
standtogetherhighered.org (sign up on homepage)
One by one, universities are being attacked—financially, politically, ideologically.
Faculty & staff: don’t wait for it to hit your campus. Join the national movement defending higher ed.
standtogetherhighered.org (sign up on homepage)
Reposted by Salma Kaochar
Extra kudos and thanks to all the staff at NIH and NSF and other federal funding agencies for working extra hard in very small windows of opportunity to get grants reviewed and funds released before the attention-addled federal policies change again (on an hourly basis).
July 30, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Extra kudos and thanks to all the staff at NIH and NSF and other federal funding agencies for working extra hard in very small windows of opportunity to get grants reviewed and funds released before the attention-addled federal policies change again (on an hourly basis).
Reposted by Salma Kaochar
Due to disruptions in funding, there will be no applications admitted for U Michigan's epidemiology PhD this fall. 🧪
www.michigandaily.com/news/news-br...
www.michigandaily.com/news/news-br...
UMich cancels doctoral epidemiology program admissions for 2026
The University of Michigan School of Public Health will not admit a 2025-2026 admissions cycle cohort to its PhD in Epidemiologic Sciences program.
www.michigandaily.com
July 30, 2025 at 11:28 PM
Due to disruptions in funding, there will be no applications admitted for U Michigan's epidemiology PhD this fall. 🧪
www.michigandaily.com/news/news-br...
www.michigandaily.com/news/news-br...
Reposted by Salma Kaochar
It's not just #NIH. It's not just #NSF. It's not just #NASA.
The whole scientific community has to make clear that all science across fed agencies is being destroyed in the US.
We can't just ask for our particular piece of the pie. The whole pie is being thrown out - saving your bit won't work.
The whole scientific community has to make clear that all science across fed agencies is being destroyed in the US.
We can't just ask for our particular piece of the pie. The whole pie is being thrown out - saving your bit won't work.
June 25, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Reposted by Salma Kaochar
“A 57% reduction in CDMRP appropriation will most certainly risk vital advances in #CancerResearch, halting much needed innovation. CDMRP is responsible for several clinical cancer advancements, especially for prostate cancer.” - @llacasseacscan.bsky.social (2/3)
March 11, 2025 at 10:35 PM
“A 57% reduction in CDMRP appropriation will most certainly risk vital advances in #CancerResearch, halting much needed innovation. CDMRP is responsible for several clinical cancer advancements, especially for prostate cancer.” - @llacasseacscan.bsky.social (2/3)
Reposted by Salma Kaochar
Today the House passed the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations & Extensions Act. It contains no increases for federal #CancerResearch or prevention funding & significant cuts to Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP): www.fightcancer.org/releases/us-... (1/3)
March 11, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Today the House passed the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations & Extensions Act. It contains no increases for federal #CancerResearch or prevention funding & significant cuts to Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP): www.fightcancer.org/releases/us-... (1/3)
Reposted by Salma Kaochar
Bluetorial: Women, courage, and leadership
What follows will include some generalizations based on population averages of what I have experienced over the course of my career. There are, of course, exceptions in every group who are substantially more to one extreme or the other.
What follows will include some generalizations based on population averages of what I have experienced over the course of my career. There are, of course, exceptions in every group who are substantially more to one extreme or the other.
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
March 9, 2025 at 4:33 AM
Bluetorial: Women, courage, and leadership
What follows will include some generalizations based on population averages of what I have experienced over the course of my career. There are, of course, exceptions in every group who are substantially more to one extreme or the other.
What follows will include some generalizations based on population averages of what I have experienced over the course of my career. There are, of course, exceptions in every group who are substantially more to one extreme or the other.
Ramadan Mubarak to all observing! May this sacred time help us release grudges, cleanse our hearts, and absolve our sins. Let it deepen our gratitude for our blessings, and inspire compassion for those less fortunate. Wishing you and your families a peaceful and fulfilling Ramadan. 🤲🌙
February 28, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Ramadan Mubarak to all observing! May this sacred time help us release grudges, cleanse our hearts, and absolve our sins. Let it deepen our gratitude for our blessings, and inspire compassion for those less fortunate. Wishing you and your families a peaceful and fulfilling Ramadan. 🤲🌙
Reposted by Salma Kaochar
This refers to the R35 MIRA applications.They are reviewed in six panels that have different topic responsibilities. I'd already noted that MRAA did not take place on 2/18. MRAD 2/25 did not occur. MRAB seemingly met 2/6, and MRAF on 2/10. MRAE is pending 3/4 meeting.
Finally we received the notification. MRAC is postponed until a later date. I feel so sorry for all the ESI that worked so hard to get these applications in. Cool science that is not getting funded.
