Natalie Dean, PhD
@nataliexdean.bsky.social
2.2K followers 160 following 45 posts
Associate Professor of Biostatistics at Emory Rollins School of Public Health
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Hello science friends. Following the migration. I’ll be posting about infectious diseases, biostatistics, and academia. Let’s connect. 🩵
Reposted by Natalie Dean, PhD
I have to keep this deliberately vague, but this is a total disaster for academic research.

And imposing it so suddenly is just cruel. I’ve got friends scrambling to get back to the US before midnight tonight. Do you know how hard that is to do on 36 hours of notice?
Trump to impose $100,000 fee per year for H-1B visas, in blow to tech
The Trump administration said on Friday it would ask companies to pay $100,000 per year for H-1B worker visas, prompting some big tech companies to warn visa holders to stay in the U.S. or quickly return.
www.reuters.com
Reposted by Natalie Dean, PhD
Democratic Republic of Congo declares Ebola virus disease outbreak in Kasai province with 28 suspected cases and 15 deaths. Ebola zairevirus is confirmed. via @beaconbio.bsky.social - beaconbio.org/en/report/?r...
BEACON
Track biological threats, share vital information, and collaborate on solutions for community protection and preparedness.
beaconbio.org
Reposted by Natalie Dean, PhD
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s assault may have dealt lasting damage to the CDC, experts fear, with harsh consequences for public health.
(Gift article)

www.nytimes.com/2025/08/29/h...
Will the C.D.C. Survive?
www.nytimes.com
Reposted by Natalie Dean, PhD
My heart. Members of the US Public Health Service (the uniformed service branch no one has ever heard of, who serve at the CDC and elsewhere in the US), massed within the CDC property, saluting their departing uniformed leaders who were escorted out by security today after resigning on principle.
A higher resolution pic than my screenshot that captured the salute, from Alyssa Pointer (Reuters) – press weren’t allowed past the front gate for security reasons.
Members of the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps salute the former officials Wednesday afternoon as staffers gathered outside the CDC's main campus in Atlanta. Alyssa Pointer/Reuters
Reposted by Natalie Dean, PhD
And they were singing
Bye bye to American Sci
Screenshot from Whitehouse webpage that says The WHITE HOUSE
Going forward, President Trump's appointees will review funding opportunity
announcements and grant awards to verify that each grant dollar benefits Americans instead of lining grantees' pocketbooks or furthering causes that damage America.
Reposted by Natalie Dean, PhD
"The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced the beginning of a coordinated wind-down of its mRNA vaccine development activities...."

cc: Sen. Bill Cassidy
Reposted by Natalie Dean, PhD
Every reputable expert I know considers mRNA vaccine technology to be one of the most revolutionary advances in medicine in our lifetimes. Its inventors won the Nobel Prize in 2023. Shutting it down now is pointless self-harm to humanity.
Release from HHS: HHS will wind down its development of the mRNA vaccine development activities under the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).
HHS Winds Down mRNA Vaccine Development Under BARDA

 

WASHINGTON, DC—AUGUST 5, 2025—The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced the beginning of a coordinated wind-down of its mRNA vaccine development activities under the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), including the cancellation and de-scoping of various contracts and solicitations. The decision follows a comprehensive review of mRNA-related investments initiated during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

 

“We reviewed the science, listened to the experts, and acted,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “BARDA is terminating 22 mRNA vaccine development investments because the data show these vaccines fail to protect effectively against upper respiratory infections like COVID and flu. We’re shifting that funding toward safer, broader vaccine platforms that remain effective even as viruses mutate.”
Reposted by Natalie Dean, PhD
Shout out to the WSJ journalists who reported on Vought’s impoundment by footnote, causing the White House to walk it back. Impact journalism!!
Reposted by Natalie Dean, PhD
📣 Funded 3.5yr PhD opportunity (UK tuition fee rate) in @hpruezi.bsky.social @liverpooluni.bsky.social. #PhDSky

🧪 On "Optimising testing & control strategies in the early stages of infectious disease outbreaks" #IDSky #EpiSky

⏳ Deadline to apply: 07 Jul 2025

🔗: www.liverpool.ac.uk/courses/opti...
Optimising testing and control strategies in the early stages of infectious disease outbreaks

Supervisors: Dr Emily Nixon, Professor Christl Donnelly, Dr Richard Vipond, Dr Emily Adams, Dr Chris Overton.


