For my fellow NIH funded scientists
The NIH announced the Unified Funding Strategy, where it seeks to hide impact scores & percentiles.
Funding decisions will not be transparent. We won't know if the decision was based on politics.
Comments are due by October 13.
🧪 www.faseb.org/journals-and...
The NIH announced the Unified Funding Strategy, where it seeks to hide impact scores & percentiles.
Funding decisions will not be transparent. We won't know if the decision was based on politics.
Comments are due by October 13.
🧪 www.faseb.org/journals-and...
FASEB Responds to NIH Proposed Changes to Reporting Peer Review Outcomes
FASEB submits comments to NIH on proposed changes to how outcomes from NIH peer review are reported.
www.faseb.org
October 11, 2026 at 4:31 PM
For my fellow NIH funded scientists
The NIH announced the Unified Funding Strategy, where it seeks to hide impact scores & percentiles.
Funding decisions will not be transparent. We won't know if the decision was based on politics.
Comments are due by October 13.
🧪 www.faseb.org/journals-and...
The NIH announced the Unified Funding Strategy, where it seeks to hide impact scores & percentiles.
Funding decisions will not be transparent. We won't know if the decision was based on politics.
Comments are due by October 13.
🧪 www.faseb.org/journals-and...
Many NIH staff object to what’s happening at NIH but don’t speak up because of fear.
@27unihted.bsky.social
27unihted.substack.com/p/a-culture-...
@27unihted.bsky.social
27unihted.substack.com/p/a-culture-...
A culture of fear and low morale at NIH is eroding scientific integrity
Concern 9 of the Bethesda Declaration: One Year Later
27unihted.substack.com
October 12, 2026 at 11:37 AM
Many NIH staff object to what’s happening at NIH but don’t speak up because of fear.
@27unihted.bsky.social
27unihted.substack.com/p/a-culture-...
@27unihted.bsky.social
27unihted.substack.com/p/a-culture-...
Oct 13 comment deadline for NIH peer review score binning is fast approaching! Please add your voice!
Direct link to RFI: rfi.grants.nih.gov?s=6a2b1c22c3...
Background on why it matters: 27unihted.substack.com/p/nih-wants-...
Direct link to RFI: rfi.grants.nih.gov?s=6a2b1c22c3...
Background on why it matters: 27unihted.substack.com/p/nih-wants-...
NIH wants to shroud peer review scores. Here’s what you can do about it.
Authored by anonymous current and former NIH workers with experience in peer review
27unihted.substack.com
October 11, 2026 at 9:18 PM
Oct 13 comment deadline for NIH peer review score binning is fast approaching! Please add your voice!
Direct link to RFI: rfi.grants.nih.gov?s=6a2b1c22c3...
Background on why it matters: 27unihted.substack.com/p/nih-wants-...
Direct link to RFI: rfi.grants.nih.gov?s=6a2b1c22c3...
Background on why it matters: 27unihted.substack.com/p/nih-wants-...
The NIH proposal to conceal reviewer scores from program officers, investigators, and advisory councils is ill-conceived, introduces disproportionate weight to small percentile differences, diminishes the role of scientific peer review, and should be withdrawn in its entirety.
a 🧵
a 🧵
What is NIH Leadership Trying to Hide from Researchers & the Public?
A NIH proposal to conceal reviewer rankings of investigator-initiated research grants is ripe for misuse & demands a collective response (by October 13).
joshuasweitz.substack.com
October 11, 2026 at 10:31 PM
The NIH proposal to conceal reviewer scores from program officers, investigators, and advisory councils is ill-conceived, introduces disproportionate weight to small percentile differences, diminishes the role of scientific peer review, and should be withdrawn in its entirety.
a 🧵
a 🧵
Russel Vought continues to undermine peer review of NIH grants. We can’t allow this to happen.
The deadline to comment on this is tomorrow, Oct 13.
The fight ain’t over.
A good read by the illustrious @joshuasweitz.bsky.social
🧪 joshuasweitz.substack.com/p/what-else-...
The deadline to comment on this is tomorrow, Oct 13.
The fight ain’t over.
A good read by the illustrious @joshuasweitz.bsky.social
🧪 joshuasweitz.substack.com/p/what-else-...
October 12, 2026 at 5:03 PM
Russel Vought continues to undermine peer review of NIH grants. We can’t allow this to happen.