@jeremymberg.bsky.social @annikabarber.bsky.social @drugmonkey.bsky.social @sundermannaj.bsky.social
@jeremymberg.bsky.social @annikabarber.bsky.social @drugmonkey.bsky.social @sundermannaj.bsky.social
February 27, 2025 at 12:59 AM
This refers to the R35 MIRA applications.They are reviewed in six panels that have different topic responsibilities. I'd already noted that MRAA did not take place on 2/18. MRAD 2/25 did not occur. MRAB seemingly met 2/6, and MRAF on 2/10. MRAE is pending 3/4 meeting.
Reposted by Salma Kaochar
ATTENTION
The Washington Post is collecting data about funding issues. Please consider contributing.
thewashingtonpost.formstack.com/forms/scient...
The Washington Post is collecting data about funding issues. Please consider contributing.
thewashingtonpost.formstack.com/forms/scient...
Are you a scientist who has lost funding or grants in recent weeks? - Formstack
thewashingtonpost.formstack.com
February 26, 2025 at 6:19 PM
ATTENTION
The Washington Post is collecting data about funding issues. Please consider contributing.
thewashingtonpost.formstack.com/forms/scient...
The Washington Post is collecting data about funding issues. Please consider contributing.
thewashingtonpost.formstack.com/forms/scient...
Reposted by Salma Kaochar
seeing several positively glowing undergraduates in the lab today because they received offers from graduate school. Very exciting and very proud of them! 🧪. Despite the 'Endzeitstimmung, remember, this is why we are doing all of this...❤️❤️❤️
February 25, 2025 at 10:21 PM
seeing several positively glowing undergraduates in the lab today because they received offers from graduate school. Very exciting and very proud of them! 🧪. Despite the 'Endzeitstimmung, remember, this is why we are doing all of this...❤️❤️❤️
So hard to do but I think this is the right decision. I have been seeing how everything we say to defend is getting twisted and turned against us. I am going to personally increase my focus on my trainees and the science.
Don't be a useful idiot puppet for the regime drugmonkey.wordpress.com/2025/02/25/d...
Don’t be a useful idiot puppet for the regime
I say this to myself regularly in the past weeks, mostly when it comes to sitting on my hands about my regular NIH-related and academic science career-related hobby horse issues as they arise. We h…
drugmonkey.wordpress.com
February 26, 2025 at 5:17 AM
So hard to do but I think this is the right decision. I have been seeing how everything we say to defend is getting twisted and turned against us. I am going to personally increase my focus on my trainees and the science.
Reposted by Salma Kaochar
Don't be a useful idiot puppet for the regime drugmonkey.wordpress.com/2025/02/25/d...
Don’t be a useful idiot puppet for the regime
I say this to myself regularly in the past weeks, mostly when it comes to sitting on my hands about my regular NIH-related and academic science career-related hobby horse issues as they arise. We h…
drugmonkey.wordpress.com
February 25, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Don't be a useful idiot puppet for the regime drugmonkey.wordpress.com/2025/02/25/d...
Reposted by Salma Kaochar
Yup. By Bill Bramhall
February 25, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Yup. By Bill Bramhall
Reposted by Salma Kaochar
NIDA has announced it, but all the NIH summer internship programs are likely cancelled.
Sorry college students interested in STEM jobs, sorry high school students looking at science 🧪 careers. Trump and Musk are cancelling your futures.
Sorry college students interested in STEM jobs, sorry high school students looking at science 🧪 careers. Trump and Musk are cancelling your futures.
Another loss for #science & the next generation of researchers. The 28-year running NIDA summer internship program is cancelled for this year.
@altnih4science.bsky.social #SavetheNIH
@altnih4science.bsky.social #SavetheNIH
February 24, 2025 at 11:54 PM
NIDA has announced it, but all the NIH summer internship programs are likely cancelled.
Sorry college students interested in STEM jobs, sorry high school students looking at science 🧪 careers. Trump and Musk are cancelling your futures.
Sorry college students interested in STEM jobs, sorry high school students looking at science 🧪 careers. Trump and Musk are cancelling your futures.
Reposted by Salma Kaochar
Wondering if your study section cancelled? I update this sheet daily. As of today, 56/124 study sections that should have met since Jan 2, 2025 have "not met as scheduled." docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
2025 Study section tracking
docs.google.com
February 24, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Wondering if your study section cancelled? I update this sheet daily. As of today, 56/124 study sections that should have met since Jan 2, 2025 have "not met as scheduled." docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Reposted by Salma Kaochar
Sharing this video and website from the Colorectal Cancer Alliance: The End of Colorectal Cancer Starts with Project Cure CRC - featuring many familiar faces from the GI Medical Onc community uniting to #EndColorectalCancer
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cd77...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cd77...
The End of Colorectal Cancer Starts with Project Cure CRC
YouTube video by Colorectal Cancer Alliance
www.youtube.com
February 24, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Sharing this video and website from the Colorectal Cancer Alliance: The End of Colorectal Cancer Starts with Project Cure CRC - featuring many familiar faces from the GI Medical Onc community uniting to #EndColorectalCancer
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cd77...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cd77...
