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
Ebola virus disease - Democratic Republic of the Congo. Outbreak ends.
"On 1 December 2025, the Ministry of Health (MoH) of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) declared the end of the Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak which had been declared on 4 September 2025"
www.who.int/emergencies/...
"On 1 December 2025, the Ministry of Health (MoH) of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) declared the end of the Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak which had been declared on 4 September 2025"
www.who.int/emergencies/...
Ebola virus disease – Democratic Republic of the Congo
On 1 December 2025, the Ministry of Health (MoH) of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) declared the end of the Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak which had been declared on 4 September 2025. T...
www.who.int
December 1, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Ebola virus disease - Democratic Republic of the Congo. Outbreak ends.
"On 1 December 2025, the Ministry of Health (MoH) of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) declared the end of the Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak which had been declared on 4 September 2025"
www.who.int/emergencies/...
"On 1 December 2025, the Ministry of Health (MoH) of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) declared the end of the Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak which had been declared on 4 September 2025"
www.who.int/emergencies/...
'Daptomycin is associated with higher treatment failure rates than alternatives for Enterococcus faecium bloodstream infections in critically ill patients: a multicentric retrospective cohort'
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Daptomycin is associated with higher treatment failure rates than alternatives for Enterococcus faecium bloodstream infections in critically ill patients: a multicentric retrospective cohort - Critica...
Background Enterococcal infections represent 10% of intensive care unit (ICU)-acquired infections and are associated with adverse outcomes, particularly in the case of E. faecium infections. Some stud...
link.springer.com
December 1, 2025 at 3:22 PM
'Daptomycin is associated with higher treatment failure rates than alternatives for Enterococcus faecium bloodstream infections in critically ill patients: a multicentric retrospective cohort'
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
The most shocking thing is that it is still 36% Approve.
Gallup poll | 11/3-11/25
President Trump approval
Disapprove 60% (+6)
Approve 36% (-5)
news.gallup.com/poll/699221/...
President Trump approval
Disapprove 60% (+6)
Approve 36% (-5)
news.gallup.com/poll/699221/...
November 30, 2025 at 9:49 AM
The most shocking thing is that it is still 36% Approve.
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
November 29, 2025 at 7:28 PM
'The fall of a prolific science journal [Science of the Total Environment] exposes the billion-dollar profits of scientific publishing'
english.elpais.com/science-tech...
'(It) has been expelled from the indexing system for irregularities. Its publisher, Elsevier, has a 38% profit margin in 2024'
english.elpais.com/science-tech...
'(It) has been expelled from the indexing system for irregularities. Its publisher, Elsevier, has a 38% profit margin in 2024'
The fall of a prolific science journal exposes the billion-dollar profits of scientific publishing
One of the 15 publications that put out the most studies globally has been expelled from the indexing system for irregularities. Its publisher, Elsevier, has a 38% profit margin that reached $1.5 bill...
english.elpais.com
November 29, 2025 at 5:02 PM
'The fall of a prolific science journal [Science of the Total Environment] exposes the billion-dollar profits of scientific publishing'
english.elpais.com/science-tech...
'(It) has been expelled from the indexing system for irregularities. Its publisher, Elsevier, has a 38% profit margin in 2024'
english.elpais.com/science-tech...
'(It) has been expelled from the indexing system for irregularities. Its publisher, Elsevier, has a 38% profit margin in 2024'
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
ERC Plus Grants
• No career limit, current ERCs are not eligible
• Major challenge, transformative research
• Up to 7 million euros, up to 7 years
• 30 grants per year, 2 years, only once per lifetime
• Same application format, plus vision statement
• Deadline in September 2026, 2 stage evaluation
• No career limit, current ERCs are not eligible
• Major challenge, transformative research
• Up to 7 million euros, up to 7 years
• 30 grants per year, 2 years, only once per lifetime
• Same application format, plus vision statement
• Deadline in September 2026, 2 stage evaluation
Webinar on the new ERC Plus Grants live starting now www.youtube.com/live/Dzkas7f...
Webinar on the new ERC Plus Grants
YouTube video by European Research Council
www.youtube.com
November 28, 2025 at 2:19 PM
ERC Plus Grants
• No career limit, current ERCs are not eligible
• Major challenge, transformative research
• Up to 7 million euros, up to 7 years
• 30 grants per year, 2 years, only once per lifetime
• Same application format, plus vision statement
• Deadline in September 2026, 2 stage evaluation
• No career limit, current ERCs are not eligible
• Major challenge, transformative research
• Up to 7 million euros, up to 7 years
• 30 grants per year, 2 years, only once per lifetime
• Same application format, plus vision statement
• Deadline in September 2026, 2 stage evaluation
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
Is China winning the innovation race? Yes
“Chinese research is utterly transformed. The country is close to overtaking the US in total expenditure on R&D, with China spending $781bn & US $823bn in 2023, according to the OECD.”
on.ft.com/3XUsy1e
“Chinese research is utterly transformed. The country is close to overtaking the US in total expenditure on R&D, with China spending $781bn & US $823bn in 2023, according to the OECD.”
on.ft.com/3XUsy1e
Is China winning the innovation race?
