Nina J. Gao
@biologistnina.bsky.social
microbiologist 🦠🧫 in public health | she/her | Ph.D., PHM, D(ABMM) | Opinions are my own
Reposted by Nina J. Gao
I became a biologist because of a museum exhibit. Real artifacts tell stories that are more powerful than anything we can get from scrolling.
They are part of our engine for training the next generation of scientists. 🧪
scienceforeveryone.science/the-awesomen...
They are part of our engine for training the next generation of scientists. 🧪
scienceforeveryone.science/the-awesomen...
The awesomeness of museums
Genuine artifacts tell the richest stories that fill our souls. And they fuel the scientific enterprise.
scienceforeveryone.science
September 28, 2026 at 12:05 PM
I became a biologist because of a museum exhibit. Real artifacts tell stories that are more powerful than anything we can get from scrolling.
They are part of our engine for training the next generation of scientists. 🧪
scienceforeveryone.science/the-awesomen...
They are part of our engine for training the next generation of scientists. 🧪
scienceforeveryone.science/the-awesomen...
Reposted by Nina J. Gao
Once symptoms of rabies set in, it is fatal.
But, rabies deaths are preventable. And every minute matters.
Here's what you need to know.
But, rabies deaths are preventable. And every minute matters.
Here's what you need to know.
September 29, 2026 at 1:30 PM
Once symptoms of rabies set in, it is fatal.
But, rabies deaths are preventable. And every minute matters.
Here's what you need to know.
But, rabies deaths are preventable. And every minute matters.
Here's what you need to know.
Reposted by Nina J. Gao
“Hillsborough county authorities have expressed optimism that dengue infections might slow down in the coming weeks, with zero “mosquito test pools” testing positive recently” www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Dengue fever outbreak prompts Florida counties to declare state of emergency
CDC says 392 cases of Dengue were reported for the year so far in the state, along with different county-level data
www.theguardian.com
September 29, 2026 at 1:52 PM
“Hillsborough county authorities have expressed optimism that dengue infections might slow down in the coming weeks, with zero “mosquito test pools” testing positive recently” www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Reposted by Nina J. Gao
Join ASM and APHL tomorrow, Sept. 30 at 2 p.m. ET to learn how to relocate laboratories with biological safety requirements, particularly BSL-2 and BSL-3 facilities, presents unique regulatory and validation challenges.
Register for free: asm.social/36G
#ASMClinMicro
Register for free: asm.social/36G
#ASMClinMicro
Moving BSL-2/3 Labs (An ASM-APHL Webinar)
This webinar will explore best practices for planning and executing laboratory moves while maintaining biosafety, containment integrity and compliance.
asm.social
September 29, 2026 at 2:09 PM
Join ASM and APHL tomorrow, Sept. 30 at 2 p.m. ET to learn how to relocate laboratories with biological safety requirements, particularly BSL-2 and BSL-3 facilities, presents unique regulatory and validation challenges.
Register for free: asm.social/36G
#ASMClinMicro
Register for free: asm.social/36G
#ASMClinMicro
Reposted by Nina J. Gao
There is not a shred of evidence that she will follow science; every indication that she will loyally follow Trump no matter what lies he spouts.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/childhood-va...
www.cidrap.umn.edu/childhood-va...
Public health advocates express concern about nominee to lead the FDA
www.cidrap.umn.edu
September 25, 2026 at 11:18 PM
There is not a shred of evidence that she will follow science; every indication that she will loyally follow Trump no matter what lies he spouts.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/childhood-va...
www.cidrap.umn.edu/childhood-va...
Reposted by Nina J. Gao
I’ve been reporting on the CDC for years, and have written about many of its troubles over the past year. I was still shocked by the extent of the staff losses and political interference I found when reporting this one.
www.nytimes.com/2026/09/26/h...
www.nytimes.com/2026/09/26/h...
