Natalie Dean, PhD
@nataliexdean.bsky.social
Associate Professor of Biostatistics at Emory Rollins School of Public Health
Pinned
Hello science friends. Following the migration. I’ll be posting about infectious diseases, biostatistics, and academia. Let’s connect. 🩵
Reposted by Natalie Dean, PhD
I have to keep this deliberately vague, but this is a total disaster for academic research.
And imposing it so suddenly is just cruel. I’ve got friends scrambling to get back to the US before midnight tonight. Do you know how hard that is to do on 36 hours of notice?
And imposing it so suddenly is just cruel. I’ve got friends scrambling to get back to the US before midnight tonight. Do you know how hard that is to do on 36 hours of notice?
Trump to impose $100,000 fee per year for H-1B visas, in blow to tech
The Trump administration said on Friday it would ask companies to pay $100,000 per year for H-1B worker visas, prompting some big tech companies to warn visa holders to stay in the U.S. or quickly return.
www.reuters.com
September 20, 2025 at 6:43 PM
I have to keep this deliberately vague, but this is a total disaster for academic research.
And imposing it so suddenly is just cruel. I’ve got friends scrambling to get back to the US before midnight tonight. Do you know how hard that is to do on 36 hours of notice?
And imposing it so suddenly is just cruel. I’ve got friends scrambling to get back to the US before midnight tonight. Do you know how hard that is to do on 36 hours of notice?
Reposted by Natalie Dean, PhD
Democratic Republic of Congo declares Ebola virus disease outbreak in Kasai province with 28 suspected cases and 15 deaths. Ebola zairevirus is confirmed. via @beaconbio.bsky.social - beaconbio.org/en/report/?r...
BEACON
Track biological threats, share vital information, and collaborate on solutions for community protection and preparedness.
beaconbio.org
September 4, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Democratic Republic of Congo declares Ebola virus disease outbreak in Kasai province with 28 suspected cases and 15 deaths. Ebola zairevirus is confirmed. via @beaconbio.bsky.social - beaconbio.org/en/report/?r...
Reposted by Natalie Dean, PhD
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s assault may have dealt lasting damage to the CDC, experts fear, with harsh consequences for public health.
(Gift article)
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/29/h...
(Gift article)
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/29/h...
Will the C.D.C. Survive?
www.nytimes.com
August 29, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s assault may have dealt lasting damage to the CDC, experts fear, with harsh consequences for public health.
(Gift article)
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/29/h...
(Gift article)
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/29/h...
Reposted by Natalie Dean, PhD
My heart. Members of the US Public Health Service (the uniformed service branch no one has ever heard of, who serve at the CDC and elsewhere in the US), massed within the CDC property, saluting their departing uniformed leaders who were escorted out by security today after resigning on principle.
A higher resolution pic than my screenshot that captured the salute, from Alyssa Pointer (Reuters) – press weren’t allowed past the front gate for security reasons.
August 29, 2025 at 3:36 AM
My heart. Members of the US Public Health Service (the uniformed service branch no one has ever heard of, who serve at the CDC and elsewhere in the US), massed within the CDC property, saluting their departing uniformed leaders who were escorted out by security today after resigning on principle.
Reposted by Natalie Dean, PhD
You can track the spread of 16 viruses all at once, team at @childrensresearch.bsky.social and elsewhere found, including EV-D68, RSV, metapneumovirus, flu, Covid, rhinovirus. They started out looking for the cause of acute flaccid myelitis - remember that one? www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Dynamics of endemic virus re-emergence in children in the USA following the COVID-19 pandemic (2022–23): a prospective, multicentre, longitudinal, immunoepidemiological surveillance study
In this study, we captured immunological evidence of endemic virus re-emergence in
children following lifting of pandemic NPIs, which revealed high rates of exposure
to endemic respiratory pathogens i...
www.thelancet.com
August 7, 2025 at 10:17 PM
You can track the spread of 16 viruses all at once, team at @childrensresearch.bsky.social and elsewhere found, including EV-D68, RSV, metapneumovirus, flu, Covid, rhinovirus. They started out looking for the cause of acute flaccid myelitis - remember that one? www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Reposted by Natalie Dean, PhD
And they were singing
Bye bye to American Sci
Bye bye to American Sci
August 7, 2025 at 10:21 PM
And they were singing
Bye bye to American Sci
Bye bye to American Sci
Reposted by Natalie Dean, PhD
"The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced the beginning of a coordinated wind-down of its mRNA vaccine development activities...."
cc: Sen. Bill Cassidy
cc: Sen. Bill Cassidy
August 5, 2025 at 9:34 PM
"The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced the beginning of a coordinated wind-down of its mRNA vaccine development activities...."
cc: Sen. Bill Cassidy
cc: Sen. Bill Cassidy
Reposted by Natalie Dean, PhD
Every reputable expert I know considers mRNA vaccine technology to be one of the most revolutionary advances in medicine in our lifetimes. Its inventors won the Nobel Prize in 2023. Shutting it down now is pointless self-harm to humanity.