Subject area: Mathematics

Stipend Amount: Funded studentship
Study mode: Full-time
Duration: 3.5 years

Application deadline: 07 July 2025
Start date: 01 October 2025 Overview
Develop models to help make decisions early in a major disease outbreak when availability of new tests is limited, on where and how best to use them for maximum impact in controlling spread, e.g. in low versus high areas of transmission, in hospitals or in the community. These will depend on the pathogen type, its mode of transmission, reproduction number, etc.

About this opportunity
In the early stages of a major disease outbreak, the availability of suitable diagnostic tests is often limited, however, timely interventions are critical for controlling the spread of disease. In this PhD, you will develop mechanistic and statistical models to investigate the effectiveness of various diagnostic test deployment strategies for emerging and zoonotic diseases which are at risk of causing large outbreaks, such as respiratory viruses (Influenza, SARS-CoV-2, Respiratory syncytial virus), vector-borne diseases (Dengue, Tick-borne encephalitis) or viral haemorrhagic fevers (Nipah, Lassa fever and Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever). You will investigate the effectiveness of targeting use of tests in different settings, for example in areas of high versus low transmission, or in hospitals versus the community. The optimum strategy for diagnostic test deployment will vary depending on prevalence of disease, the sensitivity and specificity of the tests and the time it takes to receive and act on results. In addition, variation between pathogens, for example, in their mode of transmission, reproduction number and incubation period, will influence which strategy is the most effective in controlling the impact of the outbreak. These insights will inform stockpiling strategies of medical countermeasures for pandemic preparedness and in the event of a major outbreak, can be used and adapted to help inform decision making. Who is this for?

Applicants must hold, in a relevant STEM subject, either a first-class honours degree, a distinction at master level, or equivalent achievements. A background in programming (such as R, Python, Julia) would be advantageous, along with a keen desire to develop those skills.  

Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact the primary supervisor, Dr Emily Nixon, emily.nixon@liverpool.ac.uk prior to preparation of an application to discuss the fit of the project with your background and qualifications. Funding your PhD

This PhD opportunity is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Protection Research Unit (HPRU) in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections (EZI).

This studentship will be for a maximum of 3.5 years duration. The studentship includes tuition fees at the UK/home rate, stipend and research-related travel. International students may apply but must be able to themselves cover the additional tuition fee costs as outlined on the University website: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/study/fees-and-funding/tuition-fees/postgraduate-research/.

The supervisory team have no additional funding to support this difference in tuition fee costs for international students. The stipend amount is aligned with UK Research and Innovation rates. For the academic year 2025-2026, the rate of the UKRI Stipend is £20,780 per annum (tax free).
Reposted by Natalie Dean, PhD
17 dedicated doctors, pediatricians, scientists, and parents who served on the Advisory Committee of Immunization Practices (ACIP) were just fired by Secretary Kennedy based on false claims of conflicts of interest – a dangerous and unprecedented action that makes our families less safe.
Reposted by Natalie Dean, PhD
RFK Jr has worked for more than a decade to sow distrust in vaccines. Despite his efforts, the vast majority of Americans still support vaccines and follow federal guidance. Secretary Kennedy’s decision to remove ACIP members is another act in his crusade to prevent Americans from getting vaccines.
Reposted by Natalie Dean, PhD
This evening, a member of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices told us they received "formal notice of your immediate termination"

"This is horrifying," a CDC official said of Secy Kennedy's move

www.cbsnews.com/news/rfk-jr-...
"Per the June 9, 2025 directive from the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, this email serves as formal notice of your immediate termination as a member of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). We appreciate your prior service and commitment," read an email to one committee member from the CDC.

