Sign in

Brenda Omburo

@brendaomburo.bsky.social
9 followers 24 following 3 posts

Biochemist |Microbiology 🫶🏼|Travel enthusiast|Nature photographer| #feminist

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Brenda Omburo
Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
Dr. Patricia Bath overcame sexism, racism & poverty and saved the sight of millions of people. She invented the Laserphaco Probe for cataract treatment, 1986; it was patented in 1988. She co-founded the American Institute for the Prevention of Blindness, 1976. She died #OTD in 2019. #WomenInSTEM
A vibrant color historical photograph capturing the brilliant ophthalmologist, inventor, and academic Dr. Patricia Era Bath (1942–2019) in an office or laboratory setting, radiating an aura of confident intelligence and warm approachability. Occupying the center and right of the shot, Dr. Bath sits facing forward, smiling brightly with a direct, engaging gaze at the camera. She is dressed in a professional white medical lab coat—subtly embroidered with "Dr. Bath" in red cursive on the left lapel—worn over a light blue button-down denim shirt and accented by a polished gold chain necklace. Pens are visible tucked into her left coat pocket. Positioned prominently to her right on the left side of the frame is a large, white medical laboratory microscope or ophthalmic imaging equipment with black eye-pieces. The background shows a white wooden bookshelf packed with colorful medical texts, binders, and stacked papers. This portrait carries immense historical significance, honoring a legendary trailblazer in STEM who became the first Black female doctor to patent a medical device—the revolutionary Laserphaco Probe for cataract treatment—fundamentally restoring sight to millions worldwide.
143114572709
Reposted by Brenda Omburo
Amy Maxmen, PhD @amymaxmen.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
Massive decrease in WHO's 2026-27 proposed budget due to US withdrawal. apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf... Already, last year saw major gaps in WHO's funding for urgent emergency health assistance in Palestinian territories & S. Sudan. They operate where many aid groups cannot.
0114
Brenda Omburo @brendaomburo.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
Roses are red, violets are blue, flowers are beautiful, and so are you 💙. Happy Monday
Flowers in a field
000
Reposted by Brenda Omburo
Mrs. Betty Bowers @mrsbettybowers.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
The United States is contemplating threatening to kill people with HIV in another country as leverage to get that country's minerals. We have become a sick nation, just as depraved and disgusting as its leader.
1252183257390
Reposted by Brenda Omburo
htfcuddles @htfcuddles.mmfcomic.com · 01/02/2026
Do you remember when people were saying "I think my phone is listening to me, i'm getting ads for stuff I spoke about" and people said "They arent listening to you, they're just this good at predicting your interests"? Well, it happens they were doing exactly that. www.cbsnews.com/news/google-...
cbsnews.com
Google to pay $68 million over allegations its voice assistant eavesdropped on users
Class-action lawsuit alleged that Google's voice assistant illegally recorded and shared private conversations with advertisers.
790181288008
Reposted by Brenda Omburo
Antimicrobial resistance #AMR @antimicrobial.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
Wockhardt completes Phase 3 trial of its novel antibiotic FOVISCU, achieving a 93% clinical cure rate and demonstrating non-inferiority to meropenem. The results mark a rare late-stage success in antibiotic R&D amid the global #AMR crisis. #PublicHealth www.bwhealthcareworld.com/article/wock...
bwhealthcareworld.com
Wockhardt Completes Successful Phase 3 Trial Of FOVISCU, Matches Meropenem In Efficacy - BW Healthcare World
Wockhardt has successfully completed its Phase 3 clinical trial for FOVISCU (WCK 4282), a novel antibiotic developed to address the growing global threat of antimicrobial resistance. The study met its...
1108
Reposted by Brenda Omburo
Nick Young @nickofnz.bsky.social · 03/01/2026
We need to normalise the idea that there should be no cost for the things we need for basic human dignity and wellbeing.
