Nira Pollock
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nirapollock.bsky.social
Nira Pollock
@nirapollock.bsky.social
1.3K followers 100 following 65 posts
Infectious diseases diagnostic expert/clinical microbiologist at Boston Children’s Hospital. Diagnostic development and evaluation, outbreak/pandemic preparedness and response, POC Dx, global health. Views are my own.
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Reposted by Nira Pollock
maxkozlov.bsky.social
The full ruling explaining why NIH grant cuts are illegal came out today.

It's just as blistering as the judge's oral remarks. And it uncovers fresh details in DOGE's role orchestrating the cuts — and on the cuts at Columbia.

Here are my top highlights from the 103-page ruling. 🧵
maxkozlov.bsky.social Max Kozlov @maxkozlov.bsky.social · Jun 17
After ruling the NIH grant cuts were illegal yesterday, Judge Young, a Reagan appointee on the bench since 1985, ended the hearing with a blistering 15-minute speech.

I've cleaned up my notes — here are his remarks in full. 🧵
Judge rules against NIH grant cuts — and calls them discriminatory
The decision means that the US biomedical agency has to restore funding to hundreds of research projects, but the government will likely appeal.
www.nature.com
July 2, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Reposted by Nira Pollock
agawande.bsky.social
“No children are dying on my watch,” said Rubio. It's blatantly false. Credible estimates count 190K deaths so far.

In Kenya, I am seeing devastating impact, incl this child's starvation & many deaths directly caused by Rubio’s actions. More in my @msnbc.com clip. www.instagram.com/atul.gawande...
Atul Gawande on Instagram: "“No children are dying on my watch,” said Rubio. It's blatantly false. So far, 190,000 children and 90,000 adults have died due to the dismantling of USAID (even assuming...
9 likes, 0 comments - atul.gawande on May 24, 2025: "“No children are dying on my watch,” said Rubio. It's blatantly false. So far, 190,000 children and 90,000 adults have died due to the dismantlin...
www.instagram.com
May 24, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Reposted by Nira Pollock
asm.org
Together with leading science organizations, ASM filed an amicus brief calling for immediate restoration of NIH grants supporting early-career scientists. Read the press release: asm.org/press-releas...
Four Leading Science Organizations File Amicus Brief Supporting Funding Restoration
ASM joined leading life science organizations in an amicus brief filed in support of a suit calling for immediate funding restoration.
asm.org
May 2, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Reposted by Nira Pollock
asm.org
ASM strongly opposes the proposed cuts in the President’s fiscal year (FY) 2026 budget request to federal departments and agencies that fund science, research and public health programs. Read our statement: asm.org/articles/pol...
ASM Urges Congress to Reject President’s FY 2026 Budget Request | ASM.org
ASM strongly opposes the proposed cuts in the President’s fiscal year (FY) 2026 budget request to federal departments and agencies that fund science, research and public health programs.
asm.org
May 2, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Reposted by Nira Pollock
idsainfo.bsky.social
IDSA urges Congress to reject President Trump's proposed cuts and instead safeguard the well-being of the American people.

Our statement: bit.ly/44PljMH
May 2, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Reposted by Nira Pollock
ljrissler.bsky.social
SaveNSF is a coalition of concerned scientists and allies who are working to save funding for scientific grants through the NSF.

The mission is to support and advocate for the continuation of vital research and innovation.

Join: www.savensf.com
Home | Savensf
www.savensf.com
May 3, 2025 at 1:03 AM
nirapollock.bsky.social
Towards Dx preparedness for H5N1 (bird flu): can rapid antigen and point-of-care molecular tests for influenza A detect 2024 U.S. H5N1 strains? See answer in this preprint: www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
#IDSky #clinmicro
Towards diagnostic preparedness: detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) in contrived nasal swab specimens using rapid antigen and point-of-care molecular tests
Background Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4b was first detected in birds in the United States in 2021 and an ongoing outbreak in dairy cattle began in early 2024. At leas...
www.medrxiv.org
April 22, 2025 at 12:43 PM
nirapollock.bsky.social
New preprint assessing the ability of existing influenza A tests (rapid antigen and point-of-care molecular) to detect 2024 U.S. H5N1 strains in contrived nasal swab specimens
#IDSky #clinmicro

www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
Towards diagnostic preparedness: detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) in contrived nasal swab specimens using rapid antigen and point-of-care molecular tests
Background Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4b was first detected in birds in the United States in 2021 and an ongoing outbreak in dairy cattle began in early 2024. At leas...
www.medrxiv.org
April 18, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Reposted by Nira Pollock
meganranney.bsky.social
A small piece of good news in #publichealth

www.science.org/content/arti...
Global pandemic treaty finalized, without U.S., in ‘a victory for multilateralism’
Three years in the making, the accord aims to increase equity and avoid errors of the COVID-19 pandemic
www.science.org
April 16, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Reposted by Nira Pollock
bhadeliamd.bsky.social
Two excellent articles on the NIH cuts and in government public health agencies in general.
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/11/o...

