Eric Fauman (he/him)
@ericfauman.bsky.social
GWAS whisperer.
It's usually the closest gene.
Executive Director, Integrative Biology, Internal Medicine Research Unit. Pfizer R&D. All views my own.
Also cats.
It's usually the closest gene.
Executive Director, Integrative Biology, Internal Medicine Research Unit. Pfizer R&D. All views my own.
Also cats.
If you didn't get your certificate were you really even there?
October 19, 2025 at 5:58 PM
If you didn't get your certificate were you really even there?
Quick quiz. This is a plot of how often each p-value appears in this @gwascatalog.bsky.social. Actually I binned the -log10(p) values to their integer values (e.g., 8-9, 9-10, etc).
I'm highlighting 3 outliers here, in orange.
What are these p-values and why do they diverge so much?
I'm highlighting 3 outliers here, in orange.
What are these p-values and why do they diverge so much?
September 27, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Quick quiz. This is a plot of how often each p-value appears in this @gwascatalog.bsky.social. Actually I binned the -log10(p) values to their integer values (e.g., 8-9, 9-10, etc).
I'm highlighting 3 outliers here, in orange.
What are these p-values and why do they diverge so much?
I'm highlighting 3 outliers here, in orange.
What are these p-values and why do they diverge so much?
Getting ready for ASHG25 here in Boston! Who's coming to town?
As you know, I am fascinated by extreme GWAS p-values.
Will we see anything beyond the current record holder, 10^-28538, for eye color.
Interestingly, the p-values for all lead SNPs in the @gwascatalog.bsky.social follow a power law
As you know, I am fascinated by extreme GWAS p-values.
Will we see anything beyond the current record holder, 10^-28538, for eye color.
Interestingly, the p-values for all lead SNPs in the @gwascatalog.bsky.social follow a power law
September 27, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Getting ready for ASHG25 here in Boston! Who's coming to town?
As you know, I am fascinated by extreme GWAS p-values.
Will we see anything beyond the current record holder, 10^-28538, for eye color.
Interestingly, the p-values for all lead SNPs in the @gwascatalog.bsky.social follow a power law
As you know, I am fascinated by extreme GWAS p-values.
Will we see anything beyond the current record holder, 10^-28538, for eye color.
Interestingly, the p-values for all lead SNPs in the @gwascatalog.bsky.social follow a power law
Years ago I asked on Twitter why my heart rate would continue to climb even after I fixed the speed and incline on my treadmill. At the time, no one on Twitter could give me a satisfactory answer.
But now GPT4o was able to answer it and suggested approaches to quantify the phenomenon.
But now GPT4o was able to answer it and suggested approaches to quantify the phenomenon.
August 16, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Years ago I asked on Twitter why my heart rate would continue to climb even after I fixed the speed and incline on my treadmill. At the time, no one on Twitter could give me a satisfactory answer.
But now GPT4o was able to answer it and suggested approaches to quantify the phenomenon.
But now GPT4o was able to answer it and suggested approaches to quantify the phenomenon.
This was the random page on the internet that set me down this rabbit hole:
www.tomsguide.com/wellness/fit...
www.tomsguide.com/wellness/fit...
June 24, 2025 at 4:25 PM
This was the random page on the internet that set me down this rabbit hole:
www.tomsguide.com/wellness/fit...
www.tomsguide.com/wellness/fit...
Reposted by Eric Fauman (he/him)
DeGETTE: Will you commit that neither you or anyone else at HHS will take retaliatory action against the brave scientists at NIH? Should be an easy answer bc it's illegal
RFK Jr: I can commit that we are absolutely depoliticizing science at NIH for the first time
D: I asked you a simple question
RFK Jr: I can commit that we are absolutely depoliticizing science at NIH for the first time
D: I asked you a simple question
June 24, 2025 at 2:47 PM
DeGETTE: Will you commit that neither you or anyone else at HHS will take retaliatory action against the brave scientists at NIH? Should be an easy answer bc it's illegal
RFK Jr: I can commit that we are absolutely depoliticizing science at NIH for the first time
D: I asked you a simple question
RFK Jr: I can commit that we are absolutely depoliticizing science at NIH for the first time
D: I asked you a simple question
This makes no sense to me.
