Joshua Brandstadter MD PhD
@jbrandmdphd.bsky.social
Physician-Scientist at Univ of Penn, treating/studying Castleman Disease, histiocytic disorders, and lymphoma. Stroma sleuth. Storming castles. I love immunology! Views are my own, and not medical advice.
Reposted by Joshua Brandstadter MD PhD
shel silverstein on the LLM, 1981
June 10, 2025 at 7:34 PM
shel silverstein on the LLM, 1981
Reposted by Joshua Brandstadter MD PhD
In a landmark scientific feat published in NEJM, a CHOP & Penn Medicine team treated the first patient with personalized #genetherapy, designed uniquely for newborn KJ, who was diagnosed with a rare #ureacycledisorder at birth. Learn more: http://ms.spr.ly/63327Sw92F
May 15, 2025 at 7:46 PM
In a landmark scientific feat published in NEJM, a CHOP & Penn Medicine team treated the first patient with personalized #genetherapy, designed uniquely for newborn KJ, who was diagnosed with a rare #ureacycledisorder at birth. Learn more: http://ms.spr.ly/63327Sw92F
Reposted by Joshua Brandstadter MD PhD
Today "a milestone in the evolution of personalized therapies for rare & ultra-rare inborn errors of metabolism"
—the 1st human to undergo custom genome editing
—from decades of NIH funded research
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
@nejm.org
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/15/h...
—the 1st human to undergo custom genome editing
—from decades of NIH funded research
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
@nejm.org
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/15/h...
May 15, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Today "a milestone in the evolution of personalized therapies for rare & ultra-rare inborn errors of metabolism"
—the 1st human to undergo custom genome editing
—from decades of NIH funded research
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
@nejm.org
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/15/h...
—the 1st human to undergo custom genome editing
—from decades of NIH funded research
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
@nejm.org
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/15/h...
Reposted by Joshua Brandstadter MD PhD
A major breakthrough from @pennmedicine.bsky.social: @davidfajgenbaum.bsky.social and team have identified a new subtype—Oligocentric Castleman Disease (OligoCD)—marking the first Castleman discovery in 45 years. This could transform diagnosis and care for thousands. Published in Blood Advances.
For the first time in 45 years, a new subtype of Castleman disease has been identified, allowing patients to receive the right treatment for their condition ft. @davidfajgenbaum.bsky.social (@pennmedicine.bsky.social) & @jbrandmdphd.bsky.social (@penncancer.bsky.social) tinyurl.com/52mjd9az
May 14, 2025 at 4:22 PM
A major breakthrough from @pennmedicine.bsky.social: @davidfajgenbaum.bsky.social and team have identified a new subtype—Oligocentric Castleman Disease (OligoCD)—marking the first Castleman discovery in 45 years. This could transform diagnosis and care for thousands. Published in Blood Advances.
Reposted by Joshua Brandstadter MD PhD
For the first time in 45 years, a new subtype of Castleman disease has been identified, allowing patients to receive the right treatment for their condition ft. @davidfajgenbaum.bsky.social (@pennmedicine.bsky.social) & @jbrandmdphd.bsky.social (@penncancer.bsky.social) tinyurl.com/52mjd9az
May 12, 2025 at 4:40 PM
For the first time in 45 years, a new subtype of Castleman disease has been identified, allowing patients to receive the right treatment for their condition ft. @davidfajgenbaum.bsky.social (@pennmedicine.bsky.social) & @jbrandmdphd.bsky.social (@penncancer.bsky.social) tinyurl.com/52mjd9az
Reposted by Joshua Brandstadter MD PhD
Congrats @davidfajgenbaum.bsky.social on being named to the TIME100 Health 2025 list! After being diagnosed with Castleman disease, he found an existing drug that saved his life. Now he’s using AI to repurpose FDA-approved drugs—offering hope to others with hard-to-treat conditions. bit.ly/4kdkgdX
TIME100 Health: David Fajgenbaum
Find out why David Fajgenbaum is on the TIME100 Health 2025 list.
bit.ly
May 12, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Congrats @davidfajgenbaum.bsky.social on being named to the TIME100 Health 2025 list! After being diagnosed with Castleman disease, he found an existing drug that saved his life. Now he’s using AI to repurpose FDA-approved drugs—offering hope to others with hard-to-treat conditions. bit.ly/4kdkgdX
Reposted by Joshua Brandstadter MD PhD
Oligocentric CD is an intermediate phenotype distinctly characterized from unicentric and iMCD. buff.ly/zOHYxKF #hemesky #clinicaltrialsandobservations
May 5, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Oligocentric CD is an intermediate phenotype distinctly characterized from unicentric and iMCD. buff.ly/zOHYxKF #hemesky #clinicaltrialsandobservations
Reposted by Joshua Brandstadter MD PhD
At yesterday's opening ceremony, we asked the cancer community to stand together to make their voices heard in support of innovative cancer science and medicine. #CancerResearchSavesLives® #AACR25
April 28, 2025 at 4:33 PM
At yesterday's opening ceremony, we asked the cancer community to stand together to make their voices heard in support of innovative cancer science and medicine. #CancerResearchSavesLives® #AACR25
There is an OLIGOcentric subtype of Castleman Disease.