Release from HHS: HHS will wind down its development of the mRNA vaccine development activities under the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).
August 5, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Every reputable expert I know considers mRNA vaccine technology to be one of the most revolutionary advances in medicine in our lifetimes. Its inventors won the Nobel Prize in 2023. Shutting it down now is pointless self-harm to humanity.
Reposted by Natalie Dean, PhD
Shout out to the WSJ journalists who reported on Vought’s impoundment by footnote, causing the White House to walk it back. Impact journalism!!
UPDATE: The pause was scrapped Tuesday evening after intervention by top White House officials. www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Trump Administration Scraps Effort to Pause Health-Research Funding
The administration halted and then restarted billions in new research grants flowing from the National Institutes of Health.
www.wsj.com
July 30, 2025 at 4:00 AM
Shout out to the WSJ journalists who reported on Vought’s impoundment by footnote, causing the White House to walk it back. Impact journalism!!
Reposted by Natalie Dean, PhD
📣 Funded 3.5yr PhD opportunity (UK tuition fee rate) in @hpruezi.bsky.social @liverpooluni.bsky.social. #PhDSky
🧪 On "Optimising testing & control strategies in the early stages of infectious disease outbreaks" #IDSky #EpiSky
⏳ Deadline to apply: 07 Jul 2025
🔗: www.liverpool.ac.uk/courses/opti...
🧪 On "Optimising testing & control strategies in the early stages of infectious disease outbreaks" #IDSky #EpiSky
⏳ Deadline to apply: 07 Jul 2025
🔗: www.liverpool.ac.uk/courses/opti...
June 17, 2025 at 4:06 PM
📣 Funded 3.5yr PhD opportunity (UK tuition fee rate) in @hpruezi.bsky.social @liverpooluni.bsky.social. #PhDSky
🧪 On "Optimising testing & control strategies in the early stages of infectious disease outbreaks" #IDSky #EpiSky
⏳ Deadline to apply: 07 Jul 2025
🔗: www.liverpool.ac.uk/courses/opti...
🧪 On "Optimising testing & control strategies in the early stages of infectious disease outbreaks" #IDSky #EpiSky
⏳ Deadline to apply: 07 Jul 2025
🔗: www.liverpool.ac.uk/courses/opti...
Reposted by Natalie Dean, PhD
17 dedicated doctors, pediatricians, scientists, and parents who served on the Advisory Committee of Immunization Practices (ACIP) were just fired by Secretary Kennedy based on false claims of conflicts of interest – a dangerous and unprecedented action that makes our families less safe.
June 9, 2025 at 10:08 PM
17 dedicated doctors, pediatricians, scientists, and parents who served on the Advisory Committee of Immunization Practices (ACIP) were just fired by Secretary Kennedy based on false claims of conflicts of interest – a dangerous and unprecedented action that makes our families less safe.
Reposted by Natalie Dean, PhD
If people are interested in learning about the ACIP and its decades of contributions to US vaccine policy successes, here’s a short 2014 piece I wrote in NEJM with Adel Mahmoud (timed with its 50th anniversary) www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
A Half-Century of Prevention — The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices | NEJM
In 1964, after a vaccination program against polio, diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis
began, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices was created to advise the
U.S. government on vaccinati...
www.nejm.org
February 20, 2025 at 8:49 PM
If people are interested in learning about the ACIP and its decades of contributions to US vaccine policy successes, here’s a short 2014 piece I wrote in NEJM with Adel Mahmoud (timed with its 50th anniversary) www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Natalie Dean, PhD
Kennedy does the thing he said for years he wanted to www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...
Kennedy guts CDC's vaccine panel of independent experts
The Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices helps the agency make recommendations on who should get certain vaccines.
www.nbcnews.com
June 9, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Kennedy does the thing he said for years he wanted to www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...