How does genetically predicted walking speed relate to biological aging (here as telomere length( except as some sort of biomarker of overall health?
www.nature.com/articles/s42...
How does genetically predicted walking speed relate to biological aging (here as telomere length( except as some sort of biomarker of overall health?
www.nature.com/articles/s42...
Investigation of a UK biobank cohort reveals causal associations of self-reported walking pace with telomere length - Communications Biology
Mendelian randomisation analysis of the UK Biobank cohort, supported by analyses of accelerometer-measured activity intensity, reveals that genetically-determined walking pace is associated with longe...
www.nature.com
June 23, 2025 at 3:28 AM
This makes no sense to me.
How does genetically predicted walking speed relate to biological aging (here as telomere length( except as some sort of biomarker of overall health?
www.nature.com/articles/s42...
How does genetically predicted walking speed relate to biological aging (here as telomere length( except as some sort of biomarker of overall health?
www.nature.com/articles/s42...
To add to your weekend reading, check out this nice report on the Genes & Health cohort from Hye In Kim, David van Heel and many many more:
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
Exome sequencing and analysis of 44,028 British South Asians enriched for high autozygosity
Genes and Health (G&H) is a biomedical study of adult British-Pakistani and -Bangladeshi research volunteers enriched for autozygosity. We performed whole exome sequencing in 44,028 G&H participants, ...
www.medrxiv.org
June 7, 2025 at 3:20 PM
To add to your weekend reading, check out this nice report on the Genes & Health cohort from Hye In Kim, David van Heel and many many more:
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
Please consider signing.
I helped draft this open letter about last Friday’s gold standard science executive order. Take a look and consider signing if you agree.
🚨 URGENT RESPONSE CALL 🚨
Trump’s Fool’s Gold Science EO is a dangerous sham.
It gives his appointees the power to dismiss entire bodies of research and punish researchers who fail to fall in line with his agenda.
We’ve launched an open letter.
SIGN & SHARE NOW: actionnetwork.org/petitions/op...
Trump’s Fool’s Gold Science EO is a dangerous sham.
It gives his appointees the power to dismiss entire bodies of research and punish researchers who fail to fall in line with his agenda.
We’ve launched an open letter.
SIGN & SHARE NOW: actionnetwork.org/petitions/op...
May 26, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Please consider signing.
Reposted by Eric Fauman (he/him)
Pirruccello #eshg2025 - “There is really one game in town right now that is @ukb UKB.” - no one else is producing image data in healthy heart at this scale. @ukbiobank.bsky.social Taking a deep-dive into image-derived phenotypes such as sphericity and cardiac age acceleration.
May 25, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Pirruccello #eshg2025 - “There is really one game in town right now that is @ukb UKB.” - no one else is producing image data in healthy heart at this scale. @ukbiobank.bsky.social Taking a deep-dive into image-derived phenotypes such as sphericity and cardiac age acceleration.
I was today years old when I realized that the Chromosome 2 fusion event which is unique to modern humans probably coincides with a possible population bottleneck event ~900kya.
Could the one have caused the other?
This is my adaptation of the published figure
DOI: 10.1126/science.abq7487
Could the one have caused the other?
This is my adaptation of the published figure
DOI: 10.1126/science.abq7487
May 25, 2025 at 8:10 PM
I was today years old when I realized that the Chromosome 2 fusion event which is unique to modern humans probably coincides with a possible population bottleneck event ~900kya.
Could the one have caused the other?
This is my adaptation of the published figure
DOI: 10.1126/science.abq7487
Could the one have caused the other?
This is my adaptation of the published figure
DOI: 10.1126/science.abq7487
From Adam Butterworth: worth getting embroidered:
"if you use ABO or APOE in your MR, and you are studying something other than blood group or apolipoprotein, I don't want to know"
May 25, 2025 at 5:47 PM
From Adam Butterworth: worth getting embroidered:
Happy Caturday!
These are Mage and Moxie, brothers to my avatar cat, Mojo.