The deadline to comment on this is tomorrow, Oct 13.
The fight ain’t over.
A good read by the illustrious @joshuasweitz.bsky.social
🧪 joshuasweitz.substack.com/p/what-else-...
The deadline to comment on this is tomorrow, Oct 13.
The fight ain’t over.
A good read by the illustrious @joshuasweitz.bsky.social
🧪 joshuasweitz.substack.com/p/what-else-...
Last week, RFK Jr. and his minions opened a “vaccine injury clinic” at the NIH. With no budget, structure, or leadership announced, the program appears to be a sham in service of RFK Jr.’s war on vaccines. sciencebasedmedicine.org/rfk-jr-is-de...
RFK Jr. is definitely coming for your vaccines (part 12): The new NIH vaccine injury clinic is likely a sham
Last week, RFK Jr. and his minions opened a "vaccine injury clinic" at the NIH. With no budget, structure, or leadership announced, the program appears to be a sham in service of RFK Jr.'s war on vacc
sciencebasedmedicine.org
October 12, 2026 at 2:22 PM
Last week, RFK Jr. and his minions opened a “vaccine injury clinic” at the NIH. With no budget, structure, or leadership announced, the program appears to be a sham in service of RFK Jr.’s war on vaccines. sciencebasedmedicine.org/rfk-jr-is-de...
ACLU: The NIH is Censoring Researchers and Blocking Scientific Progress
@aclu.org
cc Jay Bhattacharya
bit.ly/3TYuIyD 💥
@aclu.org
cc Jay Bhattacharya
bit.ly/3TYuIyD 💥
The NIH is Censoring Researchers and Blocking Scientific Progress | #aclu #shorts #censorship | ACLU
By terminating research grants like Kelton's to censor views it doesn’t like, the NIH is blocking scientists from work that would advance public health for all of us. We're pushing back. Tell Congress to demand the NIH restore terminated grants and stop its censorship campaign at https://aclu.org/nih-censorship
bit.ly
October 12, 2026 at 1:42 AM
ACLU: The NIH is Censoring Researchers and Blocking Scientific Progress
@aclu.org
cc Jay Bhattacharya
bit.ly/3TYuIyD 💥
@aclu.org
cc Jay Bhattacharya
bit.ly/3TYuIyD 💥
Science doesn’t belong to the WH, it belongs to the people whose $ fund it.
Seventeen scientists filed a class action lawsuit against the NIH for unlawful termination of grants that include cancer, Alzheimer’s disease.
More scientists join.
We can’t let fascism win!
🧪 pittnews.com/article/2034...
Seventeen scientists filed a class action lawsuit against the NIH for unlawful termination of grants that include cancer, Alzheimer’s disease.
More scientists join.
We can’t let fascism win!
🧪 pittnews.com/article/2034...
Pitt professors join class-action lawsuit against NIH, alleging it censored scientific research - The Pitt News
The lawsuit, filed on Sept.16, alleges that NIH, the world’s largest public funder of biomedical research, is unconstitutionally censoring scientific research in relation to requiring a list of keywor...
pittnews.com
October 9, 2026 at 2:28 PM
Science doesn’t belong to the WH, it belongs to the people whose $ fund it.
Seventeen scientists filed a class action lawsuit against the NIH for unlawful termination of grants that include cancer, Alzheimer’s disease.
More scientists join.
We can’t let fascism win!
🧪 pittnews.com/article/2034...
Seventeen scientists filed a class action lawsuit against the NIH for unlawful termination of grants that include cancer, Alzheimer’s disease.
More scientists join.
We can’t let fascism win!
🧪 pittnews.com/article/2034...
