Ben Varco-Merth
@varcomerth.bsky.social
Scientist at OHSU. HIV persistence and pre-clinical therapies, T cell immunology, immunotherapy, CAR-T, therapeutic vaccination and more.
Here is a link to Rebecca Denison’s CROI 2025 Martin Delaney presentation “40+ Years of HIV: What’s Changed, What Hasn’t, What Shouldn’t, What Must”
youtu.be/UOW2hF2fBqI?...
youtu.be/UOW2hF2fBqI?...
March 11, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Here is a link to Rebecca Denison’s CROI 2025 Martin Delaney presentation “40+ Years of HIV: What’s Changed, What Hasn’t, What Shouldn’t, What Must”
youtu.be/UOW2hF2fBqI?...
youtu.be/UOW2hF2fBqI?...
Reposted by Ben Varco-Merth
CROI chair Prof Havlir reaffirm the commitment of CROI to support scientific gatherings with free exchange of ideas, and condemns the censoring of science.
She also highlights the response to US federal policy changes.
#CROI2025
She also highlights the response to US federal policy changes.
#CROI2025
March 10, 2025 at 12:12 AM
CROI chair Prof Havlir reaffirm the commitment of CROI to support scientific gatherings with free exchange of ideas, and condemns the censoring of science.
She also highlights the response to US federal policy changes.
#CROI2025
She also highlights the response to US federal policy changes.
#CROI2025
Reposted by Ben Varco-Merth
House cuts to NIH (to fund billionaires) would cut the Cures Act (passed with bipartisan support) by ~$300 million or 70%. Scientific loss includes cancer research, adult stem cell research, brain/dementia research, and a critical data collection project to study rare diseases, among other topics.
March 9, 2025 at 4:34 PM
House cuts to NIH (to fund billionaires) would cut the Cures Act (passed with bipartisan support) by ~$300 million or 70%. Scientific loss includes cancer research, adult stem cell research, brain/dementia research, and a critical data collection project to study rare diseases, among other topics.
Reposted by Ben Varco-Merth
A powerful talk by Rebecca Denison, founder of WORLD and woman living with HIV.
We can't go back to the days without treatment access.
Silence is death.
And courage is a decision.
The hall erupted in a standing ovation.
#CROI2025
We can't go back to the days without treatment access.
Silence is death.
And courage is a decision.
The hall erupted in a standing ovation.
#CROI2025
March 10, 2025 at 1:36 AM
A powerful talk by Rebecca Denison, founder of WORLD and woman living with HIV.
We can't go back to the days without treatment access.
Silence is death.
And courage is a decision.
The hall erupted in a standing ovation.
#CROI2025
We can't go back to the days without treatment access.
Silence is death.
And courage is a decision.
The hall erupted in a standing ovation.
#CROI2025
Reposted by Ben Varco-Merth
99% of new medicines developed by the pharmaceutical industry depend on NIH research jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Comparison of Research Spending on New Drug Approvals by the NIH vs the Pharmaceutical Industry
This cross-sectional study examines National Institutes of Health and pharmaceutical industry investments in recent drug approvals.
jamanetwork.com
March 10, 2025 at 2:15 PM
99% of new medicines developed by the pharmaceutical industry depend on NIH research jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Very moved by CROI 2025 Martin Delaney lecturer Rebecca Denison, who reminds us of the importance of the HIV community in advocating for science, which has enabled so many fundamental discoveries about human health and disease.
March 10, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Very moved by CROI 2025 Martin Delaney lecturer Rebecca Denison, who reminds us of the importance of the HIV community in advocating for science, which has enabled so many fundamental discoveries about human health and disease.
Reposted by Ben Varco-Merth
Rubio terminated 5800 USAID contracts – more than 90% of its foreign aid programs – in defiance of the courts.
Here’s a list of just some of the lifesaving awards that were terminated. Nearly all were Congressionally mandated. They’ve saved millions of lives. 🧵
Here’s a list of just some of the lifesaving awards that were terminated. Nearly all were Congressionally mandated. They’ve saved millions of lives. 🧵
February 27, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Rubio terminated 5800 USAID contracts – more than 90% of its foreign aid programs – in defiance of the courts.
