Mark Fortner
@markfortner.bsky.social
CEO @ https://aspen.bio, bioinformatics, cheminformatics, cancer research, AI in Drug Discovery, Research Project & Portfolio Management, FAIR data, semantic web, web components, java, groovy, genomics, proteomics, DEL, TPDs, Pancreatic Cancer
Pinned
Digital Transformation with Robot Monkeys
YouTube video by Aspen Biosciences
youtu.be
Does your #DrugDiscovery strategy feel like... AI-fueled robot monkeys hammering away and hoping for a miracle? 🐒🤖
The race for funding is real, but chaos isn't a plan. It's time to swap the monkeys for a real #DigitalTransformation roadmap.
youtu.be/R0n__5HOOe8?...
The race for funding is real, but chaos isn't a plan. It's time to swap the monkeys for a real #DigitalTransformation roadmap.
youtu.be/R0n__5HOOe8?...
Reposted by Mark Fortner
Preprint alert: 🧠🌊🦓-🐟
Have you ever wondered how molecules move around the brain?
Check out our latest preprint led by Halvor Herlyng from the team of Marie Rognes @utropstegn.bsky.social at @simularesearch.bsky.social and us at NTNU.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Have you ever wondered how molecules move around the brain?
Check out our latest preprint led by Halvor Herlyng from the team of Marie Rognes @utropstegn.bsky.social at @simularesearch.bsky.social and us at NTNU.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Advection versus diffusion in brain ventricular transport
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is integral to brain function. CSF provides mechanical support for the brain and helps distribute nutrients, neurotransmitters and metabolites throughout the central nervous ...
www.biorxiv.org
May 2, 2025 at 7:18 AM
Preprint alert: 🧠🌊🦓-🐟
Have you ever wondered how molecules move around the brain?
Check out our latest preprint led by Halvor Herlyng from the team of Marie Rognes @utropstegn.bsky.social at @simularesearch.bsky.social and us at NTNU.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Have you ever wondered how molecules move around the brain?
Check out our latest preprint led by Halvor Herlyng from the team of Marie Rognes @utropstegn.bsky.social at @simularesearch.bsky.social and us at NTNU.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Mark Fortner
How can large language models (LLMs) & #KnowledgeGraphs work together to make complex data more accessible?
#GRAPHIA’s Matteo Romanello, Luca De Santis & Yann Pomie explore interfaces using #LLMs to query structured data in plain language.
🎥 www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ch8a...
#AI #OpenScience #SSHData
#GRAPHIA’s Matteo Romanello, Luca De Santis & Yann Pomie explore interfaces using #LLMs to query structured data in plain language.
🎥 www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ch8a...
#AI #OpenScience #SSHData
Day 3 Language as an Interface
YouTube video by GRAPHIA Project
www.youtube.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:13 AM
How can large language models (LLMs) & #KnowledgeGraphs work together to make complex data more accessible?
#GRAPHIA’s Matteo Romanello, Luca De Santis & Yann Pomie explore interfaces using #LLMs to query structured data in plain language.
🎥 www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ch8a...
#AI #OpenScience #SSHData
#GRAPHIA’s Matteo Romanello, Luca De Santis & Yann Pomie explore interfaces using #LLMs to query structured data in plain language.
🎥 www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ch8a...
#AI #OpenScience #SSHData
Stanford Medicine scientists tie lupus to a virus nearly all of us carry
Stanford Medicine scientists tie lupus to a virus nearly all of us carry
The Epstein-Barr virus can convert B cells it’s infected into diabolical overlords that reprogram myriad other immune cells to attack our tissues, Stanford Medicine scientists have found.
med.stanford.edu
November 14, 2025 at 1:08 AM
Stanford Medicine scientists tie lupus to a virus nearly all of us carry
Reposted by Mark Fortner
The recent openRxiv meeting was a chance to present a vision for the future: a network of organizations working together to improve science communication and an ‘article of the future’ that is a constellation of linked web objects.
openrxiv.org/openrxiv-day/
openrxiv.org/openrxiv-day/
November 13, 2025 at 7:14 PM
The recent openRxiv meeting was a chance to present a vision for the future: a network of organizations working together to improve science communication and an ‘article of the future’ that is a constellation of linked web objects.
openrxiv.org/openrxiv-day/
openrxiv.org/openrxiv-day/
Reposted by Mark Fortner
For #redWednesday, a dahlia from the San Francisco Conservatory of Flower's dahlia garden with a tiny pollinator.