First new subtype of Castleman disease discovered in 45 years
The spectrum of the rare disorder is expanded with discovery, highlighting the importance of collaboration with patient advocates.
www.pennmedicine.org
April 22, 2025 at 7:02 PM
There is an OLIGOcentric subtype of Castleman Disease.
Reposted by Joshua Brandstadter MD PhD
CSF reversibly attenuates the efficacy of antifolate drugs, including methotrexate, against leukemia cells. buff.ly/oep9bdx #hemesky #lymphoidneoplasia
April 17, 2025 at 2:05 PM
CSF reversibly attenuates the efficacy of antifolate drugs, including methotrexate, against leukemia cells. buff.ly/oep9bdx #hemesky #lymphoidneoplasia
Reposted by Joshua Brandstadter MD PhD
Just a few weeks ago, researchers and educators connected to immunology lost a wonderful friend and colleague: Michael Cancro, professor of pathology and lab medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
www.cell.com/immunity/ful...
@cp-immunity.bsky.social
www.cell.com/immunity/ful...
@cp-immunity.bsky.social
April 10, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Just a few weeks ago, researchers and educators connected to immunology lost a wonderful friend and colleague: Michael Cancro, professor of pathology and lab medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
www.cell.com/immunity/ful...
@cp-immunity.bsky.social
www.cell.com/immunity/ful...
@cp-immunity.bsky.social
Reposted by Joshua Brandstadter MD PhD
Our current issue's special collection of Physician-Scientist Development articles includes an editorial by Editor in chief @eickelbergmd.bsky.social & is paired with a cover collage of children's drawings illustrating what a 'physician-scientist' means to them: buff.ly/kQ4fmrg
April 8, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Our current issue's special collection of Physician-Scientist Development articles includes an editorial by Editor in chief @eickelbergmd.bsky.social & is paired with a cover collage of children's drawings illustrating what a 'physician-scientist' means to them: buff.ly/kQ4fmrg
Reposted by Joshua Brandstadter MD PhD
Thank you to Vince Young for this beautiful highlight of our early work developing an mRNA vaccine for C. difficile (Original paper here: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...)
April 7, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Thank you to Vince Young for this beautiful highlight of our early work developing an mRNA vaccine for C. difficile (Original paper here: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...)
Reposted by Joshua Brandstadter MD PhD
Great advice
I think the most impactful advice Irv Weissman ever gave me was that I have to be able to explain my science in basic English. That it's not about "dumbing it down" it's about understanding so clearly in your own mind that you can explain it clearly and simply in a common language, free of jargon.
April 6, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Great advice
Who thought this was a good idea?
The Chaos of NIH Cuts Has Left Early-Career Scientists Scrambling
As graduate programs lose spots and labs face shutdowns following Trump administration cuts to science funding, the path to a science career for students and researchers just got a whole lot harder.
www.wired.com
March 24, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Who thought this was a good idea?
Reposted by Joshua Brandstadter MD PhD
An insightful and troubling investigative report by @anguschen.bsky.social on how gov't cuts are impacting cancer centers, researchers, and patients. As a cancer researcher, I can attest that these cuts are indeed devastating and will set back decades of progress.
www.statnews.com/2025/03/24/t...
www.statnews.com/2025/03/24/t...
Cancer research, long protected, feels ‘devastating’ effects under Trump
Cancer research has had bipartisan support. But Trump administration budget cuts and delays threaten to reverse progress of recent years, experts say.
www.statnews.com
March 24, 2025 at 5:49 PM
An insightful and troubling investigative report by @anguschen.bsky.social on how gov't cuts are impacting cancer centers, researchers, and patients. As a cancer researcher, I can attest that these cuts are indeed devastating and will set back decades of progress.
www.statnews.com/2025/03/24/t...
www.statnews.com/2025/03/24/t...
"The Clinical Center got a last-minute reprieve after the researchers panicked and protested. DOGE stopped the firing of the intensive care doctors and allowed the N.I.H. to rehire the fired laboratory technicians and blood bank workers."
‘Chaos and Confusion’ at the N.I.H., the Crown Jewel of American Science
Senior scientists at the National Institutes of Health fear that research on conditions like obesity, heart disease and cancer will be undermined by President Trump’s policies.
www.nytimes.com
March 24, 2025 at 12:31 PM
"The Clinical Center got a last-minute reprieve after the researchers panicked and protested. DOGE stopped the firing of the intensive care doctors and allowed the N.I.H. to rehire the fired laboratory technicians and blood bank workers."
Reposted by Joshua Brandstadter MD PhD
ASH understands it's a tough time for #hematology research due to #NIH funding cuts.
