Mark Fleury
@mfleury.bsky.social
Research and FDA Policy, Cancer, Public Health, Clinical Trials
Join the #MRCTCenter and #EACTProject on December 9 at 10 AM ET for “Mitigating Financial Toxicity for Participants in Clinical Trials,” a webinar on the financial burdens of trial participation and strategies to reduce hardship. Link to the registration: lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/x4bhu...
Mitigating Financial Toxicity for Participants in Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are essential to advancing medical knowledge and care, but participation in trials can impose real financial burdens on participants and their families—from travel and time away from w...
lp.constantcontactpages.com
December 1, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Join the #MRCTCenter and #EACTProject on December 9 at 10 AM ET for “Mitigating Financial Toxicity for Participants in Clinical Trials,” a webinar on the financial burdens of trial participation and strategies to reduce hardship. Link to the registration: lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/x4bhu...
Are you part of a STEM group seeking to take your public engagement to the next level? Research America offering $4k microgrants. Deadline Dec 1. www.researchamerica.org/civic-scienc...
Civic Engagement Microgrant Program - Research!America
Civic Engagement Microgrant Program Read our report looking at the impact of the first four years of the Microgrant Program. Microgrants of up to $4,000 will be awarded, on a […]
www.researchamerica.org
November 20, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Are you part of a STEM group seeking to take your public engagement to the next level? Research America offering $4k microgrants. Deadline Dec 1. www.researchamerica.org/civic-scienc...
Eye-catching headlines from recent JAMA paper exploring effects of funding cuts on trials. I'd argue some problems with characterization of data and how reported in press. No question, the cuts had big impacts, but need to characterize those impacts accurately. 1/5 jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Consequences of Grant Termination in Clinical Trials
In March 2025, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced that it would be terminating $1.8 billion in grant funding unaligned with the agency’s priorities.1 The proportion of grant funding tha...
jamanetwork.com
November 17, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Eye-catching headlines from recent JAMA paper exploring effects of funding cuts on trials. I'd argue some problems with characterization of data and how reported in press. No question, the cuts had big impacts, but need to characterize those impacts accurately. 1/5 jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Short-term plans are not traditional insurance. People buy insurance to protect them from unmanageable medical bills and short-term plans don't do that, which is why @acscan.bsky.social opposes them. www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
The cheap health insurance promoted by Trump officials has this catch
As millions brace for higher insurance prices, plans touted by the Trump administration are attracting attention. They are cheaper, but coverage is often skimpy.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 17, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Short-term plans are not traditional insurance. People buy insurance to protect them from unmanageable medical bills and short-term plans don't do that, which is why @acscan.bsky.social opposes them. www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
End of an era, but cash in general is quickly falling out of use.
The U.S. Mint won’t produce pennies anymore, but they won’t vanish overnight.
They remain legal tender, and there could be close to 300 billion of them in circulation, Treasurer Brandon Beach said.
They remain legal tender, and there could be close to 300 billion of them in circulation, Treasurer Brandon Beach said.
So long, penny. The Treasury has officially stopped producing one-cent coins.
The U.S. Mint struck its final run of one-cent coins Wednesday, ending almost 230 years of near-continuous penny production.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 13, 2025 at 5:31 PM
End of an era, but cash in general is quickly falling out of use.
Consequential change to see Dr. Pazdur take reigns at CDER after initially turning it down. He's enormously qualified and a more traditional pick for this post, but in this administration not expected. Will he inject stability and predictability? www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
FDA taps oncology expert Pazdur as nation’s top drug regulator
Richard Pazdur, a longtime Food and Drug Administration employee, will lead its center that oversees over-the-counter medicines and the majority of prescription drugs.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 12, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Consequential change to see Dr. Pazdur take reigns at CDER after initially turning it down. He's enormously qualified and a more traditional pick for this post, but in this administration not expected. Will he inject stability and predictability? www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
The thing about science is that sometimes you get it wrong the first time, but the scientific process is unending, so there is still time to get it right. The fact that our understanding of science isn't perfect is not reason to abandon it. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/20/w...
Peanut Allergies Have Plummeted in Children, Study Shows
www.nytimes.com
October 20, 2025 at 2:39 PM
The thing about science is that sometimes you get it wrong the first time, but the scientific process is unending, so there is still time to get it right. The fact that our understanding of science isn't perfect is not reason to abandon it. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/20/w...
I love the fact that a Nobel prizewinner was the last to learn of his award because he was hiking...https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/07/health/nobel-prize-medicine-fred-ramsdell.html
October 13, 2025 at 5:31 PM
I love the fact that a Nobel prizewinner was the last to learn of his award because he was hiking...https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/07/health/nobel-prize-medicine-fred-ramsdell.html
It is not enough for a trial to exists somewhere in the U.S., it also needs to be close enough for patients to access, and for many Americans there is little easy access to research participation.