Here’s a list of just some of the lifesaving awards that were terminated. Nearly all were Congressionally mandated. They’ve saved millions of lives. 🧵
Here’s a list of just some of the lifesaving awards that were terminated. Nearly all were Congressionally mandated. They’ve saved millions of lives. 🧵
Reposted by Ben Varco-Merth
The inevitable cost. Not only people eventually dying of HIV-associated diseases, but that along the way there will be a massive explosion in antiretroviral drug resistance as some of those living with HIV skip doses to help out friends.
In South Africa, Samkelo shared his last HIV/AIDS medications with his friend. Trump's cuts to #PEPFAR could kill both of them. A salute to the @financialtimes.com for this searing report. @brandonwolf.bsky.social @gregggonsalves.bsky.social @ambdanfoote.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/533b...
February 27, 2025 at 6:57 PM
The inevitable cost. Not only people eventually dying of HIV-associated diseases, but that along the way there will be a massive explosion in antiretroviral drug resistance as some of those living with HIV skip doses to help out friends.
Excited to present our work “AZD5582 inhibits vaccine-elicited CD8+ T cell responses in SIV+ RM on ART” at CROI 2025 (Poster 0530)
March 8, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Excited to present our work “AZD5582 inhibits vaccine-elicited CD8+ T cell responses in SIV+ RM on ART” at CROI 2025 (Poster 0530)
Reposted by Ben Varco-Merth
While the risk of human-to-human transmission is still low, the pervasive reservoirs and appearance of new, concerning mutations or those identified as a threat science.org/doi/10.1126/...
demand a very high level of vigilance and preparedness
demand a very high level of vigilance and preparedness
A single mutation in bovine influenza H5N1 hemagglutinin switches specificity to human receptors
In 2024, several human infections with highly pathogenic clade 2.3.4.4b bovine influenza H5N1 viruses in the United States raised concerns about their capability for bovine-to-human or even human-to-h...
science.org
December 31, 2024 at 11:44 PM
While the risk of human-to-human transmission is still low, the pervasive reservoirs and appearance of new, concerning mutations or those identified as a threat science.org/doi/10.1126/...
demand a very high level of vigilance and preparedness
demand a very high level of vigilance and preparedness
Reposted by Ben Varco-Merth
Potential of a blood test to determine how long a vaccine-induced antibody protection will last, via a platelet signature
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
January 2, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Potential of a blood test to determine how long a vaccine-induced antibody protection will last, via a platelet signature
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Ben Varco-Merth
How are durable antibody-responses to vaccines induced? News & Views paper discussing excellent new work by Cortese et al in Nature Immunology: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Megakaryocytes promote long-lived plasmablasts via direct and indirect interactions. #ImmSky #HumanImmunology
Megakaryocytes promote long-lived plasmablasts via direct and indirect interactions. #ImmSky #HumanImmunology
January 2, 2025 at 5:27 PM
How are durable antibody-responses to vaccines induced? News & Views paper discussing excellent new work by Cortese et al in Nature Immunology: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Megakaryocytes promote long-lived plasmablasts via direct and indirect interactions. #ImmSky #HumanImmunology
Megakaryocytes promote long-lived plasmablasts via direct and indirect interactions. #ImmSky #HumanImmunology
Reposted by Ben Varco-Merth
Science’s 2024 Breakthrough of the Year is lenacapavir, an injectable drug that demonstrated remarkable success at preventing HIV infection with one shot every 6 months.
Learn more about this year's #BOTY and other big advances in science: scim.ag/3BrCtUn
Learn more about this year's #BOTY and other big advances in science: scim.ag/3BrCtUn
December 12, 2024 at 7:02 PM
Science’s 2024 Breakthrough of the Year is lenacapavir, an injectable drug that demonstrated remarkable success at preventing HIV infection with one shot every 6 months.
