Jay Bhattacharya and the NIH

[glipsnort (Steve Schaffner)]

See also this piece in Nature last month: What sparked the COVID pandemic? Mounting evidence points to raccoon dogs
It captures the current state of the discussion from what I know.

[glipsnort (Steve Schaffner)]

@Bucky_Wood

First it was the adhominems directed toward the scientists who correctly saw the need to individualize the vaccine.

I’m also not familiar with this issue. What does it mean?

@Bucky_Wood

But now comes even the NYTs telling us, and admitting to us that Dr. Francis Collins and Dr. Fauci actually intentionally misled them about the viral origins. The title of the NYTs piece is We Were Badly Misled About the Event That Changed Our Lives

I’d advise against getting your information about epidemiology from the opinion pages of any newspaper.

[Jay313 (Jay Johnson)]

@heymike3

Swamidass wrote on X he was blacklisted here.

Swamidass is the one who is blacklisted here, for good reason. He’s also banned from the major science-faith Facebook groups for bullying behavior. Enough said.

@SkovandOfMitaze

The other thing I like is that he is pushing for people to be more accountable for their health. To eat better and the exercise more.

RFK blamed the measles outbreak along the Texas/New Mexico border on poor health and diet. Nah. It’s because 18% of school-age children in those counties aren’t vaccinated against measles.

@T_aquaticus

@cewoldt

Further, vaccination should be voluntary and optional, and not mandated.

There are many workplaces that require vaccinations. They required them before the pandemic, during, and now afterwards.

Voluntary and optional? That’s just dumb. Here’s a fun story: A pregnant mother with measles shows up in a Lubbock hospital to give birth, exposing other newborns to the virus. Anti-vax idiots are a danger to public health. (And there’s a high likelihood her child will be born deaf for no other reason than that her mother believed anti-vax misinformation like RFK peddled.)

Newborns exposed to measles in Texas hospital

Hospitals and (most) schools require docs, nurses and teachers to have flu shots every year. Interestingly, we almost didn’t have one this year. The meeting of scientists to decide which strains to include was abruptly canceled by the FDA earlier this month. It’s a six-month process to produce the vaccine. Luckily, the scientists collaborated on their own and came up with a recommendation for this year. Next year? Who knows?

@heymike3

unapproved uses of approved products

That happens all the time even in situations that aren’t public emergencies. Ozempic for weight loss, for example.

@T_aquaticus

This means there were people who died who would have otherwise not died if not for that misinformation. Once the vaccine became available more than 90% of hospitalizations and deaths were amongst the unvaccinated even as vaccination rates neared 50%. How do we tackle this moral and ethical problem?

Sorry for the political reference, but people who lived in Red states were infected and died at much greater rates than people who lived in Blue states.

The politics of COVID-19: Differences between U.S. red and blue states in...

Excess Death Rates for Republican and Democratic Registered Voters in Florida and Ohio During the COVID-19 Pandemic

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2807617

@jpm

I think the demographic study estimated that number to be about 230,000 who died unnecessarily once the vaccine was widely available due to vaccine hesitancy.

Dr. Peter Hotez estimated the number of people who died unnecessarily at 400,000. Highly recommend his book.
https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/33293/deadly-rise-anti-science
Dr. Peter Hotez discusses how the antivaccine movement became a dangerous political campaign promoted by elected officials and amplified by news media, causing thousands of American deaths.

FYI, Dr. Hotez created a patent-free Covid vaccine for countries that couldn’t afford the mRNA version, and he is a trained pediatrician with a daughter who has autism. He also wrote a book on the conspiracy theory that connected vaccines with autism:
https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/12040/vaccines-did-not-cause-rachels-autism

@Doug_Bodde

I am delighted to see Jay Bhattacharya installed as the next NIH Director. He is a principled man and a devout Christian. He proved to be right in his assessment of lockdowns and the risk of the virus in our healthy populations. Well done sir and we look forward to your leadership.

Being a devout Christian doesn’t protect a person from being fundamentally wrong. He was proved wrong in his assessment of lockdowns and the risk of the virus. Here’s what his “leadership” has done so far:

Ax falls on elite group of Ph.D.s training to lead U.S. public health labs

Most of the fellows in CDC’s highly competitive Laboratory Leadership Service were fired last weekend

https://www.science.org/content/article/ax-falls-elite-group-ph-d-s-training-lead-u-s-public-health-labs

Everyone is opposed to research on dementia, right?

Oops: Trump-Musk Cuts Just Wrecked an NIH Org Championed by GOPers

And basic public health is no big deal either.

BTW: Francis Collins discovered the gene responsible for cystic fibrosis.

