CF Gene Therapy
@cfgtedinburgh.bsky.social
PI of Pulmonary Gene Therapy Group, CGEM, IGC, University of Edinburgh. UK CF Gene Therapy Consortium. Personal opinions. https://www.research.ed.ac.uk/en/persons/christopher-boyd
Reposted by CF Gene Therapy
Three major respiratory viruses COVID-19, RSV & flu still drive hospitalizations yearly. A new review of 511 studies shows current vaccines work. COVID-19 mRNA shots targeting XBB.1.5 cut hospitalizations by ~46–50%; newer KP.2-adapted vaccines reached 68% effectiveness.
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
Updated Evidence for Covid-19, RSV, and Influenza Vaccines for 2025–2026 | NEJM
Changes in the vaccine advisory process in the United States have disrupted immunization
guidance, which reinforces the need for independent evidence review to inform decisions
regarding immunizati...
www.nejm.org
October 30, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Three major respiratory viruses COVID-19, RSV & flu still drive hospitalizations yearly. A new review of 511 studies shows current vaccines work. COVID-19 mRNA shots targeting XBB.1.5 cut hospitalizations by ~46–50%; newer KP.2-adapted vaccines reached 68% effectiveness.
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
Reposted by CF Gene Therapy
Acute and chronic viral infections, including Herpes Zoster (Shingles), Hepatitis C, HIV, CMV, influenza, and SARS-CoV-2, are linked with a substantial increased risk of cardiovascular events, from a systematic review. Figure for SARS-CoV-2 below
newsroom.heart.org/news/some-ac...
newsroom.heart.org/news/some-ac...
October 29, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Acute and chronic viral infections, including Herpes Zoster (Shingles), Hepatitis C, HIV, CMV, influenza, and SARS-CoV-2, are linked with a substantial increased risk of cardiovascular events, from a systematic review. Figure for SARS-CoV-2 below
newsroom.heart.org/news/some-ac...
newsroom.heart.org/news/some-ac...
Reposted by CF Gene Therapy
Looks like the science community has found a home.
academic.oup.com/icb/article-...
academic.oup.com/icb/article-...
Scientists no Longer Find Twitter Professionally Useful, and have Switched to Bluesky
Synopsis. Social media has become widely used by the scientific community for a variety of professional uses, including networking and public outreach. For
academic.oup.com
October 29, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Looks like the science community has found a home.
academic.oup.com/icb/article-...
academic.oup.com/icb/article-...
Reposted by CF Gene Therapy
Genetically engineered color-changing Arabidopsis 🧬📷- attempt #3
I think I finally nailed it with this one.
I think I finally nailed it with this one.
October 27, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Genetically engineered color-changing Arabidopsis 🧬📷- attempt #3
I think I finally nailed it with this one.
I think I finally nailed it with this one.
Reposted by CF Gene Therapy
How does life evolve to adapt to modern cities?
Out now in Science, my PhD work with @lindymcbr.bsky.social uncovers the ancient origin of the “London Underground mosquito” – one of the most iconic examples of urban adaptation.
🧵(1/n)
@science.org
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ady4515
Out now in Science, my PhD work with @lindymcbr.bsky.social uncovers the ancient origin of the “London Underground mosquito” – one of the most iconic examples of urban adaptation.
🧵(1/n)
@science.org
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ady4515
Ancient origin of an urban underground mosquito
Understanding how life is adapting to urban environments represents an important challenge in evolutionary biology. In this work, we investigate a widely cited example of urban adaptation, Culex pipie...
www.science.org
October 25, 2025 at 4:46 AM
How does life evolve to adapt to modern cities?
Out now in Science, my PhD work with @lindymcbr.bsky.social uncovers the ancient origin of the “London Underground mosquito” – one of the most iconic examples of urban adaptation.
🧵(1/n)
@science.org
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ady4515
Out now in Science, my PhD work with @lindymcbr.bsky.social uncovers the ancient origin of the “London Underground mosquito” – one of the most iconic examples of urban adaptation.
🧵(1/n)
@science.org
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ady4515
Reposted by CF Gene Therapy
Wintry scenes from the kitchen window today. It's warmed up a bit since this afternoon, up to 6.2C, but still pretty chilly out there this evening. The snowline has also, alas, retreated up the hillsides again.
