Xris Vileson
@mithloch.bsky.social
Neuroscientist, luthier, neurotheologian
The barrage of baffling babble at the NATO press conference today. Why can’t this buffoon just get to the POINT!!! Such an embarrassment.
June 25, 2025 at 2:05 PM
The barrage of baffling babble at the NATO press conference today. Why can’t this buffoon just get to the POINT!!! Such an embarrassment.
Dear friends in the Federal work force, why are you not STRIKING to save your positions and the positions of your colleagues??? The only way to stop Imperator Spraytanicass is to SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT!!! NOW!!!!!
April 21, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Dear friends in the Federal work force, why are you not STRIKING to save your positions and the positions of your colleagues??? The only way to stop Imperator Spraytanicass is to SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT!!! NOW!!!!!
Reposted by Xris Vileson
The horror show continues at NIH
I am hearing (reliably) that RIFs have started with entire institute Communication branches being terminated since their jobs not longer exist (reduction in force).
But that is not all...
I am hearing (reliably) that RIFs have started with entire institute Communication branches being terminated since their jobs not longer exist (reduction in force).
But that is not all...
a red warning light is lit up in front of a building
ALT: a red warning light is lit up in front of a building
media.tenor.com
April 1, 2025 at 11:54 AM
The horror show continues at NIH
I am hearing (reliably) that RIFs have started with entire institute Communication branches being terminated since their jobs not longer exist (reduction in force).
But that is not all...
I am hearing (reliably) that RIFs have started with entire institute Communication branches being terminated since their jobs not longer exist (reduction in force).
But that is not all...
Reposted by Xris Vileson
Also caught up in today's RIFs: Anthony Fauci's wife Christine Grady, who led the NIH's bioethics office, per NYT.
Researchers did not mince words about this purge of senior NIH leadership:
“This will go down as one of the darkest days in modern scientific history in my 50 years in the business,” says @mtosterholm.bsky.social.
These cuts come on Jay Bhattacharya's first day as NIH director.
“This will go down as one of the darkest days in modern scientific history in my 50 years in the business,” says @mtosterholm.bsky.social.
These cuts come on Jay Bhattacharya's first day as NIH director.
‘One of the darkest days’: NIH purges agency leadership amid mass layoffs
In shock move, four institute directors at the US biomedical agency are removed from their posts.
www.nature.com
April 1, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Also caught up in today's RIFs: Anthony Fauci's wife Christine Grady, who led the NIH's bioethics office, per NYT.
Reposted by Xris Vileson
The U.S is the wealthiest country in the history of the world. We should not have the highest rate of child poverty of nearly every major country on earth. We should have the lowest.
It's time to end this international embarrassment & create an economy that works for all.
It's time to end this international embarrassment & create an economy that works for all.
April 1, 2025 at 6:16 PM
The U.S is the wealthiest country in the history of the world. We should not have the highest rate of child poverty of nearly every major country on earth. We should have the lowest.
It's time to end this international embarrassment & create an economy that works for all.
It's time to end this international embarrassment & create an economy that works for all.
Reposted by Xris Vileson
NEW: No fewer than 10 principle scientists at NIH investigating emerging infectious diseases and neural disorders were among those fired by RFK Jr. today.
One is an esteemed scientist awarded for breakthrough research into the causes of Parkinson's disease.
By me and @emilymullin.bsky.social:
One is an esteemed scientist awarded for breakthrough research into the causes of Parkinson's disease.
By me and @emilymullin.bsky.social:
Doctor Behind Award-Winning Parkinson’s Research Among Scientists Purged From NIH
Leading scientists at the National Institutes of Health, the US’s leading medical research agency, were swept up Tuesday in the Trump administration's latest firing blitz.
www.wired.com
April 2, 2025 at 12:15 AM
NEW: No fewer than 10 principle scientists at NIH investigating emerging infectious diseases and neural disorders were among those fired by RFK Jr. today.
One is an esteemed scientist awarded for breakthrough research into the causes of Parkinson's disease.
By me and @emilymullin.bsky.social:
One is an esteemed scientist awarded for breakthrough research into the causes of Parkinson's disease.