‘Zombified’ C.D.C., Hobbled by Cuts, Struggles to Fulfill Scientific Mission (Gift Article)
The agency has lost its independence and nearly a third of its staff, as Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and associates have tightened control.
www.nytimes.com
September 26, 2026 at 1:15 PM
I’ve been reporting on the CDC for years, and have written about many of its troubles over the past year. I was still shocked by the extent of the staff losses and political interference I found when reporting this one.
www.nytimes.com/2026/09/26/h...
www.nytimes.com/2026/09/26/h...
Reposted by Nina J. Gao
Calling all microbiologists of the PNW! Please join us at this year's ASM Northwest Branch Meeting in Moscow, ID over 10/31-11/1. @drpaulrowley.bsky.social has put together a fantastic schedule - you won't want to miss it! See our website for details: www.nwasm.org
Spread the news!
Spread the news!
American Society for Microbiology | Northwest Branch
Welcome to the NW ASM Branch Meeting website serving professionals in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana.
www.nwasm.org
September 26, 2026 at 10:58 PM
Calling all microbiologists of the PNW! Please join us at this year's ASM Northwest Branch Meeting in Moscow, ID over 10/31-11/1. @drpaulrowley.bsky.social has put together a fantastic schedule - you won't want to miss it! See our website for details: www.nwasm.org
Spread the news!
Spread the news!
Reposted by Nina J. Gao
Local, state public health officials overwhelmingly faced serious backlash during pandemic, report reveals www.cidrap.umn.edu/public-healt... via @missmeghanmack.bsky.social @cidrap.bsky.social
Local, state public health officials overwhelmingly faced serious backlash during pandemic, report reveals
www.cidrap.umn.edu
September 27, 2026 at 1:41 AM
Local, state public health officials overwhelmingly faced serious backlash during pandemic, report reveals www.cidrap.umn.edu/public-healt... via @missmeghanmack.bsky.social @cidrap.bsky.social
Reposted by Nina J. Gao
Join us Sept. 24 at 12 p.m. ET to discuss the 2026 Cyclospora outbreak. We will examine the partnership between clinical and public health laboratories during outbreak response, including surveillance investigations.
Register for free: asm.social/368
#ASMClinMicro
Register for free: asm.social/368
#ASMClinMicro
ASM-CDC Cyclospora Webinar
The session will also discuss emerging diagnostic technologies, diagnostic stewardship considerations and lessons learned that can help laboratories prepare for and respond to future outbreaks.
asm.social
September 23, 2026 at 4:42 PM
Join us Sept. 24 at 12 p.m. ET to discuss the 2026 Cyclospora outbreak. We will examine the partnership between clinical and public health laboratories during outbreak response, including surveillance investigations.
Register for free: asm.social/368
#ASMClinMicro
Register for free: asm.social/368
#ASMClinMicro
Reposted by Nina J. Gao
Goooood morning!
The 2026 Snail Facts Calendars are OUT! We've got 24 days of scratchable snail fact goodness, designed by Philly artist Kelly Nichols!
Advent calendars are cute as hell, a delightful tradition, and keep @skypeascientist.bsky.social funded!
Get one at SquidFacts.net
Pls repost ❤️
The 2026 Snail Facts Calendars are OUT! We've got 24 days of scratchable snail fact goodness, designed by Philly artist Kelly Nichols!
Advent calendars are cute as hell, a delightful tradition, and keep @skypeascientist.bsky.social funded!
Get one at SquidFacts.net
Pls repost ❤️
August 21, 2026 at 1:51 PM
Goooood morning!
The 2026 Snail Facts Calendars are OUT! We've got 24 days of scratchable snail fact goodness, designed by Philly artist Kelly Nichols!
Advent calendars are cute as hell, a delightful tradition, and keep @skypeascientist.bsky.social funded!
Get one at SquidFacts.net
Pls repost ❤️
The 2026 Snail Facts Calendars are OUT! We've got 24 days of scratchable snail fact goodness, designed by Philly artist Kelly Nichols!
Advent calendars are cute as hell, a delightful tradition, and keep @skypeascientist.bsky.social funded!