October 26, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Wintry scenes from the kitchen window today. It's warmed up a bit since this afternoon, up to 6.2C, but still pretty chilly out there this evening. The snowline has also, alas, retreated up the hillsides again.
I got the newer LP8.1 version of the Covid vaccine at Omnicare Pharmacy (Causewayside, Edinburgh: cost £85 since LP8.1 is only available privately in the UK). Most pharmacy websites don't say what Covid vaccines they provide 😠, so I phoned to check. omnicarepharmacy.co.uk/covid-vaccin...
October 25, 2025 at 4:00 PM
I got the newer LP8.1 version of the Covid vaccine at Omnicare Pharmacy (Causewayside, Edinburgh: cost £85 since LP8.1 is only available privately in the UK). Most pharmacy websites don't say what Covid vaccines they provide 😠, so I phoned to check. omnicarepharmacy.co.uk/covid-vaccin...
Reposted by CF Gene Therapy
Finally read the paper and it's worth the buzz.
mRNA vaccines saved 20 million lives in a global pandemic and the technology is opening up new avenues for the treatment of deadly cancers. This is really one of the most impactful scientific developments of our time.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
mRNA vaccines saved 20 million lives in a global pandemic and the technology is opening up new avenues for the treatment of deadly cancers. This is really one of the most impactful scientific developments of our time.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines sensitize tumours to immune checkpoint blockade - Nature
mRNA vaccines targeting SARS-CoV-2 also sensitize tumours to immune checkpoint inhibitors.
www.nature.com
October 25, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Finally read the paper and it's worth the buzz.
mRNA vaccines saved 20 million lives in a global pandemic and the technology is opening up new avenues for the treatment of deadly cancers. This is really one of the most impactful scientific developments of our time.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
mRNA vaccines saved 20 million lives in a global pandemic and the technology is opening up new avenues for the treatment of deadly cancers. This is really one of the most impactful scientific developments of our time.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by CF Gene Therapy
Guess what? COVID mRNA vaccines don't just protect against COVID.
COVID mRNA vaccines also cause cancers to become sensitive to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). buff.ly/GEfJ5Zl
Let's fund more mRNA research!
#medsky #oncsky 🛟😷🧪
COVID mRNA vaccines also cause cancers to become sensitive to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). buff.ly/GEfJ5Zl
Let's fund more mRNA research!
#medsky #oncsky 🛟😷🧪
October 24, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Guess what? COVID mRNA vaccines don't just protect against COVID.
COVID mRNA vaccines also cause cancers to become sensitive to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). buff.ly/GEfJ5Zl
Let's fund more mRNA research!
#medsky #oncsky 🛟😷🧪
COVID mRNA vaccines also cause cancers to become sensitive to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). buff.ly/GEfJ5Zl
Let's fund more mRNA research!
#medsky #oncsky 🛟😷🧪
Reposted by CF Gene Therapy
New Element in the Philosophy of Biology series—free to download until Oct. 24! @djnicholson.bsky.social uncovers Schrödinger’s motivations for writing "What Is Life?", revisits its central arguments & examines the book’s lasting impact on cell & molecular biology👇 www.cambridge.org/core/element...
October 17, 2025 at 11:23 AM
New Element in the Philosophy of Biology series—free to download until Oct. 24! @djnicholson.bsky.social uncovers Schrödinger’s motivations for writing "What Is Life?", revisits its central arguments & examines the book’s lasting impact on cell & molecular biology👇 www.cambridge.org/core/element...
First-hand account of the precarious state of the NHS (in SE England in this case) despite the efforts of hard-working staff. Cutting the number of NHS England hospital beds by 50% since 1987 is a major contributing factor to the current problems.
New post just out:
"On the edge"
On my unexpected week in hospital and five things I learnt about the state of the NHS.
(Free to read)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/o...
"On the edge"
On my unexpected week in hospital and five things I learnt about the state of the NHS.
(Free to read)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/o...
On the edge
My week in the NHS
open.substack.com
October 19, 2025 at 6:09 PM
First-hand account of the precarious state of the NHS (in SE England in this case) despite the efforts of hard-working staff. Cutting the number of NHS England hospital beds by 50% since 1987 is a major contributing factor to the current problems.
