Max Kozlov
@maxkozlov.bsky.social
science reporter covering biomedical research at Nature | proudly Ukrainian 🇺🇦
maxkozlov.com
signal: mkozlov.01
maxkozlov.com
signal: mkozlov.01
There's an exclusive, closed-to-media MAHA summit tomorrow. Here's the full agenda I was leaked
In attendance will be JD Vance, RFK Jr, Bhattacharya, Makary, actor Russell Brand (who is facing rape and sexual assault charges), and dozens of other MAHA influencers and people in Trump's orbit
In attendance will be JD Vance, RFK Jr, Bhattacharya, Makary, actor Russell Brand (who is facing rape and sexual assault charges), and dozens of other MAHA influencers and people in Trump's orbit
November 11, 2025 at 11:01 PM
There's an exclusive, closed-to-media MAHA summit tomorrow. Here's the full agenda I was leaked
In attendance will be JD Vance, RFK Jr, Bhattacharya, Makary, actor Russell Brand (who is facing rape and sexual assault charges), and dozens of other MAHA influencers and people in Trump's orbit
In attendance will be JD Vance, RFK Jr, Bhattacharya, Makary, actor Russell Brand (who is facing rape and sexual assault charges), and dozens of other MAHA influencers and people in Trump's orbit
He's not just friends with JD Vance — Vance officiated his wedding!
sontagfoundation.org/grantee_stor...
sontagfoundation.org/grantee_stor...
October 17, 2025 at 8:25 PM
He's not just friends with JD Vance — Vance officiated his wedding!
sontagfoundation.org/grantee_stor...
sontagfoundation.org/grantee_stor...
Several scientists have received letters from the NIH director disinviting them from their positions on advisory councils that make final decisions on grant funding, I'm told.
In July, I reported that NIH staff were told to select members aligned with Trump administration priorities.
In July, I reported that NIH staff were told to select members aligned with Trump administration priorities.
September 29, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Several scientists have received letters from the NIH director disinviting them from their positions on advisory councils that make final decisions on grant funding, I'm told.
In July, I reported that NIH staff were told to select members aligned with Trump administration priorities.
In July, I reported that NIH staff were told to select members aligned with Trump administration priorities.
September 5, 2025 at 12:59 AM
Some serious shade being thrown at Gorsuch in the NIH grant cuts case, where he chastised lower-court judges for defying SCOTUS's emergency rulings.
"That said, the Supreme Court’s recent emergency docket rulings regarding grant terminations have not been models of clarity," Judge Burroughs writes.
"That said, the Supreme Court’s recent emergency docket rulings regarding grant terminations have not been models of clarity," Judge Burroughs writes.
September 3, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Some serious shade being thrown at Gorsuch in the NIH grant cuts case, where he chastised lower-court judges for defying SCOTUS's emergency rulings.
"That said, the Supreme Court’s recent emergency docket rulings regarding grant terminations have not been models of clarity," Judge Burroughs writes.
"That said, the Supreme Court’s recent emergency docket rulings regarding grant terminations have not been models of clarity," Judge Burroughs writes.
NEW: A federal judge has demanded NSF explain in court how the UCLA grant suspensions are not in violation of her June order that restored grants to UC scientists
August 5, 2025 at 4:15 PM
NEW: A federal judge has demanded NSF explain in court how the UCLA grant suspensions are not in violation of her June order that restored grants to UC scientists
Interesting adopted amendment from Sen Reed re. clinical trials abroad targeted by the NIH's ban on foreign subawards.
The amendment allows "reimbursements and other funding arrangements with research partners abroad to foster pediatric cancer, rare disease, HIV and infectious disease
research."
The amendment allows "reimbursements and other funding arrangements with research partners abroad to foster pediatric cancer, rare disease, HIV and infectious disease
research."
July 31, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Interesting adopted amendment from Sen Reed re. clinical trials abroad targeted by the NIH's ban on foreign subawards.
The amendment allows "reimbursements and other funding arrangements with research partners abroad to foster pediatric cancer, rare disease, HIV and infectious disease
research."
The amendment allows "reimbursements and other funding arrangements with research partners abroad to foster pediatric cancer, rare disease, HIV and infectious disease
research."