#dahlia #flowers #nature #bloomscrolling #pollinators #gardens #naturephotography #photography
#dahlia #flowers #nature #bloomscrolling #pollinators #gardens #naturephotography #photography
November 12, 2025 at 11:48 PM
For #redWednesday, a dahlia from the San Francisco Conservatory of Flower's dahlia garden with a tiny pollinator.
#dahlia #flowers #nature #bloomscrolling #pollinators #gardens #naturephotography #photography
#dahlia #flowers #nature #bloomscrolling #pollinators #gardens #naturephotography #photography
Reposted by Mark Fortner
Bindwell applies AI drug discovery techniques to invent new pesticide molecules.
Teen founders raise $6M to reinvent pesticides using AI — and convince Paul Graham to join in | TechCrunch
Bindwell applies AI drug discovery techniques to invent new pesticide molecules.
techcrunch.com
November 13, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Bindwell applies AI drug discovery techniques to invent new pesticide molecules.
Reposted by Mark Fortner
It’s all coming in time for the holidays to allegedly make your gifting more convenient (and also conveniently ensure that Google gets a piece of the action).
Google is rolling out conversational shopping—and ads—in AI Mode search
Conversational shopping is Google’s first big swing at monetizing AI Mode search.
arstechnica.com
November 13, 2025 at 8:03 PM
It’s all coming in time for the holidays to allegedly make your gifting more convenient (and also conveniently ensure that Google gets a piece of the action).
Reposted by Mark Fortner
mRNA vaccines help vs cancer
Our @scifri.bsky.social conversation, with transcript
www.sciencefriday.com/segments/cov...
Remarkable improved survival data and mechanism reviewed here erictopol.substack.com/p/how-mrna-v...
Our @scifri.bsky.social conversation, with transcript
www.sciencefriday.com/segments/cov...
Remarkable improved survival data and mechanism reviewed here erictopol.substack.com/p/how-mrna-v...
Study Finds COVID mRNA Vaccines Boost Cancer Treatment
New research found that mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 could enhance cancer treatments and help patients live longer.
www.sciencefriday.com
November 12, 2025 at 5:42 PM
mRNA vaccines help vs cancer
Our @scifri.bsky.social conversation, with transcript
www.sciencefriday.com/segments/cov...
Remarkable improved survival data and mechanism reviewed here erictopol.substack.com/p/how-mrna-v...
Our @scifri.bsky.social conversation, with transcript
www.sciencefriday.com/segments/cov...
Remarkable improved survival data and mechanism reviewed here erictopol.substack.com/p/how-mrna-v...
Reposted by Mark Fortner
Early findings indicate that Epstein-Barr Virus may also cause the autoimmune disease lupus
The Virus That Causes Mono May Also Cause Lupus
Early findings indicate that Epstein-Barr Virus may also cause the autoimmune disease lupus
www.scientificamerican.com
November 12, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Early findings indicate that Epstein-Barr Virus may also cause the autoimmune disease lupus
Ken Parker, Who Reinvented the Guitar, Is Dead at 73 | Just in case your collection is incomplete. @gilman.bsky.social
Ken Parker, Who Reinvented the Guitar, Is Dead at 73
www.nytimes.com
November 12, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Ken Parker, Who Reinvented the Guitar, Is Dead at 73 | Just in case your collection is incomplete. @gilman.bsky.social
Reposted by Mark Fortner
Big Tech is plotting a $100M lobbying and campaign spending blitz to block AI regulation at the state and federal level.
We must stop this takeover before it's too late.