Once the world’s factory, Beijing’s relentless focus on R&D means the country has become the world’s laboratory
on.ft.com
November 28, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Is China winning the innovation race? Yes
“Chinese research is utterly transformed. The country is close to overtaking the US in total expenditure on R&D, with China spending $781bn & US $823bn in 2023, according to the OECD.”
on.ft.com/3XUsy1e
“Chinese research is utterly transformed. The country is close to overtaking the US in total expenditure on R&D, with China spending $781bn & US $823bn in 2023, according to the OECD.”
on.ft.com/3XUsy1e
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
In general, let's just stop paying companies that host this BS.
Fight the drain of scientific publishing.
arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Fight the drain of scientific publishing.
arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
November 28, 2025 at 7:32 AM
In general, let's just stop paying companies that host this BS.
Fight the drain of scientific publishing.
arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Fight the drain of scientific publishing.
arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
If Sci Rep, MDPI, etc... cannot guarantee a meaningful peer review process, can we please just delist them already @clarivate.com ? Why is academic publishing treated as "the highest rigour" when indexing of scientific journals is done by saying "website seems legit, they even say they peer review."
November 28, 2025 at 7:24 AM
If Sci Rep, MDPI, etc... cannot guarantee a meaningful peer review process, can we please just delist them already @clarivate.com ? Why is academic publishing treated as "the highest rigour" when indexing of scientific journals is done by saying "website seems legit, they even say they peer review."
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
Scientific Reports has a ⬆️ Impact Inflation: a very high IF given their citation network (self-citing, citation cartels, etc).
They'll even typeset & publish AI slop for a fee!
Strain: bit.ly/StrainQSS
Strain explorer β: pagoba.shinyapps.io/strain_explo...
#SciPub #ResearchIntegrity #AcademicSky
They'll even typeset & publish AI slop for a fee!
Strain: bit.ly/StrainQSS
Strain explorer β: pagoba.shinyapps.io/strain_explo...
#SciPub #ResearchIntegrity #AcademicSky
November 28, 2025 at 7:20 AM
Scientific Reports has a ⬆️ Impact Inflation: a very high IF given their citation network (self-citing, citation cartels, etc).
They'll even typeset & publish AI slop for a fee!
Strain: bit.ly/StrainQSS
Strain explorer β: pagoba.shinyapps.io/strain_explo...
#SciPub #ResearchIntegrity #AcademicSky
They'll even typeset & publish AI slop for a fee!
Strain: bit.ly/StrainQSS
Strain explorer β: pagoba.shinyapps.io/strain_explo...
#SciPub #ResearchIntegrity #AcademicSky
I have 'Son of My Father' stuck in my head. Please send help.
November 27, 2025 at 10:50 PM
I have 'Son of My Father' stuck in my head. Please send help.
Really enjoyed today's seminar and visit to @quadraminstitute.bsky.social
Thanks Rosie Young for the invitation and many (@alisonmather.bsky.social @evelienadri.bsky.social @bioinf.bsky.social @drrobkingsley.bsky.social, Naiara Beraza, Mark Webber, Simon Carding, Natalie Juge) for catching up!
Thanks Rosie Young for the invitation and many (@alisonmather.bsky.social @evelienadri.bsky.social @bioinf.bsky.social @drrobkingsley.bsky.social, Naiara Beraza, Mark Webber, Simon Carding, Natalie Juge) for catching up!
November 27, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Really enjoyed today's seminar and visit to @quadraminstitute.bsky.social
Thanks Rosie Young for the invitation and many (@alisonmather.bsky.social @evelienadri.bsky.social @bioinf.bsky.social @drrobkingsley.bsky.social, Naiara Beraza, Mark Webber, Simon Carding, Natalie Juge) for catching up!
Thanks Rosie Young for the invitation and many (@alisonmather.bsky.social @evelienadri.bsky.social @bioinf.bsky.social @drrobkingsley.bsky.social, Naiara Beraza, Mark Webber, Simon Carding, Natalie Juge) for catching up!
November 27, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Exciting new preprint from @amibhatt.bsky.social group
'A conserved sRNA regulates mucin adhesion and gut colonization across the Enterococcaceae'
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
'A conserved sRNA regulates mucin adhesion and gut colonization across the Enterococcaceae'
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
A conserved sRNA regulates mucin adhesion and gut colonization across the Enterococcaceae
Enterococci, particularly E. faecalis , can survive in diverse settings within and outside human hosts. The capacity of E. faecalis to colonize these locations relies on its ability to adapt by alteri...
www.biorxiv.org
November 26, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Exciting new preprint from @amibhatt.bsky.social group
'A conserved sRNA regulates mucin adhesion and gut colonization across the Enterococcaceae'
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
'A conserved sRNA regulates mucin adhesion and gut colonization across the Enterococcaceae'
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Our review is now available #OpenAccess online and as formatted PDF doi.org/10.1093/fems...
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 26, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Our review is now available #OpenAccess online and as formatted PDF doi.org/10.1093/fems...
An amazing article. Highly recommended!
