Amid firings at NIH, new Director pledges to implement changes “humanely”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bhattacharya seems eminently reasonable. Just listened to his whole interview with Bari Weiss.

OK Russian bot

Did you listen to the interview? Guy has a good plan to restore public trust damage done after covid.

It's ridiculous to assume your neighbors are bots because they have different opinions. I've been posting on here for decades. Feel free to ask Jeff.

NP. You don’t seem to understand how incredibly tone deaf your comment sounds when thousands of researchers are being fired and long standing research programs are being dismantled. WHO is going to implement his “good plan”? There are many of us who don’t think anyone with substance or integrity would work for this administration. It’s also unclear how dismantling our public health infrastructure restores public faith… I guess maybe with the “ivermectin crowd,” which is a small, extremely vocal minority in this country but I guess the rest of us who value research are just f***ed.

Plus one -

Also while firing thousands of medical researchers and closing medical programs, RK has authorized major study over debunked theory that vaccinations cause autism. There have already been extensive international research disproving this allegation.

This definitely does restore public confidence especially at a time when the anti vax movement has led to resurgence of diseases that had been contained (measles/ pertussis/ Haemophilus influenzae disease (H flu)/ varicella (chicken pox)/ pneumococcal disease (strep)/ TB/ and even polio).

It is terrifying that we will have access to less not more medical research and recommendations at this time of ever increasing international travel.

^^^ does not restore public confidence

My apologies. I did come off tone deaf and I didn't mean to be unsympathetic for the good scientists being laid off right now.

I think, despite best intentions, a lot of damage to institutional trust in public health organizations was done during covid. Bhattacharya's approach is to be transparent, humble, open-minded and willing to support research that isn't usually able to be funded by pharmaceutical companies. If our public dollars can support research that replicates findings and tries to keep politics out of public health, ultimately I think it'll be better for the country as a whole.

An authoritative appeal to experts has prompted an enormous backlash

Yeah, just take horse medicine next time you catch a virus.

If ivermectin is such a wonder drug for Africans, why is it so evil for Americans?

Ivermectin is low low cost, so the pharmaceutical industry is missing the opportunity to further enrich themselves.

Hmm almost as if the pharmaceutical industry knows that Ivermectin only works for parasites and live?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This article in the Guardian is what I have been trying to communicate in this thread (and in real time in 2020 and 2021)

Our politicians abdicated their responsibility to make balanced policy decisions due to fear and let the public health considerations around covid completely overwhelm the social cohesion, economic and other health considerations (mental health, cancer screenings).

The class based response to covid drove the current rise of populism and lead to citizens deep distrust and lack of support for our research and public health organizations

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/05/covid-policies-lockdown-masks-liberals-book


"The Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security hosted a wargaming exercise in October 2019, shortly before the pandemic began, to simulate a deadly coronavirus pandemic; the findings explicitly urged that “[t]ravel and trade … be maintained even in the face of a pandemic”. Similarly, a WHO paper in 2019 said that some measures – such as border closures and contact tracing – were “not recommended in any circumstances”.

“And yet we did all of that in short order,” Macedo said, “and without people referring back to these plans.”

He and Lee also believe there was a strong element of class bias, with a left-leaning “laptop class” that could easily work from home touting anti-Covid measures that were much easier for some Americans to adopt than others. Many relatively affluent Americans became even wealthier during the pandemic, in part due to rising housing values.

At the same time, the laptop class was only able to socially isolate at home in part because other people risked exposure to provide groceries. "

This has zero to do with what RFK is doing at HHS. On the margins sure we need to look at public health messaging. What does firing researchers and promoting debunked theories have to do with this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Like learning you’ve been fired because your badge doesn’t work when you show up for work at 6 am.
JB:

https://www.axios.com/2025/04/01/nih-bhattacharya-difficult-changes

"Many of our valued colleagues are losing their jobs, which is in no way a reflection of the quality of their work. I want to express my deepest gratitude to those who will be affected for all you have contributed to the mission of the NIH," he added.
The staff reductions will require new approaches to carrying out key administrative functions at the agency including communications, legislative affairs and procurement, the email said.