Reposted by Salma Kaochar
If leadership were a meritocracy, more women would be in charge.
- women outperform men in education
- women outperform men in so-called soft skills
- toxic & destructive leaders tend to be men
- women more likely to lead democratically & develop subordinates
www.forbes.com/sites/tomasp...
- women outperform men in education
- women outperform men in so-called soft skills
- toxic & destructive leaders tend to be men
- women more likely to lead democratically & develop subordinates
www.forbes.com/sites/tomasp...
Women, Men, And Meritocracy: A Scientific Perspective
Will the current backlash against diversity and inclusion boost or harm meritocracy?
www.forbes.com
February 24, 2025 at 6:41 PM
If leadership were a meritocracy, more women would be in charge.
- women outperform men in education
- women outperform men in so-called soft skills
- toxic & destructive leaders tend to be men
- women more likely to lead democratically & develop subordinates
www.forbes.com/sites/tomasp...
- women outperform men in education
- women outperform men in so-called soft skills
- toxic & destructive leaders tend to be men
- women more likely to lead democratically & develop subordinates
www.forbes.com/sites/tomasp...
Reposted by Salma Kaochar
More stupid RePORTER tricks. I was looking at Type 5 (noncompeting) Notices of award dates last week to determine if there was a systemic halt. there was not. I re-checked today because of the database delay, sure enough I'm now seeing Type 5 issued after 2/15 and up to 2/22.
February 24, 2025 at 7:45 PM
More stupid RePORTER tricks. I was looking at Type 5 (noncompeting) Notices of award dates last week to determine if there was a systemic halt. there was not. I re-checked today because of the database delay, sure enough I'm now seeing Type 5 issued after 2/15 and up to 2/22.
Reposted by Salma Kaochar
I created a brief spreadsheet of reductions I've heard of so far. Any additions you know of (especially if you have the links/receipts) would be great: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Graduate Reductions Across Biomedical Sciences (2025)
docs.google.com
February 22, 2025 at 1:23 PM
I created a brief spreadsheet of reductions I've heard of so far. Any additions you know of (especially if you have the links/receipts) would be great: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Reposted by Salma Kaochar
"We will have many opportunities to demonstrate our value to Secretary Kennedy in the coming weeks and months." is toadie suck up talk. We are so fucking hosed.
The Continuing Crisis, Part V: What the NIH Is Telling Its People | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/blog...
The Continuing Crisis, Part V: What the NIH Is Telling Its People | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/blog...
The Continuing Crisis, Part V: What the NIH Is Telling Its People
www.science.org
February 22, 2025 at 1:20 AM
"We will have many opportunities to demonstrate our value to Secretary Kennedy in the coming weeks and months." is toadie suck up talk. We are so fucking hosed.
The Continuing Crisis, Part V: What the NIH Is Telling Its People | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/blog...
The Continuing Crisis, Part V: What the NIH Is Telling Its People | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/blog...
Reposted by Salma Kaochar
A truly bold public access policy would completely dissociate the NIH from the world of journals by refusing to pay into the corrupt and corrupting journal system, and directing NIH grantees to publish their work as preprints, exposing it to real and ongoing scrutiny.
December 19, 2024 at 6:48 PM
A truly bold public access policy would completely dissociate the NIH from the world of journals by refusing to pay into the corrupt and corrupting journal system, and directing NIH grantees to publish their work as preprints, exposing it to real and ongoing scrutiny.
😖😖😖😣😣
Musk is looking for market for his Optimus/Tesla bot
Musk is looking for market for his Optimus/Tesla bot
Breaking: Trump is signing an executive order intended to cut federal workforce
Order directs agencies to work with DOGE and says that after the current hiring freeze lifts, agencies will only be able to hire one new employee for every four who leave (with a few exceptions like law enforcement)
Order directs agencies to work with DOGE and says that after the current hiring freeze lifts, agencies will only be able to hire one new employee for every four who leave (with a few exceptions like law enforcement)
February 12, 2025 at 4:56 AM
😖😖😖😣😣
Musk is looking for market for his Optimus/Tesla bot
Musk is looking for market for his Optimus/Tesla bot
Reposted by Salma Kaochar
NIH employs doctors, nurses, scientific leaders, PhD students, postdocs, staff scientists, postbac students, program-directing scientists, review-directing scientists, engineers, tech people, and other highly skilled people. Many are world-renowned and will go abroad.
2/
2/
February 12, 2025 at 12:42 AM
NIH employs doctors, nurses, scientific leaders, PhD students, postdocs, staff scientists, postbac students, program-directing scientists, review-directing scientists, engineers, tech people, and other highly skilled people. Many are world-renowned and will go abroad.
2/
2/