Then there’s this:

Bottom line: It’s the end of the line for the US as a leader in biomedical research. The brain drain is already beginning.

[T_aquaticus (The Friendly Neighborhood Atheist)]

@Jay313

RFK blamed the measles outbreak along the Texas/New Mexico border on poor health and diet. Nah. It’s because 18% of school-age children in those counties aren’t vaccinated against measles.

A measles outbreak in Samoa killed quite a few children due to low vaccination rates, probably all of which were 100% preventable. There were also children who survived the infection but were permanently injured.

On Oct 16, 2019, the Samoan Ministry of Health declared a measles outbreak, the first Pacific island country to do so in the current global resurgence of measles.1 As of Jan 22, 2020, 5707 measles cases and 83 measles-related deaths (estimated attack rate of approximately 285 cases per 10 000 population) have been reported.2 87% of deaths have been reported as children younger than 5 years, a mortality rate of approximately 25 deaths per 10 000 people in this age group.[2]
The measles emergency is over, but the crisis continues – a call to action for the Pacific Islands - PMC

[Jay313 (Jay Johnson)]

Like all the other cabinet appointees, he was asked about that and dissembled about it ad nauseum. Party-line votes put conspiracy theorists and anti-science propagandists into positions of power that are destroying not just the NIH, CDC and FDA, but agencies like the NOAA. I realize that’s a political statement, but I hope the mods will let it be because we’re discussing a war against science, and BioLogos should stand on the side of science.

Added note: One child died in Texas. Paraphrasing her father’s rationale, “God created measles…” I can’t even.

[T_aquaticus (The Friendly Neighborhood Atheist)]

@Jay313

Like all the other cabinet appointees, he was asked about that and dissembled about it ad nauseum. Party-line votes put conspiracy theorists and anti-science propagandists into positions of power that are destroying not just the NIH, CDC and FDA, but agencies like the NOAA. I realize that’s a political statement, but I hope the mods will let it be because we’re discussing a war against science, and BioLogos should stand on the side of science.

Science funding has had bipartisan support for decades, so I think it is fair to point out that what we are seeing isn’t normal without needing to get into partisan politics.

To use a cleaner version of the now oft cited phrase, mess around and find out. Want to see what happens when vaccination rates plunge? We might see it. Want to see what happens when the US relinquishes its place as the world’s destination for top tier biomedical research? Well . . .

It’s starting to feel like people have decided Americans shouldn’t be exceptional anymore.

[Jay313 (Jay Johnson)]

We’ve come a long way from America setting a goal to lead the world in science and technology to where we are now. It’s the opposite of greatness. Ugh.

[T_aquaticus (The Friendly Neighborhood Atheist)]

@Jay313

We’ve come a long way from America setting a goal to lead the world in science and technology to where we are now. It’s the opposite of greatness. Ugh.

It’s also worth mentioning that the NIH budget is about 0.6% of the total federal budget.

[Jay313 (Jay Johnson)]

Okay, you’re making me geek out now. It’s because my wife has run clinical trials for a decade, first for the Univ. of New Mexico and now for Velocity Clinical Research, and my oldest friend works in Alzheimer’s research for UNM. Both of them have seen multiple trials put on “pause” that aren’t likely to resume. I’ve also seen several major universities that have notified PhD candidates that their acceptance into biomedical research programs was rescinded for this academic year.

Here’s the fun part: Every dollar in NIH grants generates 2.5 times its weight in economic impact. It’s a miniscule amount of the federal budget, but the amount of jobs lost will be huge. Take a look at your state.

NIH In Your State - United For Medical Research

[SkovandOfMitaze (One 8 ounce steak used as much water as 6,000 ai searches.)]

@Jay313

RFK blamed the measles outbreak along the Texas/New Mexico border on poor health and diet. Nah. It’s because 18% of school-age children in those counties aren’t vaccinated against measles.

Don’t care. What I said is that he is pushing people to take their health more in their hands through healthier eating and exercising. America has a serious health issue and it’s not from lack of vaccines. It’s from eating junk food and binging tv. Each generation less healthy. Diseases of affluence in the rise from eating crap food.i think he’s a dumbass in almost every way. But he’s in office. He is the one that is going to be placed over it. Don’t get me wrong, I’m ok if the entire party dies. When DT dies, I’ll celebrate that day for the rest of my life.