Learn more about this year's #BOTY and other big advances in science: scim.ag/3BrCtUn
Learn more about this year's #BOTY and other big advances in science: scim.ag/3BrCtUn
Reposted by Ben Varco-Merth
Nutrient-driven histone code determines exhausted CD8+ T cell fates
ACLY-deficient CAR T cells targeting the tumor-associated antigen disialogangliosi
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
ACLY-deficient CAR T cells targeting the tumor-associated antigen disialogangliosi
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Nutrient-driven histone code determines exhausted CD8+ T cell fates
ACLY-deficient CAR T cells targeting the tumor-associated antigen disialoganglioside GD2 (GD2 CAR T cells) also resisted acquiring TEX-like properties, exhibiting reduced CD39 expression when co-cultu...
www.science.org
December 12, 2024 at 7:14 PM
Nutrient-driven histone code determines exhausted CD8+ T cell fates
ACLY-deficient CAR T cells targeting the tumor-associated antigen disialogangliosi
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
ACLY-deficient CAR T cells targeting the tumor-associated antigen disialogangliosi
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Ben Varco-Merth
December 7, 2024 at 1:05 AM
Reposted by Ben Varco-Merth
Reminder for newcomers that bioRxiv has Bluesky accounts in every subject category - great way to keep up (please re-skeet) connect.biorxiv.org/news/2023/09...
bioRxiv expands on Mastodon and Bluesky
bioRxiv - the preprint server for biology, operated by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, a research and educational institution
connect.biorxiv.org
November 10, 2024 at 1:40 PM
Reminder for newcomers that bioRxiv has Bluesky accounts in every subject category - great way to keep up (please re-skeet) connect.biorxiv.org/news/2023/09...
Reposted by Ben Varco-Merth
The raw milk that tested positive for bird flu is from Raw Farm LLC in Fresno. Here's what Raw Farm has posted on IG.
It would be nice to know how long the viruses survive in raw milk. It would be nice to do more than hope that people aren't infected.
It would be nice to know how long the viruses survive in raw milk. It would be nice to do more than hope that people aren't infected.
November 25, 2024 at 7:13 PM
The raw milk that tested positive for bird flu is from Raw Farm LLC in Fresno. Here's what Raw Farm has posted on IG.
It would be nice to know how long the viruses survive in raw milk. It would be nice to do more than hope that people aren't infected.
It would be nice to know how long the viruses survive in raw milk. It would be nice to do more than hope that people aren't infected.
Reposted by Ben Varco-Merth
REVIEW: Next-generation combination approaches for immune checkpoint therapy
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
@pamsharmamdphd.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
@pamsharmamdphd.bsky.social
November 25, 2024 at 7:31 PM
REVIEW: Next-generation combination approaches for immune checkpoint therapy
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
@pamsharmamdphd.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
@pamsharmamdphd.bsky.social
Reposted by Ben Varco-Merth
Nutrient control of growth and metabolism through mTORC1 regulation of mRNA splicing 🧪
www.cell.com/molecular-ce...
www.cell.com/molecular-ce...
Nutrient control of growth and metabolism through mTORC1 regulation of mRNA splicing
Ogawa et al. show in Caenorhabditis elegans that the essential growth regulator mTORC1
extensively reprograms gene expression and alternative mRNA splicing. This splicing
regulation is critical for gr...
www.cell.com
November 21, 2024 at 1:54 PM
Nutrient control of growth and metabolism through mTORC1 regulation of mRNA splicing 🧪
www.cell.com/molecular-ce...
www.cell.com/molecular-ce...
Reposted by Ben Varco-Merth
Couldn't wish for a better BlueSky debut post:
Our spatial atlas of the developing thymus is now published in Nature! 🥳
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Also check out the other papers in the new Human Cell Atlas collection: www.nature.com/collections/...
#singlecell #spatial #multiomics
Our spatial atlas of the developing thymus is now published in Nature! 🥳
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Also check out the other papers in the new Human Cell Atlas collection: www.nature.com/collections/...