"As we navigate these challenges, I will do my best to lead the NIH through these reforms, implement new policies humanely, and endeavor to earn your trust," Bhattacharya wrote.


And reports from those affected
https://www.reddit.com/r/NIH/comments/1joodwi/41_rif_tracker_nih/?sort=new

I hope voters in Florida and Wisconsin will consider this.

Among those fired: Diana W. Bianchi is the Director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
https://www.nichd.nih.gov/about/profiles/leadership/director

And
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeanne_Marrazzo

Wow. Are people at NIH this out of touch?

Corporate America has been doing this for decades.

Did you not ever wonder why all the anxiety and fear In the US?

Welcome to the jingle

Oh and by the way , did a bunch of h1bs show up the next week ? I’d not consider yourself lucky 🍀

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like learning you’ve been fired because your badge doesn’t work when you show up for work at 6 am.
JB:

https://www.axios.com/2025/04/01/nih-bhattacharya-difficult-changes

"Many of our valued colleagues are losing their jobs, which is in no way a reflection of the quality of their work. I want to express my deepest gratitude to those who will be affected for all you have contributed to the mission of the NIH," he added.
The staff reductions will require new approaches to carrying out key administrative functions at the agency including communications, legislative affairs and procurement, the email said.

"As we navigate these challenges, I will do my best to lead the NIH through these reforms, implement new policies humanely, and endeavor to earn your trust," Bhattacharya wrote.


And reports from those affected
https://www.reddit.com/r/NIH/comments/1joodwi/41_rif_tracker_nih/?sort=new

I hope voters in Florida and Wisconsin will consider this.

Among those fired: Diana W. Bianchi is the Director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
https://www.nichd.nih.gov/about/profiles/leadership/director

And
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeanne_Marrazzo

Wow. Are people at NIH this out of touch?

Corporate America has been doing this for decades.

Did you not ever wonder why all the anxiety and fear In the US?

Welcome to the jingle

Oh and by the way , did a bunch of h1bs show up the next week ? I’d not consider yourself lucky 🍀

Oh just stop. There’s no way that this is good for America.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like learning you’ve been fired because your badge doesn’t work when you show up for work at 6 am.
JB:

https://www.axios.com/2025/04/01/nih-bhattacharya-difficult-changes

"Many of our valued colleagues are losing their jobs, which is in no way a reflection of the quality of their work. I want to express my deepest gratitude to those who will be affected for all you have contributed to the mission of the NIH," he added.
The staff reductions will require new approaches to carrying out key administrative functions at the agency including communications, legislative affairs and procurement, the email said.

"As we navigate these challenges, I will do my best to lead the NIH through these reforms, implement new policies humanely, and endeavor to earn your trust," Bhattacharya wrote.


And reports from those affected
https://www.reddit.com/r/NIH/comments/1joodwi/41_rif_tracker_nih/?sort=new

I hope voters in Florida and Wisconsin will consider this.

Among those fired: Diana W. Bianchi is the Director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
https://www.nichd.nih.gov/about/profiles/leadership/director

And
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeanne_Marrazzo

Wow. Are people at NIH this out of touch?

Corporate America has been doing this for decades.

Did you not ever wonder why all the anxiety and fear In the US?

Welcome to the jingle

Oh and by the way , did a bunch of h1bs show up the next week ? I’d not consider yourself lucky 🍀

And there you have the MAGA reason for existing: sheer spite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like learning you’ve been fired because your badge doesn’t work when you show up for work at 6 am.
JB:

https://www.axios.com/2025/04/01/nih-bhattacharya-difficult-changes

"Many of our valued colleagues are losing their jobs, which is in no way a reflection of the quality of their work. I want to express my deepest gratitude to those who will be affected for all you have contributed to the mission of the NIH," he added.
The staff reductions will require new approaches to carrying out key administrative functions at the agency including communications, legislative affairs and procurement, the email said.

"As we navigate these challenges, I will do my best to lead the NIH through these reforms, implement new policies humanely, and endeavor to earn your trust," Bhattacharya wrote.