www.statnews.com/2025/04/11/h...
Inside U.S. health agencies, workers confront chaos and questions as operations come unglued
The Trump administration’s remaking of HHS — in a matter of weeks — is sparking basic questions about how parts of the agency and those it oversees can continue to function.
www.statnews.com
April 14, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Reposted by Nira Pollock
jessicamdewitt.bsky.social
I just attended a conference in the US. We had one speaker detained and two others turned away at the border.
April 13, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Reposted by Nira Pollock
nirapollock.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/11/o...
Opinion | What Is Actually the Point of Treating the N.I.H. Like This?
Efficiency is not being enhanced, nor is waste being eliminated at the N.I.H. Scientists are just left to wonder: Why?
www.nytimes.com
April 11, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Reposted by Nira Pollock
helenbranswell.bsky.social
When you get rid of most of the people whose work fuels the day-to-day operations of an agency like #NIH, can the agency still function? Scientists & public health experts working at NIH, #CDC & #FDA fear the answer is no, & that they're about to find out. www.statnews.com/2025/04/11/h...
Inside U.S. health agencies, workers confront chaos and questions as operations come unglued
The Trump administration’s remaking of HHS — in a matter of weeks — is sparking basic questions about how parts of the agency and those it oversees can continue to function.
www.statnews.com
April 13, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Reposted by Nira Pollock
amymaxmen.bsky.social
🚨My latest: Trump's deportation tactics are undermining the bird flu response, outreach workers say.

Detecting cases is key but farmworkers at highest risk - mainly immigrants - are afraid to leave home for care. @kffhealthnews.org / ABC

kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Trump’s Immigration Tactics Obstruct Efforts To Avert Bird Flu Pandemic, Researchers Say - KFF Health News
Preventing and detecting bird flu infections among farmworkers is a key defense against a potential pandemic. Immigration raids and threats have undermined these efforts, researchers say.
kffhealthnews.org
April 10, 2025 at 1:44 PM
nirapollock.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/11/o...
Opinion | What Is Actually the Point of Treating the N.I.H. Like This?
Efficiency is not being enhanced, nor is waste being eliminated at the N.I.H. Scientists are just left to wonder: Why?
www.nytimes.com
April 11, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Reposted by Nira Pollock
helenbranswell.bsky.social
The massive staff cuts at #HHS hit many of the folks who kept HHS running, leaving #NIH labs hoarding dwindling supplies & trying to decide whether further demanded cuts should affect critical people or critical equipment. Destruction, not restructuring. www.statnews.com/2025/04/11/h...
Inside U.S. health agencies, workers confront chaos and questions as operations become unglued
The Trump administration’s remaking of HHS — in a matter of weeks — is sparking basic questions about how parts of the agency and those it oversees can continue to function.
www.statnews.com
April 11, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Reposted by Nira Pollock
wired.com
NEW: Thousands of CDC employees who worked on things like preventing HIV and lead poisoning have been told they were subject to a reduction in force. Experts say people will die.
The CDC Has Been Gutted
Thousands of CDC employees who worked on things like preventing HIV and lead poisoning have been told they were subject to a reduction in force. Experts say people will die.
www.wired.com
April 1, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Reposted by Nira Pollock
ddiamond.bsky.social
Hearing from all corners of HHS this morning about a total bloodletting — firings of scientists, analysts and many more as delayed RIFs take effect.

Many folks didn’t see early AM email and showed up, only to be turned away when badges didn’t work. Was sent this photo of long lines at one HHS site.
April 1, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Reposted by Nira Pollock
joshuasweitz.bsky.social
More soon but the impact of cuts across HHS are devastating for the nation's health, well-being & economy.

Firing experts will destroy programs, hurt communities, and diminish our ability to innovate. Who benefits? Ask your representative: what are they doing to stop it?