By me and @emilymullin.bsky.social:
Reposted by Xris Vileson
Also spoke with researchers like
@docsirianni.bsky.social who have turned to Bluesky and other outlets to amplify the situation facing scientists.
Heard story after story about heart-wrenching decisions affecting their labs now — and the consequence of fewer cures for patients and families later.
@docsirianni.bsky.social who have turned to Bluesky and other outlets to amplify the situation facing scientists.
Heard story after story about heart-wrenching decisions affecting their labs now — and the consequence of fewer cures for patients and families later.
March 28, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Also spoke with researchers like
@docsirianni.bsky.social who have turned to Bluesky and other outlets to amplify the situation facing scientists.
Heard story after story about heart-wrenching decisions affecting their labs now — and the consequence of fewer cures for patients and families later.
@docsirianni.bsky.social who have turned to Bluesky and other outlets to amplify the situation facing scientists.
Heard story after story about heart-wrenching decisions affecting their labs now — and the consequence of fewer cures for patients and families later.
Reposted by Xris Vileson
A clean, straight shot at the facts: "Any attempt to seek a third term would run afoul of the 22nd Amendment, which begins, 'No person shall be elected to the office of the president more than twice.'” www.nytimes.com/2025/03/30/u...
Trump Says He’s ‘Not Joking’ About Seeking a Third Term in Defiance of Constitution
President Trump, in an interview with NBC News, said there were “methods” that would allow a third term. The 22nd Amendment prohibits a person from being elected to more than two terms as president.
www.nytimes.com
March 31, 2025 at 12:33 AM
A clean, straight shot at the facts: "Any attempt to seek a third term would run afoul of the 22nd Amendment, which begins, 'No person shall be elected to the office of the president more than twice.'” www.nytimes.com/2025/03/30/u...
Reposted by Xris Vileson
Investing in scientific research and development is vital to U.S. security.
NEW: Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.)& Trump's former NatSec Advisor Matt Pottinger make the case that funding for scientific R&D isn't a gift to academia. It's vital to U.S. national security, as China, the United States' primary strategic adversary, is already investing heavily in R&D.
shorturl.at/PgUK0
shorturl.at/PgUK0
Opinion | Funding for R&D isn’t a gift to academia
Investing in scientific research and development is vital to U.S. security.
shorturl.at
March 31, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Investing in scientific research and development is vital to U.S. security.
Reposted by Xris Vileson
this is phenomenal
March 26, 2025 at 6:01 PM
this is phenomenal
Reposted by Xris Vileson
Study section tracking sheet update of the day answers your burning question: Is my study section rescheduled? I've rearranged to put sections that didn't meet on the left and added a column noting if it's been rescheduled. Subject to change as FRNs go out! docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
2025 Study section tracking
docs.google.com
March 11, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Study section tracking sheet update of the day answers your burning question: Is my study section rescheduled? I've rearranged to put sections that didn't meet on the left and added a column noting if it's been rescheduled. Subject to change as FRNs go out! docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Reposted by Xris Vileson
Today would be yet another good day for university presidents to loudly, collectively, & publicly start defending our institutions & industry. The silence is deafening & frankly, incomprehensible. What exactly are you waiting for? How many Columbias, Maines, & Johns Hopkins will it take?
The entire business model of American R1 universities is not viable without restoration of federal funding, & every individual institution pretending it can solve this problem alone is also not viable. University presidents need to be speaking out, collectively & loudly about this, in DC, right now.
March 12, 2025 at 2:06 AM
Today would be yet another good day for university presidents to loudly, collectively, & publicly start defending our institutions & industry. The silence is deafening & frankly, incomprehensible. What exactly are you waiting for? How many Columbias, Maines, & Johns Hopkins will it take?
Reposted by Xris Vileson
From my PhD advisor @kenmiller.bsky.social at Columbia. These are the grants that funded my PhD.
March 13, 2025 at 2:50 PM
From my PhD advisor @kenmiller.bsky.social at Columbia. These are the grants that funded my PhD.
Reposted by Xris Vileson
I'm voting NO on the Republican shutdown bill.
NO on handing Donald Trump and Elon Musk a blank check to spend your taxpayer money however they want.
NO on cutting funding that helps families put food on the table and crack down on wealthy tax cheats.
