Jim Woodgett
@jwoodgett.bsky.social
Spread too thinly. Toronto. Originally from UK. Cancer biology researcher at Sinai Health. Also Prez of the Terry Fox Research Institute.
Be on the guard for environmental methyl groups!
December 15, 2025 at 2:15 AM
Be on the guard for environmental methyl groups!
Grok is crock. A particularly nasty type of crock.
December 14, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Grok is crock. A particularly nasty type of crock.
Watch out for the neighborhood… lioness(?) while shoveling.
December 14, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Watch out for the neighborhood… lioness(?) while shoveling.
That’s such a precise trajectory, I’d take it personally.
December 14, 2025 at 4:53 PM
That’s such a precise trajectory, I’d take it personally.
A glimpse into America’s future.
December 14, 2025 at 4:48 PM
A glimpse into America’s future.
Hey look! James is posting on BlueSky. He must have time to kill. Release the KRAKEN manuscripts!
December 13, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Hey look! James is posting on BlueSky. He must have time to kill. Release the KRAKEN manuscripts!
Meanwhile, in a darkened room, a couple of Lethbridge Deans are making plans to shake the universe(ity) with a dossier they’ve titled, “The Rooks’ Gambit”.
December 13, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Meanwhile, in a darkened room, a couple of Lethbridge Deans are making plans to shake the universe(ity) with a dossier they’ve titled, “The Rooks’ Gambit”.
A dangling carrot is rarely left to wither. 🐰
December 13, 2025 at 5:03 PM
A dangling carrot is rarely left to wither. 🐰
So, for a short while you were a tripod?
December 13, 2025 at 4:13 AM
So, for a short while you were a tripod?
The only effective volume control we have on the number of scientists employed in universities and hospitals is the requirement to pay their salaries. It’s bad enough as it stands with sub 15% success rates. /2
December 13, 2025 at 4:10 AM
The only effective volume control we have on the number of scientists employed in universities and hospitals is the requirement to pay their salaries. It’s bad enough as it stands with sub 15% success rates. /2
Anyone with even passing interest in one of these posts is going to want to see a clear salary commitment. Taking it out of the chair funds would erase any perceived advantage. Institutional commitment is a selection criteria for allocating awards. Foot meet mouth if a University tries that on. /1
December 13, 2025 at 4:10 AM
Anyone with even passing interest in one of these posts is going to want to see a clear salary commitment. Taking it out of the chair funds would erase any perceived advantage. Institutional commitment is a selection criteria for allocating awards. Foot meet mouth if a University tries that on. /1
This tariff might be the one to bring Trump down. Pasta la vista, baby.
December 13, 2025 at 3:54 AM
This tariff might be the one to bring Trump down. Pasta la vista, baby.
Let’s just hope they don’t release a 50th edition with Farage‘s visage on the box! 😱
December 13, 2025 at 3:48 AM
Let’s just hope they don’t release a 50th edition with Farage‘s visage on the box! 😱
I guarantee there’s no need for a carrot. Our federal indirects still fall short of the US (even with Trumps unrealized threat of 15% rates). US grants also pay PI salaries (proportionate to time). We definitely don’t want to move to that house of cards.
December 13, 2025 at 3:41 AM
I guarantee there’s no need for a carrot. Our federal indirects still fall short of the US (even with Trumps unrealized threat of 15% rates). US grants also pay PI salaries (proportionate to time). We definitely don’t want to move to that house of cards.
The RSF (federal indirects) ranges from ~18% to >80% dependent on the research income of the recipient institution. I'd estimate U Lethbridge is around 30-35%. Question is why does it cost more to support an outside-of-Canada position?
December 12, 2025 at 10:35 PM
The RSF (federal indirects) ranges from ~18% to >80% dependent on the research income of the recipient institution. I'd estimate U Lethbridge is around 30-35%. Question is why does it cost more to support an outside-of-Canada position?
Reposted by Jim Woodgett
📝 Register Now!📝
Don’t miss next Thursday’s seminar featuring short, plain-language presentations from five future precision oncology experts who are using Network-generated “big data data" and disruptive technologies to shape the future of cancer research and care!
tinyurl.com/58ts23ba
Don’t miss next Thursday’s seminar featuring short, plain-language presentations from five future precision oncology experts who are using Network-generated “big data data" and disruptive technologies to shape the future of cancer research and care!
tinyurl.com/58ts23ba
December 12, 2025 at 3:31 PM
📝 Register Now!📝
Don’t miss next Thursday’s seminar featuring short, plain-language presentations from five future precision oncology experts who are using Network-generated “big data data" and disruptive technologies to shape the future of cancer research and care!
tinyurl.com/58ts23ba
Don’t miss next Thursday’s seminar featuring short, plain-language presentations from five future precision oncology experts who are using Network-generated “big data data" and disruptive technologies to shape the future of cancer research and care!
tinyurl.com/58ts23ba
🫡 Thank you for all you do and have done in educating Canadians about health and well-being. It’s never been so important to provide crystal clear reporting.
December 12, 2025 at 2:42 PM
🫡 Thank you for all you do and have done in educating Canadians about health and well-being. It’s never been so important to provide crystal clear reporting.
And they only need to use 6 letters for the score board!
December 12, 2025 at 3:47 AM
And they only need to use 6 letters for the score board!
It never disappeared (only the people).
December 11, 2025 at 3:35 AM
It never disappeared (only the people).
Genetic predisposition to cancer is ~1% of the general population. Most cancers are sporadic. But, if you test normal blood of cancer patients, over 10% have familial mutations (enrichment effect). This is a way to detect people at increased risk (siblings, progeny of patients) prior to cancer Dx.
December 10, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Genetic predisposition to cancer is ~1% of the general population. Most cancers are sporadic. But, if you test normal blood of cancer patients, over 10% have familial mutations (enrichment effect). This is a way to detect people at increased risk (siblings, progeny of patients) prior to cancer Dx.
Because they got the one day headline they wanted. Short-termism is an anathema to great science.
December 10, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Because they got the one day headline they wanted. Short-termism is an anathema to great science.
Also, the Old White Dude issue is real but only because the universities go after big names instead of future potential (to boost their marketing). IMHO, they should focus on people at the assistant/assoc prof level. Not full profs. The younger are far more likely to have impact and stay. /2
December 10, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Also, the Old White Dude issue is real but only because the universities go after big names instead of future potential (to boost their marketing). IMHO, they should focus on people at the assistant/assoc prof level. Not full profs. The younger are far more likely to have impact and stay. /2
To be fair, they are aware of this and there are indications that there will be considerations to address this going forward. I think most people don't realise the 2% admin cut for the TCs was a major break from the 15% cuts to other programs. 1/
December 10, 2025 at 8:54 PM
To be fair, they are aware of this and there are indications that there will be considerations to address this going forward. I think most people don't realise the 2% admin cut for the TCs was a major break from the 15% cuts to other programs. 1/
As a government beaurocrat once replied to me after I pointed out that most research is rather mundane and exploratory, with lots of blind alleys because science is unpredictable, "Science is a hard enough sell but I guarantee you will fail with that as a pitch".
December 10, 2025 at 7:26 PM
As a government beaurocrat once replied to me after I pointed out that most research is rather mundane and exploratory, with lots of blind alleys because science is unpredictable, "Science is a hard enough sell but I guarantee you will fail with that as a pitch".
Indeed, what is it to be human? The day we can’t discriminate between what is real vs reality we cease to be human.
December 10, 2025 at 2:02 AM
Indeed, what is it to be human? The day we can’t discriminate between what is real vs reality we cease to be human.