Holly Witteman @hwitteman.bsky.social · 02/10/2026Love the concept, would also love to have fewer experiences of sitting in an FRQS or CRC review discussion where reviewer 2 is critiquing the (very collaborative!) candidate for having insufficient evidence of leadership. 151
Holly Witteman @hwitteman.bsky.social · 02/10/2026I think the best options will have to combine some concepts. 1 grant per cycle or 2 grants per PI require that a grant is a grant is a grant. I do wonder about modular budgets or limits on annual $ per PI, even though different types of research have different budgets. 120
Reposted by Holly WittemanJim Woodgett @jwoodgett.bsky.social · 01/10/2026We're in turbulent times in health research with unprecedented advances coupled with funding challenges. CIHR is at the cross-roads of this and is looking for a special advisor to the President (2 days a week, secondment). Be part of the solution. cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/54823.htmlcihr-irsc.gc.caSpecial Advisor to the President - CIHRCanada has exceptional health research talent and a strong record of scientific discovery. The challenge—and the opportunity—is to ensure more discoveries lead to better health, stronger health systems, new therapies and technologies, and a globally competitive life sciences sector. 11913
Holly Witteman @hwitteman.bsky.social · 23/09/2026Looking at the composition of the committee, it’s like they took everyone’s pet issues, mixed them up in a bowl, and dumped them into a report. Result: quotas are ok for francophones but not for other identities. 🤔 (For the record, I’m very pro increasing fairness for French-language apps.) 152
Holly Witteman @hwitteman.bsky.social · 23/09/2026It’s so weird and incoherent. How are the agencies supposed to follow all the recommendations at the same time? For example, recommendations 15 and 20 are fundamentally opposed to each other: 1131
Holly Witteman @hwitteman.bsky.social · 17/09/2026Why don’t these people analyze the waste in CERCs, Impact+, Canada 150, or whatever other, most recent scheme was developed by people who don’t understand that well-funded bread & butter operating funds programs are what drive competitive research? 250
Holly Witteman @hwitteman.bsky.social · 17/09/2026What gets me about this is that the CRC targets exist because of a Human Rights Commission complaint in 2003 whose ruling in 2006 said, basically, ‘Hey guys, federal employment programs need to comply with federal employment laws.’ All they did was try to make it so that everyone gets a fair chance. 140
Reposted by Holly WittemanLe Devoir @ledevoir.com · 14/09/2026Les scientifiques établis au Canada peinent plus que jamais à obtenir le financement nécessaire à leurs projets.ledevoir.comCri du cœur des chercheurs en sciences biomédicales 198
Holly Witteman @hwitteman.bsky.social · 03/09/2026If nothing else, it’s about including in your out of office message that you will literally have no way to check your email so it’s just going to have to wait until you get back. 010
Holly Witteman @hwitteman.bsky.social · 03/09/2026“But no, Jillian is really just using her vacation time to be out in nature, just walking for the sake of walking, I guess?” 😂❤️ This makes me think of the guy who wasn’t notified of his Nobel because he was on a backcountry hiking trip. Honestly, life goals. (Minus the Nobel.) 110
Holly Witteman @hwitteman.bsky.social · 03/09/2026Yeah, the fact that their key points use unadjusted means per group is … weird. That’s something you would do in a situation calling for adjusted models if you simply wanted your results to fit your narrative. 161
Holly Witteman @hwitteman.bsky.social · 03/09/2026It looks to me like they may have tried to account for confounders? I don’t see specifics about their analyses, though, so it’s difficult to know if they did this well or not. It’s a strangely-written paper. 130
Holly Witteman @hwitteman.bsky.social · 03/09/2026Good letter. Using h-index without accounting for known confounders is just flat-out bad science. 181
Holly Witteman @hwitteman.bsky.social · 06/08/2026If you have Instagram, this comic did a send-up of those guys in the context of cycling. It was so on point. www.instagram.com/reel/DaWWxcd...instagram.comInstagramCreate an account or log in to Instagram - Share what you're into with the people who get you. 110
Reposted by Holly WittemanGreg Egan @gregegansf.bsky.social · 27/07/2026While the Fields Medal celebrates the under-40s, the mathematician Joan Birman has, at the age of 99, solved a major open problem in representations of the Braid groups, a topic she has worked on for more than 60 years. 121297320
Reposted by Holly WittemanJessica Ellis @baddestmamajama.bsky.social · 27/07/2026Oh did a female academic with an extensive history of study and practice in a particular area of literature make a reasoned critique of a male filmmaker’s movie? I’m sure this will be handled with maximum normality. 191312206
Reposted by Holly WittemanEmily Atkin @emorwee.bsky.social · 20/07/2026This. This is the correct, science-backed, responsible framing. Wish more news outlets did it like the CBC.cbc.ca'Just stop burning fossil fuels.' Scientists stress that our smoky skies only have one true fix | CBC NewsSmoky skies in Toronto have led to new scrutiny of government efforts to fight fires and manage forests. But scientists say the realistic way to tackle the smoke is fighting climate change itself. 2727421001