Reposted by Natalie Dean, PhD
RFK Jr has worked for more than a decade to sow distrust in vaccines. Despite his efforts, the vast majority of Americans still support vaccines and follow federal guidance. Secretary Kennedy’s decision to remove ACIP members is another act in his crusade to prevent Americans from getting vaccines.
June 9, 2025 at 9:15 PM
RFK Jr has worked for more than a decade to sow distrust in vaccines. Despite his efforts, the vast majority of Americans still support vaccines and follow federal guidance. Secretary Kennedy’s decision to remove ACIP members is another act in his crusade to prevent Americans from getting vaccines.
Reposted by Natalie Dean, PhD
This evening, a member of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices told us they received "formal notice of your immediate termination"
"This is horrifying," a CDC official said of Secy Kennedy's move
www.cbsnews.com/news/rfk-jr-...
"This is horrifying," a CDC official said of Secy Kennedy's move
www.cbsnews.com/news/rfk-jr-...
June 9, 2025 at 11:56 PM
This evening, a member of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices told us they received "formal notice of your immediate termination"
"This is horrifying," a CDC official said of Secy Kennedy's move
www.cbsnews.com/news/rfk-jr-...
"This is horrifying," a CDC official said of Secy Kennedy's move
www.cbsnews.com/news/rfk-jr-...
Reposted by Natalie Dean, PhD
What are we doing here?
“I would like to cure brain cancer. I think that's not particularly controversial.” Be that as it may, the NIH terminated that scientist's grant. Here's a huge survey of the 2,500 grants that NIH has killed or delayed...so far. Gift link: nyti.ms/43Jz1yJ
June 4, 2025 at 3:00 PM
What are we doing here?
Reposted by Natalie Dean, PhD
New powerful article up in the New York Times on cancelled and delayed grants
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Here Are the Nearly 2,500 Medical Research Grants Canceled or Delayed by Trump (Gift Article)
Some cuts have been starkly visible, but the country’s medical grant-making machinery has also radically transformed outside the public eye.
www.nytimes.com
June 4, 2025 at 3:01 PM
New powerful article up in the New York Times on cancelled and delayed grants
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Reposted by Natalie Dean, PhD
Rolling clinical and epi updates for #mpox data from #SierraLeone. Watch for updated versions as additional data becomes available. Heartfelt thanks to our local colleagues in-country led by Dr. Jia Kangbai
t.co/D9QosVP1Bq
t.co/D9QosVP1Bq
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.05.30.25328691v1
t.co
June 2, 2025 at 5:19 AM
Rolling clinical and epi updates for #mpox data from #SierraLeone. Watch for updated versions as additional data becomes available. Heartfelt thanks to our local colleagues in-country led by Dr. Jia Kangbai
t.co/D9QosVP1Bq
t.co/D9QosVP1Bq
Reposted by Natalie Dean, PhD
Researcher Amita Gupta has spent more than a decade planning and running a $70-million trial to study a new tuberculosis drug, enrolling ~6,000 participants in 13 countries. It might all have been for nothing.
That's because a new NIH policy has abruptly cut off billions to trials abroad. 🧪
That's because a new NIH policy has abruptly cut off billions to trials abroad. 🧪
NIH grant cuts will axe clinical trials abroad — and could leave thousands without care
US agency’s new policy could abruptly end studies of infectious diseases and cancer, leaving researchers scrambling for funds.
www.nature.com
June 2, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Researcher Amita Gupta has spent more than a decade planning and running a $70-million trial to study a new tuberculosis drug, enrolling ~6,000 participants in 13 countries. It might all have been for nothing.
That's because a new NIH policy has abruptly cut off billions to trials abroad. 🧪
That's because a new NIH policy has abruptly cut off billions to trials abroad. 🧪
Reposted by Natalie Dean, PhD
SCOOP @statnews.com: The FDA will begin the agency-wide rollout of its AI tool, called "Elsa," tomorrow — weeks ahead of schedule.
For the most details yet on the FDA's Claude-based AI tool, plus criticism from FDA employees:
🖥️🩺
www.statnews.com/2025/06/02/f...
For the most details yet on the FDA's Claude-based AI tool, plus criticism from FDA employees:
🖥️🩺
www.statnews.com/2025/06/02/f...
FDA plans to begin rolling out AI tool agency-wide on Tuesday
The FDA plans to roll out its agency-wide AI tool weeks ahead of schedule, per a press release that provides the most detailed look yet at the technology and how it may be used.
www.statnews.com
June 2, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Reposted by Natalie Dean, PhD
"'It’s a total shit show,' one agency staffer told Important Context, explaining that Bhattacharya seemed unaware of how NIH operated when he arrived. They said he had been promising reforms that were already part of the agency’s work."