But he’s still the one in office now and he picked this dude. A few things I like about him is that he wants to place a stricter regulation on food additives and that he is going to put more of an emphasis on health and fitness. Wants to get rid of garbage like frozen pizza for middle schoolers, help remove as much soda and junk food in vending machines and so on at schools. Around 3/4 Americans are overweight, obese or severely obese. When you look at cancer, diabetes, heart disease and so on America is maxing out. This overconsumption is mostly from meat and dairy, not really from people overeating fresh fruit. 80% of crops and pastures globally is for livestock. Livestock is one of the major drives for environmental issues and plays a big role in climate change. The rainforest is being cut down primarily for livestock pastures and for soybeans and corn for livestock. There is a whole series of dozens of different types of businesses that thrive and profit off of unhealthy America. So yeah, one of the things I like about him is his push for improving American health through diet and fitness.

How many Americans died from Covid? Just above 1 million. Each year about 900,000 die from cardiovascular disease. Globally potentially 11 million a year die from bad diets. News: Bad Diets Are Responsible For More... (NPR News) - Behind the headlines - NLM

So while he is an idiot about vaccines and other things. He’s also right about people need to watch less tv, get outside and walk more and eat less crap. Something even doctors recommend. So why are we letting kids eat frozen pizza, pudding and soda in elementary school when instead the options should be far healthier.

When I made my statement it was because I was trying to avoid more contentious discussion or just silence. So instead of leaning into how much I hate the Republican Party in general.

[heymike3]

@Jay313

Swamidass is the one who is blacklisted here, for good reason. He’s also banned from the major science-faith Facebook groups for bullying behavior. Enough said.

That’s wild as he started Peaceful Science and had an even handed take on Collins

[Jay313 (Jay Johnson)]

@SkovandOfMitaze

America has a serious health issue and it’s not from lack of vaccines. It’s from eating junk food and binging tv. Each generation less healthy.

Sure this country has a health issue, but I don’t think each generation has become less healthy, and I also don’t think it’s junk food or binging tv.

Metrics

For perspective, I was born in 1962. My mother smoked all through her pregnancy. We had bacon and eggs every morning. My dad died of a stroke at 57 caused by clogged arteries just before statin drugs were invented. Almost every meal she made for dinner involved canned vegetables and/or a casserole with canned Campbells condensed soup. Dessert usually involved some sort of Jello. People were less obese, but maybe that’s because half the population smoked like chimneys?

I also remember Michelle Obama making a push for healthier food at school lunches. Conservatives had a field day with that one.

@SkovandOfMitaze

80% of crops and pastures globally is for livestock. Livestock is one of the major drives for environmental issues and plays a big role in climate change.

True. I say that as the son of a former exec in the grain business.

@SkovandOfMitaze

So why are we letting kids eat frozen pizza, pudding and soda in elementary school when instead the options should be far healthier.

Once upon a time, I was a parent of elementary-age kids, and then I was a teacher at a public middle school. The rule in my house was the kids ate what I served (even during my vegetarian phase) or they could make a bowl of cereal. Better for them to eat something than nothing. When they got older, it was a frozen pizza until they eventually learned to eat normal food.

In public school, the kids on free lunch went through the line and took what they got. Picky eaters brought lunch from home. Kids who went to the pizza stand and vending machines every day were more middle class. Make of that what you will.

But overall, I get where you’re coming from. We’re not a healthy society. I would contend the way to change that is universal healthcare, which is why Britain and Canada have better longevity than us, but that’s another subject.

[Kendel]

@SkovandOfMitaze

So why are we letting kids eat frozen pizza, pudding and soda in elementary school when instead the options should be far healthier.

Schools in the US, including their food service programs, are governed via local control. Federal funding helps but is not the whole story, and will evaporate with the US Department of Education. The fFed does not control local school menues.
Make sure you actually know what is being served at your local schools by contacting your local schools’ admin office. If you disapprove of what is actually provided at lunch for school kids in your area, start showing up at school board meetings and communicating with the district admins about healthier options for kids.

[Doug_Bodde (Doug B)]

Cancelled research grants received the following message. What perfect use of right reason. Viva the Bhattacharya NIH!

“Research programs based on gender identity are often unscientific, have little identifiable return on investment, and do nothing to enhance the health of many Americans. Many such studies ignore, rather than seriously examine, biological realities.

Research programs based primarily on artificial and non-scientific categories, including amorphous equity objectives, are antithetical to scientific inquiry, do nothing to expand our knowledge of living systems, provide low returns on investment, and ultimately do not enhance health, lengthen life, or reduce illness. Worse, so-called diversity, equity, and inclusion (“DEI”) studies are often used to support unlawful discrimination on the basis of race and other protected characteristics, which harms the health of Americans."

[pevaquark (Matthew Pevarnik)]

@Doug_Bodde

Research programs based on gender identity are often unscientific

How so? What makes them “less scientific” than other research programs?