These are Mage and Moxie, brothers to my avatar cat, Mojo.
May 11, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Happy Caturday!
These are Mage and Moxie, brothers to my avatar cat, Mojo.
These are Mage and Moxie, brothers to my avatar cat, Mojo.
Yes, Mojo, the all black cat, is my mews and inspiration.
He's patiently waiting for the first pet association wide study, aka PAWS.
Also, I'll be at Hinxton from April 28 to May 1st.
Love to catch up with anyone who might be around then.
He's patiently waiting for the first pet association wide study, aka PAWS.
Also, I'll be at Hinxton from April 28 to May 1st.
Love to catch up with anyone who might be around then.
A clever use of cat pictures in your thread, it kept me scrolling through to the end! Oh, and the use of @opentargets.org Platform wasn't too bad either ;)
April 17, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Yes, Mojo, the all black cat, is my mews and inspiration.
He's patiently waiting for the first pet association wide study, aka PAWS.
Also, I'll be at Hinxton from April 28 to May 1st.
Love to catch up with anyone who might be around then.
He's patiently waiting for the first pet association wide study, aka PAWS.
Also, I'll be at Hinxton from April 28 to May 1st.
Love to catch up with anyone who might be around then.
Reposted by Eric Fauman (he/him)
We’re in U.S. District Court in Burlington, Vermont for Rümeysa Öztürk’s hearing. Today, the legal team is asking the judge to release her from detention.
Ideas aren’t illegal. Rümeysa must be released.
Ideas aren’t illegal. Rümeysa must be released.
April 14, 2025 at 10:53 AM
We’re in U.S. District Court in Burlington, Vermont for Rümeysa Öztürk’s hearing. Today, the legal team is asking the judge to release her from detention.
Ideas aren’t illegal. Rümeysa must be released.
Ideas aren’t illegal. Rümeysa must be released.
The most famous heuristic in mapping gwas snps to genes is "it's usually the closest gene".
But only slightly less well-known is this: consider the colocalized phenotypes.
That is, a genetic variant seldom disrupts exactly one phenotype.
What else does tugging on that thread do?
But only slightly less well-known is this: consider the colocalized phenotypes.
That is, a genetic variant seldom disrupts exactly one phenotype.
What else does tugging on that thread do?
April 13, 2025 at 6:36 PM
The most famous heuristic in mapping gwas snps to genes is "it's usually the closest gene".
But only slightly less well-known is this: consider the colocalized phenotypes.
That is, a genetic variant seldom disrupts exactly one phenotype.
What else does tugging on that thread do?
But only slightly less well-known is this: consider the colocalized phenotypes.
That is, a genetic variant seldom disrupts exactly one phenotype.
What else does tugging on that thread do?
My favorite sign so far
April 5, 2025 at 4:24 PM
My favorite sign so far
Looks like something kind of bad happened at 4 pm on Wednesday
April 4, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Looks like something kind of bad happened at 4 pm on Wednesday
It seems like the start to an April Fools joke but it's not!
I'll be presenting at the BWH division of genetics SMGM seminar on April 1st!
bwhgenetics.org/event/smgm-e...
Looking forward to meeting folks there!
I'll be presenting at the BWH division of genetics SMGM seminar on April 1st!
bwhgenetics.org/event/smgm-e...
Looking forward to meeting folks there!
March 28, 2025 at 3:12 PM
It seems like the start to an April Fools joke but it's not!
I'll be presenting at the BWH division of genetics SMGM seminar on April 1st!
bwhgenetics.org/event/smgm-e...
Looking forward to meeting folks there!
I'll be presenting at the BWH division of genetics SMGM seminar on April 1st!
bwhgenetics.org/event/smgm-e...
Looking forward to meeting folks there!
Reposted by Eric Fauman (he/him)
March 25, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Reposted by Eric Fauman (he/him)
TODAY @ NOON ET in NYC:
COLUMBIA PROFESSORS TO HOLD EMERGENCY VIGIL AGAINST ADMIN CONCESSIONS TO TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.