Get one at SquidFacts.net
Pls repost ❤️
Reposted by Nina J. Gao
Attention Philadelphia!
We need your help saving the Academy of Natural Sciences!
The Save the Academy Coalition needs volunteers to help hand out organizing flyers in front of the museum this weekend, Sept 25-27.
Please sign up here if you can take a shift! docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
We need your help saving the Academy of Natural Sciences!
The Save the Academy Coalition needs volunteers to help hand out organizing flyers in front of the museum this weekend, Sept 25-27.
Please sign up here if you can take a shift! docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Help Save the Academy: Volunteer to talk with visitors and hand out flyers at the Academy.
Sign up for a shift outside the Academy of Natural Sciences during its last open days: Fridays to Sundays, Sept 18 to 20 and 25 to 27, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Volunteers will be on the ground outside the Ac...
docs.google.com
September 20, 2026 at 2:01 PM
Attention Philadelphia!
We need your help saving the Academy of Natural Sciences!
The Save the Academy Coalition needs volunteers to help hand out organizing flyers in front of the museum this weekend, Sept 25-27.
Please sign up here if you can take a shift! docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
We need your help saving the Academy of Natural Sciences!
The Save the Academy Coalition needs volunteers to help hand out organizing flyers in front of the museum this weekend, Sept 25-27.
Please sign up here if you can take a shift! docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Reposted by Nina J. Gao
Hear from IDSA, the Vaccine Integrity Project, and representatives from @ama-assn.org, @aafp.org, AAPA and @acog.org next Wed. Sept. 23 at 12pm ET for a free webinar highlighting this season’s respiratory virus immunization recommendations.
Register: https://bit.ly/4dFZjrb
Register: https://bit.ly/4dFZjrb
September 16, 2026 at 11:48 PM
Hear from IDSA, the Vaccine Integrity Project, and representatives from @ama-assn.org, @aafp.org, AAPA and @acog.org next Wed. Sept. 23 at 12pm ET for a free webinar highlighting this season’s respiratory virus immunization recommendations.
Register: https://bit.ly/4dFZjrb
Register: https://bit.ly/4dFZjrb
Reposted by Nina J. Gao
Briefly popping my head back in to unveil the cover of my upcoming book, LIFE BEYOND MEASURE: Nature's Hidden Wonders at Every Scale. It’ll be out on April 6 in the U.S. and April 29 in the U.K. and you can pre-order it right now! www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/757705... 1/
September 16, 2026 at 11:21 PM
Briefly popping my head back in to unveil the cover of my upcoming book, LIFE BEYOND MEASURE: Nature's Hidden Wonders at Every Scale. It’ll be out on April 6 in the U.S. and April 29 in the U.K. and you can pre-order it right now! www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/757705... 1/
CDC recently released a HAN on nation-wide increase in rabies exposure and therefore post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP): www.cdc.gov/han/php/noti...
This piece is poignant: even if you can get the vaccine in a timely manner, there are cost$
This piece is poignant: even if you can get the vaccine in a timely manner, there are cost$
September 17, 2026 at 4:56 AM
CDC recently released a HAN on nation-wide increase in rabies exposure and therefore post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP): www.cdc.gov/han/php/noti...
This piece is poignant: even if you can get the vaccine in a timely manner, there are cost$
This piece is poignant: even if you can get the vaccine in a timely manner, there are cost$
Reposted by Nina J. Gao
September 12, 2026 at 3:19 PM
Hell.
An agreement paves the way for hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of projects to be transferred from the NIH’s institute for infectious diseases to the Department of Defense.
go.nature.com/4ycEbk8
go.nature.com/4ycEbk8
Revealed: inside the US military's plan to tap huge sums from the NIH
An agreement paves the way for hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of projects to be transferred from the NIH’s institute for infectious diseases to the Department of Defence.
go.nature.com
September 6, 2026 at 5:17 AM
Hell.
