Altos Labs’ Post

The Publish or Perish model in the American Academy serves no one in the end. As it is, the promotion, funding, and recognition of academics depends mostly on the quantity of “novel” research literature that they produce. Regard to the quality of that research and literature, let alone its real novelty, has no room in the current system of Science. We could do this differently here in the US. We could decide, together, that we will support the funding of scientists to pursue their curiosities, to pursue slow scientific advancements that are hard won but invaluable, without regard to the number of papers they write in a year. These types of advances take time, and quality research. Universities and Reseach Agencies could decide not to only value their academics’ number of publications, or percentage that are published in “prestige” journals (or other relatively useless metrics), in deciding who to hire, who to keep, and who to promote. We could make the pursuit of science a worthy endeavor in and of itself, and treat those who walk this path as worthy.

In the last week, we found that electrical stimulation can help an individual with #Parkinson's disease to walk safely, what is common between #memory and #brain #cancer, and how we can detect #AI generated text. Read the full #blog here - https://lnkd.in/dDbN7_G7 or listen here - https://lnkd.in/dUjTBvBy #PD #scicomm

Correlation doesn't equal causation, but is this always the case? When can we use cause? Never? I always think of smoking and lung cancer. At what point does the size of an estimate make us want to dig deeper? An odds ratio of 40? I'd argue that causality is a core tenant of all science. A paper that had a big impact on me was a 2018 paper by Miguel Hernán (link below). I can't recommend it enough. Four key pieces that I took away: - Even if cause isn't used explicitly, that doesn't mean it isn't implied by other words - Using cause allows for a better assessment of the methods used (i.e., variable selection, confounder adjustment) - Clearly defining our goal (causal vs associational) helps assess the assumptions needed - Being explicit about the goal is essential for good science It's not always possible to determine causality (i.e., cross-sectional data). When it is the goal, scientists shouldn't be hesitant to use cause (yes, even with observational data!). Link to paper: https://lnkd.in/eUvQbAXR #CausallyCurious #RealWorldEvidence #CausalInference #RealWorldData

BMC Medicine has put out a call for papers on #cancer #prevention. If your research focuses on molecular, genetic, environmental or lifestyle risk factors that contribute to cancer development, consider submitting to this special edition. Call for papers - Cancer prevention (biomedcentral.com)

Exploring the Future of Precision Research with Microb-AI-ome! 🌐 Have you caught wind of the groundbreaking advancements in the Gemini project by Google AI? 🚀 Our journey with Microb-AI-ome aligns with the visionary strides made in this realm, particularly in the arena of literature review and precision research. In a recent video (https://lnkd.in/ewdabU7S), Google AI demonstrates how Gemini refines literature results for specific goals. Imagine tailoring our approach in Microb-AI-ome to pinpoint crucial bacterial profiles related to colorectal cancer across diverse databases, bringing us one step closer to personalized therapies. The synergy between our mission and Gemini's capabilities is remarkable. As we delve into the potential of AI in refining literature for precision insights, we're charting a course toward a more nuanced understanding of colorectal cancer. Watch the video to witness the future of precision research unfold and join us in shaping the next chapter of healthcare innovation! 🎥 #MicrobAIome #AIInnovation #PrecisionResearch #HealthcareRevolution

What is a "research paper mill"? 🤔 How do quality journals and publishers adapt to paper mills? What about medical research integrity? If you'd like more insight into the complex world of research integrity, you might attend this AusHSI webinar. Meanwhile, hear researcher Jennifer Byrne discuss her life and career in this early 'Perspectives in Parryville' podcast episode. (In fact, this was one of four initial 'proof-of-concept' episodes for my then-emerging podcast project.) Link: https://lnkd.in/g7kJs3c6

Scientists come to their research from many different angles. For Wistar predoctoral trainee Pratik Bhojnagarwala, the motivation to pursue science was losing two family members to cancer. “The speed at which [it] spread was terrifying, and that led me to want to understand the disease,” he says. “The knowledge that what you're doing can potentially help people in the future is what inspires me to get out of bed and come into work every day.” Bhojnagarwala’s goal is to help design personalized cancer vaccines that will target specific mutations in each patient’s cancer. https://lnkd.in/eqfR6ydv #WistarInstitute #WistarScience #CancerResearch #BiomedicalResearch #PersonalizedMedicine

A framework for the evaluation and reporting of incidental findings in clinical genomic testing | European Journal of Human Genetics (nature.com) Currently, there are no widely accepted recommendations in the genomics field guiding the return of incidental findings (IFs), defined here as unexpected results that are unrelated to the indication for testing. Consequently, reporting policies for IFs among laboratories offering genomic testing are variable and may lack transparency. Herein we describe a framework developed to guide the evaluation and return of IFs encountered in probands undergoing clinical genome sequencing (cGS). The framework prioritizes clinical significance and actionability of IFs and follows a stepwise approach with stopping points at which IFs may be recommended for return or not. 

🎉 **Celebrating a Milestone: From Manuscript to Publication!** 📚📰 Timing, they say, is everything. So, I'm seizing this moment to share a thrilling chapter in my scientific journey - the successful publication of my inaugural manuscript! 🚀 This journey has been a whirlwind of dedication and tenacity, a testament to the power of persistence 🌟 Crafting my manuscript over nearly a year was a labor of love, marked by determination and growth 📈 Navigating the world of scientific writing was a revelation 🌱 I embarked uncertainly, finding my compass amidst a sea of research papers and articles 🧭📑 Hours of reading and study honed my writing skills, revealing the art of scientific communication 🧬🖋️ A heartfelt shoutout to Dr. Vishal Chavda MS, PhD (Neuro) whose inspiration ignited this scientific odyssey 🙏 Gratitude also extends to Bipin Chaurasia for unwavering support 🙌 Their belief fueled this achievement, and I'm forever thankful for their guidance 🙏 This publication signifies just the beginning 🌄 The torch of scientific communication burns brighter, propelling me forward to uncover more discoveries and make a lasting mark in the realm of science 💡🥼 📚 Journal: Current Molecular Pharmacology 🖋️ Publisher: Bentham Science 📊 Impact Factor (2021): 3.3 🔗 DOI: 10.2174/1874467214666210629164535 https://lnkd.in/gCaXAfMB As I raise a toast to exciting research, future collaborations, and unending growth 🌌 Let's embrace the journey ahead with boundless curiosity and unyielding enthusiasm! 🌟🎉 #scientificpublication #peerreviewed #milestoneachieved

Duke University doctoral students Richard Doty, Marisa Hamilton, Susan Liu, and Maria ter Weele work collaboratively across disciplines, collectively representing three PhD programs within Duke University School of Medicine and Duke University Pratt School of Engineering. Interdisciplinary research provides unique opportunities that support breakthroughs within science and research for these four students. While each of these students conducts different research projects, they ultimately work collaboratively to improve health with a focus on the complex topic of combinatorial genomics or the study of how combinations of genetic variants impact human disease.  Click the link to read the full article about their collaborative work. https://lnkd.in/exjAGura #Duke #IntegrativeGenomics #CollaborativeResearch #Genomics #Science #Research