We must stop this takeover before it's too late.
November 11, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Big Tech is plotting a $100M lobbying and campaign spending blitz to block AI regulation at the state and federal level.
We must stop this takeover before it's too late.
We must stop this takeover before it's too late.
Reposted by Mark Fortner
AI has helped researchers design antibodies that bind to antigenic sites with atomic-level precision.
AI-designed antibodies target antigens with atomic precision
Epitope-binding proteins designed from scratch by generative AI model
www.chemistryworld.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:30 PM
AI has helped researchers design antibodies that bind to antigenic sites with atomic-level precision.
New #AI framework can uncover space physics equations in raw data
New AI framework can uncover space physics equations in raw data
Artificial intelligence (AI) systems, particularly artificial neural networks, have proved to be highly promising tools for uncovering patterns in large amounts of data that would otherwise be difficu...
phys.org
November 10, 2025 at 8:31 PM
New #AI framework can uncover space physics equations in raw data
Reposted by Mark Fortner
PyrMol: A Knowledge-Structured Pyramid Graph Framework forGeneralizable Molecular Property Prediction https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.09.686426v1
November 10, 2025 at 2:47 PM
PyrMol: A Knowledge-Structured Pyramid Graph Framework forGeneralizable Molecular Property Prediction https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.09.686426v1
Reposted by Mark Fortner
An experimental gene-editing treatment shows promise for permanently lowering levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, possibly helping cut the risk for heart disease. n.pr/4hPhrQp
CRISPR gene-editing works to reduce high cholesterol in a new study
An experimental gene-editing treatment shows promise for permanently lowering levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, possibly helping cut the risk for heart disease.
n.pr
November 8, 2025 at 3:51 PM
An experimental gene-editing treatment shows promise for permanently lowering levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, possibly helping cut the risk for heart disease. n.pr/4hPhrQp
Reposted by Mark Fortner
After several days of dry, balmy weather and temperatures reaching into the 90s, California is expected to see a dramatic change in the weather this week, likely beginning on Wednesday when a storm system will usher in lower temperatures and heavy rain and snow.
Heavy Rain Expected in California After Spell of Unusually Warm Weather
Areas across the state could record anywhere from one to five or more inches of rain. The Sierra will get some snow.
nyti.ms
November 8, 2025 at 10:44 PM
After several days of dry, balmy weather and temperatures reaching into the 90s, California is expected to see a dramatic change in the weather this week, likely beginning on Wednesday when a storm system will usher in lower temperatures and heavy rain and snow.
Reposted by Mark Fortner
Roman theatre at Amman, Jordan. It is a 6,000-seat, 2nd-century Roman theatre when the city was known as Philadelphia. A Greek inscription on one of the pillars indicates that this theater was built in honour of Emperor Antoninus Pius (AD 138–161). #RomanSiteSaturday
November 8, 2025 at 4:58 AM
Roman theatre at Amman, Jordan. It is a 6,000-seat, 2nd-century Roman theatre when the city was known as Philadelphia. A Greek inscription on one of the pillars indicates that this theater was built in honour of Emperor Antoninus Pius (AD 138–161). #RomanSiteSaturday
I sometimes wonder when I see articles like this. | #cancer #genetics #heritability #syndrones #LynchSyndrome
A woman's cancer seemed incurable. Identifying a rare genetic condition saved her life.
Chemo and surgery failed to treat Diane Davis' advanced cancer. Things seemed hopeless until genetic testing found an unlikely culprit.
www.cbsnews.com
November 8, 2025 at 8:43 PM
I sometimes wonder when I see articles like this. | #cancer #genetics #heritability #syndrones #LynchSyndrome
Reposted by Mark Fortner
James Watson has died. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/s...
James Watson, Co-Discoverer of the Structure of DNA, Is Dead at 97
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:43 PM
James Watson has died. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/s...