Reposted by Nina J. Gao
The cyclospora outbreak has reached 13,895 cases across 47 states.
The FDA has recalled 1.6 million eggs due to salmonella contamination.
Screwworm cases continue to rise.
And we’ve just surpassed 2,500 measles cases — breaking 2025’s record.
“Make America Healthy Again.”
The FDA has recalled 1.6 million eggs due to salmonella contamination.
Screwworm cases continue to rise.
And we’ve just surpassed 2,500 measles cases — breaking 2025’s record.
“Make America Healthy Again.”
August 15, 2026 at 11:00 PM
The cyclospora outbreak has reached 13,895 cases across 47 states.
The FDA has recalled 1.6 million eggs due to salmonella contamination.
Screwworm cases continue to rise.
And we’ve just surpassed 2,500 measles cases — breaking 2025’s record.
“Make America Healthy Again.”
The FDA has recalled 1.6 million eggs due to salmonella contamination.
Screwworm cases continue to rise.
And we’ve just surpassed 2,500 measles cases — breaking 2025’s record.
“Make America Healthy Again.”
Reposted by Nina J. Gao
ASV stands in support of Dr. Tony Fauci and his long career advancing the health of Americans and protecting them from the worst infectious diseases.
August 6, 2026 at 12:24 AM
ASV stands in support of Dr. Tony Fauci and his long career advancing the health of Americans and protecting them from the worst infectious diseases.
Reposted by Nina J. Gao
"I hope we learn from COVID-19 (..) how we balance different values. Public health has a (..) priority on saving and protecting lives. But there are other values that are also important. (..) how we balance all those different values?" @npr.org @ayesharascoe.bsky.social www.npr.org/2026/08/02/n...
Trust in public health institutions is eroding. What can officials do?
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe discusses America's declining trust in public health officials with Marianne Udow-Phillips, a lecturer at the School of Public Health at the University of Michigan.
www.npr.org
August 2, 2026 at 3:43 PM
"I hope we learn from COVID-19 (..) how we balance different values. Public health has a (..) priority on saving and protecting lives. But there are other values that are also important. (..) how we balance all those different values?" @npr.org @ayesharascoe.bsky.social www.npr.org/2026/08/02/n...
Reposted by Nina J. Gao
This is the latest one that I can't believe doesn't have legs.
They listed all the grants by whether the states they were in went for Harris or Trump and whether they had at least one republican Senator. All grants in Harris states w/o a republican Senator were canceled.
They listed all the grants by whether the states they were in went for Harris or Trump and whether they had at least one republican Senator. All grants in Harris states w/o a republican Senator were canceled.
Trump Administration Admits Canceling Grants to States That Did Not Vote for Him (Gift Article)
Federal officials said in court documents that they halted billions of dollars in funding for energy projects to states “based solely” on whether they backed President Trump in the 2024 election.
www.nytimes.com
July 25, 2026 at 6:46 PM
This is the latest one that I can't believe doesn't have legs.
They listed all the grants by whether the states they were in went for Harris or Trump and whether they had at least one republican Senator. All grants in Harris states w/o a republican Senator were canceled.
They listed all the grants by whether the states they were in went for Harris or Trump and whether they had at least one republican Senator. All grants in Harris states w/o a republican Senator were canceled.
Reposted by Nina J. Gao
Autopsies show how hard doctors tried to save babies who died after not getting a vitamin K shot: tubes inserted in their airways, blood transfusions.
They’re excruciating to read because they underscore how preventable these deaths could have been.
(Published May)
They’re excruciating to read because they underscore how preventable these deaths could have been.
(Published May)
What I Can’t Forget About the Babies Who Died After Not Receiving a Vitamin K Shot
Babies have died after not receiving the vitamin K shot at birth. Their autopsy records underscore how preventable their deaths could have been.
www.propublica.org
July 23, 2026 at 12:08 AM
Autopsies show how hard doctors tried to save babies who died after not getting a vitamin K shot: tubes inserted in their airways, blood transfusions.