"Every day I was crying, saying, my life is too short to live like this. "
October 10, 2026 at 12:07 PM
"Every day I was crying, saying, my life is too short to live like this. "
ICYMI: “Nobody’s OK.” A former NIH program director describes fear, lost expertise and political pressure on science. Staff started documenting it.
https://f.mtr.cool/ytpndpxzmo
#Censorship #DefendResearch #AcademicChatter #AcademicSky
https://f.mtr.cool/ytpndpxzmo
#Censorship #DefendResearch #AcademicChatter #AcademicSky
NIH Employees Lived in a Culture of Fear, So They Started Keeping Receipts
Sylvia Chou, former NIH program director, says “nobody’s OK” after massive disruptions to funding policies and infrastructure.
f.mtr.cool
October 11, 2026 at 8:31 PM
ICYMI: “Nobody’s OK.” A former NIH program director describes fear, lost expertise and political pressure on science. Staff started documenting it.
https://f.mtr.cool/ytpndpxzmo
#Censorship #DefendResearch #AcademicChatter #AcademicSky
https://f.mtr.cool/ytpndpxzmo
#Censorship #DefendResearch #AcademicChatter #AcademicSky
That said, I vehemently disagree with this post, particularly where university press offices (my original source) are concerned.
It is ABSOLUTELY the author's fault if a university press office misrepresents their work. I've been teaching this for a decade in our NIH trainee bioethics courses.
It is ABSOLUTELY the author's fault if a university press office misrepresents their work. I've been teaching this for a decade in our NIH trainee bioethics courses.
(a) the press implying 10 minutes of AI use will erode thinking is really misrepresenting our study and we never advocate for that lanaguage. It is not the author’s fault that the press is doing weird writeups about our study which we don’t endorse!
October 11, 2026 at 10:00 PM
That said, I vehemently disagree with this post, particularly where university press offices (my original source) are concerned.
It is ABSOLUTELY the author's fault if a university press office misrepresents their work. I've been teaching this for a decade in our NIH trainee bioethics courses.
It is ABSOLUTELY the author's fault if a university press office misrepresents their work. I've been teaching this for a decade in our NIH trainee bioethics courses.
Note that this was funded by NIH which Trump is well on his to destroying.
October 11, 2026 at 12:51 AM
Note that this was funded by NIH which Trump is well on his to destroying.
More on this from @joshuasweitz.bsky.social
“Rather than ‘elevating the role of scientific peer review’ as the proposal claims, the proposal diminishes it.”
Comment by 11:59pm on Oct 13.
joshuasweitz.substack.com/p/what-else-...
“Rather than ‘elevating the role of scientific peer review’ as the proposal claims, the proposal diminishes it.”
Comment by 11:59pm on Oct 13.
joshuasweitz.substack.com/p/what-else-...
October 11, 2026 at 11:40 PM
More on this from @joshuasweitz.bsky.social
“Rather than ‘elevating the role of scientific peer review’ as the proposal claims, the proposal diminishes it.”
Comment by 11:59pm on Oct 13.
joshuasweitz.substack.com/p/what-else-...
“Rather than ‘elevating the role of scientific peer review’ as the proposal claims, the proposal diminishes it.”
Comment by 11:59pm on Oct 13.
joshuasweitz.substack.com/p/what-else-...
AMA with nih!
October 11, 2026 at 12:45 AM
AMA with nih!
Regaring this Press Release from yesterday. A 🧵
www.nih.gov/news-events/...
I was pleased that NIH has been supporting early career investigators after Director Bhattacharya's rhetoric but lack of action last year.
1/9
www.nih.gov/news-events/...
I was pleased that NIH has been supporting early career investigators after Director Bhattacharya's rhetoric but lack of action last year.
1/9
NIH announces record number of grants to support early career investigators, launches new recruitment initiative for intramural research
NIH highlights actions to strengthen American biomedical science at White House Science: A New Golden Age Summit.
www.nih.gov
October 9, 2026 at 4:47 PM
Regaring this Press Release from yesterday. A 🧵
www.nih.gov/news-events/...
I was pleased that NIH has been supporting early career investigators after Director Bhattacharya's rhetoric but lack of action last year.
1/9
www.nih.gov/news-events/...
I was pleased that NIH has been supporting early career investigators after Director Bhattacharya's rhetoric but lack of action last year.
1/9
The plan to bin review outcomes and hide scores from applicants and program staff is based on half-truths and is bad on so many levels. @27unihted.bsky.social explains and guides you on commenting. The deadline is October 13.
27unihted.substack.com/p/nih-wants-...
27unihted.substack.com/p/nih-wants-...
NIH wants to shroud peer review scores. Here’s what you can do about it.
Authored by anonymous current and former NIH workers with experience in peer review
27unihted.substack.com
October 11, 2026 at 3:16 PM
The plan to bin review outcomes and hide scores from applicants and program staff is based on half-truths and is bad on so many levels. @27unihted.bsky.social explains and guides you on commenting. The deadline is October 13.