Holly Witteman @hwitteman.bsky.social · 21/07/2026Great piece. Shuttles run from free parking lots, which likely helps, too. There’s one near us that was full throughout FEQ. For people with regular bikes, it can be nice to ride along the river, lock up & climb the Cap Blanc stairs. There’s an entrance at the top. It’s what we do for Plains shows. 110
Holly Witteman @hwitteman.bsky.social · 16/07/2026I grew up elsewhere (Saskatchewan) but my in-laws live in northern Ontario. I’ve been there often over the past 25 years. It was not like this even just 10 years ago. This is absolutely *not* normal. 072
Reposted by Holly WittemanNeedhi Bhalla 💅🏽 @needhibhalla.bsky.social · 20/06/2026"Right now, in some underfunded lab, a scientist is chasing a question that sounds pointless...a century of experience says that funding people to do this work is a good bet. If we stop making that bet, we will pay for it in cures no one will know to miss." 018279
Reposted by Holly WittemanAndrew Pruszynski @andpru.bsky.social · 25/05/2026I encourage everyone to show up and make your voice heard at upcoming town halls and via any other channels: cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/45096.html • Bilingual session: Thursday, May 28 at 1:00 p.m. ET • English session: Wednesday, June 24 at 1:30 p.m. ET • French session: Thursday, June 25 at 1:30 p.m. ETcihr-irsc.gc.caWebinars - CIHRCIHR holds several webinars that allow us to share information, exchange ideas and discuss issues of importance with our stakeholders. 21923
Reposted by Holly WittemanSinclair Cancer Research Institute @sinclaircri.bsky.social · 30/04/2026Cancer research lost a star this week with the passing of Dr Juliet Daniel @mcmasteruniversity.bsky.social Juliet was a proud @queensalumni.bsky.social that studied hard to treat cancers like TNBC. Send your tributes to her family and continue her legacy www.circleoflifecbc.com/obituaries/D...circleoflifecbc.comObituary information for Dr. Juliet Michelle DanielView Dr. Juliet Michelle Daniel's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more. 155
Holly Witteman @hwitteman.bsky.social · 05/03/20263. If it’s probably more of the same, are there ways to address the problems within their community? And so on. Agree that this is a good issue to consider. I’ve had this happen, too. 020
Holly Witteman @hwitteman.bsky.social · 05/03/2026In some cases, it might also be interesting to try for a project in which prior research is discussed with members of the community. Questions like: 1. Are the prior findings relevant to them? 2. Do they believe they & you would find something similar or something different? 110
Reposted by Holly WittemanKristin Connor @kconnor.bsky.social · 26/01/2026Gutted to learn of the passing of Dr Kirsty Duncan. She was a tireless fighter for the people she served, not only her local community in Toronto but others, especially the science & research & athletics communities too. She championed equity, diversity, inclusion and made change happen. 🤍🙏🏻richmond-news.comFormer Liberal cabinet minister Kirsty Duncan dies at 59OTTAWA — Former Liberal cabinet minister Kirsty Duncan has died at the age of 59 following a years-long battle with cancer. Born on Oct. 110927
Reposted by Holly WittemanDr. Stephanie @punkrockscience.bsky.social · 24/11/2025Today’s xkcd made me cry. In a good way. xkcd.com/3172/ 3664621961
Reposted by Holly WittemanMatthew Dow Smith @matthewdowsmith.bsky.social · 20/11/2025One of the cruelest tricks society played on creative people was planting the idea that being proud of your work is somehow unseemly and egotistical. You made a thing! You like it! You SHOULD be proud of it. Brag all you want! 3433761111
Holly Witteman @hwitteman.bsky.social · 14/11/2025I have gone back to phoning references for a quick chat. I’ve also been asked to provide references by phone/videoconference. It is so much more efficient than letters. 040
Reposted by Holly WittemanUniversité Laval @ulaval.ca · 13/11/2025CommunauDT1: un espace d'échange pour mieux vivre avec le #diabète de type 1 Holly Wittemannouvelles.ulaval.caCommunauDT1: un espace d'échange pour mieux vivre avec le diabète de type 1La professeure Holly Witteman a lancé une communauté de soutien par les pairs liée à un projet de recherche pour mieux comprendre l'effet de ces échanges sur le bien-être des personnes touchées par cette maladie 011
Reposted by Holly WittemanMichael Hendricks 🇨🇦 @michaelhendricks.bsky.social · 31/10/2025Attn: Canadian researchers/ If you are looking for text/arguments to mix-n-match in a letter to your MP, the committee, Ministers, etc.. here is some. docs.google.com/document/d/1...docs.google.comMP letter[ I am your constituent and a professor at … .] It recently came to my attention that a motion has been passed in the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Research requesting disaggregated... 01614
Holly Witteman @hwitteman.bsky.social · 21/10/2025Sure. That’s the advice I gave and that’s what they did initially. But it’s relevant to note that CVs are functions of many things beyond individual quality/effort (networks, proximity to prestige, etc.) & those things are distributed unevenly. A CV-based system needs a robust way to address that. 030