They’re excruciating to read because they underscore how preventable these deaths could have been.
(Published May)
They’re excruciating to read because they underscore how preventable these deaths could have been.
(Published May)
👀
A new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll finds a record low share of Americans approve of President Trump's job performance and his handling of the economy heading into the summer before a key midterm election.
Poll: Most Americans have the summer blues about Trump and the economy
A new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll finds a record low share of Americans approve of President Trump's job performance and his handling of the economy heading into the summer before a key midterm election.
n.pr
June 21, 2026 at 2:11 PM
👀
Reposted by Nina J. Gao
NEW: Regulators have linked Mark McAfee’s raw dairy farm to more than a dozen recalls and outbreaks that left hundreds of people ill.
“I’ve put a couple kids in the hospital,” McAfee said. “But here’s the thing: I’m a pioneer.”
“I’ve put a couple kids in the hospital,” McAfee said. “But here’s the thing: I’m a pioneer.”
He Profits Off Raw Milk That's Making People Sick. The Government Isn't Stopping Him.
With Raw Farm, the largest raw-milk dairy in the country, Mark McAfee has capitalized on a once-fringe product that's been thrust into the mainstream in recent years and backed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
www.propublica.org
June 9, 2026 at 12:00 PM
NEW: Regulators have linked Mark McAfee’s raw dairy farm to more than a dozen recalls and outbreaks that left hundreds of people ill.
“I’ve put a couple kids in the hospital,” McAfee said. “But here’s the thing: I’m a pioneer.”
“I’ve put a couple kids in the hospital,” McAfee said. “But here’s the thing: I’m a pioneer.”
Reposted by Nina J. Gao
Tetanus is making a comeback. The U.S. just recorded its highest annual death rate in two decades. Experts attribute this 'comeback' to declining vaccination rates and warn that cases could rise further, by @meryldl.bsky.social www.nationalgeographic.com/health/artic...
Tetanus is making a comeback. There’s an easy way to fight back.
It's easy to dismiss, but more Americans died from tetanus last year than any year in nearly two decades.
www.nationalgeographic.com
June 9, 2026 at 11:41 PM
Tetanus is making a comeback. The U.S. just recorded its highest annual death rate in two decades. Experts attribute this 'comeback' to declining vaccination rates and warn that cases could rise further, by @meryldl.bsky.social www.nationalgeographic.com/health/artic...
Reposted by Nina J. Gao
🚨🦐🚨🦐🚨🦐🚨
This is a Shrimp ALERT
🚨🦐🚨🦐🚨🦐🚨
Anyone who buys a shirt in the final day of our pre-sale gets entered to win a shrimp plate, handmade by the shrimp artist The 666 Cat!
These shirts fund science education in Philly & are cool as hell.
It's last call for shrimp!
Get one at SquidFacts.net
This is a Shrimp ALERT
🚨🦐🚨🦐🚨🦐🚨
Anyone who buys a shirt in the final day of our pre-sale gets entered to win a shrimp plate, handmade by the shrimp artist The 666 Cat!
These shirts fund science education in Philly & are cool as hell.
It's last call for shrimp!
Get one at SquidFacts.net
June 5, 2026 at 1:44 PM
🚨🦐🚨🦐🚨🦐🚨
This is a Shrimp ALERT
🚨🦐🚨🦐🚨🦐🚨
Anyone who buys a shirt in the final day of our pre-sale gets entered to win a shrimp plate, handmade by the shrimp artist The 666 Cat!
These shirts fund science education in Philly & are cool as hell.
It's last call for shrimp!
Get one at SquidFacts.net
This is a Shrimp ALERT
🚨🦐🚨🦐🚨🦐🚨
Anyone who buys a shirt in the final day of our pre-sale gets entered to win a shrimp plate, handmade by the shrimp artist The 666 Cat!
These shirts fund science education in Philly & are cool as hell.
It's last call for shrimp!
Get one at SquidFacts.net