Michael M Hopkins
@michaelmhopkins.bsky.social
Professor of Innovation Management @ the Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU), University of Sussex Business School (UK), specialising in innovation systems and innovation policy for biomedical innovation, as well as research evaluation. All views my own.
Pinned
Hello bluesky, good-bye dark dystopian nightmare.
Great to see this project (that I am a tiny part of) go live!
We are delighted to announce The Metascience Novelty Indicators Challenge! Register for updates at noveltyindicators.challenges.org & read our rationale at www.nature.com/articles/d41... #Metascience #ICSSI2025
Metascience Novelty Indicators Challenge - Novelty Indicators
The Metascience Novelty Indicators Challenge is a global initiative to develop and validate scalable indicators that can identify novelty in metascience
noveltyindicators.challenges.org
June 17, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Great to see this project (that I am a tiny part of) go live!
Decades of incremental progress in Japan on iPS cell therapies and huge investment, show promise. But will treatments be affordable? More and more this is the question with biotech.
Our own @smritimallapaty.bsky.social took a look behind the scenes on Japan's billion dollar bet on iPS cells. With promising results in Parkinson's disease today, the industry looks ready to pop off. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Japan’s big bet on stem-cell therapies might soon pay off with medical breakthroughs
Induced pluripotent stem cells are being tested to treat blindness, paralysis, Parkinson’s disease and more. Approvals might be around the corner.
www.nature.com
April 24, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Decades of incremental progress in Japan on iPS cell therapies and huge investment, show promise. But will treatments be affordable? More and more this is the question with biotech.
The US had the world's best funded science base, yielding over $2 to the economy for every $1 invested. Now NIH, NSF are being gutted as described in this FT piece. Industries that rely on science are (publicly) silent as are senior scientists. The young protest alone.
www.ft.com/content/67fd...
www.ft.com/content/67fd...
The cost of Trump’s attack on American science
Sweeping funding cuts threaten to undermine the innovation that has been a central part of US economic strength for decades
www.ft.com
April 23, 2025 at 3:09 PM
The US had the world's best funded science base, yielding over $2 to the economy for every $1 invested. Now NIH, NSF are being gutted as described in this FT piece. Industries that rely on science are (publicly) silent as are senior scientists. The young protest alone.
www.ft.com/content/67fd...
www.ft.com/content/67fd...
Reposted by Michael M Hopkins
🌲 Tree Planting is a Cost-effective Way to Protect the Climate
Diverse planting strategies can reduce financial risks from climate uncertainty, with tree planting one of the most cost-effective carbon removal methods.
🔗 www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
#SciComm 🧪 #ClimateAction
Diverse planting strategies can reduce financial risks from climate uncertainty, with tree planting one of the most cost-effective carbon removal methods.
🔗 www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
#SciComm 🧪 #ClimateAction
Resilient tree-planting strategies for carbon dioxide removal under compounding climate and economic uncertainties | PNAS
To meet decarbonization targets, nations around the globe have made ambitious commitments
to expand forested land. Operationalizing these commitmen...
www.pnas.org
March 15, 2025 at 3:34 PM
🌲 Tree Planting is a Cost-effective Way to Protect the Climate
Diverse planting strategies can reduce financial risks from climate uncertainty, with tree planting one of the most cost-effective carbon removal methods.
🔗 www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
#SciComm 🧪 #ClimateAction
Diverse planting strategies can reduce financial risks from climate uncertainty, with tree planting one of the most cost-effective carbon removal methods.
🔗 www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
#SciComm 🧪 #ClimateAction
Reposted by Michael M Hopkins
Finally, social media that's billionaire-proof. ⚡
Bluesky's first IRL ads spotted in @boston.gov @mbta.com.
Bluesky's first IRL ads spotted in @boston.gov @mbta.com.
March 7, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Finally, social media that's billionaire-proof. ⚡
Bluesky's first IRL ads spotted in @boston.gov @mbta.com.
Bluesky's first IRL ads spotted in @boston.gov @mbta.com.
