u/GoldStandardNIHilism

For those just passing through here - the idea of Councils is every dollar NIH spends has to be made public and with a chance for independent outside review (that halcyon transparency you may remember from the before times).

To be fair Council members, experts of high standing scientifically, historically went with the flow but that was because funding was based on science, merit, SCORES.

But this is a new age time to put up or shut-up. I would love to see some activism. But will we?

Basically ICE can do whatever they want with full-on Balaclava MASKS.

But Bethesda area grocery store clerks trying to protect customers and themselves as we head into Fall cold/flu season by wearing an N95 mask need total medical documentation or will be fired.

Open context question just share your “tells”

Why is this not bigger news? It’s all ballroom and Fauci.

No, I am serious, it is overdue. We are in an abusive relationship and by showing up every gd day like it’s nothing it will only get worse. Who can ignore: those caring for patients, intramural, visiting scholars. The rest of us need to join together and send the message.

If you ever worked for him at Sonus, Salutar, Atossa or anywhere else, what’s your take on him?

I don’t mind: Lack of expertise in infectious disease (ok, I know but look where that got the last guy) Industry background (good actually! If his closet has no skeletons, most like him do) The fact that he hawks his books as a side hustle (why the hustle just let amazon do the job) That he has alternative omic-origin theories (well refuted by experts but fine, believe what you want, 1st amendment gives us the right)

What bugs me is: He didn’t make this on merit, he was a back door “Jay and wish-he’d-be silent Bob” pick. Please post the pictures that we all know exist of these guys schmoozing it up at Heritage sponsored retreats for the vaccine deniers as someone in the NIH OD shreds the trove of qualified candidates

U

“The bill also temporarily blocks the White House from making changes to the grant-approving process.”

The

Every month my IC gets FOIA requests and DOES respond. There is a several month window to respond and they use every second of it but it’s still the law. You might not get the satisfaction you want but you will get something and these get high level attention. Search FOIA and NIH for guidance on making a FOIA request.

Every week my IC gets a letter from a congressperson representing an institute in their state to ask where is the funding, why has this non-competing award been in limbo for several months. The replies are pro forma but they generally involve a lot of people on the cc-line. So reach out to you representatives, it does work.

More recently there have been internal calls for specific examples of the chaos and destruction wrought by all that is happening. They want more late pipeline stuff like clinical trials impacted but by all means share setbacks at earlier stages or widespread layoffs due to delays, shuttering of core facilities etc - write it up and send it unsolicited to your PO, your local paper, your elected reps, tell everyone you can don’t just suffer in silence or vent to Reddit.

If others on the inside have suggestions for those on the outside please add to this.

Still a representative democracy with some rule of law - use it or lose it.

But