Holly Witteman @hwitteman.bsky.social · 21/10/2025Canada tried that, more or less. Female PIs’ success rates fell compared to those of male PIs. (Other groups may have experienced similar effects, but there were no data at that time about other PI identity characteristics.) www.thelancet.com/journals/lan... 110
Reposted by Holly WittemanJulie Kiefer @julieckiefer.bsky.social · 24/09/2025How to Communicate Medical Numbers-a @jama.com Insight from @angiefagerlin.bsky.social @athorpe8.bsky.social @uuhsresearch.bsky.social, @bzikmund.bsky.social @umich.edu Read and listen to the podcast for useful tips and tools that could improve patient health+lives. jamanetwork.com/journals/jam... 184
Reposted by Holly WittemanCAUT/ACPPU @caut.bsky.social · 18/09/2025In Canada, proposed cuts of 15% across the federal government would have a dramatic effect on already globally decimated research & science. Join Canada's research & science community and tell PM Mark Carney to preserve the funding promised in 2024. Send a letter: win.newmode.net/canadianasso... 02635
Reposted by Holly WittemanMelissa Barber @mbarber.bsky.social · 28/08/2025This is a nice study showing that out-of-pocket costs for diabetes technologies are associated with worse HbA1c levels. I wish there were more granular data on actual costs and affordability instead of just bucketing 'reimbursed' vs 'not reimbursed.' jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...jamanetwork.comGlobal Inequities in Diabetes Technology and Insulin Access and Glycemic OutcomesThis cross-sectional study estimates the association of accessibility and reimbursement for diabetes technologies and insulin with glycemic control among children with type 1 diabetes using data from ... 094
Holly Witteman @hwitteman.bsky.social · 07/07/2025Are you living in Canada with #type1diabetes (yourself or a loved one)? You are not alone … find your #T1D community at communiT1D.ca! Vivez-vous au Canada avec un #diabètedetype1 (vous-même ou un(e) proche)? Vous n'êtes pas seul(e) ... trouvez votre communauté du #DT1 au communauDT1.ca! 064
Reposted by Holly WittemanKristin Connor @kconnor.bsky.social · 27/06/2025Women are disproportionately affected by #irondeficiency & #anaemia We undertook a comprehensive review of 🔑 role of iron in women's health across the lifespan ✅ factors affecting iron bioavailability, ID/IDA 🚫 limitations of interventions 🙋🏽♀️need 4 better diagnosis & acceptable treatments 4 womensciencedirect.comIron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia in women of reproductive age: Sex- and gender-based risk factors and inequitiesIron deficiency (ID) is a serious public health problem that affects 20–25 % of the population and 52 % of pregnant people worldwide. Biologically fem… 064
Holly Witteman @hwitteman.bsky.social · 17/06/2025Yep. Quebec content helps dampen it but it’s such a dominant force. 020
Holly Witteman @hwitteman.bsky.social · 16/06/2025So sorry to hear this. 💔 Wishing you and your family warmth, love, and meaningful time together in the days, weeks, and months to come. 020
Reposted by Holly WittemanAidan Wright @aidangcw.bsky.social · 10/06/2025Pro tip, folks: if you make a figure for a publication, don’t just hand the copyright over to the publisher. Post it on OSF first and then give yourself permission to use it in the first publication and then all future publications. That way, no permissions issues. 18421138
Holly Witteman @hwitteman.bsky.social · 10/06/2025Italy is closest to this. But even their system is not up and running at full capacity yet. No country is doing it systematically across the board yet. FYI Canada is exploring options: canscreent1d.cacanscreent1d.caHome - CanScreen T1D Research ConsortiumThe Canadian Population Screening for Risk of Type 1 Diabetes (CanScreen T1D) research consortium aims to launch a pilot screening program for children in Canada. The consortium studies the accessibil... 110
Reposted by Holly WittemanJanel Comeau 🍁 @verybadllama.bsky.social · 10/06/2025Google and Meta search both report that Cape Breton Island has its own time zone 12 minutes ahead of mainland Nova Scotia time because they are both drawing that information from a Beaverton article I wrote in 2024 10568031882
Reposted by Holly WittemanDr. Casey Fiesler @cfiesler.bsky.social · 05/06/2025Tip for PhD applicants reaching out to prospective advisors: Don’t use an LLM to write these emails. It’s not a great first impression to express your admiration for a recent paper the faculty member published if that paper does not exist. 491592243
Reposted by Holly WittemanTom Flood @tomflood.bsky.social · 03/06/2025Happy World Bicycle Day. 5902238
Holly Witteman @hwitteman.bsky.social · 03/06/2025Downside of working in diabetes research as a person with diabetes, a running list: 1. I now have to attend conferences whose taglines might as well be, “67 reasons your life sucks & 12 ways you could die soon.” 2. I cannot seem to bring myself to refuse requests to review from diabetes charities. 041
Holly Witteman @hwitteman.bsky.social · 30/05/2025The program provides summary data. It’s often delayed by a cycle or so, but they do update semi-regularly. 020