I'm excited to share our latest research on the mechanisms of splice-modifying drugs. We studied how two small-molecule drugs, risdiplam and branaplam, work. The results challenge the existing understanding of these two drugs.
Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic began, a small group of prominent virologists has carried out a systematic campaign of public intimidation to silence other scientists, reporters, and members of the public who question them. I have never seen anything like it. 1/6
If you are a scientist and are concerned about the origin of SARS-CoV-2, the ramifications for science, and the risk of future lab-generated pandemics, **please speak up**. A small number of scientists speaking out on these issues can make a big difference. 5/5
I am leaving @BiosafetyNow. I always knew there was some professional risk to me speaking out, but my advocacy has now become a liability that I can no longer ignore. 1/5
Many of those carrying out this intimidation campaign are key authors on the primary scientific publications promoting a natural origin of SARS-CoV-2. That these scientists are working so hard to silence critics of their own research should be a major scandal within science. 2/6
The bad behavior by a few virologists and science administrators regarding COVID origins, and the silence of most scientists on this matter, is going to be catastrophic for public trust in science as a whole.
Welp. The behavior of a certain cadre of scientists who used every trick in the book to suppress discussion of this issue is something I'll never forget. A huge disservice to science and public health. They should be profoundly embarrassed.
wsj.com/articles/covid…
I’m astounded by the disdainful reaction of public health and biosecurity experts to my *accurately* calling the 1967 outbreak of Marburg virus a “lab leak”. Their reaction makes me even less inclined to believe what they say about the origins of SARS-CoV-2.
Fun fact: Marburg virus is named after Marburg, Germany—where the virus does not naturally occur—because the first documented outbreak was caused by a lab leak at the Behringwerke industrial plant there. @BiosafetyNow
This should be happening nationwide. I for one would gladly stop all experiments in my lab and direct my resources to running Coronavirus tests. But no one is asking.
Wow — dean of University of Washington medical school is asking qualified graduate students to pause their research and instead help run COVID-19 lab tests.
Voluntary until compensation structure can be determined
But given the larger context--that the *entire world* is relying on the veracity of those scientists' claims to guide public policy (especially biosafety regulations)-- this behavior ought to be brought to the public's attention. 3/6
Good summary of the publicly available evidence for SARS-CoV-2 having a lab leak origin, as opposed to a natural zoonotic origin. This evidence is not dispositive, but were the lab leak hypothesis incorrect, it would represent a staggering set of coincidences.
COVID: summary of lab-origin hypothesis:
1) Pandemic caused by a bat SARS-like coronavirus emerged in Wuhan--a city 1,000 miles from nearest wild bats with SARS-like coronaviruses, but that contains labs conducting world's largest research program on bat SARS-like coronaviruses.
The longer it takes for scientists to publicly recognize that a handful of their peers created COVID-19 and then lied about it, and the longer that scientists actively oppose measures to prevent this from happening again, the worse the consequences will be.
Unfortunately this is correct. Two or three dozen corrupt scientists, most in one narrow subfield of science, have damaged, possibly irreparably, public trust in the many tens of thousands of scientists across all fields of science.
Listen to what @sarahkendzior says. She’s been clear, concise, and prescient since 2016 about the reality of Russia’s involvement. And regarding the NRA/Kremlin connection she’s obviously right.
My thoughts on the NRA and the Kremlin on #AMJoy:
"This was a long-running Russian plot launched in tandem with Americans who voluntarily sacrificed US sovereignty and jeopardized national security for their own aims. Now follow the money."