Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD
@wesleytkerr.bsky.social
Epileptologist/Asst Prof. Data Science, Functional Seizures, Clinical Trial Stats. he/him
Reposted by Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD
November 24, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Reposted by Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD
More than 1 in 4 physicians surveyed by the AMA in December said that prior authorization had led to a serious adverse event for a patient in their care. And 8% responded that prior authorization led to a disability, birth defect, or death. #RSNA25
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
After Series of Denials, His Insurer Approved Doctor-Recommended Cancer Care. It Was Too Late. - KFF Health News
Eric Tennant’s doctors recommended histotripsy, which would target, and potentially destroy, a cancerous tumor in his liver. But by the time his insurer approved the treatment, Tennant was no longer c...
kffhealthnews.org
November 24, 2025 at 3:30 AM
More than 1 in 4 physicians surveyed by the AMA in December said that prior authorization had led to a serious adverse event for a patient in their care. And 8% responded that prior authorization led to a disability, birth defect, or death. #RSNA25
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
In case others are in New Orleans for the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies conference, let me know because I’m going! #ABCT
the words popping in to say hello are on a brown background
Alt: the words popping in to say hello are on a brown background and there’s an animal popping out of the ground
media.tenor.com
November 19, 2025 at 11:43 PM
In case others are in New Orleans for the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies conference, let me know because I’m going! #ABCT
This is a big deal for clinical trials! Previously, I was a NeuroNEXT fellow and some of these can fund early stage clinical trials of the next big seizure treatments! @amepilepsysoc.bsky.social
Notice of early expiration of NIH SBIR/STTR funding announcements.
grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
If anyone knows the backstory, please share.
grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
If anyone knows the backstory, please share.
NOT-OD-26-006: Notice of Early Expiration of NIH Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Notices of Funding Opportunity and Guidance for Existing Recipi...
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts: Notice of Early Expiration of NIH Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STT...
grants.nih.gov
November 19, 2025 at 3:45 PM
This is a big deal for clinical trials! Previously, I was a NeuroNEXT fellow and some of these can fund early stage clinical trials of the next big seizure treatments! @amepilepsysoc.bsky.social
Reposted by Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD
Leading neuroscientists say that ongoing disruptions in federal funding are causing many young scientists in the field to reconsider their career choice — with potentially dire consequences for research into Alzheimer's, autism and other brain disorders.
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
As funding falters, young brain scientists rethink careers in research
Research on brain disorders may slow as young neuroscientists struggle to find jobs and research grants.
www.npr.org
November 16, 2025 at 4:23 AM
Leading neuroscientists say that ongoing disruptions in federal funding are causing many young scientists in the field to reconsider their career choice — with potentially dire consequences for research into Alzheimer's, autism and other brain disorders.
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
Reposted by Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD
Everyone thinks they will be the exception.
Serious illness or disability won’t happen to them and IF it does, they will be able to afford it.
The reality is it only takes one catastrophic event to change your life, especially in a country that doesn’t guarantee healthcare for all.
Serious illness or disability won’t happen to them and IF it does, they will be able to afford it.
The reality is it only takes one catastrophic event to change your life, especially in a country that doesn’t guarantee healthcare for all.
James Van Der Beek selling ‘Dawson’s Creek’ merch to help pay for cancer costs
The “Varsity Blues” star was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer last year.
nypost.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Everyone thinks they will be the exception.
Serious illness or disability won’t happen to them and IF it does, they will be able to afford it.
The reality is it only takes one catastrophic event to change your life, especially in a country that doesn’t guarantee healthcare for all.
Serious illness or disability won’t happen to them and IF it does, they will be able to afford it.
The reality is it only takes one catastrophic event to change your life, especially in a country that doesn’t guarantee healthcare for all.
Reposted by Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD
This year, with Congress in a stalemate about subsidies, Affordable Care Act marketplace consumers will need to be more informed than ever to navigate their health coverage choices.