New paper via @universitypress.cambridge.org finds travel distance to NCI-funded sites remains barrier for patients to participate in #ClinicalTrials or research. The number of people w/o access could be reduced from 17% to 1.6% if NCI funding was provided to currently unsupported cancer facilities.
New Paper Finds Travel Distance Remains Barrier for Patients to Access National Cancer Center-Funded Sites
A new paper in the Journal of Clinical and Translational Science finds that travel distance to National Cancer Institute (NCI)-funded sites remains a key barrier for patients wanting to participate in...
www.fightcancer.org
October 10, 2025 at 6:07 PM
It is not enough for a trial to exists somewhere in the U.S., it also needs to be close enough for patients to access, and for many Americans there is little easy access to research participation.
Unprecedented that six former surgeon generals appointed by presidents of both parties unite to denounce RFK Jr. and call out the danger he poses to public health. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Opinion | Six surgeons general: It’s our duty to warn the nation about RFK Jr.
We took an oath to declare dangers when we found them. We’re doing that again today.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 7, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Unprecedented that six former surgeon generals appointed by presidents of both parties unite to denounce RFK Jr. and call out the danger he poses to public health. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
The NCI "bypass" budget is an unfiltered view of what could really move the needle in cancer research. The latest requests more money to get trial infrastructure into communities and rural areas, and seeks to offset lost grants due to forward-funding policies. www.cancer.gov/research/lea...
www.cancer.gov
October 6, 2025 at 3:43 PM
The NCI "bypass" budget is an unfiltered view of what could really move the needle in cancer research. The latest requests more money to get trial infrastructure into communities and rural areas, and seeks to offset lost grants due to forward-funding policies. www.cancer.gov/research/lea...
Giving everyone in the US with cancer a chance to take part in research can be made difficult by distance. We analyzed who does and doesn't have access to NCI funded sites and found nearly 38% would have to drive over 50 miles, and almost 17% over 100 miles. resolve.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Assessing populations with access to National Cancer Institute-funded sites using local distance-based service areas | Journal of Clinical and Translational Science | Cambridge Core
Assessing populations with access to National Cancer Institute-funded sites using local distance-based service areas - Volume 9 Issue 1
resolve.cambridge.org
October 3, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Giving everyone in the US with cancer a chance to take part in research can be made difficult by distance. We analyzed who does and doesn't have access to NCI funded sites and found nearly 38% would have to drive over 50 miles, and almost 17% over 100 miles. resolve.cambridge.org/core/journal...
I would have never guessed that NIH would get the money spent, but apparently they will. While a small victory, remember this was done by forward funding lots of grants meaning fewer grants and less research being done. To some degree this is a short-term accounting trick.
The fiscal year ends tomorrow.
Here are results from NIH Reporter downloaded an hour ago.
The total amount of funding committed for FY2025 at this point is 99.0% of that for FY2024. The same difference could be due to a variety of technical factors.
1/3
Here are results from NIH Reporter downloaded an hour ago.
The total amount of funding committed for FY2025 at this point is 99.0% of that for FY2024. The same difference could be due to a variety of technical factors.
1/3
September 30, 2025 at 3:03 PM
I would have never guessed that NIH would get the money spent, but apparently they will. While a small victory, remember this was done by forward funding lots of grants meaning fewer grants and less research being done. To some degree this is a short-term accounting trick.
Reposted by Mark Fleury
Thrilled to see the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously advance the #GiveKidsAChanceAct. Thank you for your leadership on behalf of children with cancer. We urge the full House to pass this bill without delay. #ChildhoodCancerAwarenessMonth www.fightcancer.org/policy-resou...
September 22, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Thrilled to see the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously advance the #GiveKidsAChanceAct. Thank you for your leadership on behalf of children with cancer. We urge the full House to pass this bill without delay. #ChildhoodCancerAwarenessMonth www.fightcancer.org/policy-resou...
A step forward today for H.R. 1262 Give Kids A Chance Act. Approved unanimously by the House Energy and Commerce Committee. www.fightcancer.org/policy-resou...
Community Support Letter for Give Kids A Chance
ACS CAN has endorsed the Give Kids A Chance bill and has joined the Alliance for Childhood Cancer in calling on Congress to pass this legislation. The bill would restore import incentives to developin...
www.fightcancer.org
September 17, 2025 at 9:22 PM
A step forward today for H.R. 1262 Give Kids A Chance Act. Approved unanimously by the House Energy and Commerce Committee. www.fightcancer.org/policy-resou...
Medicaid work verification programs are costly and kick off lots of people who shouldn't be kicked off. That is a feature not a bug... kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
He Built Michigan's Medicaid Work Requirement System. Now He's Warning Other States. - KFF Health News
Michigan’s former top health official spent a year and $30 million building a system to implement work requirements for Medicaid recipients. The difficulties he encountered have him worried about 40 s...
kffhealthnews.org
September 5, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Medicaid work verification programs are costly and kick off lots of people who shouldn't be kicked off. That is a feature not a bug... kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Voters should pick their representatives rather than representatives picking their voters.