Here's the Baldwin amendment that DOES effectively prevent NIH from implementing multi-year funding.
Deleted my previous post; the amendments hadn't been posted yet. h/t @davidimiller.bsky.social
Deleted my previous post; the amendments hadn't been posted yet. h/t @davidimiller.bsky.social
July 31, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Here's the Baldwin amendment that DOES effectively prevent NIH from implementing multi-year funding.
Deleted my previous post; the amendments hadn't been posted yet. h/t @davidimiller.bsky.social
Deleted my previous post; the amendments hadn't been posted yet. h/t @davidimiller.bsky.social
A three-judge First Circuit panel has unanimously denied the Trump administration's request to pause the judgment that restored hundreds of NIH grants.
July 20, 2025 at 2:18 PM
A three-judge First Circuit panel has unanimously denied the Trump administration's request to pause the judgment that restored hundreds of NIH grants.
These soon-to-be-disinvited scientists have effectively been ghosted by the NIH as staff have pushed for them to be approved to no avail.
Many are finding out they won't be serving through yesterday's article.
Case in point: This sweet (and sad) email I received last night.
Many are finding out they won't be serving through yesterday's article.
Case in point: This sweet (and sad) email I received last night.
![Re: Exclusive: NIH to dismiss dozens of grant reviewers to align with Trump priorities! Hi Max, I just saw this article and I am so glad you wrote it. I was actually appointed to the [redacted] advisory council last fall, and interviewed with the [redacted] Director in September and ever since November, I have completely lost email communication. I was set to be appointed - they had my CV and everything. I have heard nothing, I checked with the people that appointed me and they don't know anything either. I was really excited for it, and I have no idea what is going to happen but I have resigned myself to not get my hopes up. I have done a lot of work on minority health, so I guess I will not be making it past this new round of "inclusion criteria". I don't know if that was helpful for you at all, but I just wanted to say thanks for writing this because I have felt like I am in the dark with the advisory councils now.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4uvibrw5443voub6rmpfnpsi/bafkreihvzzkn7vlapt6iu7vdu7rvlpptz3urafguw7ntrwznt64vratree@jpeg)
July 15, 2025 at 2:55 PM
These soon-to-be-disinvited scientists have effectively been ghosted by the NIH as staff have pushed for them to be approved to no avail.
Many are finding out they won't be serving through yesterday's article.
Case in point: This sweet (and sad) email I received last night.
Many are finding out they won't be serving through yesterday's article.
Case in point: This sweet (and sad) email I received last night.
These researchers were all nominated under Biden's NIH.
The move will leave councils at most NIH institutes seriously understaffed: NCATS only has 3 of its 18 slots filled and will be down to only 1 in November.
More than half of these slots across NIH are empty, compared to <25% in Jan 2023.
The move will leave councils at most NIH institutes seriously understaffed: NCATS only has 3 of its 18 slots filled and will be down to only 1 in November.
More than half of these slots across NIH are empty, compared to <25% in Jan 2023.
July 14, 2025 at 11:25 PM
These researchers were all nominated under Biden's NIH.
The move will leave councils at most NIH institutes seriously understaffed: NCATS only has 3 of its 18 slots filled and will be down to only 1 in November.
More than half of these slots across NIH are empty, compared to <25% in Jan 2023.
The move will leave councils at most NIH institutes seriously understaffed: NCATS only has 3 of its 18 slots filled and will be down to only 1 in November.
More than half of these slots across NIH are empty, compared to <25% in Jan 2023.
Why are enforcement plans important? Grant money goes to institutions and they disburse funds to research as they see fit.
Meaning the govt has no idea how much goes to these fees let alone trying to cap them, esp because researchers often don't pay list price.
Meaning the govt has no idea how much goes to these fees let alone trying to cap them, esp because researchers often don't pay list price.
July 8, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Why are enforcement plans important? Grant money goes to institutions and they disburse funds to research as they see fit.
Meaning the govt has no idea how much goes to these fees let alone trying to cap them, esp because researchers often don't pay list price.
Meaning the govt has no idea how much goes to these fees let alone trying to cap them, esp because researchers often don't pay list price.