We need to push back.
NO on handing Donald Trump and Elon Musk a blank check to spend your taxpayer money however they want.
NO on cutting funding that helps families put food on the table and crack down on wealthy tax cheats.
We need to push back.
March 13, 2025 at 2:16 PM
I'm voting NO on the Republican shutdown bill.
NO on handing Donald Trump and Elon Musk a blank check to spend your taxpayer money however they want.
NO on cutting funding that helps families put food on the table and crack down on wealthy tax cheats.
We need to push back.
NO on handing Donald Trump and Elon Musk a blank check to spend your taxpayer money however they want.
NO on cutting funding that helps families put food on the table and crack down on wealthy tax cheats.
We need to push back.
Reposted by Xris Vileson
Trump just withdrew the bad CDC nominee after public blowback about the measles vaccine.
Scientists, we can achieve the same with the bad NIH nominee. Public pressure can force out Bhattacharya.
Your voices are needed now. Please take action. 🧪
Scientists, we can achieve the same with the bad NIH nominee. Public pressure can force out Bhattacharya.
Your voices are needed now. Please take action. 🧪
White House withdraws Trump's pick Dave Weldon as CDC director pick
The White House is withdrawing President Donald Trump's nomination of Republican former congressman and vaccine critic Dave Weldon to serve as director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a source briefed on the matter said on Thursday.
www.reuters.com
March 13, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Trump just withdrew the bad CDC nominee after public blowback about the measles vaccine.
Scientists, we can achieve the same with the bad NIH nominee. Public pressure can force out Bhattacharya.
Your voices are needed now. Please take action. 🧪
Scientists, we can achieve the same with the bad NIH nominee. Public pressure can force out Bhattacharya.
Your voices are needed now. Please take action. 🧪
Reposted by Xris Vileson
Cannot recommend highly enough if you need. I have, and was just so grateful to have the resource.
Federal scientists: You are not alone. ❤️ @csldf.org provides free, confidential legal advice to researchers facing legal intimidation, harassment, & other attempts to sideline your critical work. Please reach out for a 1:1 with one of our attorneys: csldf.org/contact
Contact - Climate Science Legal Defense Fund
CONTACT If you’re a scientist and would like a free, confidential consultation with one of our attorneys, please reach out.…
csldf.org
March 14, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Cannot recommend highly enough if you need. I have, and was just so grateful to have the resource.
Reposted by Xris Vileson
NEW: Family of Mahmoud Khalil just released footage of his arrest
“Stop resisting”
“He’s not resisting”
Agents seen continuing to ignore Mahmoud’s wife as she asks basic questions
“Stop resisting”
“He’s not resisting”
Agents seen continuing to ignore Mahmoud’s wife as she asks basic questions
March 14, 2025 at 8:50 PM
NEW: Family of Mahmoud Khalil just released footage of his arrest
“Stop resisting”
“He’s not resisting”
Agents seen continuing to ignore Mahmoud’s wife as she asks basic questions
“Stop resisting”
“He’s not resisting”
Agents seen continuing to ignore Mahmoud’s wife as she asks basic questions
Reposted by Xris Vileson
Columbia was first, but it seems very likely they're going to effectively use the same playback to retract federal scientific funding. A new hit list from Trump's Dept of Ed. www.ed.gov/about/news/p...
March 14, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Columbia was first, but it seems very likely they're going to effectively use the same playback to retract federal scientific funding. A new hit list from Trump's Dept of Ed. www.ed.gov/about/news/p...
Reposted by Xris Vileson
I am livid that my student who submitted a diversity F31 and received an outstanding score, near the top of the fundable range, was told to submit again.
Refusing to fund F31s from URMs while funding regular F31s from white/privileged students with worse scores is blatant discrimination.
Refusing to fund F31s from URMs while funding regular F31s from white/privileged students with worse scores is blatant discrimination.
March 18, 2025 at 7:13 PM
I am livid that my student who submitted a diversity F31 and received an outstanding score, near the top of the fundable range, was told to submit again.
Refusing to fund F31s from URMs while funding regular F31s from white/privileged students with worse scores is blatant discrimination.
Refusing to fund F31s from URMs while funding regular F31s from white/privileged students with worse scores is blatant discrimination.