Reposted by CF Gene Therapy
It's that time again.
For the next 24 hours, drop any infectious disease and/or vaccine-related questions below in response to this post, and I will do my best to answer them. Responses are for information only and are NOT medical advice.
#AskAnIDDoc October 2025 edition.
For the next 24 hours, drop any infectious disease and/or vaccine-related questions below in response to this post, and I will do my best to answer them. Responses are for information only and are NOT medical advice.
#AskAnIDDoc October 2025 edition.
a sign that says v is for vaccinated
ALT: a sign that says v is for vaccinated
media.tenor.com
October 18, 2025 at 12:15 PM
It's that time again.
For the next 24 hours, drop any infectious disease and/or vaccine-related questions below in response to this post, and I will do my best to answer them. Responses are for information only and are NOT medical advice.
#AskAnIDDoc October 2025 edition.
For the next 24 hours, drop any infectious disease and/or vaccine-related questions below in response to this post, and I will do my best to answer them. Responses are for information only and are NOT medical advice.
#AskAnIDDoc October 2025 edition.
Reposted by CF Gene Therapy
I had not realised that Uganda was coming close to releasing a mosquito gene drive. This is a pretty balanced account of the dilemmas, but should have dealt with vaccines (not mentioned) and *international* regulation. The mosquitoes will not respect local, regional or national boundaries!
Uganda weighs a radical malaria fix
Scientists are testing genetic modification to collapse mosquito populations. What are the risks?
dialogue.earth
October 18, 2025 at 4:24 AM
I had not realised that Uganda was coming close to releasing a mosquito gene drive. This is a pretty balanced account of the dilemmas, but should have dealt with vaccines (not mentioned) and *international* regulation. The mosquitoes will not respect local, regional or national boundaries!
Reposted by CF Gene Therapy
0C and a beautiful start to the day, here at Mar Lodge 🙂
October 15, 2025 at 7:22 AM
0C and a beautiful start to the day, here at Mar Lodge 🙂
Reposted by CF Gene Therapy
Awesome public health news:
Maldives becomes the first country to achieve ‘triple elimination’ of
1. mother-to-child transmission of HIV,
2. Syphilis and
3. Hepatitis B
www.who.int/news/item/13...
Maldives becomes the first country to achieve ‘triple elimination’ of
1. mother-to-child transmission of HIV,
2. Syphilis and
3. Hepatitis B
www.who.int/news/item/13...
Maldives becomes the first country to achieve ‘triple elimination’ of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B
In a landmark public health achievement, WHO has validated the Maldives for eliminating mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) of hepatitis B, while maintaining its earlier validation (in 2019) for EMTCT of HIV and syphilis. This makes the Maldives the first country in the world to achieve ‘triple elimination’.
www.who.int
October 14, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Awesome public health news:
Maldives becomes the first country to achieve ‘triple elimination’ of
1. mother-to-child transmission of HIV,
2. Syphilis and
3. Hepatitis B
www.who.int/news/item/13...
Maldives becomes the first country to achieve ‘triple elimination’ of
1. mother-to-child transmission of HIV,
2. Syphilis and
3. Hepatitis B
www.who.int/news/item/13...
Reposted by CF Gene Therapy
New @nejm.org
One-shot gene therapy for a type of congenital deafness enabled some children to hear for the first time, and 3 of 12 kids achieved normal hearing
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2400521
One-shot gene therapy for a type of congenital deafness enabled some children to hear for the first time, and 3 of 12 kids achieved normal hearing
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2400521
DB-OTO Gene Therapy for Inherited Deafness | NEJM
Genetic deficiency of otoferlin, a protein critical to synaptic transmission by the sensory hair cells of the ear, causes congenital deafness. Medicines to treat the condition are lacking; children...