NEW: Important Context spoke with a dozen people working at NIH about Director Jay Bhattacharya.
The descriptions were universally unflattering, painting the health economist as ineffectual, dishonest, ideological, arrogant, and uncommitted to science.
www.importantcontext.news/p/out-of-his...
The descriptions were universally unflattering, painting the health economist as ineffectual, dishonest, ideological, arrogant, and uncommitted to science.
www.importantcontext.news/p/out-of-his...
“Out Of His Depth,” “Sold His Soul,” “Clueless”: NIH Staffers Speak Out About Director Bhattacharya
Widespread dissatisfaction over the NIH’s “continuous free fall” has people speaking out.
www.importantcontext.news
June 2, 2025 at 2:33 PM
"'It’s a total shit show,' one agency staffer told Important Context, explaining that Bhattacharya seemed unaware of how NIH operated when he arrived. They said he had been promising reforms that were already part of the agency’s work."
Reposted by Natalie Dean, PhD
Here's the NIH's proposed budget - from $48 billion to $27 billion. NIAID, current ~$7 billion cut to ~$4.2 billion.
The proposed 15% cap on indirect costs remains.
Again, these budgets are passed, and our leadership in science, technology, and innovation is gone.
www.hhs.gov/sites/defaul...
The proposed 15% cap on indirect costs remains.
Again, these budgets are passed, and our leadership in science, technology, and innovation is gone.
www.hhs.gov/sites/defaul...
May 30, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Here's the NIH's proposed budget - from $48 billion to $27 billion. NIAID, current ~$7 billion cut to ~$4.2 billion.
The proposed 15% cap on indirect costs remains.
Again, these budgets are passed, and our leadership in science, technology, and innovation is gone.
www.hhs.gov/sites/defaul...
The proposed 15% cap on indirect costs remains.
Again, these budgets are passed, and our leadership in science, technology, and innovation is gone.
www.hhs.gov/sites/defaul...
Reposted by Natalie Dean, PhD
In 1 month, BEACON has already reported 181 disease events & 381 individual reports.
We're excited to announce that starting June 2nd, BEACON will be sending a free Weekly Disease Event Digest on Mondays to help you stay informed about emerging threats globally. Sign up below!
We're excited to announce that starting June 2nd, BEACON will be sending a free Weekly Disease Event Digest on Mondays to help you stay informed about emerging threats globally. Sign up below!
Starting on Monday, BEACON will be sending a weekly Disease Event Digest newsletter with summaries of infectious disease events over the previous week from around the world.
If you haven’t signed up yet, subscribe here:
http://spr.ly/63324NfQh8
If you haven’t signed up yet, subscribe here:
http://spr.ly/63324NfQh8
May 30, 2025 at 8:57 PM
In 1 month, BEACON has already reported 181 disease events & 381 individual reports.
We're excited to announce that starting June 2nd, BEACON will be sending a free Weekly Disease Event Digest on Mondays to help you stay informed about emerging threats globally. Sign up below!
We're excited to announce that starting June 2nd, BEACON will be sending a free Weekly Disease Event Digest on Mondays to help you stay informed about emerging threats globally. Sign up below!
Reposted by Natalie Dean, PhD
I urge everyone to read Unbreaking’s new page on everything the govt is doing to destroy & diminish medical research funding.
It’s the best thing I’ve read on this topic: @lizneeley.bsky.social & co have such done an incredible job.
unbreaking.org/issues/medic...
It’s the best thing I’ve read on this topic: @lizneeley.bsky.social & co have such done an incredible job.
unbreaking.org/issues/medic...
Medical Research Funding — Unbreaking
How the administration is breaking the government, and what that means for all of us.
unbreaking.org
May 30, 2025 at 9:38 PM
I urge everyone to read Unbreaking’s new page on everything the govt is doing to destroy & diminish medical research funding.
It’s the best thing I’ve read on this topic: @lizneeley.bsky.social & co have such done an incredible job.
unbreaking.org/issues/medic...
It’s the best thing I’ve read on this topic: @lizneeley.bsky.social & co have such done an incredible job.
unbreaking.org/issues/medic...
Reposted by Natalie Dean, PhD
Gold standard science
White House Health Report Included Fake Citations
www.nytimes.com
May 30, 2025 at 5:02 AM
Gold standard science