I wonder if they will encourage civil servants to stay with the same brief longer, gaining more expertise? That would be welcome.
Whitehall is moving away from an outdated concept of the ‘policy generalist’.
The end of the civil service generalist is welcome, say @alexgathomas.bsky.social and @teodorgrama.bsky.social
Read more👇
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/end-...
The end of the civil service generalist is welcome, say @alexgathomas.bsky.social and @teodorgrama.bsky.social
Read more👇
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/end-...
The end of the civil service generalist is welcome | Institute for Government
Whitehall is moving away from an outdated concept of the ‘policy generalist’.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
March 6, 2025 at 6:13 PM
I wonder if they will encourage civil servants to stay with the same brief longer, gaining more expertise? That would be welcome.
It will be interesting to see if this company gets past the concerns raised by the first consumer genetics companies twenty years ago: Will the tests generate work for doctors dealing with the worried well? Will genetic test results change behaviour positively or generate apathy?
Bupa to offer first genetic test for disease prediction in UK
It has been developed by Genomics, an Oxford University spinout led by Professor Sir Peter Donnelly, one of the world’s foremost geneticists. The company’s board includes Professor Dame Sally Davies.
www.thetimes.com/article/d922...
It has been developed by Genomics, an Oxford University spinout led by Professor Sir Peter Donnelly, one of the world’s foremost geneticists. The company’s board includes Professor Dame Sally Davies.
www.thetimes.com/article/d922...
Bupa to offer first genetic test for disease prediction in UK
A test that can predict the risk of common diseases is to be offered by Bupa. It is expected to be available for women over 40 and men over 45
www.thetimes.com
February 24, 2025 at 2:34 PM
It will be interesting to see if this company gets past the concerns raised by the first consumer genetics companies twenty years ago: Will the tests generate work for doctors dealing with the worried well? Will genetic test results change behaviour positively or generate apathy?
Reposted by Michael M Hopkins
Wastewater from airplane toilets?
We introduce a global Aircraft-Based Wastewater Surveillance Network (WWSN) for pandemic monitoring in Nature Medicine 🔗 doi.org/10.1038/s415...
Aircraft-based wastewater surveillance allows for real-time, non-invasive monitoring of global pathogen spread
Short 🧵
We introduce a global Aircraft-Based Wastewater Surveillance Network (WWSN) for pandemic monitoring in Nature Medicine 🔗 doi.org/10.1038/s415...
Aircraft-based wastewater surveillance allows for real-time, non-invasive monitoring of global pathogen spread
Short 🧵
Pandemic monitoring with global aircraft-based wastewater surveillance networks - Nature Medicine
By simulating the implementation of airport-based wastewater surveillance sites at the global level, a modeling study shows how this early warning system would perform in identifying sources of pandem...
doi.org
February 12, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Wastewater from airplane toilets?
We introduce a global Aircraft-Based Wastewater Surveillance Network (WWSN) for pandemic monitoring in Nature Medicine 🔗 doi.org/10.1038/s415...
Aircraft-based wastewater surveillance allows for real-time, non-invasive monitoring of global pathogen spread
Short 🧵
We introduce a global Aircraft-Based Wastewater Surveillance Network (WWSN) for pandemic monitoring in Nature Medicine 🔗 doi.org/10.1038/s415...
Aircraft-based wastewater surveillance allows for real-time, non-invasive monitoring of global pathogen spread
Short 🧵
Excellent advice - Crisis opens the door to Change, but mainly for those solutions that are already to hand.
OpEd by @dianecoyle1859.bsky.social in @financialtimes.com
Political leaders are disregarding evidence-based policy. Policy analysts must therefore recognise the political & value-based aspects of decisions, engage the public, & ensure that evidence & ideas about the public good are available.
Political leaders are disregarding evidence-based policy. Policy analysts must therefore recognise the political & value-based aspects of decisions, engage the public, & ensure that evidence & ideas about the public good are available.