www.nejm.org
October 12, 2025 at 2:19 PM
New @nejm.org
One-shot gene therapy for a type of congenital deafness enabled some children to hear for the first time, and 3 of 12 kids achieved normal hearing
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2400521
One-shot gene therapy for a type of congenital deafness enabled some children to hear for the first time, and 3 of 12 kids achieved normal hearing
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2400521
Reposted by CF Gene Therapy
Asked lots about this piece on Chronic Lyme disease, and disappointed in the @guardian (a publication I both subscribe and contribute to) for running it. Short thread explaining the multitude of problems with it, and why I consider it irresponsible to run as is..🧵
October 6, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Asked lots about this piece on Chronic Lyme disease, and disappointed in the @guardian (a publication I both subscribe and contribute to) for running it. Short thread explaining the multitude of problems with it, and why I consider it irresponsible to run as is..🧵
Had to share two outstanding new-to-me works heard on BBC Radio 3 today: Julie Cooper's "VENUS in Sunlight Grey" (unmistakably Arvo Pärt influenced) and Anna Phoebe's "By The Sea" (mesmeric).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LEK...
and...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LEK...
and...
VENUS in Sunlight Grey
YouTube video by Julie Cooper Music - Composer
www.youtube.com
October 11, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Had to share two outstanding new-to-me works heard on BBC Radio 3 today: Julie Cooper's "VENUS in Sunlight Grey" (unmistakably Arvo Pärt influenced) and Anna Phoebe's "By The Sea" (mesmeric).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LEK...
and...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LEK...
and...
Reposted by CF Gene Therapy
New Publication:
Role of RNA in genome folding: It's all about affinity
@uoe-igc.bsky.social @drrafalczapiewski.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Role of RNA in genome folding: It's all about affinity
@uoe-igc.bsky.social @drrafalczapiewski.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Role of RNA in genome folding: It's all about affinity
In mammalian cells, RNA species make up ∼10% of chromatin by mass and play a structural role in the nucleus by acting as scaffolds and influencing gen…
www.sciencedirect.com
October 10, 2025 at 10:40 AM
New Publication:
Role of RNA in genome folding: It's all about affinity
@uoe-igc.bsky.social @drrafalczapiewski.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Role of RNA in genome folding: It's all about affinity
@uoe-igc.bsky.social @drrafalczapiewski.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by CF Gene Therapy
Violet webcap (Cortinarius violaceus) growing under gorse today near the Devil’s Punchbowl in Surrey. An absolute stunner of a mushroom and nationally rare - it’s always good to see these beauties.
#ukfungi
#ukfungi
October 10, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Violet webcap (Cortinarius violaceus) growing under gorse today near the Devil’s Punchbowl in Surrey. An absolute stunner of a mushroom and nationally rare - it’s always good to see these beauties.
#ukfungi
#ukfungi
Prionologist Eric Minikel has published a thoughtful deep dive into the recent Uniqure press release about gene therapy for Huntington's disease. Well worth a read.
www.cureffi.org/2025/10/08/a...
www.cureffi.org/2025/10/08/a...
October 9, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Prionologist Eric Minikel has published a thoughtful deep dive into the recent Uniqure press release about gene therapy for Huntington's disease. Well worth a read.
www.cureffi.org/2025/10/08/a...
www.cureffi.org/2025/10/08/a...
Reposted by CF Gene Therapy
A new Nature Medicine study analyzing health records from >100 million people in the US offers compelling evidence that reactivation of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) ,the same virus that causes chickenpox and shingles may contribute to dementia risk.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Varicella-zoster virus reactivation and the risk of dementia - Nature Medicine
Large-scale longitudinal health records reveal consistent association of varicella-zoster virus reactivation with dementia.
www.nature.com
October 6, 2025 at 4:46 PM
A new Nature Medicine study analyzing health records from >100 million people in the US offers compelling evidence that reactivation of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) ,the same virus that causes chickenpox and shingles may contribute to dementia risk.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by CF Gene Therapy
I absolutely refuse to believe that the pheasant who regularly visits my mum and dad’s garden is real and has not in fact been crocheted.
August 18, 2025 at 5:24 PM
I absolutely refuse to believe that the pheasant who regularly visits my mum and dad’s garden is real and has not in fact been crocheted.
Reposted by CF Gene Therapy
"the quickest way to get a collaborator to return edits on your manuscript is to write down their affiliation wrong" (ancient academic proverb)
October 6, 2025 at 3:21 AM
"the quickest way to get a collaborator to return edits on your manuscript is to write down their affiliation wrong" (ancient academic proverb)