34110
Reposted by Brenda Omburo
Rebecca R Helm @rebeccarhelm.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
OMG 😭 Huntington's is an inherited disease that's like Alzheimers + Parkinson's all in one. NOW: "once the gene therapy has been delivered into the brain... [it] injects a piece of DNA to reprogram the neuron to become a factory for its own cure." LIFE SAVING! www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhEx...
youtube.com
Huntington's disease successfully treated for first time | BBC News
YouTube video by BBC News
2328411094
Reposted by Brenda Omburo
Mark Histed @markhisted.org · 16/12/2025
Well, this is an utter disaster for science. This gutting of peer review is very likely driven by Project 2025/OMB/Vought, very likely is about funding junk science, and very likely is coming for #NIH and biomedical research next. 🧪
Science
in reviewing grant proposals.
The changes permit as few as one outside review rather than the current minimum of three, end the routine use of expert panels to discuss those individual reviews, and give program managers greater authority to recommend which proposals should or should not be funded. They are described in an internal 1 December staff memo that Science has obtained and mentioned briefly in an update to NSF's grantmaking manual posted on 8 December.
A major reason for the smaller staff is the elimination of hundreds of so-called rotators, scientists on loan from academia who served as program managers as well as higher level administrators. Their absence, combined with the new review policy, represent a major change in how NSF
451405765
Reposted by Brenda Omburo
Carl T. Bergstrom @carlbergstrom.com · 03/07/2025
"...F.D.A. staff members concluded that the vaccines were safe and effective based on clinical trials of the shots tested in thousands of people. But Dr. Prasad wrote that there could still be vaccine-related injuries that have yet to be discovered." Gift Link.
nytimes.com
Top F.D.A. Official Overrode Scientists on Covid Shots
11266107
Reposted by Brenda Omburo
Brenda Omburo @brendaomburo.bsky.social · 02/07/2025
In the last century, infectious disease contributed significantly to deaths globally which only fell as scientific advancement led to development of therapeutic and preventive measures. Case in point HIV, tuberculosis and influenza. Science helps.
021
Brenda Omburo @brendaomburo.bsky.social · 02/07/2025
In the last century, infectious disease contributed significantly to deaths globally which only fell as scientific advancement led to development of therapeutic and preventive measures. Case in point HIV, tuberculosis and influenza. Science helps.
021
Reposted by Brenda Omburo
Stand Up for Science Washington @sufswa.bsky.social · 01/07/2025
Smarty Pints! The Science of Science Join professors Carl Bergstrom (UW Biology) and Kevin Gross (NCSU Statistics) for a conversation on how science works. Let us know you are coming and get involved in the summer fight for science: www.standupforscience.net/summer-fight... .
0185
Reposted by Brenda Omburo
Antimicrobial resistance #AMR @antimicrobial.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
Colistin-resistant genes found in imported shrimp This is not unexpected, but still a public health concern. Prevent spread in your kitchen: cook all food meant for heat treatment thoroughly, avoid cross-contamination, and wash hands and surfaces #AMR #OneHealth www.sciencedaily.com/releases/202...
sciencedaily.com
Superbugs in your shrimp: Deadly colistin-resistance genes ride on imported seafood
Colistin, a last-resort antibiotic, is losing its power due to rising resistance—and the culprits might be hiding in your seafood dinner. A University of Georgia research team discovered colistin-resi...
0105
Reposted by Brenda Omburo
Brenda Omburo @brendaomburo.bsky.social · 17/03/2025
Charles Dickens’ opening to ‘A tale of two cities’.
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way--in short, the period was so far like the present period that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only."
031
Reposted by Brenda Omburo
Arctic Velocipedist @arcticvelocipedist.bsky.social · 23/05/2025
Yep. It's R0 is something like 11-18. Covid's right around 3 last I checked. Might be a good idea to stay away from people. There are a lot of fools who don't know how to take care of themselves up here these days. Knew we should have never started shipping in fresh food and cheap goods.
