Willem van Schaik
@wvschaik.bsky.social
Microbiology, microbiome, antimicrobial resistance. Sometimes UK politics. Head of Research of the School of Infection, Inflammation and Immunology, University of Birmingham. Also Co-Director of @target-amr.bsky.social.
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
Honoured and quite blown-over to receive this award. I have been, and continue to be, very lucky - first with great mentors, and then really prodigious students, postdocs and collaborators. Working with them has been a joy.
Congratulations to @zaminiqbal.bsky.social from @milnerevolution.bsky.social on being awarded the 2026 Mary Lyon Medal!
November 14, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Honoured and quite blown-over to receive this award. I have been, and continue to be, very lucky - first with great mentors, and then really prodigious students, postdocs and collaborators. Working with them has been a joy.
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
It's shameful that this headline is appearing in 2025, primarily a result of grotesque global inequalities.
Africa CDC: Africa experiencing worst cholera outbreak in 25 years
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Africa experiencing worst cholera outbreak in 25 years, health agency warns
Africa CDC said it had recorded about 300,000 cases of cholera this year, with more than 7,000 deaths
www.independent.co.uk
November 13, 2025 at 9:37 PM
It's shameful that this headline is appearing in 2025, primarily a result of grotesque global inequalities.
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
New paper with @statsepi.bsky.social and @deevybee.bsky.social in which we show there's really no evidence for a link between the gut microbiome and autism www.cell.com/neuron/fullt...
Conceptual and methodological flaws undermine claims of a link between the gut microbiome and autism
Claims that the gut microbiome causally contributes to autism regularly appear in
the scientific literature and popular press. Mitchell et al. critically examine influential
studies underpinning these...
www.cell.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:10 PM
New paper with @statsepi.bsky.social and @deevybee.bsky.social in which we show there's really no evidence for a link between the gut microbiome and autism www.cell.com/neuron/fullt...
Africa CDC: Africa experiencing worst cholera outbreak in 25 years
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Africa experiencing worst cholera outbreak in 25 years, health agency warns
Africa CDC said it had recorded about 300,000 cases of cholera this year, with more than 7,000 deaths
www.independent.co.uk
November 13, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Africa CDC: Africa experiencing worst cholera outbreak in 25 years
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
The link between the gut #microbiome and autism is not backed by science, researchers say.
Read the full opinion piece in @cp-neuron.bsky.social: spkl.io/63322AbxpA
@wiringthebrain.bsky.social, @statsepi.bsky.social, & @deevybee.bsky.social
Read the full opinion piece in @cp-neuron.bsky.social: spkl.io/63322AbxpA
@wiringthebrain.bsky.social, @statsepi.bsky.social, & @deevybee.bsky.social
November 13, 2025 at 4:00 PM
The link between the gut #microbiome and autism is not backed by science, researchers say.
Read the full opinion piece in @cp-neuron.bsky.social: spkl.io/63322AbxpA
@wiringthebrain.bsky.social, @statsepi.bsky.social, & @deevybee.bsky.social
Read the full opinion piece in @cp-neuron.bsky.social: spkl.io/63322AbxpA
@wiringthebrain.bsky.social, @statsepi.bsky.social, & @deevybee.bsky.social
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
Very happy to share our recent work @cultivarium.bsky.social on genetic tools for Ideonella sakaiensis, a (Betaproteo-)bacterium that degrades PET plastic.
We identified a plasmid vector for the strain and generated a large RB-TnSeq library, screening for genes impacting plastic degradation.
We identified a plasmid vector for the strain and generated a large RB-TnSeq library, screening for genes impacting plastic degradation.
November 12, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Very happy to share our recent work @cultivarium.bsky.social on genetic tools for Ideonella sakaiensis, a (Betaproteo-)bacterium that degrades PET plastic.
We identified a plasmid vector for the strain and generated a large RB-TnSeq library, screening for genes impacting plastic degradation.
We identified a plasmid vector for the strain and generated a large RB-TnSeq library, screening for genes impacting plastic degradation.
Next week's Gogglebox is going to be insane
November 12, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Next week's Gogglebox is going to be insane
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
Pure sensationalism - I cannot see any scientific justification for this ‘study’
November 12, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Pure sensationalism - I cannot see any scientific justification for this ‘study’
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
We don't want people to think you can see evil in the genome, but we'll call our Channel 4 documentary "Hitler's DNA: Blueprint of a dictator".
November 12, 2025 at 10:35 PM
We don't want people to think you can see evil in the genome, but we'll call our Channel 4 documentary "Hitler's DNA: Blueprint of a dictator".
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
What is the most profitable industry in the world, this side of the law? Not oil, not IT, not pharma.
It's *scientific publishing*.
We call this the Drain of Scientific Publishing.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Background: doi.org/10.1162/qss_...
Thread @markhanson.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy 👇
It's *scientific publishing*.
We call this the Drain of Scientific Publishing.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Background: doi.org/10.1162/qss_...
Thread @markhanson.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy 👇
November 12, 2025 at 10:31 AM
What is the most profitable industry in the world, this side of the law? Not oil, not IT, not pharma.