Every biologist knows the story of Fleming's chance discovery of penicillin. But is it true?
Here, with @asimovpress.bsky.social, I write about inconsistencies in the canonical story, and explore a few alternative theories about what really happened in that St. Mary's lab in the summer of 1928.
Here, with @asimovpress.bsky.social, I write about inconsistencies in the canonical story, and explore a few alternative theories about what really happened in that St. Mary's lab in the summer of 1928.
The Penicillin Myth
Competing theories seek to explain inconsistencies surrounding Alexander Fleming’s famed discovery.
press.asimov.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:07 PM
An amazing article. Highly recommended!
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
My usual experiment to find out how bad LLMs are at technical instructions (wiring a UK plug) as applied to grok. It's just as bad as any other LLM out there:
November 26, 2025 at 9:12 AM
My usual experiment to find out how bad LLMs are at technical instructions (wiring a UK plug) as applied to grok. It's just as bad as any other LLM out there:
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
Conferences like #microevo25 are possible because of the community publishing with @microbiologysociety.org
November 26, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Conferences like #microevo25 are possible because of the community publishing with @microbiologysociety.org
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
Now properly published at @natcomms.nature.com with few additional experiments incl. demonstration of Daptomycin's ability to depolarise non-growing cells.
See the original preprint-thread for a summary of our findings.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#microsky
See the original preprint-thread for a summary of our findings.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#microsky
November 24, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Now properly published at @natcomms.nature.com with few additional experiments incl. demonstration of Daptomycin's ability to depolarise non-growing cells.
See the original preprint-thread for a summary of our findings.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#microsky
See the original preprint-thread for a summary of our findings.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#microsky
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
🤨
Breaking News: The CDC quietly appointed Dr. Ralph Lee Abraham, who has been critical of vaccines, as its second in command. During the Covid pandemic, he promoted discredited treatments like ivermectin and, as Louisiana’s surgeon general, halted the state’s mass vaccination campaign.
C.D.C. Quietly Appoints Doctor Critical of Vaccines as Second in Command
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Dr. Ralph Lee Abraham promoted discredited treatments like ivermectin and, as Louisiana’s surgeon general, halted the state’s mass vaccination campaign.
trib.al
November 25, 2025 at 6:53 PM
🤨
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
Excited to share our first look at Enterococcus faecium infection biology: diabetic wounds are complex, and E. faecium persists despite early immune responses. In diabetic mice, it shows impaired clearance + sustained neutrophil recruitment, worsening healing.
Enterococcus faecium colonization and persistence in a model of diabetic wound infection https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.20.689639v1
November 24, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Excited to share our first look at Enterococcus faecium infection biology: diabetic wounds are complex, and E. faecium persists despite early immune responses. In diabetic mice, it shows impaired clearance + sustained neutrophil recruitment, worsening healing.
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
Still reeling from the Stanford report on Brexit. Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%. The UK Treasury would have £40 billion more each year if Britain had remained in the EU. Devastating self-immolation.
The Economic Impact of Brexit
Other
siepr.stanford.edu
November 24, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Still reeling from the Stanford report on Brexit. Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%. The UK Treasury would have £40 billion more each year if Britain had remained in the EU. Devastating self-immolation.
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
Revisiting another #TARGetAMR webinar for #WAAW! 🌍
🧬AMR, Genomics & Policy: Opportunities and Challenges
🔍Genomics can transform AMR surveillance - but policy and implementation matter.⚖️
🔗Revisit this webinar: www.targetamr.org.uk/hdrevents/fe...
#AMR
🧬AMR, Genomics & Policy: Opportunities and Challenges
🔍Genomics can transform AMR surveillance - but policy and implementation matter.⚖️
🔗Revisit this webinar: www.targetamr.org.uk/hdrevents/fe...
#AMR
November 24, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Revisiting another #TARGetAMR webinar for #WAAW! 🌍
🧬AMR, Genomics & Policy: Opportunities and Challenges
🔍Genomics can transform AMR surveillance - but policy and implementation matter.⚖️
🔗Revisit this webinar: www.targetamr.org.uk/hdrevents/fe...
#AMR
🧬AMR, Genomics & Policy: Opportunities and Challenges
🔍Genomics can transform AMR surveillance - but policy and implementation matter.⚖️
🔗Revisit this webinar: www.targetamr.org.uk/hdrevents/fe...
#AMR
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
As I said at the time this was the landmine in the immigration white paper. It will cost unis much more than they're getting from inflationary rises in domestic fees.
i: Reeves to unveil £600m raid on foreign student
university fees #TomorrowsPapersToday
university fees #TomorrowsPapersToday
November 23, 2025 at 10:27 PM
As I said at the time this was the landmine in the immigration white paper. It will cost unis much more than they're getting from inflationary rises in domestic fees.
Reposted by Willem van Schaik
You have a tax on international students, you have less of them, huh, you have less revenue, and whoopsdaisy, you're back to the taxes you didn't want to hike and everyone is cross.
November 23, 2025 at 10:29 PM
You have a tax on international students, you have less of them, huh, you have less revenue, and whoopsdaisy, you're back to the taxes you didn't want to hike and everyone is cross.