3146
Reposted by Brenda Omburo
The New York Times @nytimes.com · 21/05/2025
The Spanish government ordered Airbnb to remove nearly 66,000 listings from its platform, widening a crackdown on tourist rentals as it seeks to alleviate a housing crisis that has become among the worst in Europe.
nytimes.com
Spain Orders Airbnb to Take Down 66,000 Rental Listings
21558631332
Reposted by Brenda Omburo
Jon Brudvig @jonbrudvig.bsky.social · 15/05/2025
What makes a human brain human? A new study may have found part of the answer: a stretch of DNA that doesn’t exist in other primates. When added to mice, it enlarged their brains. 🧪🧠🐭 (Paywalled) Article: www.nature.com/articles/s41... Preprint: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... #Neuroscience #Brain
2175
Reposted by Brenda Omburo
Jacek Debiec, MD, PhD, DPhil 🌎 🧠 @drjacekdebiec.bsky.social · 11/05/2025
Golf courses damage the environment and your health: "Pesticides applied to golf courses may play a role in the incidence of Parkinson's Disease for nearby residents.. The greatest risk..was found within 1 to 3 miles of a golf course." H/t @gdspeedskates.bsky.social jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
jamanetwork.com
Proximity to Golf Courses and Risk of Parkinson Disease
This case-control of older US adults examines risk of Parkinson Disease by proximity of residence to a golf course.
15118
Reposted by Brenda Omburo
David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 10/05/2025
Bottom trawling is horribly destructive to coastal ocean ecosystems, and deep-sea mining will do the same to the open ocean. #OceanFilm 🌊
31179192659
Reposted by Brenda Omburo
spencer roberts 🦈 @unpopularscience.bsky.social · 09/05/2025
I will forever be haunted by this footage. Trawling has only been filmed underwater a few times in documentary history, and never with such clarity. What’s so heart-rending about these shots is watching how the animals don’t just get swept up — they swim for their lives. 🌎🦑🧪
8719901285
Reposted by Brenda Omburo
The Conversation UK @uk.theconversation.com · 08/05/2025
A study of over 8,000 articles in top economics journals finds that authors with Chinese surnames are 14% less likely to be cited.
tcnv.link
Chinese research isn’t taken as seriously as papers from elsewhere – my new study
A study of over 8,000 articles in top economics journals finds that authors with Chinese surnames are 14% less likely to be cited.
33911
Reposted by Brenda Omburo
Sarah Kendrew @sarahkendrew.bsky.social · 01/05/2025
Talk about a double whammy! Baby and big science result in the space of 10 hours - great work, Blakesley Burkhart www.nj.com/news/2025/05... 🔭
nj.com
N.J. astrophysicist announces astonishing interstellar discovery — 10 hours after giving birth
The cloud of hydrogen is shaped like a crescent and “literally glowing in the dark" like fluorescent stickers on a child's bedroom ceiling.
27515
Reposted by Brenda Omburo
WHO @who.int · 26/04/2025
Uganda has declared the end of Ebola disease outbreak, less than three months after the virus was confirmed. Robust, coordinated response by the government, supported by WHO and partners, was critical in stopping the outbreak.
Health workers responding to Ebola Outbreak in Uganda.
302391381
Reposted by Brenda Omburo
Regina McIlvain @reginamia.bsky.social · 21/04/2025
Pope Francis has left the greatest tribute himself: Laudato Si' On the Care for Our Common Home. few other offerings from the Vatican could compete as a continuation of the New Testament. A prophetic blueprint for life, prosperity and stewardship. www.vatican.va/content/fran...
072
Reposted by Brenda Omburo
Saloni @scientificdiscovery.dev · 11/04/2025
I signed the 10% Giving Pledge this year, and this week, I decided to donate 19% of my annual income to global health charities. It's not going to be anywhere near "enough", but I'm happy to do it --
scientificdiscovery.dev
We don't have to sit back and just watch the horror unfold
This month, I signed a pledge to donate at least 10% of my lifetime income to effective charities.