#singlecell #spatial #multiomics
A spatial human thymus cell atlas mapped to a continuous tissue axis - Nature
A quantitative morphological framework for the human thymus reveals the establishment of the lobular cytokine network, canonical thymocyte trajectories and thymic epithelial cell distributions in...
www.nature.com
November 21, 2024 at 9:00 PM
Couldn't wish for a better BlueSky debut post:
Our spatial atlas of the developing thymus is now published in Nature! 🥳
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Also check out the other papers in the new Human Cell Atlas collection: www.nature.com/collections/...
#singlecell #spatial #multiomics
Our spatial atlas of the developing thymus is now published in Nature! 🥳
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Also check out the other papers in the new Human Cell Atlas collection: www.nature.com/collections/...
#singlecell #spatial #multiomics
Reposted by Ben Varco-Merth
Single-cell atlas of the human immune system reveals sex-specific dynamics of immunosenescence, including a female-specific cytotoxic CD8+ T cell subpopulation @martamele.bsky.social @mariasopenar.bsky.social
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
November 19, 2024 at 5:04 PM
Single-cell atlas of the human immune system reveals sex-specific dynamics of immunosenescence, including a female-specific cytotoxic CD8+ T cell subpopulation @martamele.bsky.social @mariasopenar.bsky.social
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Reposted by Ben Varco-Merth
Opinion: The immune–endocrine interplay in sex differential responses to viral infection and COVID-19
www.cell.com/trends/immun...
www.cell.com/trends/immun...
November 19, 2024 at 5:29 PM
Opinion: The immune–endocrine interplay in sex differential responses to viral infection and COVID-19
www.cell.com/trends/immun...
www.cell.com/trends/immun...
Reposted by Ben Varco-Merth
Check out our updated database of 189 PhD fellowships and funding opportunities.
For each fellowship, we provide a description, $ amount, deadline, link to funder and eligibility criteria (such as citizenship).
Good luck!
Download freely here: research.jhu.edu/rdt/funding-...
For each fellowship, we provide a description, $ amount, deadline, link to funder and eligibility criteria (such as citizenship).
Good luck!
Download freely here: research.jhu.edu/rdt/funding-...
November 19, 2024 at 1:13 PM
Check out our updated database of 189 PhD fellowships and funding opportunities.
For each fellowship, we provide a description, $ amount, deadline, link to funder and eligibility criteria (such as citizenship).
Good luck!
Download freely here: research.jhu.edu/rdt/funding-...
For each fellowship, we provide a description, $ amount, deadline, link to funder and eligibility criteria (such as citizenship).
Good luck!
Download freely here: research.jhu.edu/rdt/funding-...
Reposted by Ben Varco-Merth
Joint Meeting of the Martin Delaney Collaboratories for #HIV Cure now broadcasting on NIH Videocast: videocast.nih.gov/livew.asp?li...
NIH VideoCast - Joint Meeting of the Martin Delaney Collaboratories for HIV Cure
videocast.nih.gov
November 18, 2024 at 5:45 PM
Joint Meeting of the Martin Delaney Collaboratories for #HIV Cure now broadcasting on NIH Videocast: videocast.nih.gov/livew.asp?li...
Reposted by Ben Varco-Merth
So nice to see more people joining Bluesky.
#HiSciSky, I’m a physician-scientist focused on airway diseases. My lab studies T cell responses to inhaled, non-infectious antigens, but I love all experimental biology.
For those interested in immunology, here’s a Starter Pack
go.bsky.app/PY5tCas
#HiSciSky, I’m a physician-scientist focused on airway diseases. My lab studies T cell responses to inhaled, non-infectious antigens, but I love all experimental biology.
For those interested in immunology, here’s a Starter Pack
go.bsky.app/PY5tCas
October 18, 2024 at 2:38 PM
So nice to see more people joining Bluesky.
#HiSciSky, I’m a physician-scientist focused on airway diseases. My lab studies T cell responses to inhaled, non-infectious antigens, but I love all experimental biology.
For those interested in immunology, here’s a Starter Pack
go.bsky.app/PY5tCas
#HiSciSky, I’m a physician-scientist focused on airway diseases. My lab studies T cell responses to inhaled, non-infectious antigens, but I love all experimental biology.
For those interested in immunology, here’s a Starter Pack
go.bsky.app/PY5tCas