To support #researchers during this time, ASH's Bridge Grant now offers $150K funding, with waived critiques and no match needed. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4kBeGmR
#ASHAwards #MedSky #Hemesky
To support #researchers during this time, ASH's Bridge Grant now offers $150K funding, with waived critiques and no match needed. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4kBeGmR
#ASHAwards #MedSky #Hemesky
March 20, 2025 at 6:30 PM
ASH understands it's a tough time for #hematology research due to #NIH funding cuts.
To support #researchers during this time, ASH's Bridge Grant now offers $150K funding, with waived critiques and no match needed. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4kBeGmR
#ASHAwards #MedSky #Hemesky
To support #researchers during this time, ASH's Bridge Grant now offers $150K funding, with waived critiques and no match needed. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4kBeGmR
#ASHAwards #MedSky #Hemesky
Very nice review!
Great to have our latest review "The cellular factors that impair the germinal center in advanced age" out @jimmunol.bsky.social.
Work led by @wsfoster.bsky.social and Edith Marcial-Juárez. With @sanmarti92.bsky.social creating the beautiful GC images in figure 2.
doi.org/10.1093/jimm...
Work led by @wsfoster.bsky.social and Edith Marcial-Juárez. With @sanmarti92.bsky.social creating the beautiful GC images in figure 2.
doi.org/10.1093/jimm...
March 18, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Very nice review!
Reposted by Joshua Brandstadter MD PhD
It’s Rare Disease Day!
Rare diseases are those that affect <200k in the US.
Altogether, they affect 30 million in the US & 300 million globally.
All pediatric cancers are rare.
And >90% of rare diseases have no FDA approved treatment.
#MedSky
Rare diseases are those that affect <200k in the US.
Altogether, they affect 30 million in the US & 300 million globally.
All pediatric cancers are rare.
And >90% of rare diseases have no FDA approved treatment.
#MedSky
February 28, 2025 at 1:35 PM
It’s Rare Disease Day!
Rare diseases are those that affect <200k in the US.
Altogether, they affect 30 million in the US & 300 million globally.
All pediatric cancers are rare.
And >90% of rare diseases have no FDA approved treatment.
#MedSky
Rare diseases are those that affect <200k in the US.
Altogether, they affect 30 million in the US & 300 million globally.
All pediatric cancers are rare.
And >90% of rare diseases have no FDA approved treatment.
#MedSky
Reposted by Joshua Brandstadter MD PhD
Today is the AACR Early-Career Hill Day, and we're calling on early-career scientists, trainees, students, and supporters to contact Congress and ask them to prioritize NIH funding. Now more than ever, it's important to take action: AACR.org/NIH #AACRontheHill #FundNIH
February 26, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Today is the AACR Early-Career Hill Day, and we're calling on early-career scientists, trainees, students, and supporters to contact Congress and ask them to prioritize NIH funding. Now more than ever, it's important to take action: AACR.org/NIH #AACRontheHill #FundNIH
Reposted by Joshua Brandstadter MD PhD
This! We need help to keep medical research going!! Anyone?
Trump Administration Stalls Scientific Research Despite Court Ruling
Using an arcane law, officials have effectively delayed funding from the National Institutes of Health, leaving medical studies in jeopardy.
www.nytimes.com
February 21, 2025 at 10:46 PM
This! We need help to keep medical research going!! Anyone?
Yes! Is anyone able to help?
Almost all grant-review meetings under Trump 2.0 remain suspended at the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), preventing the world’s largest public funder of biomedical research from spending much of its US$47 billion annual budget.
https://go.nature.com/4gM6oW4
https://go.nature.com/4gM6oW4
Revealed: NIH research grants still frozen despite lawsuits challenging Trump order
The Trump administration is exploiting a loophole to keep a funding freeze in place, leaving researchers in limbo.
go.nature.com
February 20, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Yes! Is anyone able to help?
Reposted by Joshua Brandstadter MD PhD
🚨This should be amplified!!
Study sections and council meetings are still being cancelled despite the court order unblocking NIH freezes, effectively halting any new research grant from being funded: www.thetransmitter.org/funding/fede...
Study sections and council meetings are still being cancelled despite the court order unblocking NIH freezes, effectively halting any new research grant from being funded: www.thetransmitter.org/funding/fede...
Federal Register hold makes ‘end run’ around court pause on NIH funding freeze
NIH-related updates to the Federal Register, which are required for the scheduling of study sections and advisory councils, are on hold indefinitely, according to an email reviewed by <i>The Transmitt...
www.thetransmitter.org
February 19, 2025 at 8:30 PM
🚨This should be amplified!!
Study sections and council meetings are still being cancelled despite the court order unblocking NIH freezes, effectively halting any new research grant from being funded: www.thetransmitter.org/funding/fede...
Study sections and council meetings are still being cancelled despite the court order unblocking NIH freezes, effectively halting any new research grant from being funded: www.thetransmitter.org/funding/fede...