🎁 link: wapo.st/3EaLQZW
Massive layoffs, purge of leadership underway at U.S. health agencies
The move comes after Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s announcement of a sweeping reduction of the Department of Health and Human Services.
wapo.st
April 1, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Reposted by Nira Pollock
enirenberg.bsky.social
Peter Marks’s resignation letter. Everyone should read this.
Peter Marks, MD, PhD Director, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research U.S. Food and Drug Administration 10903 New Hampshire Avenue Silver Spring, MD 20903 March 28, 2025 Sara Brenner, MD, MPH Acting Commissioner of Food and Drugs U.S. Food and Drug Administration 10903 New Hampshire Avenue Silver Spring, MD 20903 Dear Dr. Brenner: It is with a heavy heart that I have decided to resign from FDA and retire from federal service as Director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research effective April 5, 2025. I leave behind a staff of professionals who are undoubtedly the most devoted to protecting and promoting the public health of any group of people that I have encountered during my four decades working in the public and private sectors. I have always done my best to advocate for their well-being and I would ask that you do the same during this very difficult time during which their critical importance to the safety and security of our nation may be underappreciated. Over the past years I have been involved in enhancing the safety of our nation's blood supply, in advancing the field of cell and gene therapy, and in responding to public health emergencies. In the last of these, during the COVID-19 pandemic I had the privilege of watching the vision that I conceived for Operation Warp Speed in March 2020 in collaboration with Dr. Robert Kadlec become a reality under the leadership of HHS Secretary Azar and President Trump due to the unwavering commitment of public servants at FDA and elsewhere across the government. At FDA, the tireless efforts of staff across the agency resulted in remarkably expediting the development of vaccines against the virus, meeting the standards for quality, safety, and effectiveness expected by the American public. The vaccines undoubtedly markedly reduced morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 in the United States and elsewhere. Many of these same individuals applied learnings from the pandemic during a flawless response helping… ongoing multistate measles outbreak that is particularly severe in Texas reminds us of what happens when confidence in well-established science underlying public health and well-being is undermined. Measles, which killed more than 100,000 unvaccinated children last year in Africa and Asia owing to pneumonitis and encephalitis caused by the virus, had been eliminated from our shores. The two-dose measles, mumps, rubella vaccine regimen (MMR) using over the past decades has a remarkably favorable benefit-risk profile. The MMR vaccine is 97% or more effective in preventing measles following the two-dose series, and its safety has been remarkably well studied. Though rarely followed by a single fever-related seizure, or very rarely by allergic reactions or blood clotting disorders, the vaccine very simply does not cause autism, nor is it associated with encephalitis or death. It does, however, protect against a potential devasting consequence of prior measles infection, subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), which is an untreatable, relentlessly progressive neurologic disorder leading to death in about 1 in 10,000 individuals infected with measles. Undermining confidence in well-established vaccines that have met the high standards for quality, safety, and effectiveness that have been in place for decades at FDA is irresponsible, detrimental to public health, and a clear danger to our nation's health, safety. and security. In the years following the pandemic, at the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research we have applied the same unwavering commitment to public health priorities to the development of cell and gene therapies to address both hereditary and acquired rare diseases. During my tenure as Center Director we have approved 22 gene therapies, including the first gene therapy ever to be approved in the United States. However, we know that we must do better to expedite the development of treatments for those individual suffering from any one of the thousan…
March 29, 2025 at 2:29 AM
Reposted by Nira Pollock
joshuasweitz.bsky.social
Working with an interdisciplinary team, we have developed a website to communicate how the White House's proposed cuts to health research would cause losses of $16B and 68,500 jobs.

Find out how your community may be impacted.

Explore more at SCIMaP: scienceimpacts.org

a 🧵
US map via scienceimpacts.org visualization of economic loss due to IDC cuts to 15% as part of Feb 7, 2025 executive order, with shading denoting intensity of cuts.
March 28, 2025 at 2:15 AM
Reposted by Nira Pollock
erictopol.bsky.social
A huge loss at FDA.
Peter Marks originated rhe Operation Warp Speed Covid vaccine idea and has overseen so many essential biotech programs such as genome editing cures www.wsj.com/politics/top...
Exclusive | Top Vaccine Official Out at FDA
In his resignation letter, Dr. Peter Marks cited ‘misinformation and lies’ from Health and Human Services Secretary RFK Jr.
www.wsj.com
March 29, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Reposted by Nira Pollock
aaup.org
Columbia University has failed to defend academic freedom & freedom of speech & allowed a great institution to be bullied & extorted into submission by an administration hellbent on contorting higher education to their will.

The AAUP condemns this capitulation. We can & must fight back.
Columbia Concedes to Trump’s Demands After Federal Funds Are Stripped
The administration has moved to cut $400 million in federal funding to the university without changes to its policies and rules.
www.nytimes.com
March 22, 2025 at 2:32 AM
Reposted by Nira Pollock
boghuma.bsky.social
I know there's a lot happening but this week several grenades were thrown to decimate domestic HIV treatment and prevention research. I know more colleagues with canceled grants than not.
Our patients will die or get worse care as a direct result.
www.theatlantic.com/health/archi...
What It Really Means to ‘Give Infectious Disease a Break’
The Trump administration isn’t just dismantling protections against illnesses. It’s inviting them right in.
www.theatlantic.com
March 22, 2025 at 11:38 AM