How to provide evidence in turbulent times | Opinion
https://www.ft.com/content/bf6ed821-624c-4b7b-aa23-8f5d664fa40f
https://www.ft.com/content/bf6ed821-624c-4b7b-aa23-8f5d664fa40f
February 12, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Excellent advice - Crisis opens the door to Change, but mainly for those solutions that are already to hand.
Unjust, selfish, evil - words that barely indicate how wrong this is.
The World’s Richest Men Take On the World’s Poorest Children
The world’s richest man is boasting about destroying the United States Agency for International Development, which saves the lives of the world’s poorest children, saying he shoved it “into the wood chipper.”
www.nytimes.com/2025...
1/4
The world’s richest man is boasting about destroying the United States Agency for International Development, which saves the lives of the world’s poorest children, saying he shoved it “into the wood chipper.”
www.nytimes.com/2025...
1/4
Opinion | The World’s Richest Men Take On the World’s Poorest Children
I’ve seen U.S.A.I.D. operate around the world, and it’s not woke — it’s lifesaving.
www.nytimes.com
February 6, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Unjust, selfish, evil - words that barely indicate how wrong this is.
Mexico, the genetic cradle of Maize, tries to keep GM corn out of its food chain.
Nearly 700 civil society organizations—and thousands of individuals—condemn U.S. and Canada attempt to force Mexicans to eat #GMO tortillas. “We stand with Mexico in its defense of food sovereignty, public health, environmental integrity and indigenous rights.” foe.org/news/us-cana...
Thousands Condemn U.S. and Canada Attempt to Force Mexicans to Eat GMO Tortillas
Mexico has cause for concern about the safety of GMO corn given the population’s large daily consumption of minimally processed corn products.
foe.org
February 4, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Mexico, the genetic cradle of Maize, tries to keep GM corn out of its food chain.
Hundreds of patented biologic drugs come off patent in the next decade yet huge monopolies will remain in place due to a dearth of biosimilars in development. Why no competition? It looks like biosimilar makers won't get out of bed for less than half a billion $ per year.
endpts.com/us-biosimila...
endpts.com/us-biosimila...
US biosimilar 'void' spells trouble as biologic patent expirations loom, IQVIA report says
While 118 biologics are expected to lose patent protection in the US over the next decade, that $234 billion opportunity for biosimilar developers may not materialize because of several challenges, ac...
endpts.com
February 4, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Hundreds of patented biologic drugs come off patent in the next decade yet huge monopolies will remain in place due to a dearth of biosimilars in development. Why no competition? It looks like biosimilar makers won't get out of bed for less than half a billion $ per year.
endpts.com/us-biosimila...
endpts.com/us-biosimila...
Two xenotransplantation companies competing to bring gene-edited pig kidneys to patients with renal failure, addressing the chronic shortage of donor organs.
Gene-edited pig kidneys to be tested in more humans soon, two companies say
FDA clears United Therapeutics and eGenesis for gene-edited pig kidney transplant studies, including the first clinical trial and a three-person compassionate-use program.
endpts.com
February 4, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Two xenotransplantation companies competing to bring gene-edited pig kidneys to patients with renal failure, addressing the chronic shortage of donor organs.
Incoming US administration pauses HHS/NIH communications, and decision making hitting job adverts & offers, grant awarding, meetings and travel. Apparently some disruption is common as administrations change, but the impact is looking much higher this time. www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org
January 23, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Incoming US administration pauses HHS/NIH communications, and decision making hitting job adverts & offers, grant awarding, meetings and travel. Apparently some disruption is common as administrations change, but the impact is looking much higher this time. www.science.org/content/arti...
For anyone interested in the management of academic drug discovery, here is a piece we just published in Drug Discovery Today, on the progress and challenges of the UK's Drug Discovery Units. Access to the article is free (for now).
authors.elsevier.com/a/1kRn-4r9Rk...
authors.elsevier.com/a/1kRn-4r9Rk...
authors.elsevier.com
January 17, 2025 at 11:59 AM
For anyone interested in the management of academic drug discovery, here is a piece we just published in Drug Discovery Today, on the progress and challenges of the UK's Drug Discovery Units. Access to the article is free (for now).
authors.elsevier.com/a/1kRn-4r9Rk...
authors.elsevier.com/a/1kRn-4r9Rk...