Reposted by Xris Vileson
Medical researcher's grant to study shingles was canceled because it mentioned "hesitancy," which got the project swept up in Trump administration efforts to ban studies on vaccine hesitancy www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
Her research grant mentioned ‘hesitancy.’ Now her funding is gone.
A medical researcher may have erroneously lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in grant money because she was swept up in Trump administration efforts to ban studies of vaccine hesitancy and uptake.
www.washingtonpost.com
March 18, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Medical researcher's grant to study shingles was canceled because it mentioned "hesitancy," which got the project swept up in Trump administration efforts to ban studies on vaccine hesitancy www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
Reposted by Xris Vileson
I’m a biomedical researcher who lost his wife to cancer. Finding cures is personal to me. What’s happening at the NIH is devastating. Here’s my editorial in my hometown newspaper.
www.vindy.com/opinion/edit...
www.vindy.com/opinion/edit...
DOGE ends America’s golden age of biomedical research
Biomedical research impacts all of us. I became curious about how drugs work after my mom was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis when I was a small boy. She received “gold shots” as treatment, which ...
www.vindy.com
March 18, 2025 at 5:52 PM
I’m a biomedical researcher who lost his wife to cancer. Finding cures is personal to me. What’s happening at the NIH is devastating. Here’s my editorial in my hometown newspaper.
www.vindy.com/opinion/edit...
www.vindy.com/opinion/edit...
Reposted by Xris Vileson
Chilling to see this list of terminated NIH grants. Research on Alzheimer's, HIV, rare diseases, vaccines -- gone. Cancer centers closed, training grants & fellowships terminated. Young scientists stranded. Patients waiting for treatments that'll never come. Just sad.
taggs.hhs.gov/Content/Data...
taggs.hhs.gov/Content/Data...
taggs.hhs.gov
March 19, 2025 at 2:00 AM
Chilling to see this list of terminated NIH grants. Research on Alzheimer's, HIV, rare diseases, vaccines -- gone. Cancer centers closed, training grants & fellowships terminated. Young scientists stranded. Patients waiting for treatments that'll never come. Just sad.
taggs.hhs.gov/Content/Data...
taggs.hhs.gov/Content/Data...
Reposted by Xris Vileson
“This assault [on universities] is part of a broader endeavor, an attempt to take over every key institution in America and make each a vehicle to impose right-wing ideology. If they have to sacrifice cures for disease, so be it.”🚨
1/
@paulwaldman.bsky.social 💯 gets it.
paulwaldman.substack...
1/
@paulwaldman.bsky.social 💯 gets it.
paulwaldman.substack...
The Real Goal of Trump's War on Universities
It isn't about stopping antisemitism. It's about power.
paulwaldman.substack.com
March 19, 2025 at 12:15 AM
“This assault [on universities] is part of a broader endeavor, an attempt to take over every key institution in America and make each a vehicle to impose right-wing ideology. If they have to sacrifice cures for disease, so be it.”🚨
1/
@paulwaldman.bsky.social 💯 gets it.
paulwaldman.substack...
1/
@paulwaldman.bsky.social 💯 gets it.
paulwaldman.substack...
Reposted by Xris Vileson
There are days in life that shake you.
I’m shattered 💔 to share that I just found out that the US Government terminated my 2024 NIH Director’s Early Independence Award (~$2 million), threatening my long-promised assistant professor job at Columbia University
& academic career... 1/🧵
I’m shattered 💔 to share that I just found out that the US Government terminated my 2024 NIH Director’s Early Independence Award (~$2 million), threatening my long-promised assistant professor job at Columbia University
& academic career... 1/🧵
March 18, 2025 at 11:27 PM
There are days in life that shake you.
I’m shattered 💔 to share that I just found out that the US Government terminated my 2024 NIH Director’s Early Independence Award (~$2 million), threatening my long-promised assistant professor job at Columbia University
& academic career... 1/🧵
I’m shattered 💔 to share that I just found out that the US Government terminated my 2024 NIH Director’s Early Independence Award (~$2 million), threatening my long-promised assistant professor job at Columbia University
& academic career... 1/🧵
Reposted by Xris Vileson