And reports from those affected
https://www.reddit.com/r/NIH/comments/1joodwi/41_rif_tracker_nih/?sort=new

I hope voters in Florida and Wisconsin will consider this.

Among those fired: Diana W. Bianchi is the Director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
https://www.nichd.nih.gov/about/profiles/leadership/director

And
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeanne_Marrazzo

Wow. Are people at NIH this out of touch?

Corporate America has been doing this for decades.

Did you not ever wonder why all the anxiety and fear In the US?

Welcome to the jingle

Oh and by the way , did a bunch of h1bs show up the next week ? I’d not consider yourself lucky 🍀

And there you have the MAGA reason for existing: sheer spite.

They’d rather kids get lead poisoning (while ranting about flouride in the water) than pass up an opportunity to make federal employees suffer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This article in the Guardian is what I have been trying to communicate in this thread (and in real time in 2020 and 2021)

Our politicians abdicated their responsibility to make balanced policy decisions due to fear and let the public health considerations around covid completely overwhelm the social cohesion, economic and other health considerations (mental health, cancer screenings).

The class based response to covid drove the current rise of populism and lead to citizens deep distrust and lack of support for our research and public health organizations

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/05/covid-policies-lockdown-masks-liberals-book


"The Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security hosted a wargaming exercise in October 2019, shortly before the pandemic began, to simulate a deadly coronavirus pandemic; the findings explicitly urged that “[t]ravel and trade … be maintained even in the face of a pandemic”. Similarly, a WHO paper in 2019 said that some measures – such as border closures and contact tracing – were “not recommended in any circumstances”.

“And yet we did all of that in short order,” Macedo said, “and without people referring back to these plans.”

He and Lee also believe there was a strong element of class bias, with a left-leaning “laptop class” that could easily work from home touting anti-Covid measures that were much easier for some Americans to adopt than others. Many relatively affluent Americans became even wealthier during the pandemic, in part due to rising housing values.

At the same time, the laptop class was only able to socially isolate at home in part because other people risked exposure to provide groceries. "

This has zero to do with what RFK is doing at HHS. On the margins sure we need to look at public health messaging. What does firing researchers and promoting debunked theories have to do with this?

The public's ill will generated by covid overreach makes it politically palatable to gut public health institutions

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Firings at FDA this morning too, people finding out because their badge does not work, or allowed minutes to gather their stuff and leave. entire offices cut. my spouse is there and so far so good for him but the situation is just insane. hard to see how the agency is going to keep working well. way to really destroy a country.

https://www.reddit.com/r/fednews/comments/1jotv77/megathread_april_1_hhs_mass_reduction_in_force/

Only those who profited thought it was working so well. They’ll be looking for cancer cures as long as taxpayers pay them for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like learning you’ve been fired because your badge doesn’t work when you show up for work at 6 am.
JB:

https://www.axios.com/2025/04/01/nih-bhattacharya-difficult-changes

"Many of our valued colleagues are losing their jobs, which is in no way a reflection of the quality of their work. I want to express my deepest gratitude to those who will be affected for all you have contributed to the mission of the NIH," he added.
The staff reductions will require new approaches to carrying out key administrative functions at the agency including communications, legislative affairs and procurement, the email said.

"As we navigate these challenges, I will do my best to lead the NIH through these reforms, implement new policies humanely, and endeavor to earn your trust," Bhattacharya wrote.


And reports from those affected
https://www.reddit.com/r/NIH/comments/1joodwi/41_rif_tracker_nih/?sort=new

I hope voters in Florida and Wisconsin will consider this.

Among those fired: Diana W. Bianchi is the Director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
https://www.nichd.nih.gov/about/profiles/leadership/director

And
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeanne_Marrazzo

Wow. Are people at NIH this out of touch?

Corporate America has been doing this for decades.

Did you not ever wonder why all the anxiety and fear In the US?

Welcome to the jingle

Oh and by the way , did a bunch of h1bs show up the next week ? I’d not consider yourself lucky 🍀

Exactly.