Columbia gates at 116th & Amsterdam Ave (Not Broadway)
• Hands Off Our Students, Faculty, & Research
• Defend Science
• Defend Academic Freedom
• Defend Freedom of Speech
COLUMBIA PROFESSORS TO HOLD EMERGENCY VIGIL AGAINST ADMIN CONCESSIONS TO TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.
Columbia gates at 116th & Amsterdam Ave (Not Broadway)
• Hands Off Our Students, Faculty, & Research
• Defend Science
• Defend Academic Freedom
• Defend Freedom of Speech
March 24, 2025 at 12:30 PM
TODAY @ NOON ET in NYC:
COLUMBIA PROFESSORS TO HOLD EMERGENCY VIGIL AGAINST ADMIN CONCESSIONS TO TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.
Columbia gates at 116th & Amsterdam Ave (Not Broadway)
• Hands Off Our Students, Faculty, & Research
• Defend Science
• Defend Academic Freedom
• Defend Freedom of Speech
COLUMBIA PROFESSORS TO HOLD EMERGENCY VIGIL AGAINST ADMIN CONCESSIONS TO TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.
Columbia gates at 116th & Amsterdam Ave (Not Broadway)
• Hands Off Our Students, Faculty, & Research
• Defend Science
• Defend Academic Freedom
• Defend Freedom of Speech
Reposted by Eric Fauman (he/him)
Imagine being in charge of a university and believing it was clever and strategic to sacrifice all your values, only to be tricked by the dumbest and most dishonest president in history.
Now, Columbia leadership look like idiots and I don’t know how they regain the trust of their students and employees.
The first university to stand up and refuse to negotiate with him and find a way to protect their community will be heroes.
The first university to stand up and refuse to negotiate with him and find a way to protect their community will be heroes.
March 23, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Imagine being in charge of a university and believing it was clever and strategic to sacrifice all your values, only to be tricked by the dumbest and most dishonest president in history.
Another interesting paper from my morning feed
FLT1 and other candidate fetal haemoglobin modifying loci in sickle cell disease in African ancestries
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Also finds BCL11A and MYB
FLT1 and other candidate fetal haemoglobin modifying loci in sickle cell disease in African ancestries
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Also finds BCL11A and MYB
FLT1 and other candidate fetal haemoglobin modifying loci in sickle cell disease in African ancestries - Nature Communications
Here, the authors perform a genome-wide association study of fetal haemoglobin (HbF) levels in Africans with sickle cell disease replicating known loci, identifing 14 candidate loci, and highlighting FLT1’s role in hypoxia-associated HbF induction.
www.nature.com
March 23, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Another interesting paper from my morning feed
FLT1 and other candidate fetal haemoglobin modifying loci in sickle cell disease in African ancestries
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Also finds BCL11A and MYB
FLT1 and other candidate fetal haemoglobin modifying loci in sickle cell disease in African ancestries
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Also finds BCL11A and MYB
From my recommended articles feed this morning:
MetQTLs in pigs identifies many of the same genes as in humans
Merging metabolomics and genomics provides a catalog of genetic factors that influence molecular phenotypes in pigs linking relevant metabolic pathways
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
MetQTLs in pigs identifies many of the same genes as in humans
Merging metabolomics and genomics provides a catalog of genetic factors that influence molecular phenotypes in pigs linking relevant metabolic pathways
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Merging metabolomics and genomics provides a catalog of genetic factors that influence molecular phenotypes in pigs linking relevant metabolic pathways - Genetics Selection Evolution
Background Metabolomics opens novel avenues to study the basic biological mechanisms underlying complex traits, starting from characterization of metabolites. Metabolites and their levels in a bioflui...
link.springer.com
March 23, 2025 at 12:42 PM
From my recommended articles feed this morning:
MetQTLs in pigs identifies many of the same genes as in humans
Merging metabolomics and genomics provides a catalog of genetic factors that influence molecular phenotypes in pigs linking relevant metabolic pathways
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
MetQTLs in pigs identifies many of the same genes as in humans
Merging metabolomics and genomics provides a catalog of genetic factors that influence molecular phenotypes in pigs linking relevant metabolic pathways
link.springer.com/article/10.1...