Here's Memoli "reviewing" in 6 minutes 6 grants flagged by a DOGE member to cut. Must be a quick reader!
And then Judge Young roasts Memoli for saying research on gender identity is "often scientific" without any proof. "Ironically, these kinds of phrases would never survive peer review," he writes
And then Judge Young roasts Memoli for saying research on gender identity is "often scientific" without any proof. "Ironically, these kinds of phrases would never survive peer review," he writes
July 2, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Here's Memoli "reviewing" in 6 minutes 6 grants flagged by a DOGE member to cut. Must be a quick reader!
And then Judge Young roasts Memoli for saying research on gender identity is "often scientific" without any proof. "Ironically, these kinds of phrases would never survive peer review," he writes
And then Judge Young roasts Memoli for saying research on gender identity is "often scientific" without any proof. "Ironically, these kinds of phrases would never survive peer review," he writes
Judge Young then turns to Columbia as evidence of NIH's grant process being "abused as a bludgeon".
(Columbia had many of its grants cut for alleged antisemitism and campus unrest.)
(Columbia had many of its grants cut for alleged antisemitism and campus unrest.)
July 2, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Judge Young then turns to Columbia as evidence of NIH's grant process being "abused as a bludgeon".
(Columbia had many of its grants cut for alleged antisemitism and campus unrest.)
(Columbia had many of its grants cut for alleged antisemitism and campus unrest.)
I previously reported that DOGE has been intimately involved in grant cut decisions at NIH.
Indeed: Brad Smith, a leading DOGE figure, sent acting director Memoli a list of 18 notices of funding opportunities to take down. 25 minutes later, Memoli recommended all 18 be taken down.
Indeed: Brad Smith, a leading DOGE figure, sent acting director Memoli a list of 18 notices of funding opportunities to take down. 25 minutes later, Memoli recommended all 18 be taken down.
July 2, 2025 at 11:55 PM
I previously reported that DOGE has been intimately involved in grant cut decisions at NIH.
Indeed: Brad Smith, a leading DOGE figure, sent acting director Memoli a list of 18 notices of funding opportunities to take down. 25 minutes later, Memoli recommended all 18 be taken down.
Indeed: Brad Smith, a leading DOGE figure, sent acting director Memoli a list of 18 notices of funding opportunities to take down. 25 minutes later, Memoli recommended all 18 be taken down.
As I've reported, Judge Young is livid that the Trump administration has made DEI out to be a "boogeyman" without defining it.
On this basis, Judge Young finds that HHS and NIH were "force-fed unworkable 'policy' supported with sparse pseudo-reasoning"
Here are a few of my favorite passages on DEI
On this basis, Judge Young finds that HHS and NIH were "force-fed unworkable 'policy' supported with sparse pseudo-reasoning"
Here are a few of my favorite passages on DEI
July 2, 2025 at 11:55 PM
As I've reported, Judge Young is livid that the Trump administration has made DEI out to be a "boogeyman" without defining it.
On this basis, Judge Young finds that HHS and NIH were "force-fed unworkable 'policy' supported with sparse pseudo-reasoning"
Here are a few of my favorite passages on DEI
On this basis, Judge Young finds that HHS and NIH were "force-fed unworkable 'policy' supported with sparse pseudo-reasoning"
Here are a few of my favorite passages on DEI
The court also finds "extensive discrimination" against trans people. But his hands are tied because of the SCOTUS decision in Skrmetti.
Not all discrimination is illegal, he interprets SCOTUS as ruling, meaning bias against trans people is akin to setting a voting age or disenfranchising felons.
Not all discrimination is illegal, he interprets SCOTUS as ruling, meaning bias against trans people is akin to setting a voting age or disenfranchising felons.
July 2, 2025 at 11:55 PM
The court also finds "extensive discrimination" against trans people. But his hands are tied because of the SCOTUS decision in Skrmetti.
Not all discrimination is illegal, he interprets SCOTUS as ruling, meaning bias against trans people is akin to setting a voting age or disenfranchising felons.
Not all discrimination is illegal, he interprets SCOTUS as ruling, meaning bias against trans people is akin to setting a voting age or disenfranchising felons.