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
Shopping for ACA health plans this open enrollment? Here's what to know
This year, with Congress in a stalemate about subsidies, Affordable Care Act marketplace consumers will need to be more informed than ever to navigate their health coverage choices.
www.npr.org
November 2, 2025 at 1:03 AM
This year, with Congress in a stalemate about subsidies, Affordable Care Act marketplace consumers will need to be more informed than ever to navigate their health coverage choices.
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
New paper alert! This is a time-to-event study of JNJ-40411813 which, unfortunately, did not hit it's primary efficacy endpoint. The time-to-event design did reduce exposure to ineffective treatments. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... @epilepsiajournal.bsky.social
A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, time‐to‐event study of the efficacy and safety of JNJ‐40411813 in combination with levetiracetam or brivaracetam in patients with focal onset seizures
Objective Up to 30% of people with epilepsy are refractory to current antiseizure medications (ASMs). JNJ-40411813 is a positive allosteric modulator of metabotropic glutamate 2 receptor, a presynap...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
November 1, 2025 at 6:15 PM
New paper alert! This is a time-to-event study of JNJ-40411813 which, unfortunately, did not hit it's primary efficacy endpoint. The time-to-event design did reduce exposure to ineffective treatments. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... @epilepsiajournal.bsky.social
New editorial alert: This highlighted the importance of following statistical best practices in preclinical studies because better statistical practices was associated with more Phase 2 success! www.neurology.org/doi/full/10.... @greenjournal.bsky.social
Neurology® Journals
www.neurology.org
October 23, 2025 at 3:12 PM
New editorial alert: This highlighted the importance of following statistical best practices in preclinical studies because better statistical practices was associated with more Phase 2 success! www.neurology.org/doi/full/10.... @greenjournal.bsky.social
Reposted by Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD
OBAMA: “Better’s good… we’re not gonna get to perfect. Do I think single-payer with no profit motive would’ve been smarter? Absolutely.”
President Obama tells Maron the ACA was a compromise because he didn’t have the votes for what he really wanted. #MedicareForAll
President Obama tells Maron the ACA was a compromise because he didn’t have the votes for what he really wanted. #MedicareForAll
October 13, 2025 at 9:47 PM
OBAMA: “Better’s good… we’re not gonna get to perfect. Do I think single-payer with no profit motive would’ve been smarter? Absolutely.”
President Obama tells Maron the ACA was a compromise because he didn’t have the votes for what he really wanted. #MedicareForAll
President Obama tells Maron the ACA was a compromise because he didn’t have the votes for what he really wanted. #MedicareForAll
Reposted by Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD
Dr. Jane Goodall filmed an interview with Netflix in March 2025 that she understood would only be released after her death.
October 5, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Dr. Jane Goodall filmed an interview with Netflix in March 2025 that she understood would only be released after her death.
Reposted by Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD
Yet again, machine learning — even gussied up via the transformer architecture — encodes and reinforces societal biases.
This study reveals that LLM-based peer review relies heavily on author institution in its decisions.
arxiv.org/abs/2509.15122
This study reveals that LLM-based peer review relies heavily on author institution in its decisions.
arxiv.org/abs/2509.15122
Prestige over merit: An adapted audit of LLM bias in peer review
Large language models (LLMs) are playing an increasingly integral, though largely informal, role in scholarly peer review. Yet it remains unclear whether LLMs reproduce the biases observed in human de...
arxiv.org
September 22, 2025 at 6:11 AM
Yet again, machine learning — even gussied up via the transformer architecture — encodes and reinforces societal biases.
This study reveals that LLM-based peer review relies heavily on author institution in its decisions.
arxiv.org/abs/2509.15122
This study reveals that LLM-based peer review relies heavily on author institution in its decisions.
arxiv.org/abs/2509.15122
Reposted by Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD
A great review of a must read timely publication of “Science under Siege: How to Fight the Five Most Powerful Forces that Threaten Our World” by
@peterhotezmdphd.bsky.social and @michaelemann.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
@peterhotezmdphd.bsky.social and @michaelemann.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
How did assaults on science become the norm — and what can we do?