"This is horrifying," a CDC official said of Kennedy's move.
Reposted by Natalie Dean, PhD
What are we doing here?
“I would like to cure brain cancer. I think that's not particularly controversial.” Be that as it may, the NIH terminated that scientist's grant. Here's a huge survey of the 2,500 grants that NIH has killed or delayed...so far. Gift link: nyti.ms/43Jz1yJ
A chart showing cancelled NIH grants
Reposted by Natalie Dean, PhD
Rolling clinical and epi updates for #mpox data from #SierraLeone. Watch for updated versions as additional data becomes available. Heartfelt thanks to our local colleagues in-country led by Dr. Jia Kangbai

t.co/D9QosVP1Bq
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.05.30.25328691v1
t.co
Reposted by Natalie Dean, PhD
Researcher Amita Gupta has spent more than a decade planning and running a $70-million trial to study a new tuberculosis drug, enrolling ~6,000 participants in 13 countries. It might all have been for nothing.

That's because a new NIH policy has abruptly cut off billions to trials abroad. 🧪
NIH grant cuts will axe clinical trials abroad — and could leave thousands without care
US agency’s new policy could abruptly end studies of infectious diseases and cancer, leaving researchers scrambling for funds.
www.nature.com
Reposted by Natalie Dean, PhD
I’m sure it will be rolled out perfectly and error free

/s #MedSky
SCOOP @statnews.com: The FDA will begin the agency-wide rollout of its AI tool, called "Elsa," tomorrow — weeks ahead of schedule.

For the most details yet on the FDA's Claude-based AI tool, plus criticism from FDA employees:

🖥️🩺
www.statnews.com/2025/06/02/f...
FDA plans to begin rolling out AI tool agency-wide on Tuesday
The FDA plans to roll out its agency-wide AI tool weeks ahead of schedule, per a press release that provides the most detailed look yet at the technology and how it may be used.
www.statnews.com
Reposted by Natalie Dean, PhD
"'It’s a total shit show,' one agency staffer told Important Context, explaining that Bhattacharya seemed unaware of how NIH operated when he arrived. They said he had been promising reforms that were already part of the agency’s work."
NEW: Important Context spoke with a dozen people working at NIH about Director Jay Bhattacharya.

The descriptions were universally unflattering, painting the health economist as ineffectual, dishonest, ideological, arrogant, and uncommitted to science.

www.importantcontext.news/p/out-of-his...
“Out Of His Depth,” “Sold His Soul,” “Clueless”: NIH Staffers Speak Out About Director Bhattacharya
Widespread dissatisfaction over the NIH’s “continuous free fall” has people speaking out.
www.importantcontext.news
Reposted by Natalie Dean, PhD
Here's the NIH's proposed budget - from $48 billion to $27 billion. NIAID, current ~$7 billion cut to ~$4.2 billion.

The proposed 15% cap on indirect costs remains.

Again, these budgets are passed, and our leadership in science, technology, and innovation is gone.

www.hhs.gov/sites/defaul...
Reposted by Natalie Dean, PhD
In 1 month, BEACON has already reported 181 disease events & 381 individual reports.

We're excited to announce that starting June 2nd, BEACON will be sending a free Weekly Disease Event Digest on Mondays to help you stay informed about emerging threats globally. Sign up below!
Starting on Monday, BEACON will be sending a weekly Disease Event Digest newsletter with summaries of infectious disease events over the previous week from around the world.

If you haven’t signed up yet, subscribe here:
http://spr.ly/63324NfQh8
BEACON (Biothreats Emergence, Analysis, and Communications Network)
Reposted by Natalie Dean, PhD
I urge everyone to read Unbreaking’s new page on everything the govt is doing to destroy & diminish medical research funding.

It’s the best thing I’ve read on this topic: @lizneeley.bsky.social & co have such done an incredible job.

unbreaking.org/issues/medic...
Medical Research Funding — Unbreaking
How the administration is breaking the government, and what that means for all of us.
unbreaking.org