At points, Young is incredulous at the utter lack of reasoning: "... in a hold-my-beer-and-watch-this moment", gender identity was tacked on to the cuts, he writes.
July 2, 2025 at 11:55 PM
At points, Young is incredulous at the utter lack of reasoning: "... in a hold-my-beer-and-watch-this moment", gender identity was tacked on to the cuts, he writes.
The flip flopping continues: NIH director Jay Bhattacharya tweeted today that all agency staff will have full access to all scientific journals including those published by Springer Nature.
I've gone back to the WH, HHS, NASA, DOE, USDA to understand what the heck is going on. I am lost.
I've gone back to the WH, HHS, NASA, DOE, USDA to understand what the heck is going on. I am lost.
July 2, 2025 at 5:52 PM
The flip flopping continues: NIH director Jay Bhattacharya tweeted today that all agency staff will have full access to all scientific journals including those published by Springer Nature.
I've gone back to the WH, HHS, NASA, DOE, USDA to understand what the heck is going on. I am lost.
I've gone back to the WH, HHS, NASA, DOE, USDA to understand what the heck is going on. I am lost.
Judge Young swiftly denies the DOJ's motion to stay his order. The DOJ will seek the same relief from the appellate court, I imagine.
In it, he says NIH "must comply... rather than sequestering funds (probably forever) during the course of the appeal."
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
In it, he says NIH "must comply... rather than sequestering funds (probably forever) during the course of the appeal."
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
June 24, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Judge Young swiftly denies the DOJ's motion to stay his order. The DOJ will seek the same relief from the appellate court, I imagine.
In it, he says NIH "must comply... rather than sequestering funds (probably forever) during the course of the appeal."
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
In it, he says NIH "must comply... rather than sequestering funds (probably forever) during the course of the appeal."
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
DOJ lawyers use the SCOTUS shadow-docket decision in US ED v. CA to make their case. They held that procedural challenges to individual grant cuts should be heard in claims, not district court.
Plaintiffs counter they are challenging the directives that led to the cuts, not the cuts themselves.
Plaintiffs counter they are challenging the directives that led to the cuts, not the cuts themselves.
June 24, 2025 at 1:55 PM
DOJ lawyers use the SCOTUS shadow-docket decision in US ED v. CA to make their case. They held that procedural challenges to individual grant cuts should be heard in claims, not district court.
Plaintiffs counter they are challenging the directives that led to the cuts, not the cuts themselves.
Plaintiffs counter they are challenging the directives that led to the cuts, not the cuts themselves.
Several of these documents were first made public in @nature.com. My talented colleague @smritimallapaty.bsky.social and I reported in early March that not only was the NIH terminating a handful of trans health grants — hundreds more were on the chopping block.
June 23, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Several of these documents were first made public in @nature.com. My talented colleague @smritimallapaty.bsky.social and I reported in early March that not only was the NIH terminating a handful of trans health grants — hundreds more were on the chopping block.
It's a long list of documents issued by Trump's NIH and HHS to provide the basis for the grant cuts. They also instruct NIH staff on how to screen and cancel grants.
June 23, 2025 at 3:35 PM
It's a long list of documents issued by Trump's NIH and HHS to provide the basis for the grant cuts. They also instruct NIH staff on how to screen and cancel grants.
Judge Young's order has come in. Grant terminations in the plaintiff states or to the plaintiff orgs (APHA, UAW) are officially void and illegal.
It also says that the "Challenged Directives" are arbitrary and capricious — and thus illegal as well.
Now what exactly are are these directives? 🧵
It also says that the "Challenged Directives" are arbitrary and capricious — and thus illegal as well.
Now what exactly are are these directives? 🧵
June 23, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Judge Young's order has come in. Grant terminations in the plaintiff states or to the plaintiff orgs (APHA, UAW) are officially void and illegal.
It also says that the "Challenged Directives" are arbitrary and capricious — and thus illegal as well.
Now what exactly are are these directives? 🧵
It also says that the "Challenged Directives" are arbitrary and capricious — and thus illegal as well.
Now what exactly are are these directives? 🧵