An insightful book explores attacks on science from a historical and a personal perspective.
www.nature.com
September 16, 2025 at 7:12 PM
A great review of a must read timely publication of “Science under Siege: How to Fight the Five Most Powerful Forces that Threaten Our World” by
@peterhotezmdphd.bsky.social and @michaelemann.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
@peterhotezmdphd.bsky.social and @michaelemann.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD
“If government support weakens, medical and health research may become more dependent on commercial markets and philanthropic donors. That can narrow the kinds of problems studied…”
theconversation.com/proposed-cut...
theconversation.com/proposed-cut...
Proposed cuts to NIH funding would have ripple effects on research that could hamper the US for decades
Taxpayer-funded investment supports basic research that can yield crucial medical advancements down the line and make lifesaving drugs and technologies affordable for everyday people.
theconversation.com
September 13, 2025 at 10:05 AM
“If government support weakens, medical and health research may become more dependent on commercial markets and philanthropic donors. That can narrow the kinds of problems studied…”
theconversation.com/proposed-cut...
theconversation.com/proposed-cut...
Reposted by Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD
We're going to see a lot of bullshit in the coming days and weeks about "causes of autism", and most will be based on flawed, over-interpreted observational studies (1/n)
September 7, 2025 at 10:57 AM
We're going to see a lot of bullshit in the coming days and weeks about "causes of autism", and most will be based on flawed, over-interpreted observational studies (1/n)
Reposted by Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD
Drowning is the leading cause of death in children between 1 and 4 years of age but apparently the CDC Drowning Prevention program is no longer needed.
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
Drowning prevention program comes to a halt at the CDC
A few years in, a CDC drowning prevention program was ready to share its findings on how to mitigate the leading cause of death among young children. Then the administration terminated that staff.
www.npr.org
August 27, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Drowning is the leading cause of death in children between 1 and 4 years of age but apparently the CDC Drowning Prevention program is no longer needed.
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
www.npr.org/sections/sho...
Reposted by Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD
“In total, more than 20,500 workers, or about 18% of the Department of Health and Human Services’ workforce, have left or been pushed out, according to ProPublica’s analysis”
And we are all looking for jobs - essentially the same jobs- at the same time. This is evil, devastating, & life altering.
And we are all looking for jobs - essentially the same jobs- at the same time. This is evil, devastating, & life altering.
Gutted: How Deeply Trump Has Cut Federal Health Agencies
More than 20,500 workers have left or been pushed out of federal health agencies, a ProPublica analysis found. Staffers say the cuts will leave their agencies less equipped to conduct studies, perform...
projects.propublica.org
August 24, 2025 at 1:35 PM
“In total, more than 20,500 workers, or about 18% of the Department of Health and Human Services’ workforce, have left or been pushed out, according to ProPublica’s analysis”
And we are all looking for jobs - essentially the same jobs- at the same time. This is evil, devastating, & life altering.
And we are all looking for jobs - essentially the same jobs- at the same time. This is evil, devastating, & life altering.
Reposted by Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD
What they are doing to NIH defies all logic and reason. This admin is needlessly, irreversibly destroying one of the greatest resources our country has ever built. A few quotes from yours' truly are in the video below. Thanks to @nytopinion.nytimes.com for covering
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/24/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/24/o...
Opinion | America First? Not When It Comes to Your Health.
www.nytimes.com
August 24, 2025 at 1:19 PM
What they are doing to NIH defies all logic and reason. This admin is needlessly, irreversibly destroying one of the greatest resources our country has ever built. A few quotes from yours' truly are in the video below. Thanks to @nytopinion.nytimes.com for covering
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/24/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/24/o...
Reposted by Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD
New York Times story with profiles of researchers whose grants were terminated.
[Gift Link]
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/24/o...
[Gift Link]
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/24/o...