Reposted by Mark Fortner
On the event of James Watson's death, I highly recommend this 2023 commentary from @matthewcobb.bsky.social and Nathaniel Comfort with crucial new insights into the discovery of the double helix. (And also check out Cobb's brand new biography of Francis Crick) www.nature.com/articles/d41...
What Rosalind Franklin truly contributed to the discovery of DNA’s structure
Franklin was no victim in how the DNA double helix was solved. An overlooked letter and an unpublished news article, both written in 1953, reveal that she was an equal player.
www.nature.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:25 PM
On the event of James Watson's death, I highly recommend this 2023 commentary from @matthewcobb.bsky.social and Nathaniel Comfort with crucial new insights into the discovery of the double helix. (And also check out Cobb's brand new biography of Francis Crick) www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Mark Fortner
Identification of Therapeutic Gene Targets in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: A Hybrid Approach Integrating Semidefinite Programming, Boolean Simulation, and Druggability Analysis https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.05.686831v1
November 7, 2025 at 3:47 AM
Identification of Therapeutic Gene Targets in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: A Hybrid Approach Integrating Semidefinite Programming, Boolean Simulation, and Druggability Analysis https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.05.686831v1
Reposted by Mark Fortner
Insurance companies aren’t just players in the fight with doctors over money; they’re also the referees.
They produce their own guidelines on when to pay claims. If a doctor appeals a denial, insurers make all the initial decisions.
(Published April)
By @tchristianmiller.bsky.social
They produce their own guidelines on when to pay claims. If a doctor appeals a denial, insurers make all the initial decisions.
(Published April)
By @tchristianmiller.bsky.social
“Slow Pay, Low Pay or No Pay”: Trial Reveals How Insurers Try to Wield Power Over Doctors
Blue Cross authorized mastectomies and breast reconstructions for women with cancer but refused to pay the full doctors’ bills. A jury called it fraud and awarded the practice $421 million.
www.propublica.org
November 7, 2025 at 4:00 AM
Insurance companies aren’t just players in the fight with doctors over money; they’re also the referees.
They produce their own guidelines on when to pay claims. If a doctor appeals a denial, insurers make all the initial decisions.
(Published April)
By @tchristianmiller.bsky.social
They produce their own guidelines on when to pay claims. If a doctor appeals a denial, insurers make all the initial decisions.
(Published April)
By @tchristianmiller.bsky.social
Reposted by Mark Fortner
Over the past decade, there has been a rush of scholars moving across the Pacific to China, drawn by Beijing’s drive to become a scientific superpower.
But President Trump’s return to the White House has turbocharged this effort.
But President Trump’s return to the White House has turbocharged this effort.
Why Trump’s cuts to scientific research are a big win for China
China is attracting American scientific talent, especially in STEM fields, partly due to funding cuts and immigration restrictions under President Donald Trump.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:00 AM
Over the past decade, there has been a rush of scholars moving across the Pacific to China, drawn by Beijing’s drive to become a scientific superpower.
But President Trump’s return to the White House has turbocharged this effort.
But President Trump’s return to the White House has turbocharged this effort.
Reposted by Mark Fortner
BChemXtract - a ChemDraw parser and structure extractor - is our first open source software project and is available on @github:
🔗 https://github.com/Beilstein-Institut/BChemXtract
#openscience #opensource #fairdata #fairchemistry #Cheminformatics #github #beilsteincheminfolabs #bchemxtract
🔗 https://github.com/Beilstein-Institut/BChemXtract
#openscience #opensource #fairdata #fairchemistry #Cheminformatics #github #beilsteincheminfolabs #bchemxtract
November 5, 2025 at 2:00 PM
BChemXtract - a ChemDraw parser and structure extractor - is our first open source software project and is available on @github:
🔗 https://github.com/Beilstein-Institut/BChemXtract
#openscience #opensource #fairdata #fairchemistry #Cheminformatics #github #beilsteincheminfolabs #bchemxtract
🔗 https://github.com/Beilstein-Institut/BChemXtract
#openscience #opensource #fairdata #fairchemistry #Cheminformatics #github #beilsteincheminfolabs #bchemxtract