Reposted by Michael M Hopkins
💥 YES! The Youth Mobility Scheme (EU Countries) Bill is looking like it will go through without government opposition today.
That’s because of YOU!
You have all flooded the zone with 8-10,000 emails to your MPs on this.
Keep them coming. And do follow-ups too.
That’s because of YOU!
You have all flooded the zone with 8-10,000 emails to your MPs on this.
Keep them coming. And do follow-ups too.
January 15, 2025 at 12:39 PM
💥 YES! The Youth Mobility Scheme (EU Countries) Bill is looking like it will go through without government opposition today.
That’s because of YOU!
You have all flooded the zone with 8-10,000 emails to your MPs on this.
Keep them coming. And do follow-ups too.
That’s because of YOU!
You have all flooded the zone with 8-10,000 emails to your MPs on this.
Keep them coming. And do follow-ups too.
I've been following the policy debate about the impacts of patenting genes (or patents on nucleotide sequences more generally) for over 20 years, so its great to see a curated collection of publications on this topic, put together by Robert Cook-Deegan and colleagues:
elsihub.org/collection/p...
elsihub.org/collection/p...
Patenting and Licensing in Genomics: Impact on Access to Genetic Tests and Debates about Patenting in the Public Interest | ELSIhub
Intellectual property rights, such as patents, award inventors a temporary (generally 20 year) right to exclude others from making, using, selling, or importing their invention. They are granted to in...
elsihub.org
January 13, 2025 at 6:02 PM
I've been following the policy debate about the impacts of patenting genes (or patents on nucleotide sequences more generally) for over 20 years, so its great to see a curated collection of publications on this topic, put together by Robert Cook-Deegan and colleagues:
elsihub.org/collection/p...
elsihub.org/collection/p...
Reposted by Michael M Hopkins
Traffic on @resprofnews.bsky.social website surging as a result universities rethinking deals with publishers.
@francesjones.bsky.social revealed in Dec the University of Sheffield has cancelled its Elsevier subscription deal.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
We now know... 1/3
@francesjones.bsky.social revealed in Dec the University of Sheffield has cancelled its Elsevier subscription deal.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
We now know... 1/3
January 9, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Traffic on @resprofnews.bsky.social website surging as a result universities rethinking deals with publishers.
@francesjones.bsky.social revealed in Dec the University of Sheffield has cancelled its Elsevier subscription deal.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
We now know... 1/3
@francesjones.bsky.social revealed in Dec the University of Sheffield has cancelled its Elsevier subscription deal.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
We now know... 1/3
Reposted by Michael M Hopkins
EU leads R&D investments in automotive, which together with ICT and health drive global R&D growth
ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
EU companies top US and China counterparts in R&D investment growth, breaking decade-long trend
Europe's industry has increased its investment in research and development (R&D) by 9.8% in 2023, surpassing the growth of corporate R&D investment in the US (+5.9%) and China (+9.6%) for the first ti...
ec.europa.eu
January 8, 2025 at 8:53 AM
EU leads R&D investments in automotive, which together with ICT and health drive global R&D growth
ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
Those of us considering why the UK lacks US-style tech giants should start with understanding US investor techno-optimism. Take Tesla. Motley Fool suggests the stock is overvalued (as an EV firm) but for others, its leading a push for AI/ automation across sectors.
www.fool.com/investing/20...
www.fool.com/investing/20...
Prediction: This Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock Will Drop Out of the $1 Trillion Club in 2025 | The Motley Fool
www.fool.com
January 8, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Those of us considering why the UK lacks US-style tech giants should start with understanding US investor techno-optimism. Take Tesla. Motley Fool suggests the stock is overvalued (as an EV firm) but for others, its leading a push for AI/ automation across sectors.
www.fool.com/investing/20...
www.fool.com/investing/20...