1431461
Reposted by Brenda Omburo
Kirsty Short @krenfreeshort.bsky.social · 07/04/2025
People of Brisbane and Melbourne we need your help! We are trying to develop a new diagnostic for Long Covid and so we are asking people with Long Covid to kindly join our study - please DM me if you have any questions about the study or Long Covid in general! Please repost!
23327
Reposted by Brenda Omburo
Prof Sheena Cruickshank @sheencr.bsky.social · 05/04/2025
Excellent news as the woman behind the discovery of the hormone being severe morning sickness is awarded science prize🧪 Thanks to @helensalisbury.bsky.social for sharing
aaas.org
Geneticist Wins Women’s Health Prize for Pioneering Discoveries About Severe Morning Sickness | American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Marlena Fejzo’s groundbreaking work implicates the hormone GDF15 as a key player in this understudied disorder.
317740
Reposted by Brenda Omburo
Saloni @scientificdiscovery.dev · 03/04/2025
A flu lineage has likely gone extinct since 2020 🧵
A line graph titled "Confirmed cases of influenza B Yamagata" shows weekly confirmed cases of B Yamagata influenza worldwide from various types of influenza surveillance. The vertical axis represents the number of cases, ranging from zero to 5,000, while the horizontal axis covers the years from 2013 to 2025. The graph indicates significant fluctuations in case numbers over the years, with a noticeable peak just below 5,000 cases around 2019, followed by a steep decline. A data source note mentions that only a fraction of potential influenza cases is tested by labs for confirmation and strain identification. The data comes from FluNet, World Health Organization, and is dated 2023. The graph is licensed under CC BY.
1740683
Reposted by Brenda Omburo
Micha Rapé Lab @micharapelab.bsky.social · 18/03/2025
If you are immigrant into the US and work in the biomedical sciences (like me) and are still young (not like me), please apply for the Vilcek prizes for Creative Promise founded by an inspiring immigrant couple, Marica and Jan Vilcek. vilcek.org/prizes/vilce...
vilcek.org
Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise - Vilcek Foundation
The Creative Promise Prizes are awarded to young immigrant professionals who have demonstrated outstanding achievement early in their careers.
11610
Brenda Omburo @brendaomburo.bsky.social · 17/03/2025
Charles Dickens’ opening to ‘A tale of two cities’.
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way--in short, the period was so far like the present period that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only."
031
Reposted by Brenda Omburo
Science Friday @scifri.bsky.social · 11/03/2025
A recent study found that cervical cancer deaths in young women have plummeted since the introduction of the human papillomavirus vaccine.
buff.ly
As Cervical Cancer Deaths Plummet, Experts Credit HPV Vaccine
HPV can cause a variety of cancers, including cervical. New mortality data for women under 25 point to the success of the HPV vaccine.
352183744030
Reposted by Brenda Omburo
Eric Holthaus @ericholthaus.com · 09/03/2025
For the first time in human history -- not just in recorded history, but in the 3+ million year existence of modern humans -- carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere has just breached 430 parts per million. We are in a climate emergency.
A chart showing average hourly and daily observations of carbon dioxide as measured by NOAA on Mauna Loa in Hawaii.
15740329
Reposted by Brenda Omburo
Rachael Talibart @rachaeltalibart.bsky.social · 09/03/2025
Golden cliffs. The Seven Sisters chalk cliffs of East Sussex reflecting the golden light of sunset.
A slow-shutter photo of sea foam pulling off the sandy beach at Birling Gap with the Seven Sisters cliffs in the background. UK.
20510351670
Reposted by Brenda Omburo
Antimicrobial resistance #AMR @antimicrobial.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
All nursing home residents tested in Chicago carried Candida auris and at least one #AMR ESKAPE pathogen. Nursing homes serve as breeding grounds for AMR #infectiousdisease exacerbated by staffing shortages and inadequate resources for decolonization efforts. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
nature.com
Clonal Candida auris and ESKAPE pathogens on the skin of residents of nursing homes - Nature
Analyses of strain-resolved metagenomics with isolate sequencing data of skin samples from residents at nursing homes suggest that skin is a reservoir for Candida auris and other multidrug-resistant b...