It's *scientific publishing*.
We call this the Drain of Scientific Publishing.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Background: doi.org/10.1162/qss_...
Thread @markhanson.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy 👇
It's *scientific publishing*.
We call this the Drain of Scientific Publishing.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Background: doi.org/10.1162/qss_...
Thread @markhanson.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy 👇
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
For-profit journals are supposed to improve research quality, yet they're perversely incentivized to churn out whatever they can monetize. This was happening before AI (see Strain: bit.ly/43gJPUM), and AI will make it worse.
It's insane that we volunteer our time to help them do so.
4/n
It's insane that we volunteer our time to help them do so.
4/n
November 11, 2025 at 11:52 AM
For-profit journals are supposed to improve research quality, yet they're perversely incentivized to churn out whatever they can monetize. This was happening before AI (see Strain: bit.ly/43gJPUM), and AI will make it worse.
It's insane that we volunteer our time to help them do so.
4/n
It's insane that we volunteer our time to help them do so.
4/n
“Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should.”
November 12, 2025 at 10:02 PM
“Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should.”
Heroic work by @bluebirdsjunk.bsky.social in pulling this mammoth study together
'Staphylococcus haemolyticus Population Genomics Provides Insights into Pathogenicity and Commensalism'
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
'Staphylococcus haemolyticus Population Genomics Provides Insights into Pathogenicity and Commensalism'
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Staphylococcus haemolyticus Population Genomics Provides Insights into Pathogenicity and Commensalism
Staphylococcus haemolyticus is a common commensal bacterium but also an opportunistic pathogen, frequently implicated in bacteraemia and sepsis in preterm neonates and immunocompromised patients. Desp...
www.biorxiv.org
November 11, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Heroic work by @bluebirdsjunk.bsky.social in pulling this mammoth study together
'Staphylococcus haemolyticus Population Genomics Provides Insights into Pathogenicity and Commensalism'
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
'Staphylococcus haemolyticus Population Genomics Provides Insights into Pathogenicity and Commensalism'
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
Just been invited to the launch event of a report considering the 'future of the UK's research system' where they will be considering the creation of disruption labs named after Ada Lovelace and the report will be introduced by a panel of five men
November 11, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Just been invited to the launch event of a report considering the 'future of the UK's research system' where they will be considering the creation of disruption labs named after Ada Lovelace and the report will be introduced by a panel of five men
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
🚨 Publication alert! We are stoked to report the structural basis for activity of a novel class of antimicrobials targeting Gram positive priority pathogens in @natcomms.nature.com. There is something for everyone on this paper, and I will highlight a few things below 👇 1/9 doi.org/10.1038/s414...
A unique inhibitor conformation selectively targets the DNA polymerase PolC of Gram-positive priority pathogens - Nature Communications
In this work, Urem et al. characterize the mode of action as well as mechanism of reduced susceptibility related to a class of antimicrobials that is in development for the treatment of infections wit...
doi.org
November 6, 2025 at 10:29 AM
🚨 Publication alert! We are stoked to report the structural basis for activity of a novel class of antimicrobials targeting Gram positive priority pathogens in @natcomms.nature.com. There is something for everyone on this paper, and I will highlight a few things below 👇 1/9 doi.org/10.1038/s414...
I feel it is important to reflect on why the scientific establishment thought it a good idea to invite Watson and have him mingle with early-career researchers, and whether similarly damaged individuals are still being invited to 'inspire' the next generation of scientists
My James Watson memory
One of my PhD students attended an EMBO course on a Greek island, about 10 yrs ago.
Watson also attended and he sat at the same table as my student during one of the dinners.
He was, by my student's account, absolutely awful, mysoginist, racist.
One of my PhD students attended an EMBO course on a Greek island, about 10 yrs ago.
Watson also attended and he sat at the same table as my student during one of the dinners.
He was, by my student's account, absolutely awful, mysoginist, racist.
November 8, 2025 at 10:41 PM
I feel it is important to reflect on why the scientific establishment thought it a good idea to invite Watson and have him mingle with early-career researchers, and whether similarly damaged individuals are still being invited to 'inspire' the next generation of scientists
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
NEWS — FDA announces 13 cases of infant botulism across 10 states after babies were given ByHeart powder formula from two specific lots.
Outbreak Investigation of Infant Botulism: Infant Formula
Do not use certain lots of ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula. FDA’s Investigation is ongoing.
www.fda.gov
November 8, 2025 at 10:09 PM
NEWS — FDA announces 13 cases of infant botulism across 10 states after babies were given ByHeart powder formula from two specific lots.
My James Watson memory
One of my PhD students attended an EMBO course on a Greek island, about 10 yrs ago.
Watson also attended and he sat at the same table as my student during one of the dinners.
He was, by my student's account, absolutely awful, mysoginist, racist.
One of my PhD students attended an EMBO course on a Greek island, about 10 yrs ago.
Watson also attended and he sat at the same table as my student during one of the dinners.
He was, by my student's account, absolutely awful, mysoginist, racist.