August 20, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Voters should pick their representatives rather than representatives picking their voters.
Nice companion piece to ours, this one surveying providers about PGx: www.gimjournal.org/article/S109...
August 15, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Nice companion piece to ours, this one surveying providers about PGx: www.gimjournal.org/article/S109...
Patients want and deserve to know about testing that may make their treatment safer and more effective. A survey of cancer patients show low awareness of #pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing, but a strong desire to have it once they understand it. jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Views Toward Pharmacogenomic Testing Among Patients With Cancer
This survey study assesses views and understanding of pharmacogenomic testing among patients with cancer and cancer survivors.
jamanetwork.com
August 14, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Patients want and deserve to know about testing that may make their treatment safer and more effective. A survey of cancer patients show low awareness of #pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing, but a strong desire to have it once they understand it. jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
I predicted whiplash but I wouldn't have predicted this... www.politico.com/news/2025/08...
August 11, 2025 at 7:53 PM
I predicted whiplash but I wouldn't have predicted this... www.politico.com/news/2025/08...
GAO saying out loud what has been obvious. This administration is impounding funds meant for research. www.statnews.com/2025/08/05/g...
Trump administration violated impoundment law by canceling NIH grants, slowing new awards, GAO finds
The Government Accountability Office found that the Trump administration, by abruptly canceling NIH grants, had violated a 1974 federal law
www.statnews.com
August 11, 2025 at 4:24 PM
GAO saying out loud what has been obvious. This administration is impounding funds meant for research. www.statnews.com/2025/08/05/g...
Ouster of Vinay Prasad at FDA underscores the clear tension in this FDA administration between traditional conservative desires for FDA to be more relaxed about letting drugs on the market and RFK's mantra that drugs are the problem and we need fewer of them. www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
Top FDA vaccine regulator under Trump ousted amid conservative criticism
Vinay Prasad, a prominent critic of covid vaccine policy, was ousted as the FDA’s top regulator of vaccines and gene therapies, according to two people familiar with the situation.
www.washingtonpost.com
July 30, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Ouster of Vinay Prasad at FDA underscores the clear tension in this FDA administration between traditional conservative desires for FDA to be more relaxed about letting drugs on the market and RFK's mantra that drugs are the problem and we need fewer of them. www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
Spend the money! Sen. Britt leads a letter of 14 republican senators asking the administration to get NIH money granted per the budget. Thank you for your attention to this matter! www.britt.senate.gov/news/press-r...
U.S. Senator Katie Britt Leads Republican Colleagues in Advocating for Critical NIH Research Funding - Senator Katie Britt
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS), led 13 of her...
www.britt.senate.gov
July 25, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Spend the money! Sen. Britt leads a letter of 14 republican senators asking the administration to get NIH money granted per the budget. Thank you for your attention to this matter! www.britt.senate.gov/news/press-r...
Reposted by Mark Fleury
Have you been impacted by #cancer?
Please take ACS CAN's latest Survivor Views survey, which explores issues like cancer treatments and how they come to market, drug shortages, new therapies, and what role AI should play.
➡️ Sign up today: americancancersociety.allegiancetech.com/cgi-bin/qweb...
Please take ACS CAN's latest Survivor Views survey, which explores issues like cancer treatments and how they come to market, drug shortages, new therapies, and what role AI should play.
➡️ Sign up today: americancancersociety.allegiancetech.com/cgi-bin/qweb...
July 25, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Have you been impacted by #cancer?
Please take ACS CAN's latest Survivor Views survey, which explores issues like cancer treatments and how they come to market, drug shortages, new therapies, and what role AI should play.
➡️ Sign up today: americancancersociety.allegiancetech.com/cgi-bin/qweb...
Please take ACS CAN's latest Survivor Views survey, which explores issues like cancer treatments and how they come to market, drug shortages, new therapies, and what role AI should play.
➡️ Sign up today: americancancersociety.allegiancetech.com/cgi-bin/qweb...
After bashing FDA as a "sock puppet" of industry and firing entire advisory boards because of supposed industry influence. Who does RFK Jr. hire as top drug regulator? A pharma industry CEO. Reality very different than rhetoric. www.statnews.com/2025/07/21/g...
New head of FDA drug center is a biotech veteran and an outspoken critic of the academic establishment
The FDA named George Tidmarsh, who has led a number of biotech companies, to be its top drug regulator.
www.statnews.com
July 23, 2025 at 3:11 PM
After bashing FDA as a "sock puppet" of industry and firing entire advisory boards because of supposed industry influence. Who does RFK Jr. hire as top drug regulator? A pharma industry CEO. Reality very different than rhetoric. www.statnews.com/2025/07/21/g...