@Doug_Bodde

have little identifiable return on investment

Really? Does he or you have evidence of this?

So for example, take this story:

Scientist speaks out after NIH terminates grants including study of LGBTQ+...

One of the things Dr. Charlton was working on was looking at how the influx of recent anti-trans legislation impacts the mental health of trans youth regardless of whether the bills were passed or not. It’s a legitimate research question and an important one as the mental health outcomes for the trans community are at stake including increased risks of depression and suicide thanks to this legislation. While you and others celebrate suggesting research like this doesn’t enhance the health of many Americans, what is Bhattacharya doing to help those the study is investigating? Why is it not a great question to know how living human beings are impacted by these laws? And then what if the research leads to policy or strategies to help mitigate the harm these communities experience from the influx of new bills and laws? Surely you would consider helping and saving people’s lives a worthwhile endeavor?

@Doug_Bodde

Many such studies ignore, rather than seriously examine, biological realities

This was sent out to scientific researchers? Like the people who study such topics and are actual experts on trans issues? What an inane insult. It’s incredibly insulting to just suggest to an entire research community “oh you haven’t considered biological realities in your research but this thing I knew from high school in the 1980s supersedes all your work and research.”

This is like how some anti-evolutionists say “Well have you considered the second law of thermodynamics? It disproves evolution.” Or like how climate change skeptics say “well you know the sun goes through cycles” as IF climate researchers were so inept as to have not included the sun’s impact on the Earth’s climate and temperature. And then so suggest to actual experts who work on trans topics that they are so inept that they haven’t examined “biological realities” is equally inane.

Basically, it is clear to me that Bhattacharya is even more ill-equipped to lead the NIH than I could have ever imagined. Hopefully the rest of the world’s research institutions can bail us out.

[Doug_Bodde (Doug B)]

@Doug_Bodde

arch programs based primarily on artificial and non-scientific categories, including amorphous equity objectives, are antithetical to scientific inquiry, do nothing to expand our knowledge of living systems, provide low returns on investment, and ultimately do not enhance health, lengthen life, or reduce illness. Worse, so-called diversity, equity, and inclusion (“DEI”) studies are often used to support unlawful discrimination on the basis of race and other protected characteristics, which harms the health of Americans."

Gender identity is the product of an emotive process influenced by unaccountable factors. (It’s made up.) Science doesn’t study made up things.

“In the one supreme instance of humanity’s supposed ‘conquest of Nature’ we find the whole human race subjected to some individuals; and those individuals subjected to that in themselves which is purely ‘natural’—their irrational impulses.” — C.S. Lewis

[pevaquark (Matthew Pevarnik)]

@Doug_Bodde

Gender identity is the product of an emotive process influenced by unaccountable factors. (It’s made up.)

There were two ways to respond to my post and you went with double down and continue insulting actual scientists on this topic.

@Doug_Bodde

Science doesn’t study made up things.

So I referenced a real study, made up of real people influenced by real laws or potential laws. A study that is designed to help real people with real problems and struggles, potentially even saving their lives and mental well-being in the process.

[glipsnort (Steve Schaffner)]

@Doug_Bodde

Gender identity is the product of an emotive process influenced by unaccountable factors. (It’s made up.) Science doesn’t study made up things.

I’m sorry, but I must have missed it – what exactly is your expertise in this area? I ask because I can’t make head or tails of what you’ve just written. Emotional processes (which I assume is what you meant to say) are indeed influenced by multiple factors, but figuring out what factors influence what processes is precisely what science does. Figuring out what factors contribute to emotional states – which are critical to mental health and some of which contribute to a great deal of morbidity and mortality – is absolutely something biomedical research should be focused on. Where on earth did you get the idea that emotional states were ‘made up’?

[Doug_Bodde (Doug B)]

Saying that gender is fixed requires no expertise, just the use of right reason. It is the assumption of all humanity at all times and requires no prospective double blind studies to demonstrate. I’m sorry if you got your grants cancelled, but studying a false construct is worthless (and a waste of money). Also, I didn’t say emotions were made up; I said gender identification was.

[T_aquaticus (The Friendly Neighborhood Atheist)]

@Doug_Bodde

Saying that gender is fixed requires no expertise, just the use of right reason. It is the assumption of all humanity at all times and requires no prospective double blind studies to demonstrate. I’m sorry if you got your grants cancelled, but studying a false construct is worthless (and a waste of money). Also, I didn’t say emotions were made up; I said gender identification was.

Do you identify as a gender? If so, do you think you are making it up?

If someone identifies as a gender that is different than their biological sex, are you saying they are making it up? Even if they are making it up, why can’t science do research to understand why they are making it up?