Good piece here reflecting on what the UK's Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)does, as it starts its 60th year. Given that one of the UK's most popular politicians doesn't even see the point of the social sciences (seriously) a suggestion would be to showcase 60 big impacts from ESRC.
One of my aims for the new year is to write more about our strategy and our funding decisions.
In the spirit of our anniversary, I'm starting with some reflections on what our history & structure implies for how we fund, and our role in the soc sci ecosystem.
open.substack.com/pub/magicsmo...
In the spirit of our anniversary, I'm starting with some reflections on what our history & structure implies for how we fund, and our role in the soc sci ecosystem.
open.substack.com/pub/magicsmo...
Strategy, history and structure
Some reflections at the start of ESRC's 60th anniversary year
open.substack.com
January 6, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Good piece here reflecting on what the UK's Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)does, as it starts its 60th year. Given that one of the UK's most popular politicians doesn't even see the point of the social sciences (seriously) a suggestion would be to showcase 60 big impacts from ESRC.
Claims that falling numbers of science degrees will hit the industrial strategy seem a bit overblown at this stage - given that most students do not even stay in the sciences for their employment. More concerning is the massive financial crisis brewing in universities. www.ft.com/content/563f...
Fall in UK university core science courses stokes fears for industrial strategy
Chemistry courses have dropped a quarter and biosciences by 15% in past 5 years
www.ft.com
January 3, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Claims that falling numbers of science degrees will hit the industrial strategy seem a bit overblown at this stage - given that most students do not even stay in the sciences for their employment. More concerning is the massive financial crisis brewing in universities. www.ft.com/content/563f...
Reposted by Michael M Hopkins
Lots of Qs, concerns, and bad takes in my DMs about #H5N1. Here is an excellent situation update by emerging infectious disease expert, @saskiapopescu.bsky.social and her colleagues. www.rand.org/pubs/comment...
How to Get Ahead of H5N1
The ongoing H5N1 outbreak presents a critical test of the United States' ability to apply the hard-earned lessons of a recent health emergencies. The time to act is not when the threat becomes unmanag...
www.rand.org
December 28, 2024 at 9:13 PM
Lots of Qs, concerns, and bad takes in my DMs about #H5N1. Here is an excellent situation update by emerging infectious disease expert, @saskiapopescu.bsky.social and her colleagues. www.rand.org/pubs/comment...
Reposted by Michael M Hopkins
Nature on The crisis in preservation cites the work @eve.gd did at Crossref Labs.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Great timing considering that Crossref apparently just shut down Crossref Labs- the group that did this study and was working on a project to address it. Funny they don't mention that.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Great timing considering that Crossref apparently just shut down Crossref Labs- the group that did this study and was working on a project to address it. Funny they don't mention that.
Act now to stop millions of research papers from disappearing
Digital preservation is not keeping up with the growth of scholarly knowledge. Recognizing its causes is the first step to securing records everywhere for future generations.
www.nature.com
November 26, 2024 at 5:34 PM
Nature on The crisis in preservation cites the work @eve.gd did at Crossref Labs.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Great timing considering that Crossref apparently just shut down Crossref Labs- the group that did this study and was working on a project to address it. Funny they don't mention that.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Great timing considering that Crossref apparently just shut down Crossref Labs- the group that did this study and was working on a project to address it. Funny they don't mention that.
As 2024 draws to a close, Nature Biotechnology recaps some major therapeutic breakthroughs this year, including therapies based on CRISPR, T-cells, mRNA and ever more sophisticated monoclonal antibodies. (Now to work out how healthcare systems can afford them!)
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Top ten news stories in 2024 - Nature Biotechnology
From mRNA drugs and the Achilles heel of obesity drugs, to single-cell biology and foundation models for drug discovery, these are some of the big stories most viewed by our readers.
www.nature.com
December 31, 2024 at 11:18 AM
As 2024 draws to a close, Nature Biotechnology recaps some major therapeutic breakthroughs this year, including therapies based on CRISPR, T-cells, mRNA and ever more sophisticated monoclonal antibodies. (Now to work out how healthcare systems can afford them!)
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...