27unihted.substack.com/p/nih-wants-...
27unihted.substack.com/p/nih-wants-...
"Rather than “elevating the role of scientific peer review”, the proposal diminishes it. The NIH proposal is paternalistic, ill-conceived, and ripe for misuse. There is substantial risk for manipulation when reviewer information is concealed. The risk is even greater given the political context."
👏👏
👏👏
What is NIH Leadership Trying to Hide from Researchers & the Public?
A NIH proposal to conceal reviewer rankings of investigator-initiated research grants is ripe for misuse & demands a collective response (by October 13).
joshuasweitz.substack.com
October 11, 2026 at 11:08 PM
"Rather than “elevating the role of scientific peer review”, the proposal diminishes it. The NIH proposal is paternalistic, ill-conceived, and ripe for misuse. There is substantial risk for manipulation when reviewer information is concealed. The risk is even greater given the political context."
👏👏
👏👏
Note that NIH peer review is statutorily REQUIRED by Congress. This rule change is an attempt to weaken and ultimately bypass that legal mandate.
October 9, 2026 at 8:41 PM
Note that NIH peer review is statutorily REQUIRED by Congress. This rule change is an attempt to weaken and ultimately bypass that legal mandate.
I have a LOT of questions apparently! What's one NIH-funded discovery you think the public takes for granted?
October 11, 2026 at 12:31 AM
I have a LOT of questions apparently! What's one NIH-funded discovery you think the public takes for granted?
I had two old hand NIH funded research scientists tell me Jay Bhattacharya wouldn't dismantle NIH
October 13, 2026 at 12:40 AM
I had two old hand NIH funded research scientists tell me Jay Bhattacharya wouldn't dismantle NIH
Another RFI about reducing administrative burden. This whole regime is an administrative burden. From renegotiating grants to revamping systems that were fine. Making “simpler” NOFOs that are basically the same with more white space
grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
NOT-OD-26-118: Request for Information (RFI): Opportunities to Reduce Administrative Burden in NIH Extramural Research
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts: Request for Information (RFI): Opportunities to Reduce Administrative Burden in NIH Extramural Research NOT-OD-26-118. ...
grants.nih.gov
October 9, 2026 at 12:17 AM
Another RFI about reducing administrative burden. This whole regime is an administrative burden. From renegotiating grants to revamping systems that were fine. Making “simpler” NOFOs that are basically the same with more white space
grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
Everyone who promoted Jay Bhattacharya should defend his new “vaccine injury unit” at the NIH.
This is exactly what you wanted, right?
This is exactly what you wanted, right?
October 8, 2026 at 6:52 PM
Everyone who promoted Jay Bhattacharya should defend his new “vaccine injury unit” at the NIH.
This is exactly what you wanted, right?
This is exactly what you wanted, right?
Related news: I reviewed emails received yesterday by two federal agencies—SEC and NIH—instructing them to update all internal and public materials to say "super intelligence" instead of "artificial intelligence" in order to comply with Trump's executive order.
Trump's pushing the term "super intelligence" is stupid for many reasons (not least because "superintelligence" was already a term with a specific meaning in semi-technical and policy/philosophical discussions about AI). But now his bullying about it is reaching an Orwellian pitch.
October 8, 2026 at 9:00 PM
Related news: I reviewed emails received yesterday by two federal agencies—SEC and NIH—instructing them to update all internal and public materials to say "super intelligence" instead of "artificial intelligence" in order to comply with Trump's executive order.
Two days left--all NIH funded researchers or folks concerned about retaining peer review in science should comment
The NIH proposal to conceal reviewer scores from program officers, investigators, and advisory councils is ill-conceived, introduces disproportionate weight to small percentile differences, diminishes the role of scientific peer review, and should be withdrawn in its entirety.
a 🧵
a 🧵
What is NIH Leadership Trying to Hide from Researchers & the Public?
A NIH proposal to conceal reviewer rankings of investigator-initiated research grants is ripe for misuse & demands a collective response (by October 13).
joshuasweitz.substack.com
October 11, 2026 at 11:20 PM
Two days left--all NIH funded researchers or folks concerned about retaining peer review in science should comment