14211
Reposted by Brenda Omburo
IFLScience @iflscience.com · 04/03/2025
Despite not liking needles, he began donating his blood in 1954. Soon, it was realized that Harrison's blood contained a rare type of antibody especially sought after by healthcare professionals. 🧪 www.iflscience.com/man-whose-bl...
iflscience.com
Man Whose Blood Saved 2.4 Million Babies Dies Aged 88
For his impressive feat, he was dubbed "the man with the golden arm".
18723126
Reposted by Brenda Omburo
Lyndsey @lyndseydoob.bsky.social · 01/03/2025
Mondelēz: No more destroyed orangutan habitat in your candy – protect rainforests now: action.eko.org/a/mondelez-c...
action.eko.org
Mondelēz: Clean up your palm oil supply chain
Milka chocolate and Oreo cookies are filled with rainforest destruction – because its maker Mondelēz keeps sourcing palm oil from companies that are destroying critical orangutan habitat on their home
833083
Reposted by Brenda Omburo
Rogue NASA @roguenasa.altgov.info · 28/02/2025
Here are our 5 bullet points of what we did this week; keep in mind that NASA receives less than 1% of the entire federal budget. 1 week. All in 1 week. 🚀🚀 1. NASA installs heat shield on first private spacecraft bound for Venus phys.org/news/2025-02...
phys.org
NASA installs heat shield on first private spacecraft bound for Venus
Led by Rocket Lab of Long Beach, California, and their partners at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Rocket Lab's Venus mission will be the first private mission to the planet.
602086347
Reposted by Brenda Omburo
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center @mskcancercenter.bsky.social · 27/02/2025
Research led by Dr. Kayvan Keshari, a biochemist and bioengineer at MSK, found that immune cells might be reprogrammed to use the body’s #fructose — a naturally occurring sugar — as an energy source that supercharges them to fight #cancer.
mskcc.org
Retooled Immune Cells Use Fructose to Turbocharge Themselves Against Cancer
Learn how engineering immune cells to metabolize fructose could supercharge them to fight cancer.
211458340
Reposted by Brenda Omburo
Raw Story @rawstory.com · 25/02/2025
"There’s no real answers."
rawstory.com
'Devastating': DOGE cuts reportedly put cancer-stricken kindergartner's life at risk
A Michigan kindergartner's family is relying on experimental treatments and research courtesy of the National Institutes of Health to fight his extremely rare form of cancer — and that treatment could...
26515172
Reposted by Brenda Omburo
SARS‑CoV‑2 (COVID-19) @covid19disease.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
Breaking News: Scientists from the University of the Basque Country have discovered a groundbreaking molecule, WIN55.212-2, that reverses early cognitive damage caused by Alzheimer’s disease.
574296395830
Reposted by Brenda Omburo
Blue Wave 🌊 2026•2028🗽 @jmzmuda.bsky.social · 23/02/2025
An #NIH-funded research team has developed an mRNA vaccine to treat pancreatic cancer. Results from the clinical trial were published this week in Nature. #pancreas #cancer #mRNA #vaccine #medsky #science #medicine #bluesky
mskcc.org
In Early-Phase Pancreatic Cancer Clinical Trial, Investigational mRNA Vaccine Induces Sustained Immune Activity in Small Patient Group
Learn how MSK researchers are deploying mRNA vaccines against pancreatic cancer.
13956161250
Reposted by Brenda Omburo
Emma (emreadsthebooks) @emreadsthebooks.bsky.social · 23/02/2025
I've been reading exclusively Black American writers for US Black History Month and wanted to share some all-time favourites from US/CAN authors Perfect to pick up now or anytime, these stories and authors are to be read year-round #BookSky
A selection of my favourite black authors from the US and Canada
2034941809