Dr. Emily Panza

Assistant Prof @BrownMedicine. Opinions my own

[Dr. Emily Panza @EmilyPanza]

I recently started my K23. For folks w/ current/completed career development awards, do you have any advice to someone just starting? Anything you wish you'd known? I want to make the most of this K! @JessicaYBreland @KMNelsonPhD @DrDaniArigo @jrpeters @sciCarly @DrMattWhited

[Kevin Hall @KevinH_PhD]

The story of my departure from NIH leads the latest episode of the @sciencevs podcast on the overall topic of declining support for science in the USA.

[Kevin C. Klatt, PhD, RD @KCKlatt]

First the Diabetes Prevention Program. Now the Women's Health Initiative. Really struggling to see how ending nutrition/lifestyle trials with long term follow up is a) part of the MAHA agenda; b) changing the 'woke' culture at Universities; c) improving 'efficiency'.

https://t.co/tPKtNotMG8

[Joseph Allen @j_g_allen]

--> WH sends Harvard letter making outrageous (and illegal) demands

--> WH now says it was sent by accident (oops!)

--> WH blames Harvard (?) for reacting to the letter they sent

--> Harvard: The letter “was signed by three federal officials, placed on official letterhead, was sent from the email inbox of a senior federal official and was sent on April 11 as promised,” Harvard said in a statement on Friday. “Recipients of such correspondence from the U.S. government — even when it contains sweeping demands that are astonishing in their overreach — do not question its authenticity or seriousness.”

Harvard's statement continued:

[Kevin Hall @KevinH_PhD]

After 21 years at my dream job, I’m very sad to announce my early retirement from the National Institutes of Health. My life’s work has been to scientifically study how our food environment affects what we eat, and how what we eat affects our physiology. Lately, I’ve focused on unravelling the reasons why diets high in ultra-processed food are linked to epidemic proportions of chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity. Our research leads the world on this topic.

Given recent bipartisan goals to prevent diet-related chronic diseases, and new agency leadership professing to prioritize scientific investigation of ultra-processed foods, I had hoped to expand our research program with ambitious plans to more rapidly and efficiently determine how our food is likely making Americans chronically sick.

Unfortunately, recent events have made me question whether NIH continues to be a place where I can freely conduct unbiased science. Specifically, I experienced censorship in the reporting of our research because of agency concerns that it did not appear to fully support preconceived narratives of my agency’s leadership about ultra-processed food addiction.

I was hoping this was an aberration. So, weeks ago I wrote to my agency’s leadership expressing my concerns and requested time to discuss these issues, but I never received a response. Without any reassurance there wouldn’t be continued censorship or meddling in our research, I felt compelled to accept early retirement to preserve health insurance for my family. (Resigning later in protest of any future meddling or censorship would result in losing that benefit.) Due to very tight deadlines to make this decision, I don’t yet have plans for my future career.

The NIH has been a wonderful place because it allows scientists to take risks, form unique collaborations, and do studies difficult to conduct elsewhere. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished and I’m fortunate to have had such wonderful colleagues and scientific collaborators. I hope to someday return to government service and lead a research program that will continue to provide gold-standard science to make Americans healthy.

[Acyn @Acyn]

Obama: Imagine if I had done any of this. Imagine if I had pulled Fox News’ credentials from the White House press corps. Imagine if I had said to law firms that were representing parties that were upset with policies my administration had initiated, that you will not be allowed into government buildings. We will punish you economically for dissenting from the Affordable Care Act or the Iran deal. We will ferret out students who protest against my policies.

It’s unimaginable that the same parties that are silent now would have tolerated behavior like that from me, or a whole bunch of my predecessors.

[Kamala Harris @KamalaHarris]

The true measure of a leader is not based on who you beat down but on who you lift up.

For over 24 hours, my friend @CoryBooker stood on the floor of the Senate and lifted up the voices of the American people harmed by the current administration.

We must continue to fight for the best of who we are as Americans. Thank you, Cory, for your leadership.

[Chris Murphy 🟧 @ChrisMurphyCT]

I went to the Senate floor to lay out for my colleagues the stunning story of brazen, open corruption during the first 6 weeks of the Trump presidency.

I think it's a story everyone needs to know.

1/ So a🧵with the highlights from the speech.

[Bernie Sanders @BernieSanders]

Wrong, Elon. Social Security has paid every benefit owed to every eligible American for 86 years. We can make it solvent for the next 75 years and expand benefits by scrapping the cap that allows billionaires like you to pay the same amount into Social Security as a truck driver.

[Dr. Emily Panza @EmilyPanza]

@DrHeavenstone Wooo this looks amazing!!! Wish I was going!

[Dr. Emily Panza @EmilyPanza]

@drdrtsai @JessicaYBreland @KMNelsonPhD @DrDaniArigo @jrpeters @sciCarly @DrMattWhited @brewis_alex @AWutich Thanks for the amazing advice & connections, @drdrtsai - just followed @brewis_alex & @AWutich. I'm plotting out my 5yr manuscript & grant plans & this input is really helpful in focusing those plans. I appreciate it!

[Dr. Emily Panza @EmilyPanza]

I recently started my K23. For folks w/ current/completed career development awards, do you have any advice to someone just starting? Anything you wish you'd known? I want to make the most of this K! @JessicaYBreland @KMNelsonPhD @DrDaniArigo @jrpeters @sciCarly @DrMattWhited

[Dr. Emily Panza @EmilyPanza]

@adambress @DaichiShimbo @JessicaYBreland @KMNelsonPhD @DrDaniArigo @jrpeters @sciCarly @DrMattWhited @ncats_nih_gov @rhessmd @rick_kittles @slcrubes @ba_steinberg @rashmeeushah @JDodsonMD @jordy_bc @jordanbking @adambress - I can't thank you enough for taking the time to outline these tips. The specific examples/templates you provide are outstandingly helpful (& so organized!) I'm so grateful & will DM you now.

[Dr. Emily Panza @EmilyPanza]

@dougkalmanphdrd @BrownMedicine @VonMariePhD @JacquelineNesi @ahbettis @CraigAnthonyRS @BrownClinPsych Thank you so much! 🎉

[Dr. Emily Panza @EmilyPanza]

@CraigAnthonyRS So glad I’m not the only Alf fan. Next time!

[Dr. Emily Panza @EmilyPanza]

@NicoleNugentPhD @NicoleNugentPhD Nicole, you’re such a source of positivity and support at Brown and in this virtual community, and I’m so sorry for your loss. Your dad sounds like quite a guy! I hope the time with family is healing.

[Dr. Emily Panza @EmilyPanza]

@suebakke Awwww—miss you, Sue!! So grateful for all that I learned from you in our UMass days :)