November 8, 2025 at 10:31 PM
My James Watson memory
One of my PhD students attended an EMBO course on a Greek island, about 10 yrs ago.
Watson also attended and he sat at the same table as my student during one of the dinners.
He was, by my student's account, absolutely awful, mysoginist, racist.
One of my PhD students attended an EMBO course on a Greek island, about 10 yrs ago.
Watson also attended and he sat at the same table as my student during one of the dinners.
He was, by my student's account, absolutely awful, mysoginist, racist.
Can confirm that 'A House of Dynamite' is not a particularly relaxing watch
November 8, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Can confirm that 'A House of Dynamite' is not a particularly relaxing watch
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
Shout out to people routinely working in their 2nd or 3rd language.
Yesterday I gave a 1-hour research seminar in French. Afterwards, my brain was pretty much done for the day.
Respect to the loads of scientists who do this daily (and usually a lot more effectively than me!)
Yesterday I gave a 1-hour research seminar in French. Afterwards, my brain was pretty much done for the day.
Respect to the loads of scientists who do this daily (and usually a lot more effectively than me!)
November 7, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Shout out to people routinely working in their 2nd or 3rd language.
Yesterday I gave a 1-hour research seminar in French. Afterwards, my brain was pretty much done for the day.
Respect to the loads of scientists who do this daily (and usually a lot more effectively than me!)
Yesterday I gave a 1-hour research seminar in French. Afterwards, my brain was pretty much done for the day.
Respect to the loads of scientists who do this daily (and usually a lot more effectively than me!)
Delighted that our review on resistance to last-resort antibiotics in Enterococci has been published in FEMS Microbiology Reviews
academic.oup.com/femsre/advan... (accepted manuscript version)
TL;DR: the Enterococci are really good at evolving resistance to antibiotics in new and creative ways.
academic.oup.com/femsre/advan... (accepted manuscript version)
TL;DR: the Enterococci are really good at evolving resistance to antibiotics in new and creative ways.
Resistance to last-resort antibiotics in enterococci
Abstract. The genus Enterococcus comprises a diverse group of species, many of which are commensal members of the gut microbiota of humans and animals. The
academic.oup.com
November 8, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Delighted that our review on resistance to last-resort antibiotics in Enterococci has been published in FEMS Microbiology Reviews
academic.oup.com/femsre/advan... (accepted manuscript version)
TL;DR: the Enterococci are really good at evolving resistance to antibiotics in new and creative ways.
academic.oup.com/femsre/advan... (accepted manuscript version)
TL;DR: the Enterococci are really good at evolving resistance to antibiotics in new and creative ways.
'Women represent around 25% of the researchers involved in the selected projects'
@erc.europa.eu may want to reflect, and take action, on this outcome of the latest ERC Synergy Grant call
erc.europa.eu/news-events/...
@erc.europa.eu may want to reflect, and take action, on this outcome of the latest ERC Synergy Grant call
erc.europa.eu/news-events/...
ERC Synergy Grants to fund 66 teams tackling major scientific challenges
How do you solve science’s toughest puzzles? By joining forces. Sixty-six research teams, bringing together 239 scientists, will receive a total of €684 million in European Research Council Synergy Gr...
erc.europa.eu
November 8, 2025 at 9:09 AM
'Women represent around 25% of the researchers involved in the selected projects'
@erc.europa.eu may want to reflect, and take action, on this outcome of the latest ERC Synergy Grant call
erc.europa.eu/news-events/...
@erc.europa.eu may want to reflect, and take action, on this outcome of the latest ERC Synergy Grant call
erc.europa.eu/news-events/...
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
Scientific breakthroughs are rarely unique; someone else would’ve made them soon enough. But when prominent scientists cause harm, that harm isn’t inevitable; the world might simply have been better had the harm not been inflicted.
liorpachter.wordpress.com/2018/05/18/j...
liorpachter.wordpress.com/2018/05/18/j...
James Watson in his own words
“Some anti-Semitism is justified” “Whenever you interview fat people, you feel bad, because you know you’re not going to hire them” “Japan should be bombed for d…
liorpachter.wordpress.com
November 8, 2025 at 4:29 AM
Scientific breakthroughs are rarely unique; someone else would’ve made them soon enough. But when prominent scientists cause harm, that harm isn’t inevitable; the world might simply have been better had the harm not been inflicted.
liorpachter.wordpress.com/2018/05/18/j...
liorpachter.wordpress.com/2018/05/18/j...
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
James D. Watson: “His decoding of the blueprint for life with Francis H.C. Crick made him one of the most important scientists of the 20th century. He wrote a celebrated memoir and later ignited an uproar with racist views.”
A thorough & honest obituary.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/s...
A thorough & honest obituary.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/s...
James D. Watson, Co-Discoverer of the Structure of DNA, Is Dead at 97
www.nytimes.com
November 8, 2025 at 7:27 AM
James D. Watson: “His decoding of the blueprint for life with Francis H.C. Crick made him one of the most important scientists of the 20th century. He wrote a celebrated memoir and later ignited an uproar with racist views.”
A thorough & honest obituary.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/s...
A thorough & honest obituary.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/s...