Opinion | America First? Not When It Comes to Your Health.
www.nytimes.com
August 24, 2025 at 1:08 PM
New York Times story with profiles of researchers whose grants were terminated.
[Gift Link]
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/24/o...
[Gift Link]
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/24/o...
Reposted by Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD
When Ted Turner asked Carl Sagan if he was a socialist, Sagan gave the answer America keeps failing to learn.
August 21, 2025 at 5:40 PM
When Ted Turner asked Carl Sagan if he was a socialist, Sagan gave the answer America keeps failing to learn.
Reposted by Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD
Feeling awed and a bit starstruck that @science.org chose to run a book review on #LabworkToLeadership!!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Leading a lab, and all it entails
A chemist offers actionable leadership advice to principal investigators
www.science.org
August 15, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Feeling awed and a bit starstruck that @science.org chose to run a book review on #LabworkToLeadership!!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD
Govt Accountability Office (GAO) determines Trump admin broke the law by withholding billions in new NIH awards.
Full GAO report: www.gao.gov/assets/890/8...
NYT article (no paywall): archive.is/202508051916...
Full GAO report: www.gao.gov/assets/890/8...
NYT article (no paywall): archive.is/202508051916...
BREAKING NEWS: a government watchdog confirmed the Trump administration is breaking the law by blocking NIH funds.
How many kids with cancer or grandmas with Alzheimer’s have to get closer to death while crucial research is stalled?
Trump must end this illegal funding freeze.
How many kids with cancer or grandmas with Alzheimer’s have to get closer to death while crucial research is stalled?
Trump must end this illegal funding freeze.
August 5, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Govt Accountability Office (GAO) determines Trump admin broke the law by withholding billions in new NIH awards.
Full GAO report: www.gao.gov/assets/890/8...
NYT article (no paywall): archive.is/202508051916...
Full GAO report: www.gao.gov/assets/890/8...
NYT article (no paywall): archive.is/202508051916...
Reposted by Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD
Scoop: EPA is preparing to cancel $7 billion in grants intended to help low- and moderate-income families install solar panels www.nytimes.com/2025/08/05/c...
E.P.A. Moves to Cancel $7 Billion in Grants for Solar Energy
www.nytimes.com
August 5, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Scoop: EPA is preparing to cancel $7 billion in grants intended to help low- and moderate-income families install solar panels www.nytimes.com/2025/08/05/c...
Reposted by Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD
The US could see a 30-40% decline in new international student enrollment, resulting in nearly $7 billion in lost revenue and more than 60,000 fewer American jobs. https://www.nafsa.org/fall-2025-international-student-enrollment-outlook-and-economic-impact
August 3, 2025 at 1:20 PM
The US could see a 30-40% decline in new international student enrollment, resulting in nearly $7 billion in lost revenue and more than 60,000 fewer American jobs. https://www.nafsa.org/fall-2025-international-student-enrollment-outlook-and-economic-impact
Reposted by Wesley Kerr, MD, PhD
The terror began immediately. Salvadoran guards beat them with their fists, boots and batons, shot them with rubber pellets, and forced them to lick other men's backs.
What happened when we sent 230+ Venezuelans to a prison known for human rights abuses.
www.propublica.org/article/vene...
What happened when we sent 230+ Venezuelans to a prison known for human rights abuses.
www.propublica.org/article/vene...
Now That They’re Free, Venezuelan Men Want the World to Know What They Endured in CECOT
Venezuelan men deported by the Trump administration say they endured months of physical and mental abuse inside a Salvadoran prison. Though happy to be home, they say the fact that they were released ...
www.propublica.org
July 30, 2025 at 10:35 AM
The terror began immediately. Salvadoran guards beat them with their fists, boots and batons, shot them with rubber pellets, and forced them to lick other men's backs.
What happened when we sent 230+ Venezuelans to a prison known for human rights abuses.
www.propublica.org/article/vene...
What happened when we sent 230+ Venezuelans to a prison known for human rights abuses.
www.propublica.org/article/vene...